High USMLE/Mediocre COMLEX

[DOdoc4life]

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So I got my board scores:

240/99 USMLE Step 1
523/84 COMLEX Step 1 😕

I skimped on studying neuro and just used FA, so while the USMLE simply showed it as my weakest area, my COMLEX just happened to have a ton of it, and perhaps I had a brainfart that day.

Now I'm left with a bit of a conundrum... am I pretty much excluded from a lot of the competitive DO residencies b/c of my mediocre COMLEX performance, while the counterpart MD ones will just look at my USMLE? The whole point of taking the USMLE was to open doors... and it seems like they are the only open ones for me now.

I feel like a total putz for not preparing enough for the COMLEX, even though I took it first, maybe I just dropped the ball on the OMM?

If anyone could shed some light on what this all will really mean when it comes to match, I would appreciate it!

Thanks!

 

[BobBarker]

Well, what are you wanting to do? I have a 237/99 USMLE Step 1, and a 535/?? Comlex Level 1. I'm thinking anesthesia (only want to go allo here) or EM (I'd do an osteo residency in EM and be very happy. DOs run EM in my home state). I took USMLE first, and I slacked up on the Comlex, but I didn't really care as long as it was above 400. You're in a bit of a pickle if you were leaning for derm or something super competitive where very few DO's match into allo spots.

 

[SuperFemDoc22]

No one will care about you COMLEX score if you did that well on your USMLE. Some programs don't even look at your COMLEX scores if they see you have taken USMLE. No matter what, USMLE almost always trumps COMLEX even in DO programs. You're fine, stop worrying.

 

[DOdoc4life]

Barker - I have no idea what I want to do yet...
SuperFem - I was under the impression DO residencies didn't care at all about the USMLE??

 

[Purple23]

I think you'll do fine- I think having a USMLE higher than your COMLEX is probably better than the other way around. If you're worried about it though, you could take comlex 2 really early, and do good, so that programs have that score to see too.

 

[Terpskins99]

Barker - I have no idea what I want to do yet...
SuperFem - I was under the impression DO residencies didn't care at all about the USMLE??

Its a myth.

Based upon what I've heard, most DO program directors consider the USMLE to be a superior exam to evaluate applicants and know perfectly well how to decipher USMLE results.

For DO radiology residency in particular, program directors apparently prefer applicants that have taken the USMLE.

 

[DOdoc4life]

Thanks for the info!