Osteopathic Students & USMLE Score Release

[jhur]

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Hi everybody,

Long time reader, first time poster. 🙂

I'm a 4th year DO student starting to fill out my ERAS application and I have a difficult situation on my hands; I failed USMLE step 1 last year and never retook it.

Originally I had planned to put all of my eggs into the AOA match basket and completely forget that I ever took the USMLE. That was until I did a few audition rotations at local ACGME residency programs and received a lot of good feedback regarding my clinical performance. When the residents I worked under suggested that I would be a good candidate for their programs, I stated that my application wasn't very strong but didn't specifically disclose that I failed step 1. At each program I was told what I've heard many times before: an applicant's performance in real life situations is much more important than what's on paper. I was told that, at least for programs where I had done an audition, if I did well in person it could more than compensate for my deficits on paper. I'm sure that what I was told probably holds true 99% of the time when there are no red flags on an applicant's profile. As you already know, that isn't the case for me.

So here's my plan. As a result of the new ERAS guidelines for DO students that apply to ACGME programs, I am required to REPORT that I took USMLE. As I am not, however, required to RELEASE my scores (unless it is explicitly stated by the institution), I intend to release my COMLEX scores only. The only other option is reporting the failure, but that's basically application suicide. My questions are as follows:

1) If I do not release my USMLE score, is anyone absolutely certain that ACGME programs can still see that I took it?

2) If yes to the former question, how much of a red flag does this raise? I imagine someone would surely ask about it during an interview (if I receive one at all), but if I made a semi-compelling argument for why I decided not to submit it (feel free to offer one because at this point I've got nothing) would it really be that big of an issue? I realize that I could say something to the effect of "as a DO student with distinctive osteopathic training I feel that the COMLEX is a better representation of my abilities as a physician", but the issue is that I didn't do great on that test, either. Plus, it's not like I'm fooling anybody; if I had done even reasonably well on USMLE there would be no reason for me to not report it.

Anyway, I'm expecting some harsh truths to be offered, so I thank you in advance for your honesty. Additionally, I would appreciate any advice you might be able to offer. For what it's worth, the programs I'm applying to are Neuro residencies.

Thanks for reading.

J

 

[NotAProgDirector]

1. It's not at all clear.

My first thought was that you have no choice. You must release your USMLE score.

Take a look at the MyERAS User Guide: https://www.aamc.org/download/269176/data/myeras_print.pdf Look at page 17 (as numbered on the pages themselves, it's page 19 of the pdf file). Grey box near the top.

Here's the text:

Osteopathic Applicants Only
Consider whether you will apply to ACGME and/or AOA accredited programs. If you apply to ACGME-accredited programs and you have taken the USMLE, you must request your USMLE transcript. If you only apply to AOA-accredited programs, you only need to request your COMLEX transcript.

Now that I look at that, it's not clear at all. Sure you must request your transcript, but do you have to send it to programs? I can't tell.

In prior versions of ERAS, you would also self report your USMLE performance (i.e. Which step and pass/fail). This version has removed that, so I don't know what I'll see.

2. If someone asks, I recommend that you be honest. If I'm asking, I already know the answer to the question -- either you "forgot" to release the transcript, or you didn't do well. The latter is much more likely. Hence, asking the question is a test to see how you do with it -- do you try to hide it further with a smokescreen, or own up to the issue.

 

[Mass Effect]

I can't give you any advice (I'm just a third-year), but I wanted to suggest you possibly asking in the Neurology forum how much it'll hurt you since that's what you're applying to. The people there have been helpful to myself and others asking questions and they may have more insight into how program directors may view your application.

Best of luck to you! I wish I could help.

 

[ShyRem]

agree with aPD, who as usual, provides sound and thoughtful advice.

 

[ECoast]

I am in the same predicament as you. I had e-mailed ERAS about the requirement of releasing USMLE scores to programs and it said it "has no requirements" and to check with the requirements of the individual programs. Quite a vague response, but it seems like the scores must be released to ERAS but not necessarily to the individual programs. I will release my scores to programs that require it, however, I highly doubt I will be applying to programs that require it because I do not have a passing score. If they ask, I plan to be honest about it because I am not a good liar. Hopefully everything will work out.

 

[ECoast]

2. If someone asks, I recommend that you be honest. If I'm asking, I already know the answer to the question -- either you "forgot" to release the transcript, or you didn't do well. The latter is much more likely. Hence, asking the question is a test to see how you do with it -- do you try to hide it further with a smokescreen, or own up to the issue.

With this in mind, is it better to 1) release failing scores and hope to get an interview anyway since most programs will likely question it if it's visible to program directors that you have taken USMLE or 2) not release the score, hope to get an interview, and answer truthfully if questioned?

 

[dreamer02140]

in the same boat as well, did you guys end up clicking yes to authorize the release of your usmle transcript but just are not going to assign it to programs? if we do that what exactly does a program see any clue? i have contacted my school several times regarding it but no one seems to be helpful

 

[cgk]

1. It's not at all clear.

My first thought was that you have no choice. You must release your USMLE score.

Take a look at the MyERAS User Guide: Look at page 17 (as numbered on the pages themselves, it's page 19 of the pdf file). Grey box near the top.

Here's the text:



Now that I look at that, it's not clear at all. Sure you must request your transcript, but do you have to send it to programs? I can't tell.

In prior versions of ERAS, you would also self report your USMLE performance (i.e. Which step and pass/fail). This version has removed that, so I don't know what I'll see.

2. If someone asks, I recommend that you be honest. If I'm asking, I already know the answer to the question -- either you "forgot" to release the transcript, or you didn't do well. The latter is much more likely. Hence, asking the question is a test to see how you do with it -- do you try to hide it further with a smokescreen, or own up to the issue.

With the Merger have things changed regarding releasing USMLE scores to programs? As of the 2012 posting there was no requirement to do so.

I am in the same predicament as you. I had e-mailed ERAS about the requirement of releasing USMLE scores to programs and it said it "has no requirements" and to check with the requirements of the individual programs. Quite a vague response, but it seems like the scores must be released to ERAS but not necessarily to the individual programs. I will release my scores to programs that require it, however, I highly doubt I will be applying to programs that require it because I do not have a passing score. If they ask, I plan to be honest about it because I am not a good liar. Hopefully everything will work out.

Have things changed since this post in 2012 regarding the necessity of releasing USMLE Step 1 scores to programs? I thought perhaps there is some updated news regarding this issue now with the Osteopathic program merger in 2020.