Poor Boards- What do I do?

[exodian1]

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So I received my board scores a few weeks ago and I was pretty disappointed.
COMLEX Level 1 - 521
Step 1 - 203

I honestly feel like a lot of doors have closed to me and I'm not really sure what to do at this point. The fields I was considering were
FM
IM - Possibly specialize?
PM&R
Psych
Gas

Now I really don't think I have a shot at any of these outside of FM and low tier IM. What are my chances at matching any of these and what are things I can do to improve my chances other than killing step 2 and clinicals?

 

[Goro]

Target programs that have taken your school's grads previously, but yeah, you're going to have to aim low, I fear. In the mean time, network and kill Step 2

 

[Jinxapotato]

I think FM, community IM, gas, and PMR are still open, psych is getting hard these years. You'd probably want to look at previous AOA programs as they are more familiar with COMLEX (and 521 is not bad for COMLEX!). Otherwise, gotta kill step 2 and get good letters and research going.

 

[exodian1]

I think FM, community IM, gas, and PMR are still open, psych is getting hard these years. You'd probably want to look at previous AOA programs as they are more familiar with COMLEX (and 521 is not bad for COMLEX!). Otherwise, gotta kill step 2 and get good letters and research going.

Yeah I've been seeing a lot about psych getting very competitive recently. Still not even sure if I want to do it as I haven't rotated in it yet. It was just a possible field I might've been interested in based on my personality. Do I really have a shot at PM&R and gas? I have no problem applying very broadly and going anywhere

 

[BorntobeDO?]

So I received my board scores a few weeks ago and I was pretty disappointed.
COMLEX Level 1 - 521
Step 1 - 203

I honestly feel like a lot of doors have closed to me and I'm not really sure what to do at this point. The fields I was considering were
FM
IM - Possibly specialize?
PM&R
Psych
Gas

Now I really don't think I have a shot at any of these outside of FM and low tier IM. What are my chances at matching any of these and what are things I can do to improve my chances other than killing step 2 and clinicals?

You are one of the people I think should not assign your USMLE. Gas might be possible with just a 500, but I expect you would need a broad app and undesirable location to make that happen. Psych is pretty much gone from what I see. Its gotten too competitive. Its possible you could bounce back on Step II in a big way, and that might help, but that 203 is just too low to make taking another step worth while.

 

[zero0]

I think you're still live for all of those. Target only former AOA programs. Don't report your USMLE. Don't take step 2, USMLE is not your friend. That route and all MD residencies in remotely competitive specialties are basically closed to you now. You have an ok COMLEX, use that. Do everything right from here on and you might get lucky. FM, IM, path are obviously your best bets from here on.

 

[cgk]

I think you're still live for all of those. Target only former AOA programs. Don't report your USMLE. Don't take step 2, USMLE is not your friend. That route and all MD residencies in remotely competitive specialties are basically closed to you now. You have an ok COMLEX, use that. Do everything right from here on and you might get lucky. FM, IM, path are obviously your best bets from here on.

What specialties are realistically still open to a person with USMLE 211 and COMLEX 450? Should I submit my USMLE score?

 

[Black Coffee 24/7]

So I received my board scores a few weeks ago and I was pretty disappointed.
COMLEX Level 1 - 521
Step 1 - 203

I honestly feel like a lot of doors have closed to me and I'm not really sure what to do at this point. The fields I was considering were
FM
IM - Possibly specialize?
PM&R
Psych
Gas

Now I really don't think I have a shot at any of these outside of FM and low tier IM. What are my chances at matching any of these and what are things I can do to improve my chances other than killing step 2 and clinicals?

Any FM, community IM, low tier PMR, and new/low tier GAS could be possible if you release only your Comlex.

A few things to do from here:
1) Do well on Level 2
2) Do well on your clinical rotations and try to get letters in these fields claiming that you’re among the top 5-10% of students rotating with those preceptors
3) Go to conferences and network like crazy
4) Plan to do at least 4 away rotations in fields that aren’t FM

 

[JustPass]

I can never tell from SDN if one should release USMLE scores or not (legally, ethically, morally, and etclly).

 

[QueenJames]

Welcome to primary care amigo!!!

LESSS GET ITTTTTTT

 

[BorntobeDO?]

What specialties are realistically still open to a person with USMLE 211 and COMLEX 450? Should I submit my USMLE score?

You should submit, you are above the magical 210 threshold, and a 450 is basically primary care only. I only advised not submitting to OP based on his average COMLEX vs very low USMLE. Your COMLEX is below average, and so is your Step, but its at least 20+ percentile which is not terrible.

I actually think the same specialties are open to you (low tier PMR, Gas, FM, IM, Path), with a similar focus for non primary care (non-desirable broad, and middle of nowhere gas etc). Psych is not a realistic option due to increased competition unless you blow step 2 out of the water.

I think that someone with a 210-219 step 1, should attempt Step 2 CK to try and improve. If you do well on it (240+) psych may come back into play for you.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Welcome to primary care amigo!!!

LESSS GET ITTTTTTT

Queen has been stealing the patients opioids again... I keep telling him that drug samples don't mean the physician is supposed to try them.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I can never tell from SDN if one should release USMLE scores or not (legally, ethically, morally, and etclly).

You have to list in ERAS your ID, but you do not have to assign a transcript when you apply. Its not a moral issue. The only ethical issue is what do you do if a program asks, and at that point, you have to tell them you took it otherwise your match could be voided if they found out later.

 

[Jinxapotato]

Queen has been stealing the patients opioids again... I keep telling him that drug samples don't mean the physician is supposed to try them.

what you mean we're not supposed to try drug samples...? *slowly put away all the eye drop samples*...

 

[sab3156]

Queen has been stealing the patients opioids again... I keep telling him that drug samples don't mean the physician is supposed to try them.

Then how do you know they are legit and not placebo?

 

[zero0]

What specialties are realistically still open to a person with USMLE 211 and COMLEX 450? Should I submit my USMLE score?

In your case the USMLE is more likely to impress than COMLEX

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Then how do you know they are legit and not placebo?

The queen doesn't do placebo, surely you know this already?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

what you mean we're not supposed to try drug samples...? *slowly put away all the eye drop samples*...

I love how every drug rep ends up on whatever drug they have no matter how inappropriate. I once saw a drug rep with some inhaler, and she was talking about how she had some viral illness and decided she was going to use her sample inhaler (which is for long term asthma control) to help her symptoms. everyone just kind of stopped making eye contact at that point. Totally inappropriate.

I also loved another rep I saw who was hawking 10,000 IU vit D of all things, the guy said he had started to take it everyday cause 'it can't hurt right?' Yeah buddy, tell that to your kidneys.

 

[mathnerd88]

I think you're still live for all of those. Target only former AOA programs. Don't report your USMLE. Don't take step 2, USMLE is not your friend. That route and all MD residencies in remotely competitive specialties are basically closed to you now. You have an ok COMLEX, use that. Do everything right from here on and you might get lucky. FM, IM, path are obviously your best bets from here on.

I thought you have to report USMLE when the merger happens. You can't get out of it.

 

[JustPass]

I thought you have to report USMLE when the merger happens. You can't get out of it.

Considering you don't "have to" to report it now for ACGME, I don't see why it'll be required. Unless it changes.

 

[zero0]

Not unless they require it. Depends on each program's individual requirements. Check FREIDA.

I thought you have to report USMLE when the merger happens. You can't get out of it.