DO residency question

[dancingdoctor13]

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If I am pretty dead set on going into family medicine or primary care peds as a future DO med student, is COMPLEX pretty much all I have to worry about taking (I don't want to take USMLE if its not necessary)? Do most allopathic residencies in these fields also accept this test? I also don't want to go to residency in the middle of nowhere either (as most DO residencies are unfortunately) and hope to land one in a metropolitan or suburban hospital where a family can be raised. I couldn't find any pertinent information so if you all have any thoughts, please do tell.

 

[gatorfann14]

Comlex is good enough for a DO residency I believe. There are plenty of non rural residencies such as ones in Orlando and at pcom

 

[crazynate]

Im pretty sure allopathic residencies will not take the COMLEX (not COMPLEX, common mistake)

 

[JaggerPlate]

I probably wouldn't risk it - aka just take both - but my guess is that a lot of ACGME PC residencies would accept COMLEX scores.

 

[crazynate]

I probably wouldn't risk it - aka just take both - but my guess is that a lot of ACGME PC residencies would accept COMLEX scores.

really? you learn new things everyday

 

[JaggerPlate]

really? you learn new things everyday

I mean, I'm technically a "pre-med" too (although I start school in a few weeks), so I'm not claiming fact here, but I've heard (and from students) that some ACGME residencies will take COMLEX. Additionally, the PC ones (that struggle to get residents) would probably be most likely. I'd still probably take both.

 

[DOwnage]

I mean, I'm technically a "pre-med" too (although I start school in a few weeks), so I'm not claiming fact here, but I've heard (and from students) that some ACGME residencies will take COMLEX. Additionally, the PC ones (that struggle to get residents) would probably be most likely. I'd still probably take both.

+1

I've heard this as well, although I'm also considered "pre-med". I think it has something to do with dual certification. You might as well take the USMLE though, because if you want to land a primary care spot in either FP, Internal Medicine, or Peds, you will have wayyyyy more options (ie. quantity AND locations) to choose from in the ACGME residencies.

See what I mean:
http://www.acgme.org/adspublic/

http://www.opportunities.osteopathi...essionid=f030574eba468b09a7de2a61556f276c425f

 

[nlax30]

Im pretty sure allopathic residencies will not take the COMLEX (not COMPLEX, common mistake)

Sooo much speculation going on here.

Alright, you are going to HAVE to take COMLEX as a DO regardless. I don't have a number or statistic to quote, and I doubt you'll going to find one, but a "good number" of ACGME residencies will take the COMLEX score. If a program has taken DO's in the past chances are they have a decent idea by now on how to interpret a COMLEX score, it's not rocket science.

The question is whether or not to take USMLE step 1 and/or step 2. That's just going to depend. If you're are looking into applying to competitive allopathic programs then you probably should take it. If you are applying only DO then there's no reason to. If you are looking to go in something like FP or Peds at an allopathic program then it's probably debatable and certainly can be program specific. When the time comes you may just have to do some research on the specific program and see whether or not they accept COMLEX.

Point is: Allo programs WILL and can accept COMLEX, not all do and it's certainly program specific. There is no requirement to take USMLE if you are applying to allopathic programs, though it's usually recommended in a lot of cases IF you can do well on it. If you do yourself no favors if you decide to take it and then bomb it, regardless if you did well on COMLEX. Better to have just had the good comlex score then bomb "their" test.

I think around 30 or so of us in my class took USMLE step1, a little over 20%.

 

[ShyRem]

A great number of students in my class only took COMLEX. Many matched into ACGME residencies for FM and Peds. Those two are not competitive and most residencies in FM and Peds readily accept COMLEX in lieu of USMLE. Now if you're talking wanting Harvard or UConn for Peds or FM, you better take USMLE. But even Mayo and Cleveland Clinic are very DO friendly, and most other places you'll likely be ok. But do well if you want to shoot for higher tier programs.

If in doubt, call the programs in question.

 

[jm192]

ShyREM put it great.

If you want to do ACGME Plastics, Derm, Ortho you really need USMLE.

Family Practice more often than not, the COMLEX will be fine.

 

[Taty]

You can e-mail programs you are interested in and they'll tell you.

 

[TeamZissou]

I mean, I'm technically a "pre-med" too (although I start school in a few weeks), so I'm not claiming fact here, but I've heard (and from students) that some ACGME residencies will take COMLEX. Additionally, the PC ones (that struggle to get residents) would probably be most likely. I'd still probably take both.

IMHO the OP wouldn't have to take the COMLEX if they were already in school. However it will be very telling what happens to the c/o 2012 and especially 2013 (my class) since these classes are the start of the large increase of DO's graduating. The c/o 2013 had a large jump even on the c/o 2012. I'm not sure what the enrollment increase was for 2014.

I think it will either become immensely more competitive for "avg" specialties like neuro, PM&R and especially EM but also just for the more desirable FM, I'M, and Peds residencies that are in better places to live. Along with this it will either be expected for DO students to take the USMLE to be compared to allopathic students OR there will be so many DO students that programs will become more familiar with the COMLEX. We will see...