Disappointing COMLEX, Hope For Matching?

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matchThrowThrow

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Background - kept up with classes and board studying all year, UWORLD first pass was average, did incorrects well. My COMSAEs were average.

Got my score back and I'm devastated, sub 450s, much much lower than any practice tests. Originally wanted to do Psych on the East Coast, but now I don't know if I can even match FM and if I should drop out. Looking at the osteopathic Charting the Outcomes, it doesn't look good.

I haven't been able to sleep at all, getting less than 5 hours of sleep a day, waking up multiple times since the end of the semester. Spent all summer studying while everyone took their test and went on vacations and I don't even have anything to show for it, same with the school year, focused on studying instead of ECs and now I have neither.

Took an NBME and it was barely passing, literally 25 points lower than an NBME I took at the start of dedicated (months ago). I think I should have seen a doctor for anxiety/insomnia a while ago, but now it's too late.

I have Step 1 scheduled for 2 weeks from now, but with my recent NBME that is barely passing, I don't think I'm in a good spot right now to take it.

Since I passed COMLEX, I have to start rotations (3 weeks from now) and can't delay third year. What are my options career-wise? With the merger, should I take Step 1 next year? I know some people do that, but I don't know how that works with having to take COMLEX 2 next year, taking shelves during the rotations, and having to squeeze Step 2 in sometime before apps all while maintaining/studying Step 1 minutiae.

Or should I just drop out of school and save another 2 years of debt?

I just really need someone to talk to, I don't have family that understands (no one went to college) and my school is out, my rotations aren't even in my school town so I'll be alone too, friends all did well.
 
Schedule your 3rd year vacation and the end of 3rd year/4th year vacation at the beginning of 4th year. As DO students we have another opportunity to take Step 1 at the end of 3rd year/beginning of 4th year. Do well and your 450 might as well have been 401 and nobody would care. Dropping out of school after passing the 1st board is a poor decision and dramatic. I took my Step 1 at the end of 3rd year and did really well. Focus on doing well on rotation and shelf exams, do well on those. 3-4 weeks of dedicated study for Step 1 is enough at the end of 3rd year.
 
Interesting idea, I'll look into if our school allows us to do this. But doesn't this interfere with taking Step 2 CK? Or should I not even worry about that since I'm in such a dump.
 
1 thing at a time bro, take a breath. If you do well on shelf exams, you need 2-3 weeks to study for Level 2/Step 2 and pass comfortably. Right now, shelf exams and rotations are your priority, plan ahead but live in the moment. You can take Level 2/Step 2 all the way until August/September
 
You should realize that Step 1/ Level 1 scores are only to open the door to residency programs. They use it as a quick screen and nothing else.

Other things that can get you an interview at a residency program: stellar LORs, a profound personal statement, honors in your clerkships, publications you may have done, special skills that make you stand out.

Take a break, regroup and decide right now that you are going to kick some ass in 3rd year.
 
I also came here to post something similar. I'm unfortunately in the same boat as you. My practice exams were pretty decent and I was doing well on Combank so I was really blindsided to see that I got <440 🙁. I decided not to take the USMLE at all because I just wanted to match in my home state of MI and it is very DO friendly. It is a complete punch to the gut and now I am worried about not matching anywhere at all in any specialty. I mean I guess we have to be happy that it wasn't an outright failure but at the same time this doesn't seem much better. There really isn't anything we can do at this point besides go out and work really hard and get letters and pass the shelf exams.

If anyone has any advice on how to overcome this or how completely screwed I am it would be helpful because I can't get much lower right now.
 
MIGuy23 said:
I also came here to post something similar. I'm unfortunately in the same boat as you. My practice exams were pretty decent and I was doing well on Combank so I was really blindsided to see that I got <440 🙁. I decided not to take the USMLE at all because I just wanted to match in my home state of MI and it is very DO friendly. It is a complete punch to the gut and now I am worried about not matching anywhere at all in any specialty. I mean I guess we have to be happy that it wasn't an outright failure but at the same time this doesn't seem much better. There really isn't anything we can do at this point besides go out and work really hard and get letters and pass the shelf exams.

