DO and Anesthesia Residency

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Its okay that you didn't take USMLE 1, but you need to take USMLE 2 early and have a good score on it. Your score on Comlex 1 is just below average, so its not really going to affect you getting away rotations. Use USMLE World, and take NBME practice tests until you are certain you will score above 220 on step 2.
 
Propofol17 said:
I'm currently a 3rd year DO student. I took the COMLEX and scored a 491/81 but did not take the USMLE Step 1. I was wondering if this score is good enough to yield rotations and interview invites from both DO and MD gas residency programs?

Also, I'm hesitant to take the USMLE Step 1, but I was contemplating taking USMLE Step 2. Do you think that taking Step 2 in lieu of Step 1 would be okay for the MD programs as long as I do well on it? I feel that with Step 2 being more clinical than Step 1, it should be a fairer test to take.

Please provide your thoughts regarding this. Thank you!
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with all due respect, 491 is a rather weak score. if i remember correctly, 500 is the average with a s.d. of 100. you've got to do better on comlex level 2 if you're considering a d.o. residency. shoot for above 600. if you're considering an m.d. residency, i strongly recommend taking step 1, and aim for at least an average of about 216; the higher the better. i think as a d.o. you're at a slight disadvantage when it comes to m.d. residency selection. ideally you should have superior stats. usmle step 1 is far more important than step 2. i'd take step 1 instead of step 2. do well on the boards but also rotations and get good letters. just my 5 cents. good luck.
 
Idiopathic said:
boards are so key. you have time, i would sit for usmle step 1 and 2 and try to knock both out of the park (230+)
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Any suggestions on how to get back into studying for Step 1 material while on rotations? I took good notes into my First Aid book.
 
you're definitely gonna need some USMLE to back that COMLEX score up buddy. sorry!

you should be okay if you get average or better on the USMLE (either step) ~220+

be careful, dont wanna screw up on the USMLE and shoot yourself in the foot. take NBME exam online to make sure you're in the ballpark first.
 
DO4lifer said:
you're definitely gonna need some USMLE to back that COMLEX score up buddy. sorry!

you should be okay if you get average or better on the USMLE (either step) ~220+

be careful, dont wanna screw up on the USMLE and shoot yourself in the foot. take NBME exam online to make sure you're in the ballpark first.
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Yeah I'm just finding that I have a hard time studyin for step 1 consistently, so just taking step 2 and making a 220+ should be fine right?
 
If you aren't going to take Step 1 and only take Step 2, then you had better score above 230. National average for Step 2 this year is 229.
 
Enroll in 3-4 two week audition rotations at programs that you think are realistically obtainable and kick ass and follow up. Forget taking USMLE and kill DO step two boards. Work on enhancing other aspects of your CV. Your DO board performance will likely be a predictor of your USMLE performance and thus translate into a similar or a much worse USMLE score. Too risky. 😱 Apply broadly. It is rare for an applicant who applies broadly and who has not failed a year of med school or board exam to not match anesthesia.
 
i know a guy who matched last year with similar, although slightly better numbers. he worked like a DOG in the anes-run ICU and had the good fortune of that program going far down its list. you must impress on your away rotations at reasonable places. i agree taking the usmle and doing well will really really help. for this usmleworld.com is priceless.
 
amyl said:
i know a guy who matched last year with similar, although slightly better numbers. he worked like a DOG in the anes-run ICU and had the good fortune of that program going far down its list. you must impress on your away rotations at reasonable places. i agree taking the usmle and doing well will really really help. for this usmleworld.com is priceless.
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Did he match at CCF like you? Where did he match? Which programs would you consider to be "reasonable"?

I'm heavily considering taking USMLE Step 2 CK. I get the feeling the only way I do well on USMLE Step 1 is if I take the Doctors In Training online class.
 
Taking USMLE steps 1 and 2 seem seems to be pretty important from what I have heard from my two 4th year friends on the interview trail. They have rotated at ~6 programs each and most of the DO programs are looking for 600+ comlex and if you look at the latest charting outcomes (2009) it shows that the average step 1 for MD students that matched into GAS is 225 IIRC.

The old charting outcomes (2007) had a matched GAS step 1 score of 220, thus confirming rumors that GAS is becoming more difficult to match into each year. Unfortunately 220 doesn't seem to cut it anymore.

Yes, your comlex score could reflect how you do on the USMLE, but that is not always the case. IMHO the USMLE is definitely a more difficult exam, but it is well written, so it's doable with the proper preparation. My buddy and I both scored better on the USMLE then we did on the comlex. UWorld is a must and worth every penny.

Your best bet is to take both steps 1&2, but be sure to take some official practice exams to get an idea where you stand. A poor USMLE score will be a nail in the coffin.
 
i wouldnt look at it that way. i would apply widely, however, and based upon the number of interviews you get, i would consider the osteopathic match (not sure if that was your plan or not)

as far as rotations go, mayo was the only one i remember that wanted to see step scores, this can be a benefit or a hindrance...it can keep you from wasting time at a place that wont match you or it can keep you from getting your foot in the door and impress people

rotating at as many places as you can will be a huge benefit to you as well
 
Propofol17 said:
Great. I'm screwed.
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Not necessarily. Like I said, before just because you didn't do as well as you wanted to on the comlex doesn't mean you can't smoke the USMLE or at least get a decent score. Since you can't retake the comlex 1, your best bet is probably with an MD program if you can knock out steps 1/2 of the USMLE. You might want to take comlex 2 early if you think you will get a higher score than comlex 1 (end of June?) so you can submit that score to the DO programs in your app.
 
