Take Step 1? I probably know the answer…

[Lugh]

My school straight up told us it is pointless to take Step 1. They said that only Level 1 is necessary and that only ~6% of the past few classes took Step 1. Now, I want to do FM so I know I’m not going into a very competitive specialty but if I want to try to get into a good program in a metro area, I feel like I need to be more competitive than just a Level 1 score.

Thoughts?

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[Kardio]

Ignore them and take Step 1.

 

[EDThoracotomy]

ALWAYS take step 1.

I know of people who only wanted to go to certain programs and those programs were fine with just COMLEX but you are shutting doors if you don't take step 1.

 

[DrZoidbergDO]

FM match rate is virtually identical between comlex and step. Question is do you think you can pass easily? If so I'd say take step. If you're borderline it might not be worth the risk

 

[Goro]

My school straight up told us it is pointless to take Step 1. They said that only Level 1 is necessary and that only ~6% of the past few classes took Step 1. Now, I want to do FM so I know I’m not going into a very competitive specialty but if I want to try to get into a good program in a metro area, I feel like I need to be more competitive than just a Level 1 score.

Thoughts?

Is their reasoning that Step 1 is P/F and it's Step 2 that will count?

Or is it the more insidious DO True Believer mindset of "COMLEX is just as good as Steps and you don't need them at all"?

 

[deleted1139416]

Is their reasoning that Step 1 is P/F and it's Step 2 that will count?

Preparing for step 1 is crucial to doing well on step 2. Step 2 just builds off of step 1 material.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Take it.

 

[Ho0v-man]

~50% of DOs take step 1 iirc. So either your school is an extreme outlier or they’re just wrong/lying.

There’s essentially no risk in taking it. If you fail, don’t report it and it’s like you never took it. The only downside to a fail is that if you wanted to submit a step 2 score, you’d have to submit a failed step 1. Although a failed step 1 likely wouldn’t translate to a good step 2 anyway so it’s nbd.

I’ve met too many DOs who wanted something more competitive than FM by the end of third year and just couldn’t get the time needed to study for two step exams.

 

[Doctoscope]

~50% of DOs take step 1 iirc. So either your school is an extreme outlier or they’re just wrong/lying.

There’s essentially no risk in taking it. If you fail, don’t report it and it’s like you never took it. The only downside to a fail is that if you wanted to submit a step 2 score, you’d have to submit a failed step 1. Although a failed step 1 likely wouldn’t translate to a good step 2 anyway so it’s nbd.

I’ve met too many DOs who wanted something more competitive than FM by the end of third year and just couldn’t get the time needed to study for two step exams.

How much higher (if any) do you think the match rates for the medium, medium-high competitive specialties would be for DOs that take both Steps 1 and 2 and perform average/above average on them?

e.g. gas was ~60% for DOs in 2022, but do you know how higher it is for DOs that take Steps 1 & 2?

 

[Kardio]

How much higher (if any) do you think the match rates for the medium, medium-high competitive specialties would be for DOs that take both Steps 1 and 2 and perform average/above average on them?

e.g. gas was ~60% for DOs in 2022, but do you know how higher it is for DOs that take Steps 1 & 2?

The “Score Unknown” column reflects DOs who didn’t submit Step 1 scores. Over 90% of all DO gas applicants had a Step 1 score, so the average match rate is much more reflective of that population.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

How much higher (if any) do you think the match rates for the medium, medium-high competitive specialties would be for DOs that take both Steps 1 and 2 and perform average/above average on them?

e.g. gas was ~60% for DOs in 2022, but do you know how higher it is for DOs that take Steps 1 & 2?

Look at the score breakdowns on the charting outcomes. Depending on score the match rate can be quite different.

 

[DrZoidbergDO]

~50% of DOs take step 1 iirc. So either your school is an extreme outlier or they’re just wrong/lying.

There’s essentially no risk in taking it. If you fail, don’t report it and it’s like you never took it. The only downside to a fail is that if you wanted to submit a step 2 score, you’d have to submit a failed step 1. Although a failed step 1 likely wouldn’t translate to a good step 2 anyway so it’s nbd.

I’ve met too many DOs who wanted something more competitive than FM by the end of third year and just couldn’t get the time needed to study for two step exams.

My guess is that number is going to drop. My school had less than 1/3 take step in our class when previous classes were above that 50% mark.

 

[Ho0v-man]

How much higher (if any) do you think the match rates for the medium, medium-high competitive specialties would be for DOs that take both Steps 1 and 2 and perform average/above average on them?

e.g. gas was ~60% for DOs in 2022, but do you know how higher it is for DOs that take Steps 1 & 2?

As seen above, 240+ on step 1 did pretty dang good. No score was a coin toss chance of matching and sub 230 step 1 starts showing diminishing returns.

It’s actually great evidence that doing well on these exams can only help you, despite what some schools would have you think.

My guess is that number is going to drop. My school had less than 1/3 take step in our class when previous classes were above that 50% mark.

RIP to all the DOs who don’t want primary care. Between this, loss of a score on step 1, and school expansion, the specialist DO will be a relic by the time our kids are old enough to ignore our advice and become doctors.

 

[Doctoscope]

As seen above, 240+ on step 1 did pretty dang good. No score was a coin toss chance of matching and sub 230 step 1 starts showing diminishing returns.

It’s actually great evidence that doing well on these exams can only help you, despite what some schools would have you think.


RIP to all the DOs who don’t want primary care. Between this, loss of a score on step 1, and school expansion, the specialist DO will be a relic by the time our kids are old enough to ignore our advice and become doctors.

I wonder if the match rates into the more competitive specialties will be relatively steady for established schools whose graduates are known quantities? While those from new schools will struggle to match, and bring down the DO match rates overall.

 

[Ho0v-man]

I wonder if the match rates into the more competitive specialties will be relatively steady for established schools whose graduates are known quantities? While those from new schools will struggle to match, and bring down the DO match rates overall.

I’m sure newer schools will do a little worse just because they tend to attract weaker students on average.

No one involved in residency selection knows anything about the different osteopathic schools. I literally spoke to someone involved in resident selection at my program about this very topic today FWIW.

 

[medDaisuki]

just wondering...If you can just take step 2 without taking Step 1 , why would you still take Step 1??

 

[DrZoidbergDO]

Because PDs will wonder why you didn't take step 1. When it's of the only logical option is that you were scared you wouldn't pass step1

 

[DOVinciRobot]

just wondering...If you can just take step 2 without taking Step 1 , why would you still take Step 1??

Because filtering out people without a P on Step 1 (whether that be a failure or you just didn’t take it) is a very real thing.

 

[Darrow O'Lykos]

Or is it the more insidious DO True Believer mindset of "COMLEX is just as good as Steps and you don't need them at all"?

Sadly this is the prevailing philosophy preached to us at our school. Fortunately, the majority of us are wiser than that.

 

[EDThoracotomy]

It is discussions like this, where students are receiving information from their schools to NOT take Step 1 that validate the idea that successful students are generally successful, not because of their school, but in spite of their school.

Always take Step 1. Your app needs to look like an MD application as much as possible. COMLEX is just a hoop to jump through. A tax we pay haha.