Low comlex IM

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pinkprincess246

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I have a score in the low 500s. there are plenty of places that have a minimum below my score, but I am still afraid. can someone with a success story please let me know because i'm starting to get kind of worried
 
pinkprincess246 said:
I have a score in the low 500s. there are plenty of places that have a minimum below my score, but I am still afraid. can someone with a success story please let me know because i'm starting to get kind of worried
Click to expand...

Don't worry. You'll get mid-tier and low-tier academic IM places with that score even without Step. Plenty of community IM places will want you also.
 
pinkprincess246 said:
I have a score in the low 500s. there are plenty of places that have a minimum below my score, but I am still afraid. can someone with a success story please let me know because i'm starting to get kind of worried
Click to expand...

Hang in there and have hope. Start PM program coordinators in 2-3 months about how strict cutoffs are. Rotate at places that you really want to go at and try and get letters from there.

Work hard and you'll get where you need to go.

Take my word on it. I was also a comlex only applicant and just matched to a university IM program!
 
mathnerd88 said:
Don't worry. You'll get mid-tier and low-tier academic IM places with that score even without Step. Plenty of community IM places will want you also.
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Kind of doubt that...

OP will definitely get into IM, but should not count too much on mid-tier programs with only COMLEX...
 
mathnerd88 said:
I just matched into a mid-tier with comlex only for IM so yes, it is definitely possible.
Click to expand...

Congrats!

There will alway be atypical cases, but I don't think it's the norm...
 
Splenda88 said:
Congrats!

There will alway be atypical cases, but I don't think it's the norm...
Click to expand...

Thank you! Also OP, just letting you know, programs also look for more things than just what your score is. If you have research pubs, good LORs, good clinical grades it definitely helps.
 
AlteredScale said:
Hang in there and have hope. Start PM program coordinators in 2-3 months about how strict cutoffs are. Rotate at places that you really want to go at and try and get letters from there.

Work hard and you'll get where you need to go.

Take my word on it. I was also a comlex only applicant and just matched to a university IM program!
Click to expand...


congrats!!

cutoffs as in scores? Most of the ones I have looked at have 500 as the min so I wasn't too worried about that, but I just don't know how close to the min they take lol Also, I am definitley trying to apply broadly for auditions, but I haven't had any confirmed yet, and a lot of places have already cancelled auditions b/c of corona so I'm sure more will follow with that :/ so it's a possibility I won't be able to to do any and get letters from them
 
pinkprincess246 said:
CONGRATS!!!! that is so awesome!

were you also in the low 500s? any tips?
Click to expand...

I scored below 550 in both Level 1 and Level 2. I ended up with 30 interviews. At a really amazing community IM place with a huge amount of fellowships the PD told me during my interview that since the SD is almost 100 points for comlex that it doesn't really matter whether you scored 500 or 600.

You will have no problem matching into a reputable community IM program with fellowships. You will still have a shot into academic IM. Some academic programs you can apply to both primary care and categorical track and they consider them both the same (and you can switch tracks after acceptance, for example, primary care into categorical or vice versa). Not many applicants know about this and do not apply primary care thinking that they'll be stuck with it. This will definitely increase your chances. Unfortunately I only figured this out towards the end of my interview season otherwise I would have probably snagged a couple more Academic IM interviews by applying to primary care tracks.

I would recommend trying to get good LOR's, bust your ass for Level 2, and if you want academic IM, do research. You do not need research for decent community IM Programs.
 
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mathnerd88 said:
I scored below 550 in both Level 1 and Level 2. I ended up with 30 interviews. At a really amazing community IM place with a huge amount of fellowships the PD told me during my interview that since the SD is almost 100 points for comlex that it doesn't really matter whether you scored 500 or 600.

You will have no problem matching into a reputable community IM program with fellowships. You will still have a shot into academic IM. Some academic programs you can apply to both primary care and categorical track and they consider them both the same (and you can switch tracks after acceptance, for example, primary care into categorical or vice versa). Not many applicants know about this and do not apply primary care thinking that they'll be stuck with it. This will definitely increase your chances. Unfortunately I only figured this out towards the end of my interview season otherwise I would have probably snagged a couple more Academic IM interviews by applying to primary care tracks.

