Need help & Advise about USMLE vs. COMLEX

[helpmeDOhelpme]

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[helpmeDOhelpme]

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[goooooober]

Please guys, I am feeling really down.

I went to my first interview, and the interviewers first questions was... "where are your COMLEX Scores"

My response was, "I'll have them sent to you"

Definitely not how I wanted the interview to go.

How were your grades in your basic science classes?

I would advise being completely honest about this. Rather than hiding things or trying to do something crazy like taking Step I at this stage, you should just forward your score and talk to them like an adult in your interview.

If your grades in basic sciences were good, you can always say that you struggled with COMLEX I because a large portion of it was OMM, and frankly, you struggled with it. But once you got to level two, both COMLEX and USMLE, test relevant clinical information based on sciences (not OMM) you learned during your first two years and you did well.

Bottom line, whatever you do, don't dodge the issue, you will pay dearly for that if you are not upfront about things.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

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[thepoopologist]

If I were in your situation I would submit the current scores and explain it away. I don't see any point in retaking a test like that in such a short period of time, especially when you appear to be weaker in the basic sciences. Stop being a scaredy cat and deal with the hand dealt to you.

 

[thepoopologist]

I like goobers advice. I would go with the OMM argument if I were you. I think you'll be fine and by being upfront you will never have to look over your shoulder.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

At this point, you think I should submit my COMLEX Scores or should I wait until they ask?

 

[thepoopologist]

I say submit and deal with it. If you are still hesitant, a good person to pm for advice would be group_theory. He's a senior DO resident at an ACGME program if I'm not mistaken.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

I guess I should just submit... I think I'll submit before my next interview.

I have an interview on November 10th, I'll submit my score on November 9th.

I guess this way, I get the best of both worlds...

I get to bypass the screens and filters, and I am still upfront about my scores before my interview.

I have about 20 interviews thus far... hopefully I can impress somebody somewhere.

 

[thepoopologist]

Goodluck

 

[DrWBD]

No Internal Medicine ACGME program director gives a crap about your actual COMLEX score, as long as you pass. The reason they want to know about your COMLEX is that you can't graduate from school without passing Levels 1 and 2. You eventually passed, so you should be good. As far as residency "filters" go, you already got through and scored the interviews. The point of the interview in most medicine programs I am familiar with is to determine if you will be a good fit into the residency program in terms of attitude and personality. Could the low scores hurt you? Yes, but not releasing them could hurt more.

I agree with goooooober that you should just release the scores. Being shady will raise a lot more red flags to a PD than your COMLEX scores, IMHO. I am normally a big advocate of taking USMLE Step 1 but unless you retained a lot of basic science knowledge you could be setting yourself up for more headaches by taking the exam under these circumstances.

Good luck.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

so whats your advice?

Transmit my scores in late January after interview season?

 

[goooooober]

so whats your advice?

Transmit my scores in late January after interview season?

What are you, thick-skulled? Everyone just told you to submit your scores ASAP and be ready to explain them at your inerview. That way if your scores are an issue for the program and they bring it up, you can address it. Otherwise, if you suprise them with your crappy scores after the interview (even one that went great), they will not have a chance to question you about it and they can ding you for it which can cost you the spot.

Then before you know it, you will be in Wankerville Community Hospital, splitting your time between milking cows and seeing your one-toothed patients. Good luck.

 

[scpod]

It doesn't matter whether you submit them or not. Your dean's letter has your COMLEX scores in it. The programs already know how you did. At least, the one's I interviewed this past week had them in it. I assume they all will. There's a pretty standard format for dean's letters these days.

If I were you I'd go ahead and submit so it doesn't look like you were trying to hide anything.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

goober, did you not read wanna_be_do post? He mentions that he feels that no ACGME program cares about COMLEX. And says that I should transmit, but didnt specifically say before interviews or later in the interview season. My questions clearly was in reference to TIME and was in reference to wanna-be-do... are you "thick skulled" or illiterate? anyway thanks for your input, ***** bag

scpod, I read my dean's letter, it only includes my USMLE score.

 

[thepoopologist]

No Internal Medicine ACGME program director gives a crap about your actual COMLEX score, as long as you pass. The reason they want to know about your COMLEX is that you can't graduate from school without passing Levels 1 and 2. You eventually passed, so you should be good. As far as residency "filters" go, you already got through and scored the interviews. The point of the interview in most medicine programs I am familiar with is to determine if you will be a good fit into the residency program in terms of attitude and personality. Could the low scores hurt you? Yes, but not releasing them could hurt more.

