Need advice... please help

[fiery]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi,

I'm interested in either Pediatrics or Family Practice in the Southern California region but probably more interested in Peds. I passed my comlex but didn't pass my USMLE step I. There's only allopathic peds but there are allopathic and osteopathic FP programs. Is there any way I can not show my USMLE step I results. I've always had difficulty when it comes to taking a standardize exam. I'm not sure how competitive it is for Peds in the So Cal. Any advice would be helpful. I'm not sure what to do if I were asked if I took the USMLE while on the interview either because if I put no on the ERAS application... they'll ask why I didn't take it. But I'm not sure if they want my USMLE scores or would ask me to take it before I can enter their program... if they do that then they'll know that I did take it and failed it. Please help... any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really don't know what to do. I've read a couple of the old threads that USMLE scores would not be reported if we don't release the scores... is it still true for those applying this year? I've also heard that all scores will be reported to the residency programs and that they'll know if you took the exam or not. I'm not sure which is true. Thanks.

 

[bonefixr]

There are other posts here similar to yours. The fact is you don't have to report your USMLE scores and I don't think that an interviewer can ask you if you have taken it when they see you haven't reported it. Does it still happen? I would imagine. Maybe say something like you did take it but did not feel that it would help your situation by reporting it. Or that it wasn't so great as to override your COMLEX score. You can find a way to skirt the issue without admitting to failing it. Anyway, if they press you that hard there proabably is a stereotype there that you won't want to deal with. Let me know if I can help!