I took both tests, and here are some basic pointers, to be taken with a grain of salt, since they are anecdotal.
1) Know what to leave in/throw out when studying for individual tests. The COMLEX had three biochemistry questions on it and the USMLE (mine, at least) had three straight micro questions. However, the COMLEX loads up on micro and the USMLE likes biochem, genetics, cell bio, etc. This is the main reason why I took 17 days between tests, so that I could throw out the OMM knowledge and study biochem, etc. I was prepared for micro and path and pharm, so those were not emphasized in my between time, and I hit the less high-yield subjects (behavioral, genetics, etc.)
2) Study pharmacology and endocrine physiology as if your life depended on it. I would wager that endocrine phys. made up about 50% of my overall physiology questions (on both tests), especially reproductive endocrinology. This was something that, while I didnt intentionally neglect, I was a little weak in. Understand different methods of birth control, for instance, and when each is indicated/contraindicated. As far as pharmacology goes, you can never know enough. Nearly 1/5 of all test questions I encountered had some aspect of pharmacology associated, and some will take you by surprise.
3) Practice real-life test taking situations, because no matter how much testing stamina you think you have, test-day will drain you quite a bit.
4) Do questions, questions, questions. QBank, BSS, Robbins, Appleton and Lange, NMS, BRS...everything you can get your hands on.
5) Understand that, for the COMLEX, apparently the test-writers make sure that a question does not appear anywhere in First Aid before it makes it into the test. (note: this is intended to be somewhat sarcastic, but it also stresses the point that First Aid is a poor resource for the COMLEX, no matter how you slice it. A systems based review is much more practical: A+L, Step Up, Princeton Review)
6) Lower and upper limb anatomy was extremey high yield on COMLEX, accounting for 40-60 questions easily (excluding OMM questions). Mostly first-order nerve/muscle questions that were very straightforward. Anatomy on USMLE was practically nonexistent.
7) Start studying question resources, just as practice, after January 1. Start reviewing 2nd year subjects in March and 1st year subjects after finals week. 2nd year materials are easily 70% of both exams, I think. Pathology, in some way or another is ~80% of the USMLE, and about 50% of COMLEX. Know pathology above and beyond all else.
8) OMM was pretty straightforward, and Savarese is the major resource (although everyone says questions come from Foundations...I think they just want everyone to purchase Foundations. Ugh.) A few typos exist in all versions of this book, so watch out, but you can be relatively weak in OMM and cram the week before and ace OMM.
Hope this helps. PM me with any specific questions.
