Is it game over?

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avery7

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I'm a 3rd year DO student and I'm really interested in going for EM. However, I passed comlex 1 on my 2nd attempt. I plan on applying for both AOA and ACGME.

How screwed am I with this red flag? Should I even bother auditioning at places that set a minimum level 1 cutoff? I'm not sure how likely I would be able to match with this current status. How can this situation change if I were to take step 1 and get >220? Would I still be considered not competitive?

I appreciate any feedback.
 
If you can get 220+, I would think it would be enough assuming step 2 improvement and good SLOE's. You may be screwed for AOA programs, but if you get 220+ USMLE I doubt ACGME programs would care about COMLEX.
 
Aim for 240 with all other things considered. The average 2 years ago was 230 and it can only be going up and with as competitive as it is for DOs without any redflags, you need to be above average with a good excuse.

You still have a shot at AOA, just be open and explained what happened.

Above all else, probably need to apply to every program in the country.
 
If you really want to do EM, I wouldn't call it quits.

You just need to do the best you can on future tests and rotations.
Apply broadly (like every program in existence) and see how it pans out.

Even doing a prelim year in something else and reapplying may be needed.

If you end up getting interviews, don't make excuses for the fail, even if you have one.
 
It's not game over, but you have to work very hard from here on out. How are your rotation grades? Take step 1 and do well, that should help soften the blow. Do well on step2/complex2, do well on your EM rotations. Apply broadly as well. All over the place. Also have a backup plan, like FM.
 
I've been doing well on my rotations and have been receiving positive evaluations thus far.

Thank you all-- I'm going to bite the bullet and go for it.
 
If you do well on clinical rotations, there is definitely a good chance. We were always pretty competitive in the AOA match, and I can tell you almost every year we have people we still rank competitively that have failed something. Why? Because they rotated here and were great students. Programs can overlook poor board scores if they know you are a slam dunk clinically. You'll find more trouble with trying to get interviews at places you didn't rotate at though. But even then, if you do get interviews and you have very good clinical scores / great sloes, you'll match somewhere.

Obviously, the best advice is to score well and don't fail anything. Lol. But if you do, don't give up. Persevere, work hard, and follow what you want to do. Absolute worse case scenario, you scramble into one of the unlimited number of FP scramble spots. But don't just settle and match into FP just because you're afraid you may not match in EM.

Once you're foot is in the door and you get interviews, SLOEs and direct clinical experience with the student (ie they rotated and were impressive) trumps board scores everytime. So kickass clinically, thats your best bet.
 
Hey guys,
I've been looking around some DO EM programs and there's one that I'm really interested in applying for auditioning. However, there's a minimum comlex 1 score in order to be considered for an interview, which I won't be able to make the cutoff. Is it a bad idea to still audition here get a SLOE (and to learn as my first audition), even if I can't get an interview later?
 
avery7 said:
Hey guys,
I've been looking around some DO EM programs and there's one that I'm really interested in applying for auditioning. However, there's a minimum comlex 1 score in order to be considered for an interview, which I won't be able to make the cutoff. Is it a bad idea to still audition here get a SLOE (and to learn as my first audition), even if I can't get an interview later?
Click to expand...

I see no point wasting your time auditioning at a place if they've told you they won't even interview you based on your step 1 score. That seems like a waste of a month. I'd go somewhere where you can get a good SLOE and an interview; might as well maximize your time spent.
 
I was also a DO student. I didn't fail my COMLEX but didn't do stellar but got well over 22o on the USMLE Step 1. My focus was USMLE anyway as I wanted to apply only to ACGME programs. ACGME program didn't care about my COMLEX and ended up getting about 12-13 interviews. Do stellar on your STEP 2, get great SLOE and apply broadly.. you ll be fine.
 
My general advice to you is to avoid hospital based specialties as you look towards the future.
 
sb247 said:
given teh AAPS references in @Old_Mil 's sig, I'm going to assume they are referencing the lack of autonomy if you go hospital based. No freedom to really set your terms as you end up working for the system.
Click to expand...
Isn't this where healthcare is headed anyway?
 
asdf123g said:
how come?
Click to expand...
Having a job where you take 100% of the responsibility for what happens while having 0% of the authority for making it happens is a really bad way to make a living.

If you aren't hospital based you will, at least for the immediate future, be able to remove yourself from the CMS system and be a cash based practice.
 
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