I agree with goooooober that you should just release the scores. Being shady will raise a lot more red flags to a PD than your COMLEX scores, IMHO. I am normally a big advocate of taking USMLE Step 1 but unless you retained a lot of basic science knowledge you could be setting yourself up for more headaches by taking the exam under these circumstances.

Good luck.

goober, did you not read wanna_be_do post? He mentions that he feels that no ACGME program cares about COMLEX. And says that I should transmit, but didnt not specifically say before interviews or later in the interview season. My questions clearly was in reference to TIME and was in reference to wanna-be-do... are you thick skulled or illiterate? anyway thanks for your input, douche bag

scpod, I read my dean's letter, it only includes my USMLE score.

I highlighted the relevant sections. I didn't understand how you had suddenly interpreted it as submitting it in Jan until I saw your thread in the ERAS forum, with aProgDirectors advice.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10266099&postcount=7

I'd like to point out that you were the one who quadrupled posted the same thread throughout four different subforums reeking of desperation and seeking advice that would encourage you to continue with the Catch-22 situation you've made through your own shady actions. I'm going to do you a favor and quote your original post for any other Program Director besides aProgDirector, who may be on here to see.

 

[thepoopologist]

I am in need of some help.

I am applying to Internal Medicine Residencies in the NY/NJ/CT area.

I have 20 interviews, but my problem is I haven't yet released my COMLEX scores.

My USMLE Step 2 score was 217/93 - this score has been released to ERAS

My COMLEX Scores haven't been released to ERAS.
COMLEX Level 1: 387/73 - FAIL
COMLEX Level 1: 397/74 - FAIL
COMLEX Level 1: 438/78 - PASS
COMLEX Level 2: 538/85 - PASS

Most of my interviews are in December, what should I do?

Should I submit my COMLEX scores and discuss that time period... or should I quickly take the USMLE Step 1 w/i 2-3 weeks and submit that to them.

I recently took a NBME Step 1 and scored a 450.

If I have both USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2, I feel like noone would bother to ask about COMLEX, but as is, I am only showing USMLE Step 2.

HELP ME!!! please, I need some advice.

My GPA is a 3.1

I never failed a class, mostly B's some A's, some C's

There! You've released your scores. Goodluck, you ungrateful *******.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

I was looking for advice not "thick skulled" responses.

The whole point of me posting was to decide what is the best way of proceeding (least shady)

anyway, seems like I've outstayed my welcome on this message board.

THANKS for the constructive advice out there. and for the rest of you thanks for your poor attitude.

I highlighted the relevant sections. I didn't understand how you had suddenly interpreted it as submitting it in Jan until I saw your thread in the ERAS forum, with aProgDirectors advice.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10266099&postcount=7

I'd like to point out that you were the one who quadrupled posted the same thread throughout four different subforums reeking of desperation and seeking advice that would encourage you to continue with the Catch-22 situation you've made through your own shady actions. I'm going to do you a favor and quote your original post for any other Program Director besides aProgDirector, who may be on here to see.

 

[thepoopologist]

You're welcome. I'll make sure to bump this thread up late January and late February if you continue being a putz.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

You're welcome. I'll make sure to bump this thread up late January and late February if you continue being a putz.

have fun bumping, not really sure what that means... but I hope its not too time consuming.

re: putz, thanks for your poor attitude.

 

[newbie04]

I was looking for advice not "thick skulled" responses.

The whole point of me posting was to decide what is the best way of proceeding (least shady)

The least "shady" thing to do would be to disclose / release your COMLEX scores now.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

I think thats what I'm going to do... probably within this week, maybe Ill talk to my dean for his input... most probably, i'll send the scores out in this upcoming week.

thanks for all the input... and no thanks for those with the attitude 🙁

 

[DrWBD]

Just to clarify (since things seemed to start going south after my initial post in this thread) I agree that you should release the scores now.

Don't sell yourself short. You actually did well on USMLE Step 2, which means you have good clinical knowledge. For IM, even with the initial COMLEX failures, my opinion is that you have a good chance. But you could blow that chance if a program director feels you aren't being honest and upfront (which in their minds could raise red flags for future issues in residency). Good luck, again.

 

[helpmeDOhelpme]

thanks wanna be, im sending them out later this week.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I wouldnt wait till later this week even
I'd do it now. You have more to lose by not sending in your scores, especially with 20 already, there's no need to worry about not getting enough interviews.

Taking USMLE Step 2 early probably saved you.