IM residencies in DC Area that accept COMLEX

[daveyjwin]

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I'm a third year Osteopathic Student at a school in FL, and am looking to do an IM residency in the DC/Baltimore area. I didn't take the USMLE, but did above average, though not great, on the COMLEX, with a score in the 520s (roughly 60th percentile I think). The only ones available in the area are Allopathic programs though, so I called a bunch of them, and found out which ones accept COMLEX, and they are as follows:
George Washington University Hospital
St Agnes Hospital
Franklin Square Hospital Center
Union Memorial Hospital Center
Mercy Medical Center
Problem is that I really have no idea how competitive these programs are, and if I even have a realistic shot at any of them. I suspect I'd need better scores for George Washington University and Mercy, but the others I really am clueless. I'd like to do an away rotation at one or two of them if I could, but I don't want to waste a rotation at a particular hospital if it's hopeless. I will of course apply to all of them, but I guess my question is, not to be cliche, but "What are my chances?" and "What should I do?"

Thanks!

 

[gutonc]

Since it borders on free to apply to programs these days (yes, I know, $10-30 is not free but still) the best option seems to just apply and see what happens.

 

[daveyjwin]

Right, but what should I do as far as doing away rotations, would it be better to do one at one of the smaller programs I may have a better chance at, or a larger/better program? Would it be worth it applying to the programs that say they don't take COMLEX, hoping that the secretary on the phone simply didn't know the answer and said "USMLE only." Then there's the whole DO vs MD match thing. The nearest DO residencies are in Philly, which is a fair bir farther out than I would want to be. Also, if I apply to DO residencies and get into one, I have to withdraw from the MD match. But if I do MD only in the area, and don't get into one, I'm SOL.

I suppose best case scenario would be if I skipped the DO match and got into one of the programs I listed above. Worst case scenario, I would skip the DO match, not get into any of the MD programs above, and have to scramble for some place. With my COMLEX scores and good clinical scores (As and Bs), what are the chances of each of these scenarios, and what should I do to make my chances lean more toward the best case, as opposed to the worst case, scenario?

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

There are tons of osteopathic IM slots open after the match, even in some of the best of our programs. I would take a shot at the places you want to be.

SDN rumor: I have read on here that some of the osteo IM programs leave spots open for the DO's that dont match in the MD match.