Just got my board scores, i have no idea what they mean. Please help!

[sickwitted]

Hello,

Just got my USMLE and Step 1 scores back and they were: USMLE 218, COMLEX 559. Im a bit disappointed but I dont know what to make of them. Was around 230 on my NBMEs. What specialties am I competitive for? I was interested in Anesthesia, EM, or IM. Im assuming ill do the AOA match as my COMLEX score seems better. I dont really know how to interpret COMLEX scores for certain specialties as they seem to be all over the place...Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

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[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If we're basing it off of last year's averages then you have a below average but decent usmle and a solid above average comlex.

If this year's averages deviated then it's different. You won't know until fall probably.

 

[Instatewaiter]

If we're basing it off of last year's averages then you have a below average but decent usmle and a solid above average comlex.

If this year's averages deviated then it's different. You won't know until fall probably.

The score sheet should have a median with interquartile range or mean + standard devaition

 

[acapnial]

The score sheet should have a median with interquartile range or mean + standard devaition

This is what was given out as far as score interpretation when I took it last year. There's also a graph that gives a loose idea of how you did on each subsection.

 

[sickwitted]

thanks for the replies. Any idea on what a 559 comlex is competitive for specialty wise?

 

[hallowmann]

thanks for the replies. Any idea on what a 559 comlex is competitive for specialty wise?

You won't be blocked out of anything just based on score, but you'll have an uphill battle for the surgical subspecialties like Ortho, Ophtho, NS, ENT, etc. A lot of programs may actually cutoff at 600. It doesn't mean you don't have a shot (some cutoff at 550), just that I wouldn't call you competitive for them. Remember on the AOA side, auditions play a big role.

As far as the ACGME side, you should be fine for all the programs that are historically DO friendly (FM, Psych, community IM, PM&R, Neuro, Path, Peds) provided you apply broadly. I would consider ACGME surgical subspecialties out, and moderately competitive specialties a tough sell, but honestly I believe in dreaming big, but planning for the worst, so if you absolutely love something and have a backup, it may be worth a shot (if only to know that you tried). Something like EM is certainly possible, but will be more heavily dependant on your interactions with programs and your SLOEs, and again, how broadly you apply.