Is taking the USMLE a requirement?

[rmj254]

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I have been looking through FM programs I'd be interested in attending and some of them openly state that they will accept COMLEX scores. If the program doesn't state that they accept them, should I assume that they will only take USMLE scores? I ask because I'm in the middle of trying to decide if I want to take both the COMLEX and USMLE, and don't want to take both if I don't need to do so.

 

[survivordo]

From what I have seen COMLEX should be fine for 99% of FM programs. Besides, for the ones that are that adamant that you MUST have USMLE how open do you really think they will be toward having a DO?

Survivor DO

 

[rmj254]

I guess my confusion arises in that many (nearly all) of the programs have DOs in them. Should I just assume that they only took the COMLEX?

 

[Dharma]

what if you change your mind and don't end up going FM? any other specialities you're interested in on the allo side of things that may want to see that USMLE score?

 

[rmj254]

If I don't go FM, I am most interested in IM because I want to practice rural medicine. I'm definitely not interested in trying to go to big name programs, either. Community or smaller university programs are fine with me.

 

[aterry]

I am an OMS4 student doing the MD match only. I did COMLEX only for steps 1 and 2 and got interviews at almost all the places I applied. I got interviews at Duke, Wake Forest, Riverside, OHSU, Univ of Tennessee as well as smalller community-based MD programs as well. If you do well on your COMLEX you should be fine. I did average on Step 1 and above average on Step 2. It also depends on region. I was mainly interested in the southeast with programs in OH and TX too. Good luck and PM me if you want more specifics!