Take USMLE as practice for COMLEX?

[Ferrismonk]

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I was told by a respected doc I know that since I'm a DO student and wish to go to a specific osteopathic residency, I should consider taking the USMLE step 1 a couple weeks prior to the COMLEX step 1 for some practice. This professor write questions for both exams and he says that he always submits the same questions to both the AOA and ACGME. Has anyone else tried this technique? The two test differ about 20-30% because USMLE has biostats and behavior science while the COMLEX has OMM, but it seems that it would still be a good practice. I have no intention of using my USMLE score for applying to residencies.

Also, does ERAS automatically get your scores? And if they do, can all the programs you apply to see both scores? I'm not sure how that whole process works since I'm just a 2nd year.

Has anyone tried this before? If so, how'd it work for you?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I think most people who take both do USMLE first, and then just hit the OMM between the two tests. I don't see how it can hurt.

Plus, if you decide you want to do a different residency, like one that would like to see a USMLE score on your application, then you'll have it.

 

[Ferrismonk]

I think most people who take both do USMLE first, and then just hit the OMM between the two tests. I don't see how it can hurt.

Plus, if you decide you want to do a different residency, like one that would like to see a USMLE score on your application, then you'll have it.

Let me clarify, my intention is not to do well on the USMLE. I only am thinking of taking it as practice for the COMLEX. I wouldn't plan on studying the behavioral science or the biostats for the USMLE.
My question is if I bomb the USMLE, as I might do since I don't plan on studying about 30% of the material, do DO residencies get those bad USMLE scores in addition to my good COMLEX scores?

 

[jp104]

Let me clarify, my intention is not to do well on the USMLE. I only am thinking of taking it as practice for the COMLEX. I wouldn't plan on studying the behavioral science or the biostats for the USMLE.
My question is if I bomb the USMLE, as I might do since I don't plan on studying about 30% of the material, do DO residencies get those bad USMLE scores in addition to my good COMLEX scores?

Why pay $500 for what amounts to an assessment exam when you can pay $50 for a COMSAE? Some residencies will ask for the USMLE score if you took it even though they are technically not allowed to ask for the score. This is mostly for competitive residencies like ortho or derm.

 

[Boner]

Why pay $500 for what amounts to an assessment exam when you can pay $50 for a COMSAE? Some residencies will ask for the USMLE score if you took it even though they are technically not allowed to ask for the score. This is mostly for competitive residencies like ortho or derm.

Agreed.

On top of that, USMLE and COMLEX are night and day when it comes to what/how questions are asked:

COMLEX is pretty poorly written when compared to the USMLE.
COMLEX is more regurgitation of facts, while USMLE is more application of concepts to problem solving.
From assessing my peers experiences, it seems like COMLEX is ~40% OMM/neuromusculoskeletal path, 20% micro, 40% everything else. USMLE is a pretty even spread of all subjects matter.

 

[fergustsi]

Let me clarify, my intention is not to do well on the USMLE. I only am thinking of taking it as practice for the COMLEX. I wouldn't plan on studying the behavioral science or the biostats for the USMLE.
My question is if I bomb the USMLE, as I might do since I don't plan on studying about 30% of the material, do DO residencies get those bad USMLE scores in addition to my good COMLEX scores?

Our residency director told us that when applying to AOA residencies, they will either ask you if you took the usmle and/or failed the USMLE. and you MUST report it to them. Some students in my class were strongly discouraged from sitting for the usmle because the school thought they were at a high risk of failure, and didnt want them to ruin their chances at a decent aoa residency.
If youre not planning on studying the other portion, i would double check with the residency director at your school to verify the validity of this statement and only then decide what youll do. If you just want to practice comlex style questions, buy both COMSAEs. I did comsae A and thought the questions were very very similar in style, information covered and grammar mistakes ;-). My score differed only by 9 points (which in the comlex as you know isnt very much at all) from comsae to real thing.

 

[FutureInternist]

You need to find other "respected" doctors that do not give you such bad advice.

 

[toothless rufus]

Agreed.

On top of that, USMLE and COMLEX are night and day when it comes to what/how questions are asked:

COMLEX is pretty poorly written when compared to the USMLE.
COMLEX is more regurgitation of facts, while USMLE is more application of concepts to problem solving.
From assessing my peers experiences, it seems like COMLEX is ~40% OMM/neuromusculoskeletal path, 20% micro, 40% everything else. USMLE is a pretty even spread of all subjects matter.

