DO interested in Anesthesia but no USMLE

[avaryl]

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I'm a 4th year. Just recently decided to go into anesthesia. Didn't take USMLE, just COMLEX-1. Taking COMLEX-2 mid-July but undecided whether to take USMLE Step 2 or 1. Any advise? By the way, I didn't score well in COMLEX-1...took it 3 times!! 🙁 due to family issues and only managed to score 505/82. So, any remote chance for me getting into any DO or MD anesthesia programs??

Thanks!

 

[amyl]

try and take step one of the usmle...who knows maybe you will rock it, or at least score average. the comlex exams are stupid imho...i did better on the usmle but i studied way more for it and sort of blew off comlex. if you don't do well or at least average on usmle then i would say you are probably limited to osteopathic programs where you rotate. if you do okay on the usmle then don't release your comlex scores...three attempts is bad. no offense meant, just keeping it real. best of luck

 

[neuroride]

My road was no Step 1 but took COMLEX II and Step II. I did well on Step II and made up for not having the Step I. I didn't have the time to restudy for Step I, so I just studied real hard for Step II.

 

[fascinoma]

I tend to give the same advice to everyone: apply where you want and let them decide if you're qualified or not. however, given your situation I would suggest 2 things: 1) contact specific programs you'd potentially be interested in (i imagine the program coordinators would be the best person to speak to) and; 2) apply broadly. Most programs will be able to suggest what--if anything--you can do to become more competitive.

i'm sure you're already working on integrating why you took the exam 3 times into your personal statement. in addition, now that all the issues with the family are resolved (or i hope they are resolved--i'm sorry to hear they had this effect on your scores...i went through some major family issues a few days before my boards, too, so i can understand the stress it places on you), start studying for Step 2 immediately!!! Take it early and do well.

good luck.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

Dude I found USMLE Step I much harder than the COMLEX. If you struggled w/COMLEX I would think REALLY long and hard about the USMLE, especially as a fourth year. Relearning all the biochem etc. would be far too brutal IMHO. If you bomb then your goose is sorta cooked. Taking Step II might be a better idea - I thought it was much more manageable.

 

[avaryl]

Thank you for all the inputs!
I am studying real.....llly hard for COMLEX 2. Have to score as high as I can! Will take USMLE 2, not Step I--too hard and too little time to go back and study all the biochem etc for it. Will definitely not let my goose fried!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

[facetguy]

I'm not sure how the whole thing works yet (I'm just applying to med schools now), but I thought that any program that looks at USMLE scores would want Step I also, and not just Step II??? Won't those programs just say, "Hey, where's your Step I scores?". How would you reply to that question? I don't think they would look too favorably on "Step I would have been too hard" as a response. In other words, either they want all COMLEX or all USMLE, not just parts of one or the other...do I have that correct, or am I misunderstanding the process?

 

[frank51]

I'm not sure how the whole thing works yet (I'm just applying to med schools now), but I thought that any program that looks at USMLE scores would want Step I also, and not just Step II??? Won't those programs just say, "Hey, where's your Step I scores?". How would you reply to that question? I don't think they would look too favorably on "Step I would have been too hard" as a response. In other words, either they want all COMLEX or all USMLE, not just parts of one or the other...do I have that correct, or am I misunderstanding the process?

It depends on the program, many students do a lot better on Step 2 compared to Step 1, so if you know you're not going to do well on Step 1, there is no point in taking it.

 

[facetguy]

It depends on the program, many students do a lot better on Step 2 compared to Step 1, so if you know you're not going to do well on Step 1, there is no point in taking it.

But doesn't a USMLE-driven program want to see USMLE scores across the board, as opposed to just a pick-and-choose approach (such as selectively taking just Step 2 because it is easier than Step 1)? And does a DO program care about USMLE scores, or are they looking at just COMLEX scores?

 

[neuroride]

I only took Step II and no Step I. While interviewing at the place that I matched at, one of the faculty thought more highly of good step II score because he thought that it was more clinical and less BS stuff like on Step I

 

[frank51]

But doesn't a USMLE-driven program want to see USMLE scores across the board, as opposed to just a pick-and-choose approach (such as selectively taking just Step 2 because it is easier than Step 1)? And does a DO program care about USMLE scores, or are they looking at just COMLEX scores?

I wouldn't say Step 2 is easier, it's more clinical, so some people do better some do worst, Step 1 has a lot of biochem, genetic, etc. which can be a good thing or not depending on how well you understand these topics. As the poster above mentioned Step 1 has more BS. As far as I know D.O programs only look at your COMLEX score.

 

[amyl]

i know alot of step one can seem like a lot of b.s. but while recently listening to audio blue (a book for the anesthesiology boards on cd) i was very surprised how much some of the step one material was there. no genetics, etc. but some biochem and sooooo much physio. which the program emphasizes, step one or step two, varies... there are some places that look harder at step one as well.