Meeting minimum Step 2 but not Level 2 score requirements for IM programs

[stormcloakdoctor]

Cross posting from Reddit because no one really knows, hoping to get some input from PDs if any exist on here:

Anyone have any insight on to this? I don't want to be roboscreened. I'm well above the minimum Step 2 reqs for all IM programs I'm applying to, but some of them have >600 COMLEX minimum, which I don't meet.

I'm well aware Step 2>Level 2. But I'm worried their filtering algorithms will just brush me off regardless. I worked my ass off for a great Step 2 score so this would piss me off lol

It seems like unusually cruel punishment to have a >4th percentile Step 2 minimum but >65th percentile Level 2 minimum

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[wellbutrin.girlfriend]

Bump to this post bc I'm having the exact same dilemma atm ugh

At this point I think I'll probably email the program to ask explicitly

 

[GoSpursGo]

Nobody knows because it’s program dependent. Even if we were to guess the answer for “most” programs, that doesn’t help you if the program you're specifically thinking of does things differently.

The only thing to do is to just apply and hope for the best, or if you’re trying to decide whether to use a signal, then explicitly ask

 

[wellbutrin.girlfriend]

Just popping back in here to say I was looking over the program director survey results and was honestly surprised by the number of respondents that explicitly said they require specific scores for BOTH Level 2 and Step 2 for DOs, but there's a wide array of PD preferences. Nothing left to do at this point but hope for the best I suppose...

Charting Outcomes™: Program Director Survey Results, 2024 Main Residency Match®

This report presents the results of selected items from the 2024 Program Director Survey and characterizes the factors that Program Directors use to (1) select applicants to interview, and (2) rank…

www.nrmp.org

Under the tab Level 2/Step 2: DOs

 

[stormcloakdoctor]

Just popping back in here to say I was looking over the program director survey results and was honestly surprised by the number of respondents that explicitly said they require specific scores for BOTH Level 2 and Step 2 for DOs, but there's a wide array of PD preferences. Nothing left to do at this point but hope for the best I suppose...

Charting Outcomes™: Program Director Survey Results, 2024 Main Residency Match®

This report presents the results of selected items from the 2024 Program Director Survey and characterizes the factors that Program Directors use to (1) select applicants to interview, and (2) rank…

www.nrmp.org

Under the tab Level 2/Step 2: DOs

FWIW, I explicitly emailed 3 of the programs on my signal list who all said one score is sufficient. Anecdotal, I know. Seeing a Step minimum of 220 and a Level minimum of 600 on the same program is downright laughable.

 

[Doctoscope]

FWIW, I explicitly emailed 3 of the programs on my signal list who all said one score is sufficient. Anecdotal, I know. Seeing a Step minimum of 220 and a Level minimum of 600 on the same program is downright laughable.

Goes to show how meaningless COMLEX scores are honestly and how the PDs just don't really know what to do with COMLEX. To those who are wondering if they should take Step... if you want to be treated like 70%+ of medical students in the US (US MD), then take the damn licensing exam that 70%+ of medical students have to take.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

They set them higher for comlex because it looks better to match MDs so they have a lower score threshold.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I can't speak for all programs, but I have seen a number of people who did get interviews by meeting the cut off for USMLE regardless of COMLEX. The opposite is not true.

 

[Ho0v-man]

I thought these low USMLE high comlex places were basically saying no DOs unless you’re a stud.

 

[stormcloakdoctor]

Update for you all, have received 13 interviews at this point in time - the 3 programs weren't lying, I received interviews to them despite not meeting the COMLEX threshold. My step 2 is not stellar by any means, but it's still a good score.