This story may be a bit lengthy, but I felt like it needed to be told.
Two months ago life was great. I was 4 days away from my medical school graduation and was gearing up for residency. My worries began on the morning of June 2 when I received an email from my school indicating that I was not cleared for graduation by the Dean's office. I figured it was a mixup with some paperwork in the administration office since all the other departments had cleared me. I called up my school and the secretary said, "Oh you must be one of the people on the PE list." I was confused and asked what that meant. She informed me that step 2 PE was now a requirement for graduation and that since I didn't have a score back yet (I took it in April) I couldn't be cleared for graduation.
I was shocked. I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach. I realize that some students were aware of step 2 PE becoming a graduation requirement, but I was not. My school never informed us of this. The dean's office defense was that it was in the student handbook that we had received almost 4 years ago. A disgusting excuse. I scheduled my PE in April due to my recent marriage and financial pressures, assuming that I only needed a passing grade by the end of my intern year. If I failed (and I was assured by everyone I know that I wouldn't) I figured I could retake the exam when I was living closer to Philadelphia anyway during my intern year. The bottom line is this - if I had any idea that not having COMLEX Step 2 PE scores could jeopardize my residency I would have taken it the summer/fall of my fourth year. I was simply not informed. I was also doing all my rotations out of state and wasn't around campus to hear about this from fellow students.
Long story short, 8 days later the PE results were posted. I failed. I fell apart emotionally. I could see my residency melting away before my eyes. I had pre-matched to my #1 choice in September and now there was no way I could start on time as planned. I called everyone I could think of. I first called my residency director. He informed me that this would throw a wrench in all of the resident scheduling and that although he would do what he could, he would probably not be able to hold my spot. Next I called the dean of my school. My dean let me know that back in April, this issue was brought up in a meeting between the osteopathic deans and the American Osteopathic Associations Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, also known as COCA. The deans were concerned because so many students had not yet taken step 2 PE and were in danger of not graduating on time because of the 3 month turn around on PE scores. COCA didn't care. They told the Deans that is was not their fault that students "chose" to take the exam so late. The deans were instructed to "gather more information" (whatever that means) for the September meeting since they only meet 3 times a year. I attribute it to simple laziness.
The dean of my school never even bothered to alert any of us that those concerns had been voiced at the meeting in April. I was then told that this was a nationwide problem and that well over 100 students across the country were in the same predicament of not being able to start their residencies as planned. I was told that my school and the deans of the other schools had already put together a request that COCA temporarily lift the graduation requirement since so many students had not been properly informed concerning it. I decided to hold out hope this would be the outcome. My wife and I traveled over 1000 miles to the city of my residency. I called COCA and begged them to convene early, maybe even by telephone, to consider the plight of students like myself. In the end, COCA denied the request from the deans. I received this final communication from my dean.
I called your program director and it sounds like he is still considering what to do, but that there is a fair chance that he will not hold a spot open as long as you would need. I have also spoken with the AOA today and did not find any relief there. I would recommend that you study to pass the PE the next time, keep trying for an earlier date for the test, and look for an alternate plan for postgraduate training in the event that your position is withdrawn. I wish you well.
Alternate plan for postgraduate education!! Are you kidding me!!! Being a doctor is the only possible way I can pay back the $250,000 that I have dumped into this education!! That is literally the last I heard from the dean's office until this last week. I received a voicemail congratulating me on passing my PE and to asking to get my address to have my diploma sent. Truly a small comfort. I will now be forced to start my residency 3 months late. I was lucky that my board scores were high enough that my residency director held any kind of spot for me. I scored 227/94 on USMLE Step 2 CK. Another reason I assumed I would pass PE. Starting 3 months late may not be a big deal to some, but since I have plan to apply to Cardiology fellowship, this will put me a full year behind, not to mention the enormous amount of money this has cost me in plane tickets, exam costs, and lost wages. I estimate this ordeal as costing $10,500 in lost wages, $1000 for the test, $500 for plan fare, and $500 for hotel expense. Grand total - $12,500.
I cannot begin to relate the emotional toll this experience has had on me. I couldn't sleep for weeks and had some significant depressive symptoms. My dean told me that for next year she has ensured that none of the 4th year students have PE scheduled later than January. Thats great for them. I hope it helps my dean sleep better at night. For me, I have to try to cope with the fallout caused by gross negligence on the part of my school and the indifference of COCA. Sorry for the long post, but the whole situation is a total disgrace to the DO community and hope other students with similar experiences will share them.
