For those who have TAKEN both USMLE and COMLEX

[MrBeauregard]

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A search didn't quite yield the information I am looking for. I'm a MS-2 at a DO school and I'm planning on taking both the USMLE and COMLEX this coming June. I searched and I found a couple threads on score comparisons, if both tests were necessary for specific residencies, etc. but never really anything on timeframe and what people wished they had done differently. So here are my questions, and again, I pose these questions to people who have already taken both the USMLE and COMLEX:

Question 1: Which test did you take first?
Question 2: If you could do it again, which test would you take first?
Question 3: What were the major, glaring differences between the two tests that you wish you had known before beginning to study for them? Example: I've heard that COMLEX is more clinical and USMLE is a little more into the factoid-side of things. I don't need a breakdown of each subject, just the overall feel of each exam.
Question 4: What resources did you use and what resources would you use if you could do it again?

I appreciate anyone who can give me some insight. Currently I'm reading First Aid along with my systems, mainly to get through First Aid once or twice and to familiarize myself with the text before dedicated time. I'm not really 'studying' at this point. I'm also following along in Goljan RR Path as we go through our systems. Again, this is just to familiarize myself with the text and to have at least gone through it once by the time I get to dedicated time. I'm also listening to Goljan audio along with it. I'd like to purchase a bank at some point and it will most likely be UWorld.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot, guys!

PS- As an aside, I am shooting for a competitive residency, so I'm really trying to max out my score potential, something like 240-250+ and roughly 650+.

 

[sylvanthus]

A search didn't quite yield the information I am looking for. I'm a MS-2 at a DO school and I'm planning on taking both the USMLE and COMLEX this coming June. I searched and I found a couple threads on score comparisons, if both tests were necessary for specific residencies, etc. but never really anything on timeframe and what people wished they had done differently. So here are my questions, and again, I pose these questions to people who have already taken both the USMLE and COMLEX:

Question 1: Which test did you take first? USMLE first, then COMLEX approximately 4 days later.
Question 2: If you could do it again, which test would you take first? I would do it the same, studying for the USMLE, then hitting saverese and combank for a few days to switch to comlex thinking was a wise idea I think.
Question 3: What were the major, glaring differences between the two tests that you wish you had known before beginning to study for them? Example: I've heard that COMLEX is more clinical and USMLE is a little more into the factoid-side of things. I don't need a breakdown of each subject, just the overall feel of each exam. Ehh its not that one is more clinical than the other. I think the USMLE gives you more clues as to what the correct answer is, so you can think your way through the problem. While, the COMLEX gives you just one hint and you are just supposed to know the answer. So it is more of a gut instinct type of questioning. The COMLEX likes to toss in distractors also. Furthermore, COMLEX questions are more poorly worded, so it often leaves you guessing what in the world it was even asking.
Question 4: What resources did you use and what resources would you use if you could do it again?

1) Goljan Audio
2) Kaplan videos (200+ hours)
3) FA
4) micro made rid simple
5) UW
6) Kaplan QBANK ( I went through about 1/2 of it before switching to UW)

These were my major resources, I would most likely do it nearly the same, but I would forget about kaplan qbank and do UW twice since I only got through it one time.



I appreciate anyone who can give me some insight. Currently I'm reading First Aid along with my systems, mainly to get through First Aid once or twice and to familiarize myself with the text before dedicated time. I'm not really 'studying' at this point. I'm also following along in Goljan RR Path as we go through our systems. Again, this is just to familiarize myself with the text and to have at least gone through it once by the time I get to dedicated time. I'm also listening to Goljan audio along with it. I'd like to purchase a bank at some point and it will most likely be UWorld.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot, guys!

PS- As an aside, I am shooting for a competitive residency, so I'm really trying to max out my score potential, something like 240-250+ and roughly 650+.

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