how big of a pain is taking both boards really

[crys20]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So in my ongoing dilemma of wondering "if i get into do and md schools what do i pick" I'm considering what the disadv are of choosing a DO school in a place i'd really like to live over an md school in one i possibly would not. i've considered the debt, and the initials, but am wondering how big of a pain is it taking both the comlex and the usmles? is that, in and of itself, reason enough to pick md? or is it a non-issue once you get there?

my other thought is of OMM lab. now i am sorta psyched to learn OMM. i don't think i'll be super good at it, and i know that odds are i'll never use it. sooo...wondering from you students how big of a pain it actually is going to the lab and learning it when you already feel so overwhelmed with your 'important' subjects. or is it viewed more positively? final thing is i was looking at azcom's block schedule for 1st years...it seems like alot of class...but is it more than the avg MD school would have? how DO the do schools fit in everything plus OMM? is it more class-time, or less emphasis on like a PBL or physical exam class, or something like that?

thanks guys as always 🙂

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I dont know but Id imagine its something like taking the MCRAP twice in a month.

 

[BklynWill]

So in my ongoing dilemma of wondering "if i get into do and md schools what do i pick" I'm considering what the disadv are of choosing a DO school in a place i'd really like to live over an md school in one i possibly would not. i've considered the debt, and the initials, but am wondering how big of a pain is it taking both the comlex and the usmles? is that, in and of itself, reason enough to pick md? or is it a non-issue once you get there?

my other thought is of OMM lab. now i am sorta psyched to learn OMM. i don't think i'll be super good at it, and i know that odds are i'll never use it. sooo...wondering from you students how big of a pain it actually is going to the lab and learning it when you already feel so overwhelmed with your 'important' subjects. or is it viewed more positively? final thing is i was looking at azcom's block schedule for 1st years...it seems like alot of class...but is it more than the avg MD school would have? how DO the do schools fit in everything plus OMM? is it more class-time, or less emphasis on like a PBL or physical exam class, or something like that?

thanks guys as always 🙂

Most ACGME accredited (Allopathic) residencies accept COMLEX scores in place of USMLE scores. Of the people I know who took both tests, most said it wasn't a huge problem since it was only a few days of testing following the standard 6-8 weeks of intense studying. Some people even said that the USMLE was easier than the COMLEX this year.

As far as taking OMM, it's not a major pain. A lot of people love it, especially when it is properly tied into the rest of the curriculum. A good administration should not project the OMM component as a "less important" subject, though it can be seen as so since not all DOs will use it in practice. It's still something we need to learn as osteopathic medicial students!

 

[docslytherin]

i took both this year (and am still waiting on results from both!!) but felt like is wasn't that big of a deal. the comlex is a ridiculous exam. it's so absurdly hard that it makes my head hurt now just thinking about it almost 2 months later. the usmle wasn't necessarily "easier" but it was a MUCH better test. the questions were difficult, but direct if that makes any sense. there is no ambiguity in what you're being asked and the phrasings are much better. it seemed like a test of a second year medical student. the comlex, a lot of the time, seemed like an exam of a fourth year student.

 

[mfrederi]

Not really a big deal taking both tests as far as studying for two exams or whatever. however I will echo the above poster in that I would rather take the USMLE 3 times than take the COMLEX once. It is a betting of the highest order, but it is changing formats to the computer next year, so I expect a substantial change in the number of questions and time for the exam. I.E. I expect that the COMLEX will become more like the USMLE, taking only one day with 300-400 questions. As far as manip lab, well it wasn't my favorite thing about school. But many people really enjoyed it, and even though I don't feel it was worth it, I do feel that all that experience with examining classmates gives me an added level of comfort on my physical exams on rotations now. Good luck, I think you should know that ultimately school is a part of your life, not your whole life. So where you live and your surrounding support system is just as important if not more important than where you go to school. Even at the best school in the world you will have your fair number of sorry days that really beat you down. If you are in a place where you can deal better with that adversity it will make a huge difference in your school experience.

 

[OrthoFixation]

I appreciate everyone's responses. Very enlightning indeed 👍

 

[dr.z]

I am worried about this too.

 

[Green912]

i took both this year (and am still waiting on results from both!!) but felt like is wasn't that big of a deal. the comlex is a ridiculous exam. it's so absurdly hard that it makes my head hurt now just thinking about it almost 2 months later. the usmle wasn't necessarily "easier" but it was a MUCH better test. the questions were difficult, but direct if that makes any sense. there is no ambiguity in what you're being asked and the phrasings are much better. it seemed like a test of a second year medical student. the comlex, a lot of the time, seemed like an exam of a fourth year student.

