differences b/t COMLEX and USMLE

[cfdavid]

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This is obviously geared towards the DO's on the forum. It seems that most of the DO's have chosen to take the USMLE.

That being the case, how much different are the two? I know how much of a pain it can be studying for such exams. So, it would be ideal if you could study for the COMLEX and then just augment a bit to prepare for the USMLE.

Is that how it is? Or, are they quite a bit different?

 

[Idiopathic]

The COMLEX is heavier in OMT (obviously), anatomy and microbiology, while the USMLE has more straight pathology, biostats, embryo, biochem.

Overall, the USMLE questions are slightly more difficult (IMHO), as they require more second and third-order reasoning, but the COMLEX questions can be so ridiculous that they seem harder, even though the core topic for that question may be much simpler to understand.

 

[joncmarkley]

Having taken both I have to say I would prefer to take the USMLE if given the choice. I have what I consider to be similar scores on both 250 (99) USMLE and 927 on comlex (99). I just find comlex omt questions to be very subjective and unpredictable. That being said if you read the savaresse book you will get at least 90% of the omt questions right which is a good part (5-10%) of the exam. They are big on visceral-somatic reflexs so know your innervations but if you study anatomy it goes hand in hand. good luck.....my suggestion to you is to take the USMLE so your future PD can compare you; apples to apples with allopathic applicants 👍

 

[cfdavid]

Thanks guys. Great responses.

 

[VentdependenT]

Study for the USMLE and take the COMLEX by default. Saverese charts on autonomic innervation is huge. COMLEX I loved bugs and drugs. So have that micro from first aid down cold (flow charts for gram + and - fer sure). Pharm as well. I only spent the day before the exam studying the rest of that saverese book, otherwise it was those two charts.

I didn't get a friggen 250 (nice score btw you bastard!) like my man above but I did well on the USMLE. Boards are serious business as they save your app from hitten the trash from the get go. Just put in your time and you'll do fine.

 

[supahfresh]

dang john c markley. why you gotta make me feel bad.

as vent said. study for the usmle and then add in your savarese book at the end. memorize the page with all the autonomic tenderpoints. they love that crap.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Did you guys think it is better to take USMLE first then COMLEX?

 

[smgilles]

Did you guys think it is better to take USMLE first then COMLEX?

I did...I took the USMLE 3 weeks before the COMLEX and felt it was the best approach for me. Others feel it is best to take the COMLEX first that way you purge all the OMM and brush up more on biochem and molecular genetics, etc. Just do what works best with your schedule.

The questions on the COMLEX are not difficult, they are just worded so poorly that they can be frustrating because you often have to infer what the question writer was thinking. The USMLE was difficult because they expect you to know and understand 3rd level material, but you at least know what the question writer had in mind; you just may not know the answer.

Good luck with studying.