Taking both USMLE & COMLEX, Any experiences??

[mj42]

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Hello. I was wondering what everyone knew about osteopathic students who take the USMLE also. I hear it's similar but how difficult and demanding would it be to take the additional test? Is it a feasible expectation and would you all suggest it because I want to keep my options open especially with residencies and specializing

 

[jkmph]

Hello. I was wondering what everyone knew about osteopathic students who take the USMLE also. I hear it's similar but how difficult and demanding would it be to take the additional test? Is it a feasible expectation and would you all suggest it because I want to keep my options open especially with residencies and specializing

This is the pre-DO forum. You'll get a better response posting this in the Ostepathic Student forum.

 

[swamprat]

Speaking to a lot of upperclassmen they all said that you just study and take both, theres no studying for the exam...only thing I heard was that you may need to know a little more biochem for the usmle

 

[Vee]

I took both because I want to keep my options open. I geared my studying towards the USMLE (using Goljan/RR Path, FA, UWorld etc.) and took that first. I took the COMLEX a few days later and used Savarese in between for OMM. You should really only take the USMLE if you're confident that you can do well (at least a 220) because otherwise it could end up hurting you when you apply for residencies.

It sucks to pay for two exams but in the end it was worth it.

 

[nlax30]

I took both because I want to keep my options open. I geared my studying towards the USMLE (using Goljan/RR Path, FA, UWorld etc.) and took that first. I took the COMLEX a few days later and used Savarese in between for OMM. You should really only take the USMLE if you're confident that you can do well (at least a 220) because otherwise it could end up hurting you when you apply for residencies.

It sucks to pay for two exams but in the end it was worth it.

This was pretty much my same experience. Not exactly knowing what I want to go into I just didn't want to regret NOT taking it and certainly did not want to go back an study for it like a year later.

As far as studying goes there isn't much different you need to do. I made sure to hit biochem fairly hard, and most of my study materials were traditional geared toward USMLE but it's the same material. I did USMLE first, then had 1 or 2 days off, which I used to review OMM (plenty of time) and then took COMLEX and scored above average on both. I'm sure I slacked off more than I should have during board review so I would say it's definitley doable.