Iquitos said:
A poor USMLE score will be a nail in the coffin.
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There a cutoff for poor? There are residency program sites listing a cutoff of two digit score of 85.....I got a 204/84, so I'm wondering even if I apply broadly if I'm in the running.
 
i said this in another post recently but im a DO applying to anesthesia this cycle. i applied to 54 programs and have 6 interviews so far. i applied broadly and did not apply to many "reach" programs at all. i have pretty decent comlex scores (550s) and a 230 usmle. i have a mix of honors and pass grades my first 2 years of med school (we dont have high pass at our school, only pass and honors). i also have good letters including a great LOR from a program director. with that, im very nervous and hoping to add more interviews these next 2 weeks as the deans letter has just been released. good luck to everyone and dont give up on the field of medicine u feel suits u best, but be realistic.
 
wmc24 said:
i said this in another post recently but im a DO applying to anesthesia this cycle. i applied to 54 programs and have 6 interviews so far. i applied broadly and did not apply to many "reach" programs at all. i have pretty decent comlex scores (550s) and a 230 usmle. i have a mix of honors and pass grades my first 2 years of med school (we dont have high pass at our school, only pass and honors). i also have good letters including a great LOR from a program director. with that, im very nervous and hoping to add more interviews these next 2 weeks as the deans letter has just been released. good luck to everyone and dont give up on the field of medicine u feel suits u best, but be realistic.
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Best of luck with the interviews. Last year I would have thought a 230 would have been more than adequate, so hopefully that will hold true for this year too. It sounds like you have a solid application. Are you planning on taking step 2?

You are right about being realistic though. I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from applying to their dream field, but from what I have seen it seems that anything less than 220 on step 1 wouldn't yield a lot of interviews. I don't even know if a 220 will cut it anymore. Even with a 220, it seems like you would have to have a pretty decent step 2 score (230+) to stand a chance. Obviously there are other aspects to an application, but it seems that a lot of programs have set minimums. Take these thoughts like a grain of salt as I'm not applying until next year, so I haven't hit the interview trail. I'm just going off of info I have heard from my 4th year colleagues so take it for what its worth.
 
A 220 would not yield a lot of interviews? 230+ on step 2 to stand a chance? I understand that this is what you have been hearing from your 4th year friends, but lets try to rely on facts and not on rumors. Look at charting outcomes published data and let this be your rough guide. This data is real and varifyied and published. Lets stick with the facts.
 
SukaNeNauka said:
A 220 would not yield a lot of interviews? 230+ on step 2 to stand a chance? I understand that this is what you have been hearing from your 4th year friends, but lets try to rely on facts and not on rumors. Look at charting outcomes published data and let this be your rough guide. This data is real and varifyied and published. Lets stick with the facts.
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I'm basing my opinions on both charting outcomes (2009) and feedback from 4th years and attendings.

Mean Step 1 score for matched students=225 for both US grads and Independents.

Mean Step 2 score for matched students=230 US grad and 231 for independents.

This is straight out of Charting Outcomes 2009. It seems like a lot of people aren't aware that this version is out because I see a lot of people reference to 2007 outcomes data here on SDN.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2009.pdf
 
If you're a DO with <220 these days it's going to be a very uphill battle based on my friends going through it right now. I would aggressively do away rotations at realistic programs (3-4 even) to try to get your foot in the door or plan on blowing away Step 2.
 
amyl said:
i know a guy who matched last year with similar, although slightly better numbers. he worked like a DOG in the anes-run ICU and had the good fortune of that program going far down its list. you must impress on your away rotations at reasonable places. i agree taking the usmle and doing well will really really help. for this usmleworld.com is priceless.
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Unless they went unfilled, how would you know that?...(you wouldn't). Perhaps the dude was high up on the list because they liked him and he worked hard. Programs aren't going to advertise it when they have to go way down their list.
 
Thanks for the replies. Just been busy with my rotation, but how does this sound ...

I'm thinking that I will study Step 1 and 2 material concurrently. So, study the step 1 topic out of FA (i.e. Cardio) and then follow it up with the same material out of the Step 2 book in Step Up to Medicine that I have. I'm hoping to finish the studying in 2 weeks (in addition to reading the basic science genetics/anatomy/path/micro/pharm, etc., at which point I will take a practice NBME to gauge where I stand after the 1st read through. How does this sound to you guys -- good or bad idea? Any modifications and advice would be much appreciated!

Also, if I decide that I'm where I want to be for the Step 1 exam, I will likely be taking it in 3-4 months.
 
there are so many ways to study for the steps that you are better off researching through the forums but no one way is fundamentally any better, although i think the one thing everyone agrees on is that you should do as many questions as possible, and study the answers (right and wrong) thoroughly
 
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