the official COMAT shelf thread

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Took the comsae (phase 2) yesterday, got 480. I don't know how I feel about it. Besides the usual left field questions, I got couple OMM ones that I had to guess. A lot of questions where I eliminated bad answer choices, and had to guess between 2 left.

Also, can you guys educate me on ethics (I changed details and scenario a bit): let's say father is on the death bed and he was put on strong pain meds as a last resort to basically palliate him last couple days left and thus he is not in awake/clear mind state due to strong meds. His adult son asks you to stop pain meds so son can at least talk with dad for the little time he has left. Doing so (stopping meds) will of course inflict pain on father. So essentially I thought I can dial back pain meds for a very short time to let his son say goodbuy and then resume (still inflicting pain on him, plus I'm not sure if that's even ok to do or if he wants to do so) or I can just don't do it and say to son go eff... yourself, which also seems not the greatest answer lol. Of course there was an infamous "consult with ethics committee" - which I was told is always wrong answer? I have no idea what to do.
 
ASGD1983 said:
Took the comsae (phase 2) yesterday, got 480. I don't know how I feel about it. Besides the usual left field questions, I got couple OMM ones that I had to guess. A lot of questions where I eliminated bad answer choices, and had to guess between 2 left.

Also, can you guys educate me on ethics (I changed details and scenario a bit): let's say father is on the death bed and he was put on strong pain meds as a last resort to basically palliate him last couple days left and thus he is not in awake/clear mind state due to strong meds. His adult son asks you to stop pain meds so son can at least talk with dad for the little time he has left. Doing so (stopping meds) will of course inflict pain on father. So essentially I thought I can dial back pain meds for a very short time to let his son say goodbuy and then resume (still inflicting pain on him, plus I'm not sure if that's even ok to do or if he wants to do so) or I can just don't do it and say to son go eff... yourself, which also seems not the greatest answer lol. Of course there was an infamous "consult with ethics committee" - which I was told is always wrong answer? I have no idea what to do.
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was there an option to talk it out with the son?
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I was thinking of changing my avatar, which came about with #PrometricFiasco2020, but now with everything going on I think this is going to be my permanent state until post-Match.
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Your avatar has pretty much been everyone since March 2020. I am literally seething with rage at the NBOME right now since they're massively screwing over both our class and the current fourth years. I ripped them a new one in that SOMA survey (anonymously of course but will do so more publicly once I graduate) and though I don't expect it to make a difference, at least I got it off my chest. Why they won't just cancel this damn test is infuriating.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I was thinking of changing my avatar, which came about with #PrometricFiasco2020, but now with everything going on I think this is going to be my permanent state until post-Match.
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I changed my avatar from a photo of Steve Zissou to a photo of Nandor the Relentless holding a mini license plate that says “Steve.” But that had nothing to do with medical school.
 
GoCards05 said:
Your avatar has pretty much been everyone since March 2020. I am literally seething with rage at the NBOME right now since they're massively screwing over both our class and the current fourth years. I ripped them a new one in that SOMA survey (anonymously of course but will do so more publicly once I graduate) and though I don't expect it to make a difference, at least I got it off my chest. Why they won't just cancel this damn test is infuriating.
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“I’m sorry gocards, we hear your concerns but we don’t give a **** so give us your money.”
 
GoCards05 said:
Your avatar has pretty much been everyone since March 2020. I am literally seething with rage at the NBOME right now since they're massively screwing over both our class and the current fourth years. I ripped them a new one in that SOMA survey (anonymously of course but will do so more publicly once I graduate) and though I don't expect it to make a difference, at least I got it off my chest. Why they won't just cancel this damn test is infuriating.
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I am so angry. I pushed my date but now I'm concerned about PDs thinking I'll need time off intern year to go take this test. So it seems like either way, we're screwed: take it early, risk failing when no MD candidate and 50% of our class won't have a score, or take it post-apps and have to be concerned that PDs will rank us lesser than those who have already passed. I shouldn't have to be so stressed over my career, and the fact that the stress is caused by the organization that is supposed to represent me and look out for me is a joke.
 