Two months ago life was great. I was 4 days away from my medical school graduation and was gearing up for residency. My worries began on the morning of June 2 when I received an email from my school indicating that I was not cleared for graduation by the Dean's office. I figured it was a mixup with some paperwork in the administration office since all the other departments had cleared me. I called up my school and the secretary said, "Oh you must be one of the people on the PE list." I was confused and asked what that meant. She informed me that step 2 PE was now a requirement for graduation and that since I didn't have a score back yet (I took it in April) I couldn't be cleared for graduation.
I was shocked. I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach. I realize that some students were aware of step 2 PE becoming a graduation requirement, but I was not. My school never informed us of this. The dean's office defense was that it was in the student handbook that we had received almost 4 years ago. A disgusting excuse. I scheduled my PE in April due to my recent marriage and financial pressures, assuming that I only needed a passing grade by the end of my intern year. If I failed (and I was assured by everyone I know that I wouldn't) I figured I could retake the exam when I was living closer to Philadelphia anyway during my intern year. The bottom line is this - if I had any idea that not having COMLEX Step 2 PE scores could jeopardize my residency I would have taken it the summer/fall of my fourth year. I was simply not informed. I was also doing all my rotations out of state and wasn't around campus to hear about this from fellow students.
Long story short, 8 days later the PE results were posted. I failed. I fell apart emotionally. I could see my residency melting away before my eyes. I had pre-matched to my #1 choice in September and now there was no way I could start on time as planned. I called everyone I could think of. I first called my residency director. He informed me that this would throw a wrench in all of the resident scheduling and that although he would do what he could, he would probably not be able to hold my spot. Next I called the dean of my school. My dean let me know that back in April, this issue was brought up in a meeting between the osteopathic deans and the American Osteopathic Associations Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, also known as COCA. The deans were concerned because so many students had not yet taken step 2 PE and were in danger of not graduating on time because of the 3 month turn around on PE scores. COCA didn't care. They told the Deans that is was not their fault that students "chose" to take the exam so late. The deans were instructed to "gather more information" (whatever that means) for the September meeting since they only meet 3 times a year. I attribute it to simple laziness.
The dean of my school never even bothered to alert any of us that those concerns had been voiced at the meeting in April. I was then told that this was a nationwide problem and that well over 100 students across the country were in the same predicament of not being able to start their residencies as planned. I was told that my school and the deans of the other schools had already put together a request that COCA temporarily lift the graduation requirement since so many students had not been properly informed concerning it. I decided to hold out hope this would be the outcome. My wife and I traveled over 1000 miles to the city of my residency. I called COCA and begged them to convene early, maybe even by telephone, to consider the plight of students like myself. In the end, COCA denied the request from the deans. I received this final communication from my dean.
I called your program director and it sounds like he is still considering what to do, but that there is a fair chance that he will not hold a spot open as long as you would need. I have also spoken with the AOA today and did not find any relief there. I would recommend that you study to pass the PE the next time, keep trying for an earlier date for the test, and look for an alternate plan for postgraduate training in the event that your position is withdrawn. I wish you well.
Alternate plan for postgraduate education!! Are you kidding me!!! Being a doctor is the only possible way I can pay back the $250,000 that I have dumped into this education!! That is literally the last I heard from the dean's office until this last week. I received a voicemail congratulating me on passing my PE and to asking to get my address to have my diploma sent. Truly a small comfort. I will now be forced to start my residency 3 months late. I was lucky that my board scores were high enough that my residency director held any kind of spot for me. I scored 227/94 on USMLE Step 2 CK. Another reason I assumed I would pass PE. Starting 3 months late may not be a big deal to some, but since I have plan to apply to Cardiology fellowship, this will put me a full year behind, not to mention the enormous amount of money this has cost me in plane tickets, exam costs, and lost wages. I estimate this ordeal as costing $10,500 in lost wages, $1000 for the test, $500 for plan fare, and $500 for hotel expense. Grand total - $12,500.
I cannot begin to relate the emotional toll this experience has had on me. I couldn't sleep for weeks and had some significant depressive symptoms. My dean told me that for next year she has ensured that none of the 4th year students have PE scheduled later than January. Thats great for them. I hope it helps my dean sleep better at night. For me, I have to try to cope with the fallout caused by gross negligence on the part of my school and the indifference of COCA. Sorry for the long post, but the whole situation is a total disgrace to the DO community and hope other students with similar experiences will share them.