I would recommend trying to get good LOR's, bust your ass for Level 2, and if you want academic IM, do research. You do not need research for decent community IM Programs.
Click to expand...

congrats dude!
 
I got low 400s on Comlex 1. And I didn't take USMLE. I knew I wanted to go to an academic IM program so I literally applied to every academic program in the US that didn't require USMLE and that had at least 5% DOs (I knew I wasn't gonna be the first DO ever accepted anywhere). The exceptions to that was places where I had connections (such as doing an away - not even a SubI - at a program) and programs in my home state. I also applied to a ton of other community programs for a total of 160ish applications in IM. I also applied to primary care tracks and I'll admit that was a lifesaver. I got 21 interview invites and ended up going on 19. You're able to rank the categorical programs separately from the primary care track. I ended up ranking 19 programs (left 3 off), with 3 sets of categorical and PCs at the same program. I matched at an IM program in the PC track at a university program and I'm so excited. Hang in there. You're not in bad shape at all.
 
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Anon365 said:
I got a 408 on Comlex 1. Yes, a 408. And I didn't take USMLE. I knew I wanted to go to an academic IM program so I literally applied to every academic program in the US that didn't require USMLE and that had at least 5% DOs (I knew I wasn't gonna be the first DO ever accepted anywhere). The exceptions to that was places where I had connections (such as doing an away - not SubI - at a program) and programs in my home state. I also applied to a ton of other community programs for a total of 160ish applications in IM. I also applied to primary care tracks and I'll admit that was a lifesaver. I got 21 interview invites and ended up going on 19. You're able to rank the categorical programs separately from the primary care track. I ended up ranking 19 programs (left 3 off), with 3 sets of categorical and PCs at the same program. I matched at an IM program in the PC track at a huge university program in the Northeast and I'm so excited. Hang in there. You're not in bad shape at all.
Click to expand...

Congrats! Just curious, did you have any research/publications etc.?
 
Prehealth1011 said:
Congrats! Just curious, did you have any research/publications etc.?
Click to expand...

Yeah I did. I had 2 peer-reviewed, 6 posters, and 4 oral presentations. I included a few things from before med school (going back to 2012). I also had 3 work experiences and 6 volunteer experiences on my ERAS.
 
pinkprincess246 said:
congratrs! thanks for this advice!!

do you happen to have any docs you made during the process that you can share? I have been making an excel sheet but ones i've gotten from others have been super helpful as well
Click to expand...

I actually didn't really make any docs during the interview process. I mainly went by gut feel and used the reddit spreadsheets to see what other candidates felt at certain programs. I find the reddit ones to be extremely helpful.

I'm not an extremely picky guy and I find that all programs are pretty much 80-85% similar because they have to abide by ACGME rules. Intern year is crappy no matter where you go. The only things I actually cared about are: location, availability of fellowships and if they take their own, cafeteria, the facilities, friendliness of faculty and residents, availability of a POCUS curriculum, and general feel if you'll fit into the program. Once those interviews start pouring in, it just becomes overwhelming and I wasn't going to make a list. I'm not a list type of guy. At least in my experience, it was easy to figure out what my top 5 are once you've gone through all your interviews.

It's really kind of like dating. Sometimes you'll know within 5 minutes if you match well with the program or not.
 
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Hi Im applying this cycle and with COVID im extra worried since I do have a comlex level 1 retake, I retook it passed 450's, level 2 480's step 2: 226, step 1 pending. Im applying IM only and CA, NJ, NY, PA. I have a 135 programs on the list should I add more? how many interviews do you think I would need to be safe during this cycle lol I know im kinda asking an impossible question but I am open to speculation lol. TIA!
 
