Question about COMLEX/Residency

[smohamma]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey,
I am kind of trying to get information about avg. board scores for some of the D.O. scores I applied to but I am having no luck. Do you all know a website that would have this info?

Also, I was not sure about something- if I want to apply to MD residencies alongside DO residencies (just to increase my chances) do I need to take the USMLE- or are both scores accepted?

I really am interested in doing my residency in Dermatology ( hmmmm for now thats a goal!).. I was not sure if DO's specialize in this much or not?


Thanks!

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

Hey,
I am kind of trying to get information about avg. board scores for some of the D.O. scores I applied to but I am having no luck. Do you all know a website that would have this info?

Also, I was not sure about something- if I want to apply to MD residencies alongside DO residencies (just to increase my chances) do I need to take the USMLE- or are both scores accepted?

I really am interested in doing my residency in Dermatology ( hmmmm for now thats a goal!).. I was not sure if DO's specialize in this much or not?


Thanks!

I do not think they have those posted on a website.

You will have to take the COMLEX and the USMLE in order to apply to DO and MD residencies. There are individuals who apply to MD residencies with only the COMLEX, but that is EXTREMELY hard to do.

Derm is difficult residency to obtain either way. I do not know of many specializing in this, but there are graduates who most certainly do. Best of luck.

 

[It'sElectric]

I do not think they have those posted on a website.

You will have to take the COMLEX and the USMLE in order to apply to DO and MD residencies. There are individuals who apply to MD residencies with only the COMLEX, but that is EXTREMELY hard to do.

Derm is difficult residency to obtain either way. I do not know of many specializing in this, but there are graduates who most certainly do. Best of luck.

With an MD derm residency, I'm guessing that you would almost certainly have to take the USMLE. For other fields (especially less competitive ones), I don't think it's necessarily EXTREMELY hard to obtain an MD residency w/ just COMLEX scores. Personally, from what I've heard from directors and residents, you should just contact the program you're applying to and ask them straight up. They would be more than honest with you on that issue. If there are number of programs that say they want to see USMLE, then you'll have to take it. If not, then I wouldn't.

Also, I've heard numerous times that if you score very, very high on the COMLEX I, it might be a very unwise decision to take the USMLE I and risk the chance of performing poorly. All that being said, when the day comes I will personally contact all of the programs and just ask them. I'm willing to bet that I will ultimately end up taking the USMLE I.

Finally, to the OP, keep in mind that the DO match trumps the MD match. Thus, if you match with a DO program, you have to go there. So in other words, it's not like you can match with an MD and a DO program and then just decide between the 2.

 

[smohamma]

Finally, to the OP, keep in mind that the DO match trumps the MD match. Thus, if you match with a DO program, you have to go there. So in other words, it's not like you can match with an MD and a DO program and then just decide between the 2.[/QUOTE]

So you have to go to a DO program, regardless of if ur interested in an MD program?

 

[It'sElectric]

Finally, to the OP, keep in mind that the DO match trumps the MD match. Thus, if you match with a DO program, you have to go there. So in other words, it's not like you can match with an MD and a DO program and then just decide between the 2.

So you have to go to a DO program, regardless of if ur interested in an MD program?[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure how much of the whole match process you understand, but I'll try and explain what I'm saying without getting into it all too much.

If I'm not mistaken, the actual DO Match occurs before the MD Match (interviews will occur simultaneously). Thus, if you apply and interview at both MD and DO programs and feel that you really like programs from both arenas, you're still going to have to make a decision. If you send in your list of DO schools that you would like to potentially match with and end up matching, then you are obligated to to go there. Thus, you would be unable to participate in the MD match. This is 1 of the reasons that people really want a combined match.

So in a way, it can be a risk putting all of your cards into MD match and not participating in the DO match if you're gunning for a really competitive field.

Hopefully that clears things up a little.

 

[smohamma]

Thanks- I really don't know much about how the match process works.

Is there a site I can go and read up on this?

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

So you have to go to a DO program, regardless of if ur interested in an MD program?

I'm not sure how much of the whole match process you understand, but I'll try and explain what I'm saying without getting into it all too much.

If I'm not mistaken, the actual DO Match occurs before the MD Match (interviews will occur simultaneously). Thus, if you apply and interview at both MD and DO programs and feel that you really like programs from both arenas, you're still going to have to make a decision. If you send in your list of DO schools that you would like to potentially match with and end up matching, then you are obligated to to go there. Thus, you would be unable to participate in the MD match. This is 1 of the reasons that people really want a combined match.

So in a way, it can be a risk putting all of your cards into MD match and not participating in the DO match if you're gunning for a really competitive field.

Hopefully that clears things up a little.

You're right. Good point.

 

[HoodyHoo]

I do not think they have those posted on a website.

You will have to take the COMLEX and the USMLE in order to apply to DO and MD residencies. There are individuals who apply to MD residencies with only the COMLEX, but that is EXTREMELY hard to do.

Derm is difficult residency to obtain either way. I do not know of many specializing in this, but there are graduates who most certainly do. Best of luck.

This is absolutely depedent upon what you are going into. IM, Family, Psych, and other primary care you absolutely do not have to take USMLE. Derm and other specialties it will help you to take the USMLE. but keep in mind you can take Step 2 w/o taking Step 1. I know someone going into an osteo derm program who has very average scores b/c he/she is good friends with the program director. It seems to be a specialty where good connections can get you a very long way. And if you do a rotation and really impress the program, then your scores will not matter.

 

[HoodyHoo]

Hey,
I am kind of trying to get information about avg. board scores for some of the D.O. scores I applied to but I am having no luck. Do you all know a website that would have this info?

Also, I was not sure about something- if I want to apply to MD residencies alongside DO residencies (just to increase my chances) do I need to take the USMLE- or are both scores accepted?

I really am interested in doing my residency in Dermatology ( hmmmm for now thats a goal!).. I was not sure if DO's specialize in this much or not?


Thanks!

I don't think you'll be able to find avg board scores for each individual school. you can find the pass rate though.

Keep in mind that your board score will probably be 10% where you go to school and 90% what you put into it. We just recently got our scores back and I know many people that got over 600 in my class. I also know people who failed. It all correlated with how much time they put into it. 2-3months vs. 3 weeks, for example.

The only thing I would maybe stay away from is going to a brand new school. You have no idea of what their pass rates are and they have no residents or attendings in practice.

 

[smohamma]

I am thinking about going to Bradenton- which is a new school (2004).. but its part of LECOM, so I guess its not totally new!