MD programs that accept COMLEX w/o USMLE

[Haole]

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I realize the importance of taking the USMLE as a DO student to be competitive. I also realize anesthesia's level of competitiveness is increasing each year. That being said...I've seen on these forums in the past that people have been accepted with COMLEX scores alone. Are there people here who matched at allopathic institutions more recently, as in this year, with only COMLEX scores? If so, which programs? I know Hopkins looks at the COMLEX but they admit that the DO students they interview all scored above 600 or 90%ile. Are there programs that will consider slightly lower scores, perhaps > 85%ile? Please post if you know of any or PM if it's more appropriate. I know its pretty random but just trying to guage where I can compete with a COMLEX score. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[neuroride]

Where are you at as far as testing goes? (have you just taken COMLEX I and wondering about taking Step II?)

 

[amyl]

uflorida took people this year with only comlex -- for both steps. that is the only place i know that took people without one or the other usmle. louisville and oklahoma took someone with only step two usmle. all these people did away rotations at the place they matched. if you are going to go with only comlex the importance of the impression you make during aways is going to be very important, i think.
some people i know at least took one usmle, step one or step two, but most took both. taking step one is the most high yield in granting interviews as many places, esp the bigger programs, have a step one cut off screening process.
its never too late to take usmle step one...i took it at the end of third year and am so glad i did.
good luck (but take the usmle, esp if you were not close to 600).

 

[Haole]

I have plans to take the USMLE step II but was just curious if there were programs out there that were really OK with just a COMLEX score. I realize its not the recommended route, but if there were programs that looked at COMLEX equally I would love to know.

 

[smgilles]

I have plans to take the USMLE step II but was just curious if there were programs out there that were really OK with just a COMLEX score. I realize its not the recommended route, but if there were programs that looked at COMLEX equally I would love to know.

Cleveland Clinic. I was told specifically from the program director that they would put more credence on my COMLEX scores and not my USMLE's.

 

[RickKane]

Unfortunately, I would just go back and take Step 1. I had numerous PD's tell me they do not even consider an applicant without the USMLE. Not because they are "unfriendly" to DOs its just they need to compare apples to apples when looking at applicants. Like it or not that one test is the single most important factor when programs consider a students application. Could you match somewhere with only the COMLEX...possibly, but I wouldn't take that chance.

 

[amyl]

seriously, taking step one usmle was the best thing i did. believe me the last thing i wanted to do at the end of third year was go back and study biochem and immuno...but i did and am soooo glad. i am confident that i would not have gotten half the interviews i did without it.
as far as CCF, their position may recently have changed -- last december at my interview the PD commented that it was good that I took the usmle step one.... regardless, CCF seems super DO friendly and it should be on all future DOs application list ('course I may be a little biased ;-)

 

[DOanesthesia]

St. Louis University will accept COMLEX only. They have a high percentage of DO residents. It's not a big name program, but it seemed solid enough. You can get by with scores below 600 if your overall application is solid.

Most programs do want to see scores above 600 though. And they highly prefer the USMLE. But, if you are like me and decided to go into anesthesiology late 3rd year and did not want to go back and take step 1 it is still possible. Apply broadly and do away rotations at the places you're most interested in. Get solid letters, i.e., make sure your letter writers are willing to write you a STRONG recommendation. As far as taking step 2, I'm not sure what is most beneficial. I was told that it wasn't necessary and it worked out for me. However, I would now recommend taking it. It can only help your app.

 

[Idiopathic]

Its been stated before, but I would argue that as long as you think you can do well on Step 1 (i.e. above the mean) then it can only help you to take it. We can say there are programs that will accept COMLEX but it will definitely not be to your advantage to not take USMLE, unless you get the impression (i.e. from practice tests, etc) that you wont break 210. Just my opinion.

 

[amyl]

i agree with idio -- if you are going to do less than average don't take the usmle. a little while ago there was an article in the joao (the osteopathic med journal) that provided the MD programs with a formula to convert comlex into usmle scores. it was a horrible study based on fifty students from one osteo school who took both. but, the aoa gave it to the acgme and some programs do use it i think. according to my scores, the equation really underestimates your step one score.
you can take a practice test at the nmbe website -- they are similar to the real thing and were within a couple of points of predicting my scores both times. i would take one and unless it predicted poor scores take the damn usmle....both of them.