Anon365 said:
I got a 408 on Comlex 1. Yes, a 408. And I didn't take USMLE. I knew I wanted to go to an academic IM program so I literally applied to every academic program in the US that didn't require USMLE and that had at least 5% DOs (I knew I wasn't gonna be the first DO ever accepted anywhere). The exceptions to that was places where I had connections (such as doing an away - not SubI - at a program) and programs in my home state. I also applied to a ton of other community programs for a total of 160ish applications in IM. I also applied to primary care tracks and I'll admit that was a lifesaver. I got 21 interview invites and ended up going on 19. You're able to rank the categorical programs separately from the primary care track. I ended up ranking 19 programs (left 3 off), with 3 sets of categorical and PCs at the same program. I matched at an IM program in the PC track at a huge university program in the Northeast and I'm so excited. Hang in there. You're not in bad shape at all.
Click to expand...
Just out of curiosity and based on what I have heard, is it possible to change from the PC track to the regular specialty track??
 
Umm what's the categorical vs primary care stuff mentioned in this thread?
 
hungrydoc710 said:
Umm what's the categorical vs primary care stuff mentioned in this thread?
Click to expand...

Some programs offer categorical IM spots (regular IM residency) and in addition, a Primary care track for residents. Typically those programs take a few applicants for the primary care track. These are often designed to have a different schedule in terms of rotations and blocks that gear the resident towards a PC life following residency. Really it's designed for people who are dead set on outpatient adult medicine. I think the big difference is the primary care track has more outpatient clinic months vs the regular categorical track that is designed to give the resident a deep dive into all things IM
 
SOCalXtine said:
Hi Im applying this cycle and with COVID im extra worried since I do have a comlex level 1 retake, I retook it passed 450's, level 2 480's step 2: 226, step 1 pending. Im applying IM only and CA, NJ, NY, PA. I have a 135 programs on the list should I add more? how many interviews do you think I would need to be safe during this cycle lol I know im kinda asking an impossible question but I am open to speculation lol. TIA!
Click to expand...

No one can really answer this confidently. I will say 135 is a lot so that should be good but ultimately it's up to you and your confidence level. In terms of how many interviews, for IM it's generally noted that ~12 interviews gives you around a >95% chance of matching. So I think getting 12+ is a good goal/target to have. I know that's what I'm shooting for and I'm applying IM as well this cycle. I currently have 90 programs on my list.
 
Espressso said:
No one can really answer this confidently. I will say 135 is a lot so that should be good but ultimately it's up to you and your confidence level. In terms of how many interviews, for IM it's generally noted that ~12 interviews gives you around a >95% chance of matching. So I think getting 12+ is a good goal/target to have. I know that's what I'm shooting for and I'm applying IM as well this cycle. I currently have 90 programs on my list.
Click to expand...


Thank you ! this cycle is just so nerve wrecking i remember in the past 12 IV invites is golden I just wonder if this cycle people are gong to need more than 12 or stay the same. I guess we shall see !
 
mathnerd88 said:
I scored below 550 in both Level 1 and Level 2. I ended up with 30 interviews. At a really amazing community IM place with a huge amount of fellowships the PD told me during my interview that since the SD is almost 100 points for comlex that it doesn't really matter whether you scored 500 or 600.

You will have no problem matching into a reputable community IM program with fellowships. You will still have a shot into academic IM. Some academic programs you can apply to both primary care and categorical track and they consider them both the same (and you can switch tracks after acceptance, for example, primary care into categorical or vice versa). Not many applicants know about this and do not apply primary care thinking that they'll be stuck with it. This will definitely increase your chances. Unfortunately I only figured this out towards the end of my interview season otherwise I would have probably snagged a couple more Academic IM interviews by applying to primary care tracks.

I would recommend trying to get good LOR's, bust your ass for Level 2, and if you want academic IM, do research. You do not need research for decent community IM Programs.
Click to expand...
Congrats on all your success! Just curious, how many programs did you apply? I have:

Comlex 1- 556
Comlex 2-578
Step 1- 223
Step 2ck- 250

and am applying to 40 programs all in the Midwest. Wondering if I am way off base here. Thanks in advance!
 
hawthorn9797 said:
Congrats on all your success! Just curious, how many programs did you apply? I have:

Comlex 1- 556
Comlex 2-578
Step 1- 223
Step 2ck- 250

and am applying to 40 programs all in the Midwest. Wondering if I am way off base here. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
You'll get low/mid tier IM. No need to apply for more.
 
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