Exactly!

 

[Dies Irae]

There got to be a significant amount of overlap between the COMLEX and USMLE. If not...

 

[NMH2001]

no, it's not a hassle at all. Basically you are studying for both a the some time. Only major differences are no OMM on the USMLE, very few biochem on COMLEX. Plus, as other posters have mentioned-the USMLE is a fairly written test. The COMLEX sucks. I have never seen a more poorly written test! You have to rely on your 6th sense and mind reading capabilities to figure out what they are asking!!!

 

[rad_one]

Better than applying to residencies, getting no interviews and thinking to yourself...."if I'd only taken the USMLE."

 

[Ratch]

i thought the two tests were quite opposite. comlex asked you to spit back alot of factual info, where you had some question stem and then 5 bacteria, or 5 drug choices, or something like that. the worst part of comlex was the length. not true of usmle, you usually had to think a step or two further down the line. so instead of what is the best treatment for chlamydia (asked ad nauseum as us 2007'ers know), usmle asked you to look at a patient with chlamydia and provide what the most common side effect, or the mech of action, of the drug you ought to select... i would have taken more time to study for usmle if i were to do it again, and focus on mol bio and immunology, as well as behavioral and genetics. those were subjects i did not study for one bit on comlex and were hit up hard on my version of usmle. my opinion, for what it is worth.

 

[alimarie81]

OMM is just like anything else- you get out what you put in. AT CCOM (for 1st years), we had a 3 hr lab on Wed mornings. Honestly, it was a nice break to be in the lab with some active learning, rather than sitting in lecture halls for endless hours. (And yes, at both AZCOM and CCOM the lecture and exam schedules are unbelievable). Even if you do not use OMM skills in the future, you WILL use the concepts and the approach. Learning how to work on your classmates with OMM will make it easier for you to relate to patients, and I think will make you a better doctor. Its especially useful if you are thinking about going into ortho, rehab, etc.

Comments on the COMLEX....next year will be computerized and one day (more like the USMLE), so it will be less torturous than the exams in the past.

 

[sophiejane]

COMLEX I was easier than our internal exams at TCOM. Most of the questions were 1st or 2nd order and were about pure rote memorization of very common disorders. Lots of drugs and bugs and common cancers, lots of OMM, but if you know Dr. Simmons book, you will be set on OMM. If rote memorization isn't your strong point, this test will probably kick your butt.

We had a 99.2% pass rate this year, so I think it also depends on how well you were prepared by your school. I will say that there was a strong emphasis on clinical presentation and even treatment in our 2nd year lectures, and COMLEX I is a very clinically oriented exam.

It was not a big deal at all to take both exams. The worst part was the night before the USMLE, and shelling out the $500. Other than that, at least from the perspective of endurance, it was like cake compared to the 2 days of COMLEX hell. The testing centers are very nice (at least mine was) and the computer format was great.

 

[dvc fan]

I felt the USMLE was a lot harder than the COMLEX, but it was much, much better written. I was a lot more uncomfortable with most of my answer choices on the USMLE, and felt that I had to guess more during the test.

The OMM on the COMLEX was a joke. I either had never heard of some of the stuff, or it was so obvious it was ridiculous. And there were a lot of repeats. Not just on OMM, but many concepts in general. The USMLE was much more varied, so I felt it tested my knowledge better.

I would have done the same if I had to do it over again. Personally, I wouldn't wait more than 2 weeks between each exam, but that's my own preference.

 

[tristan0821]

there are many reasons you need to take the USMLE. first off it you imagine to get into any competitive field USMLE is something that will be a MAJOR factor. Many MD's are not comfortable or knowledgable of DO schools, every Dr I have met for treatment, eye doctor, derm. etc. had no Idea what school mine was. when you take the USMLE and score well 216 or over (216 was median this year) you are showing that your education was comprable and maybe even more well rounded then an MD school. plus if any smart a*s student says" ha you went DO because you couldnt make it MD" you can show you rocked the USMLE and shut them up for good.
but thats a bonus. the main reason is because the USMLE straight out is a better test for understanidng a logical, systematic, problem solving approach to medicine., the COMLEX is focused on what is beloved of DO schools/and its philosophy and neglects some of the major MAJOR directions of modern medicine...such as biochem, genetics, immunology, histology, pathology.
the USMLE is more like the MCAT with lenghty paragraphs and graphs. but this a good thing. thank the COMLEX is now thank G-D a one day and computerized exam, wich just shows DO's have acknowledged the MD test as a superior and more extensive exam. I feel if you decide to pass up the USMLE it may not hurt you, but if you are not able to do at least avg. on the USMLE your medical education is neglected. The subjects I have mentioned that are not focused on is down right shameful and irresponsible.

