Poor step 2 score

[richarddav]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys quick question regarding allopathic emed residencies. I'm a DO student applying who did really well on comlex 1, then did poorly (little below average) on comlex step II.

Have not taken usmle step I or II, everything else on my application is really good (2 slors, good letter from emed attending). Grades were good throughout medical school.

Will doing poorly on comlex II interfere with my chances at matching into EM allopathic residencies if rest of application is solid??

Thanks!

 

[Colbert]

You should look at where you are applying. A lot of places require USMLE and if even they don't require it, they prefer it. I took both and asked most places which they wanted if they didn't explicitly say they required USMLE on their website. The answer was typically USMLE. You may want to consider applying to both osteopathic and allopathic programs.

 

[richarddav]

Ok I was considering applying osteopathic residencies but would really like to do an allopathic 3 yr program.

My home program and where I'm rotating at now are both allopathic programs and accept DO's. I've done really well on both rotations and have 1 strong slor and will get one from my rotation now as well.

If I have a strong chance at getting into one of these programs (they are both 3 yr allopathic) and I have rotated and done well at both, do you think I should give that up and do the osteopathic match??

 

[Tiger10]

I'd echo what Colbert said about applying broadly and to places that take the COMLEX/have a history of matching DOs. I matched to an allopathic EM program without the USMLE, but I applied to both matches and didn't make the decision to withdraw from the osteopathic match until I felt like I had enough interviews to feel comfortable with my chances based on the NRMP data. For me, that was 10-12 and I ended up with 13 or 14. I'd recommend doing the same since you don't know how much love you're going to get from the allo progurrams until it's basically too late to go back and apply osteo. Much better (IMO) to apply osteo, interview, and withdraw when you hit your magic # of allopathic interviews than to sweat it out with only a handful of allopathic interviews. Sure, it can get expensive but it's cheaper than having to reapply and spending an extra year as a resident.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask here or via PM.


ETA: I wouldn't give up on those and do the osteopathic match flat out. Apply to both, interview at both, and you'll know how many programs you have in the NRMP match to rank before the deadline to withdraw from the AOA match.

 

[richarddav]

I think I will definitely apply both and see how the interviews progress and then maybe pull out of the osteopathic depending on where I am on allopathic interviews.

That's exactly what I was thinking about doing. Any thoughts on a bad drop on comlex step II score? How much do you think it will hurt me? I nailed step 1 but don't know what happened on step 2. Do you think good letters, personal statement, research and doing well on EM rotations will make up for the poor scores?

Thanks

 

[Colbert]

I agree with Tiger on basically everything they said and did the same thing (applied both, withdrew from osteo when I hit my 10+ allo interviews).

As far as the drop on step 2, I'd say it depends on how far you dropped. They may ask why you went down, so be ready to have something to say, but don't use excuses. I am definitely no PD, but from my understanding EM looks more at the person than the score. Doing well on your audition EM rotations will count more than anything else.