I have little faith the NBOME is going to change their minds on this so our best shot is getting PE waived as a graduation requirement for our class so we can take Step 3 and be done with it.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I am so angry. I pushed my date but now I'm concerned about PDs thinking I'll need time off intern year to go take this test. So it seems like either way, we're screwed: take it early, risk failing when no MD candidate and 50% of our class won't have a score, or take it post-apps and have to be concerned that PDs will rank us lesser than those who have already passed. I shouldn't have to be so stressed over my career, and the fact that the stress is caused by the organization that is supposed to represent me and look out for me is a joke.
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Agree 100%. Taking it in December means we should have our results back by early February based on the current scoring timelines which would be before rank lists are due. I'd rather not have to worry about this stupid exam during auditions and interviews and potentially having a fail completely derail everything right before apps go out. I think trying to reason with the NBOME is a hopeless cause so just wait as long as possible and hope things keep getting pushed back so they have to waive it for us to graduate.
 
GoCards05 said:
Agree 100%. Taking it in December means we should have our results back by early February based on the current scoring timelines which would be before rank lists are due. I'd rather not have to worry about this stupid exam during auditions and interviews and potentially having a fail completely derail everything right before apps go out. I think trying to reason with the NBOME is a hopeless cause so just wait as long as possible and hope things keep getting pushed back so they have to waive it for us to graduate.
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Rank lists this year are due Jan 30th or 31st I think.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
*cries in Florida*
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Sorry friend 🙁 this all completely sucks and our greedy corporate overlords are messing with all of our futures just to make a buck. It's depressing and infuriating that we're seemingly powerless to do anything about it.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I am so angry. I pushed my date but now I'm concerned about PDs thinking I'll need time off intern year to go take this test. So it seems like either way, we're screwed: take it early, risk failing when no MD candidate and 50% of our class won't have a score, or take it post-apps and have to be concerned that PDs will rank us lesser than those who have already passed. I shouldn't have to be so stressed over my career, and the fact that the stress is caused by the organization that is supposed to represent me and look out for me is a joke.
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I wouldn't worry. Your 250+ board score and honors in 3rd year will have internal medicine PD's doing back flips for you to go to their program.
 
Cranjis McBasketball said:
I wouldn't worry. Your 250+ board score and honors in 3rd year will have internal medicine PD's doing back flips for you to go to their program.
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Thank you for saying this, but it's more just that I'm upset about having another thing to worry about it. I'm not overly concerned, it's just frustrating to have to be concerned about things that are out of our hands. I'm tired of always being jerked around by the NBOME/my school/anything DO affiliated, honestly. I don't regret this path but it is definitely infuriating to always be reminded that we're not really equal.
 
@ohmanwaddup did you just start emailing programs you were interested in about aways? I'm thinking of doing this as a lot of them have really outdated info on VSAS but am unsure how this will look in light of the recent announcement.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
@ohmanwaddup did you just start emailing programs you were interested in about aways? I'm thinking of doing this as a lot of them have really outdated info on VSAS but am unsure how this will look in light of the recent announcement.
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These were programs who have opened up their applications for rotations past June 2021 after the COPA announcement came out. If they decide to cancel its whatever, but at least I'm first in the door no matter what happens. To my knowledge Most programs won't open up to apply/update their info until mid February or march. I'm just lucky the ones around me are opening up so early.

I did email 3 places around me and ask if they were planning on doing aways. They all said they were, but this was a week before the COPA announcement was made
 
GoCards05 said:
Your avatar has pretty much been everyone since March 2020. I am literally seething with rage at the NBOME right now since they're massively screwing over both our class and the current fourth years. I ripped them a new one in that SOMA survey (anonymously of course but will do so more publicly once I graduate) and though I don't expect it to make a difference, at least I got it off my chest. Why they won't just cancel this damn test is infuriating.
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I put my name on there. I wasn’t outright ugly, but I didn’t mince too many words either. I talked about having to fly on American Airlines recently where they had every seat full and the person next to me, with their head two feet from mine, had their mask off for half an hour, so it’s just grossly irresponsible to have people flying in when many airlines are saying screw it to social distancing when their bottom line gets involved.

Well, if I don’t match, maybe this will be why.
 
So, kinda a dumb question I feel like but for VSAS, when you enter in the dates of your required rotations, did y'all put electives? We have 3 required electives in M3, but we pick the specialities, so I'm not sure if it's "required" or not. Not sure if I should add those 3 in or just leave it at the cores.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
So, kinda a dumb question I feel like but for VSAS, when you enter in the dates of your required rotations, did y'all put electives? We have 3 required electives in M3, but we pick the specialities, so I'm not sure if it's "required" or not. Not sure if I should add those 3 in or just leave it at the cores.
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I only entered cores. Not sure if that's right but that's how I interpreted it.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
So, kinda a dumb question I feel like but for VSAS, when you enter in the dates of your required rotations, did y'all put electives? We have 3 required electives in M3, but we pick the specialities, so I'm not sure if it's "required" or not. Not sure if I should add those 3 in or just leave it at the cores.
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I didn’t, but I have no third year electives and nothing in my fourth year is scheduled yet, so I have no idea when they’d be. I’d say you could put them if you have dates for them. Beyond that idk.