If anyone has any advice on how to overcome this or how completely screwed I am it would be helpful because I can't get much lower right now.
Click to expand...
Read my above posts, either you pick yourself up and put in some real work or keep wallowing and let it affect your 3rd year performance
 
matchThrowThrow said:
Background - kept up with classes and board studying all year, UWORLD first pass was average, did incorrects well. My COMSAEs were average.

Got my score back and I'm devastated, sub 450s, much much lower than any practice tests. Originally wanted to do Psych on the East Coast, but now I don't know if I can even match FM and if I should drop out. Looking at the osteopathic Charting the Outcomes, it doesn't look good.

I haven't been able to sleep at all, getting less than 5 hours of sleep a day, waking up multiple times since the end of the semester. Spent all summer studying while everyone took their test and went on vacations and I don't even have anything to show for it, same with the school year, focused on studying instead of ECs and now I have neither.

Took an NBME and it was barely passing, literally 25 points lower than an NBME I took at the start of dedicated (months ago). I think I should have seen a doctor for anxiety/insomnia a while ago, but now it's too late.

I have Step 1 scheduled for 2 weeks from now, but with my recent NBME that is barely passing, I don't think I'm in a good spot right now to take it.

Since I passed COMLEX, I have to start rotations (3 weeks from now) and can't delay third year. What are my options career-wise? With the merger, should I take Step 1 next year? I know some people do that, but I don't know how that works with having to take COMLEX 2 next year, taking shelves during the rotations, and having to squeeze Step 2 in sometime before apps all while maintaining/studying Step 1 minutiae.

Or should I just drop out of school and save another 2 years of debt?

I just really need someone to talk to, I don't have family that understands (no one went to college) and my school is out, my rotations aren't even in my school town so I'll be alone too, friends all did well.
Click to expand...

Your solution is simple. You need to man or woman up and take the USMLE Step 1 during your vacation block. Many people scored garbage on this year Comlex and solid on the USMLE this year.

A 450s will doom you to either primary care or some poor programs in uncompetitive fields.

If you fail or do poorly on Step 1, you are still doomed to primary care. However, should you do average or better, more doors are open. In your case, it’s limited downside and high upside, meaning a no brainer decision.
 
I appreciate all the advice and thoughts

W19 said:
DO NOT TAKE STEP1 if you are not scoring 210+ in practice tests...
Click to expand...

This is where the problem lies for me. I'm not sure I would actually score well enough on the Step that it would be beneficial to me to actually take it. I feel like having two bad board scores would look worse than having just the one.

Before the score I was interested in IM, FM or EM....now I am wondering if I will be able to match anything at all. Sucks that one bad test can knock out so much hard work. At this point I'm thinking I just have to cut my losses and work my ass off on Level 2 and clinical rotations.
 
Black Coffee 24/7 said:
Your solution is simple. You need to man or woman up and take the USMLE Step 1 during your vacation block. Many people scored garbage on this year Comlex and solid on the USMLE this year.

A 450s will doom you to either primary care or some poor programs in uncompetitive fields.

If you fail or do poorly on Step 1, you are still doomed to primary care. However, should you do average or better, more doors are open. In your case, it’s limited downside and high upside, meaning a no brainer decision.
Click to expand...

You really think rolling the dice on the USMLE is worth it? I would think that having a poor Comlex and a failed Step would be a much worse position than just a poor comlex alone.
 
MIGuy23 said:
I appreciate all the advice and thoughts



This is where the problem lies for me. I'm not sure I would actually score well enough on the Step that it would be beneficial to me to actually take it. I feel like having two bad board scores would look worse than having just the one.

Before the score I was interested in IM, FM or EM....now I am wondering if I will be able to match anything at all. Sucks that one bad test can knock out so much hard work. At this point I'm thinking I just have to cut my losses and work my ass off on Level 2 and clinical rotations.
Click to expand...
You WILL match into FM or community IM with your score...
 