 

[cremaster2007]

dvc fan is right on the money

I took both, took the usmle about a week after comlex, and felt the usmle was harder mostly because you just don't get some of the subjects in detail (molecular genetics, etc). You may not need the usmle depending on what you want to do, but somebody once told me "why shut any doors"

 

[ajw927]

i took both exams in june. just got my scores back. did well on both exams.
i felt the usmle was a lot easier and less challenging. just basic science with some really stupid ethics questions. the only thing was that i wasn't used to taking computer exams. if i had practiced taking computer exams and rested a couple of days before the usmle (and not taking it the day after), i would have killed that exam.

comlex was very challenging and grueling. i mean almost 800 questions and 2 days. but the new format should be better. The questions were more clinical. There wasn't much omm on there, which was a surprise.

so to sum it up. it's not a big deal to take both exams. you're learning the same thing and MORE in school anyway.

good luck.
peace.

 

[raspberry swirl]

i took both (and just got my scores back for both . . . and passed both thankyouverymuch 😎 ). i dont necessarily think its more of a hassle to take both. i recommend taking them close together. i took them a week apart, and while i was a little brain dead for the second one, i cant imagine taking a month or two off, and then start studying all over again, like many of my friends are doing. just get them over with! there is a lot of debate over whether or not DO students should take the usmle, and while i dont think you need it, i am of the opinion that i probably can't hurt. regardless, i dont think the board exam should be a factor into what type of school you chose. there are so many more important considerations.

 

[megswinter82]

OK, so I think I posted this question somewhere else, but I can't find it since the search fxn has been disabled. Is it necessary for DO student to take all steps of the USMLE? Or can you get away with taking only the first step? Thanks!

 

[Badger1049]

Here at VCOM we are required to take USMLE I and all of COMLEX. Whether or not the USMLE II, etc are required, I would say it depends on the residency/program you are looking at. Since I am thinking surgical subspeciality, I am pretty darn sure that I will be needed to take as many exams as possilbe (unfortunately), but it won't be a different experience than that of my medical school. . .

 

[raspberry swirl]

unless a certain school has a particular requirement, it is never necessary for a DO student to take all three USMLE steps. Most DO students who take the USMLE take only the first step, but i do know of some who have taken Step II. I personally dont know any DO students who took Step III- since at the point, it would make no difference in your career. From what i understand, most residency programs are more concerned about Step I than Step II. there are multiple threads about this topic. try the usmle/comlex forum

 

[bobo]

unless a certain school has a particular requirement, it is never necessary for a DO student to take all three USMLE steps. Most DO students who take the USMLE take only the first step, but i do know of some who have taken Step II. I personally dont know any DO students who took Step III- since at the point, it would make no difference in your career. From what i understand, most residency programs are more concerned about Step I than Step II. there are multiple threads about this topic. try the usmle/comlex forum

..

bobo

 

[realmdo]

OK, so I think I posted this question somewhere else, but I can't find it since the search fxn has been disabled. Is it necessary for DO student to take all steps of the USMLE? Or can you get away with taking only the first step? Thanks!

1. taking both comlex and usmle together is not difficult. if you are confident in comlex, you should do very well on both. most people I know(including myself) have proved it.
2. generally speaking, usmle step 1 is good enough for allo residency b/c most students don't have step 2 grades when applying for the residency, allo or osteo. you need step 1 to compare your basic knowledge with the allo counterparts.
3. if you did not take step 1 or screwed it up, then you may need to take usmle step 2 and score it high. somebody said that step 2 is more important b/c it tests your clinical knowledge, I really doubt about it. remember, the only purpose of the usmle is to compare you w/ other allo candidates.
4. I don't really know why we need to take usmle step 3, unless you have got a MD degree somewhere or you might want to get into some competitive allo fellowship(??). For whatever reasons, there are about 50 DOs who take usmle step 3 each year(check usmle website for statistics)