I’m still just agonizing over whether to throw my one audition in a program in my region to increase my chances of matching there, or to do it in another region to “open up the region“ as it goes. I’m leaning towards doing it in another region because I really don’t care about moving (in fact I’d kind of like to), but WHAT IF all residency programs see it as the strongest ever sign of interest to do an audition this year since they all know we’re only allowed one, and my top choice didn’t pick me because I auditioned somewhere else? Not that I know what my top choice is yet lmfao.

I had planned on doing at least one rotation in the NE/SE/W/MW/PNW each before this announcement came out.
 
sunshinefl said:
I only entered cores. Not sure if that's right but that's how I interpreted it.
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That's what I figured but the neuroticism is beginning lol. Thank you!

calivianya said:
I didn’t, but I have no third year electives and nothing in my fourth year is scheduled yet, so I have no idea when they’d be. I’d say you could put them if you have dates for them. Beyond that idk.

I’m still just agonizing over whether to throw my one audition in a program in my region to increase my chances of matching there, or to do it in another region to “open up the region“ as it goes. I’m leaning towards doing it in another region because I really don’t care about moving (in fact I’d kind of like to), but WHAT IF all residency programs see it as the strongest ever sign of interest to do an audition this year since they all know we’re only allowed one, and my top choice didn’t pick me because I auditioned somewhere else? Not that I know what my top choice is yet lmfao.

I had planned on doing at least one rotation in the NE/SE/W/MW/PNW each before this announcement came out.
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I am only targeting the region I want to be in. I guess it's an individual basis? I just want to end up back home so I'm going to make sure my one audition is in that area. I would only prioritize the one that's already in your region if you reallllly want to go there, otherwise I'd use it to open up another region. Meh, it all sucks.
 
I'm starting to have hella anxiety about PE. When looking at websites for away info yesterday, I noticed a couple stated you had to have Levels 1 + 2 + PE passed by the time they do their rank list. If I'm late December I don't think I will make that deadline.....ahhhh this is such a mess part of me feels like I should have kept my July date but then I would have anxiety about falling. Ugh. I just can't. SOS
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I'm starting to have hella anxiety about PE. When looking at websites for away info yesterday, I noticed a couple stated you had to have Levels 1 + 2 + PE passed by the time they do their rank list. If I'm late December I don't think I will make that deadline.....ahhhh this is such a mess part of me feels like I should have kept my July date but then I would have anxiety about falling. Ugh. I just can't. SOS
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They'll have to change that. Most of class of 2022 won't have PE done by then. And if the program(s) won't change it its probably not one you'd want to attend any way haha
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I'm starting to have hella anxiety about PE. When looking at websites for away info yesterday, I noticed a couple stated you had to have Levels 1 + 2 + PE passed by the time they do their rank list. If I'm late December I don't think I will make that deadline.....ahhhh this is such a mess part of me feels like I should have kept my July date but then I would have anxiety about falling. Ugh. I just can't. SOS
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Cranjis McBasketball said:
They'll have to change that. Most of class of 2022 won't have PE done by then. And if the program(s) won't change it its probably not one you'd want to attend any way haha
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This. Some websites still say that this year even when I interviewed with them and they said no not required. I think they just aren’t up to date.
 
sunshinefl said:
This. Some websites still say that this year even when I interviewed with them and they said no not required. I think they just aren’t up to date.
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This whole not updating is the worst. I some institutions on vsas say “no always at all due to covid” but have listed always that 4th years could apply to right now.

is the no always due to covid new? Is it old? Ugh

as a plus I started inpatient IM today and it’s basically just been me running around playing doctor, but with zero expectations From my preceptors. Is this good for my education? Who knows but it’s fun as hell.
 
ohmanwaddup said:
This whole not updating is the worst. I some institutions on vsas say “no always at all due to covid” but have listed always that 4th years could apply to right now.
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This has been my biggest pet peeve with VSAS. All but one of the places I want to rotate at have dates that still say 2019 or 2020. I'm like....should I email you guys or nah. I got really excited because I thought one opened up today, turns out it was 2/1/2020
 
Some of the programs in my state have opened up dates for this summer and others will be opening in the next couple weeks. I'm planning on applying primarily in my state with COPA recommendation and don't really want to waste my money on out of state applications if we won't be allowed to go anywhere but I also don't want to apply to too few programs since aways are imperative for EM. My school of course has given little to no guidance on all this.
 