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Another question, if I'm planning to take Step1 at the end of third year, how does applying for aways work? I would only have my low COMLEX score when applying. Additionally, when would I take Step 2/CK, and manage to juggle shelves, rotations, and keeping up with Step 1 knowledge? thanks!
 
Forget about step1/2... Move on! You guys are getting bad advice from your school. Your chances to match EM is slim, but you are ok for FM and community IM. You should concentrate in getting good eval on rotation and do better on level 2 (above average if possible).

Don't try to gamble with 300k+...
 
MIGuy23 said:
I appreciate all the advice and thoughts



This is where the problem lies for me. I'm not sure I would actually score well enough on the Step that it would be beneficial to me to actually take it. I feel like having two bad board scores would look worse than having just the one.

Before the score I was interested in IM, FM or EM....now I am wondering if I will be able to match anything at all. Sucks that one bad test can knock out so much hard work. At this point I'm thinking I just have to cut my losses and work my ass off on Level 2 and clinical rotations.
Click to expand...

It really depends on how badly you want to do EM. At this point, you’re solid for FM and IM community programs. Very very slim chances for EM. If EM would make you happy as a doc over a eh... exp as a IM/FM doc, you should bunker down and study for the USMLE. Make sure that your last 2-3 assessments a week leading to the exam is at least 215. If you cant crack this baseline on your assessments, you don’t take the USMLE.

I do agree that a failed Step 1 would look bad. But a failed Step 1 and Ps on all Comlex and no red flags should still get you a PCP spot.
 
Last edited:
matchThrowThrow said:
Background - kept up with classes and board studying all year, UWORLD first pass was average, did incorrects well. My COMSAEs were average.

Got my score back and I'm devastated, sub 450s, much much lower than any practice tests. Originally wanted to do Psych on the East Coast, but now I don't know if I can even match FM and if I should drop out. Looking at the osteopathic Charting the Outcomes, it doesn't look good.

I haven't been able to sleep at all, getting less than 5 hours of sleep a day, waking up multiple times since the end of the semester. Spent all summer studying while everyone took their test and went on vacations and I don't even have anything to show for it, same with the school year, focused on studying instead of ECs and now I have neither.

Took an NBME and it was barely passing, literally 25 points lower than an NBME I took at the start of dedicated (months ago). I think I should have seen a doctor for anxiety/insomnia a while ago, but now it's too late.

I have Step 1 scheduled for 2 weeks from now, but with my recent NBME that is barely passing, I don't think I'm in a good spot right now to take it.

Since I passed COMLEX, I have to start rotations (3 weeks from now) and can't delay third year. What are my options career-wise? With the merger, should I take Step 1 next year? I know some people do that, but I don't know how that works with having to take COMLEX 2 next year, taking shelves during the rotations, and having to squeeze Step 2 in sometime before apps all while maintaining/studying Step 1 minutiae.

Or should I just drop out of school and save another 2 years of debt?

I just really need someone to talk to, I don't have family that understands (no one went to college) and my school is out, my rotations aren't even in my school town so I'll be alone too, friends all did well.
Click to expand...

If you barely passed an NBME now, I would not take the USMLE now (and maybe not ever). You need to take a break and take care of yourself so that you can get back to work and do well this year. You can always just take Step 2 too (don't need Step 1 to take Step 2 CK).

Also if its not super obvious, you can absolutely still match. People fail the COMLEX and still match. You actually passed. Sure you might be limited to only a couple specialties or less competitive programs, many of which in the midwest, but that's pretty true for a lot of DOs.

The idea that you'd drop out because of this is insane. What? Are you really serious? You'd drop medicine that quickly without even trying to match because you didn't score highly on a board exam? Either you have a skewed view of what your board score means for your ability to match or you have a pretty low threshold for dropping out of medicine. You'll be fine, but the rest of the road is pretty long, you're either going to need to take care of yourself before you go down a road that you are pretty early on.