I took the usmle and comlex one day apart, and can say that I actually felt embarrassed at how poor the quality of the comlex is in comparison. This thing licenses doctors!?! Yikes! The thing that gets me is why hasn't it been brought up to the level of quality as the usmle? I'm certain that whomever writes it must have gotten downwind of this fact by now. Even the computer interface sucks.

 

[fergustsi]

I took the usmle and comlex one day apart, and can say that I actually felt embarrassed at how poor the quality of the comlex is in comparison. This thing licenses doctors!?! Yikes! The thing that gets me is why hasn't it been brought up to the level of quality as the usmle? I'm certain that whomever writes it must have gotten downwind of this fact by now. Even the computer interface sucks.

oh boy, i couldnt agree with you more. and from what i hear from upperclassmen, it doesnt get any better in level 2 or 3.

 

[Ferrismonk]

Our residency director told us that when applying to AOA residencies, they will either ask you if you took the usmle and/or failed the USMLE. and you MUST report it to them. Some students in my class were strongly discouraged from sitting for the usmle because the school thought they were at a high risk of failure, and didnt want them to ruin their chances at a decent aoa residency.
If youre not planning on studying the other portion, i would double check with the residency director at your school to verify the validity of this statement and only then decide what youll do. If you just want to practice comlex style questions, buy both COMSAEs. I did comsae A and thought the questions were very very similar in style, information covered and grammar mistakes ;-). My score differed only by 9 points (which in the comlex as you know isnt very much at all) from comsae to real thing.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. 😛 I talked to the person at our school who handles the residency stuff, but she was a little vague as to how ERAS handles the board scores since it's all online now (within the last 2-3 years). She was unsure if you could choose not to have your USMLE score sent to ERAS or not. She did say that if you sent your scores to ERAS, then residency programs would be able to see your scores.

As for the quality of the person I got the recommendation from, he actually writes questions for both the COMLEX and the USMLE and has told me that he submits the same questions to both. It make sense that the question would be similar in nature (at least for the similar sections).

I appreciate the help provided here, as you all know sometimes it's like pulling teeth to find out information before the powers that be decide you need to know it. 🙄

 

[PistolPete]

I believe that as of this year, osteopathic students MUST report all USMLE scores, if they ever took the exam. You no longer have the option of only reporting your COMLEX.

So if you may do poorly or fail the USMLE, don't take it, especially not as "practice."

 

[FutureInternist]

She did say that if you sent your scores to ERAS, then residency programs would be able to see your scores.

As for the quality of the person I got the recommendation from, he actually writes questions for both the COMLEX and the USMLE and has told me that he submits the same questions to both. It make sense that the question would be similar in nature (at least for the similar sections).

Not entirely true. Even if you submit your scores to ERAS you can still choose which programs get which scores. AS someone already said, when it comes to USMLE, you HAVE to send them to allo programs....but not necessarily DO ones. For COMLEX, it's the other way around.

TRUST US.....The Qs are no way near the same caliber. He may write the same Qs, but maybe they get edited along the way, or maybe the ones he write for the COMLEX are not getting chosen....whatever the case may be it definitely seems as if the NBOME got it backwards, as in you're supposed to throw out the bad Qs....not the good ones.

 

[gildas]

Let me clarify, my intention is not to do well on the USMLE. I only am thinking of taking it as practice for the COMLEX. I wouldn't plan on studying the behavioral science or the biostats for the USMLE.
My question is if I bomb the USMLE, as I might do since I don't plan on studying about 30% of the material, do DO residencies get those bad USMLE scores in addition to my good COMLEX scores?

If you are not planning on using the USMLE in the future, don 't even think about taking it as practice for the COMLEX. There are 2 very different exams. The wording of the questions and the thought process are nothing alike. I will suggest you use Kaplan Qbank and/or COMbank for practice instead.

 

[doogoshly]

COMLEX is a joke. if anything it should be practice for the USMLE, which is the real test of your medical knowledge. i was never really embarrassed to be a DO until i saw the COMLEX.

like everyone has said, they're very different tests and if you had to put all your eggs in one basket, i'd shoot for the moon on the USMLE. people will take you more seriously when you can prove you've done well on a legit test.

 

[TXDO]

Scenario: Will it hurt a chance to get in osteo residency with good USMLE and poor COMLEX?
Thanks😀