GoCards05 said:
Some of the programs in my state have opened up dates for this summer and others will be opening in the next couple weeks. I'm planning on applying primarily in my state with COPA recommendation and don't really want to waste my money on out of state applications if we won't be allowed to go anywhere but I also don't want to apply to too few programs since aways are imperative for EM. My school of course has given little to no guidance on all this.
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This is something I am slightly worried about. My address will be the state I am applying to do these aways in, but I won't officially have that new address until April or so. Hopefully I can send a letter if they ask explain the situation/it will not be an issue
 
GoCards05 said:
Some of the programs in my state have opened up dates for this summer and others will be opening in the next couple weeks. I'm planning on applying primarily in my state with COPA recommendation and don't really want to waste my money on out of state applications if we won't be allowed to go anywhere but I also don't want to apply to too few programs since aways are imperative for EM. My school of course has given little to no guidance on all this.
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...Stupid question, but what counts as “our” state, do you think? The state or school is in, or the state we’re in for rotations? They don’t match for me lmfao.
 
calivianya said:
...Stupid question, but what counts as “our” state, do you think? The state or school is in, or the state we’re in for rotations? They don’t match for me lmfao.
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some schools let you declare a state or city as your home site.
 
God I just love the cat and mouse game of trying to be assertive/self advocate with administration on what I need for aways and being "professional"
 
OMM COMAT coming up. Have done TurnUp2OMT and nothing else...should I bother doing anything else? I really don't want to lol but I wanna pass and I suck at OMM
 
fldoctorgirl said:
OMM COMAT coming up. Have done TurnUp2OMT and nothing else...should I bother doing anything else? I really don't want to lol but I wanna pass and I suck at OMM
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maybe comquest questions? sounds like you did more studying than most so I'm sure you'll be fine. Remember KCU only requires you to get 3rd percentile or higher lol.
 
ohmanwaddup said:
God I just love the cat and mouse game of trying to be assertive/self advocate with administration on what I need for aways and being "professional"
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oh I feel this post so hard lol
fldoctorgirl said:
OMM COMAT coming up. Have done TurnUp2OMT and nothing else...should I bother doing anything else? I really don't want to lol but I wanna pass and I suck at OMM
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wow that's actually a lot lol
ohmanwaddup said:
maybe comquest questions? sounds like you did more studying than most so I'm sure you'll be fine. Remember KCU only requires you to get 3rd percentile or higher lol.
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yeah If the 3rd percentile is the goal I think you're all set
 
fldoctorgirl said:
OMM COMAT coming up. Have done TurnUp2OMT and nothing else...should I bother doing anything else? I really don't want to lol but I wanna pass and I suck at OMM
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I literally did OME vids and Savarese for two days before the exam and comfortably passed. That deck was made for the OMM COMAT so I’m sure that’ll be more than enough!
 
finally under 2000 cards for OG dorian IM deck. I can see the light!

Also super wild that I only have 7 weeks of core rotations left. 2 months of electives after that, but third year has flown by
 
So....where y'all going for your ERAS photos?? I've started seeing them pop up on my classmates' Facebooks. Not ready for this lol
 
fldoctorgirl said:
So....where y'all going for your ERAS photos?? I've started seeing them pop up on my classmates' Facebooks. Not ready for this lol
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I've looked at photographers in my area and they're all so expensive! A couple headshots are going to be $200+ which is insane (it'd be nice if I had an extra $1300 to spend on them like my MD friends now do but that's beside the point). Probably gonna get them done in the next couple weeks since my school will submit my official white coat photo for VSAS. Definitely feels a bit early to be getting ERAS photos though, I thought we still had a couple months.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
So....where y'all going for your ERAS photos?? I've started seeing them pop up on my classmates' Facebooks. Not ready for this lol
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GoCards05 said:
I've looked at photographers in my area and they're all so expensive! A couple headshots are going to be $200+ which is insane (it'd be nice if I had an extra $1300 to spend on them like my MD friends now do but that's beside the point). Probably gonna get them done in the next couple weeks since my school will submit my official white coat photo for VSAS. Definitely feels a bit early to be getting ERAS photos though, I thought we still had a couple months.
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Yeah I went to a fancy headshot photographer near me. It was like $300 but I liked the finished product and the process. Trust me you can tell the difference between the professional, amateur, and phone photos. You don’t have to go as expensive as I did, but I wanted a really polished photo. I also got my hair done the day before. I got mine a month before ERAS opened.
 
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