MIGuy23 said:
I also came here to post something similar. I'm unfortunately in the same boat as you. My practice exams were pretty decent and I was doing well on Combank so I was really blindsided to see that I got <440 🙁. I decided not to take the USMLE at all because I just wanted to match in my home state of MI and it is very DO friendly. It is a complete punch to the gut and now I am worried about not matching anywhere at all in any specialty. I mean I guess we have to be happy that it wasn't an outright failure but at the same time this doesn't seem much better. There really isn't anything we can do at this point besides go out and work really hard and get letters and pass the shelf exams.

If anyone has any advice on how to overcome this or how completely screwed I am it would be helpful because I can't get much lower right now.
Click to expand...

What world am I living in? You passed. If you apply broadly enough, then you'll likely match. Even if you don't, you'll probably be able to SOAP/scramble into a FM/community IM program (although I'd strongly recommend attempting to maximize your chances of matching).

Seriously, YOU GUYS ARE FINE!

Also agree, that I wouldn't recommend taking the Step 1.
 
Maybe I'm a bit naive in all this, but did the AOA or whoever re-curved the COMLEX screw over a bunch of COMLEX-only students? It seems as if everyone is reporting actual scores way below their predicted COMSAEs. I've heard COMSAEs aren't the best predictor; however, there even seems an incongruance between those who took Step 1 and COMLEX.

And for the AOA-turned ACGME programs, how will they take this, considering the reported scores seem to be lower all across the board
 
drturk1 said:
Maybe I'm a bit naive in all this, but did the AOA or whoever re-curved the COMLEX screw over a bunch of COMLEX-only students? It seems as if everyone is reporting actual scores way below their predicted COMSAEs. I've heard COMSAEs aren't the best predictor; however, there even seems an incongruance between those who took Step 1 and COMLEX.

And for the AOA-turned ACGME programs, how will they take this, considering the reported scores seem to be lower all across the board
Click to expand...


...Things aren't looking great right now. Hopefully somehow things are better than they seem. Miracles are needed.
 
Hope is not lost. You’re only halfway thru med school. Get good lettters, apply broadly and be intelligent in your approach to the match. The COMLEX is a crappy test, and while it will screen you out of some programs, you still have a shot.

Too soon to give up hope, just keep your expectations tempered and have a backup
 
Black Coffee 24/7 said:
Your solution is simple. You need to man or woman up and take the USMLE Step 1 during your vacation block. Many people scored garbage on this year Comlex and solid on the USMLE this year.

A 450s will doom you to either primary care or some poor programs in uncompetitive fields.

If you fail or do poorly on Step 1, you are still doomed to primary care. However, should you do average or better, more doors are open. In your case, it’s limited downside and high upside, meaning a no brainer decision.
Click to expand...
No, no and kind of, although speaking about PC as being behind door marked “doom” is a piss poor attitude and disrespectful to the talented physicians who choose that and make bank and good lifestyle doing so
 
Lol if you pass and can speak words to other humans you can get fm or possibly im
 
MIGuy23 said:
Not to intentionally revive a dead thread but in light of ERAS opening very soon and the possibility this may help someone in the future I wanted to post an update

Matched EM. Looking back at this thread is hilarious.
Click to expand...
Congrats. How did the other board scores pan out?
 
MIGuy23 said:
Thanks!

I never took Step 1 and tbh Level 2 didn't go crazy well either. Just buckled down and crushed my rotations and auditions. Think I got a good SLOE and matched! I'm sure the odds are slim but not impossible.
Click to expand...

thanks for coming back to update!
 
MIGuy23 said:
Thanks!

I never took Step 1 and tbh Level 2 didn't go crazy well either. Just buckled down and crushed my rotations and auditions. Think I got a good SLOE and matched! I'm sure the odds are slim but not impossible.
Click to expand...
Hey thanks for sharing. How many programs did you apply to? You can DM me if you wont want to share publicly.
 
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