USMLE a must?

[Stump]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi,

A 2nd yr D.O. student here. I am interested in anesthesiology and am wondering if I should take the USLMLE? I know interest in this field is growing again, as opposed to the past when it was not competitive. Just wanna hear from any other DO's out there going through this and what are your thoughts?

Thanks!!

 

[gas-x]

Take the USMLE!!!!

DOn't let anybody tell you that COMLEX is enough. Don't fall for the line, "If they won't take the COMLEX, then that means they don't respect DOs." That full of crap. "DOs eat their young." I've had program directors tell me that the biggest mistake that DOs make is not taking the USMLE. why work hard for 4 years (OK, maybe 2.5) and only to find out you screwed yourself before you even started? This doesn't mean there aren't any programs that won't accept the COMLEX. But it certainly is safer. Then again, if you bomb the USMLE, don't report it. just use COMLEX. another safety device.

 

[DRNickiTay]

I am a third year osteopathic student and I contemplated the same question last year. After speaking to programs I was interested in I decided to take the USMLE. I figured it was better to take it and surprised myself by doing better on the USMLE than the COMLEX. For me it was all about opening doors and having more options.

 

[sodalime]

Absolutely take the USMLE, I am a fourth year NSUCOM who just went through the whole interview thing and it absolutely makes a big difference, especially when the specialty is becoming more and more competitive. I have found that a lot of people I have spoken to have actually done better on the USMLE than on the COMLEX, and if you do not do well - just dont report it!

 

[Stump]

Thanks for the replies, they really help. I have decided to go ahead and take the USMLE. I figure what the hell, I'm already studying for COMLEX, might as well go for it. You all say that reporting USMLE scores are not required, but residency programs will at least know that I took it, right? Won't that raise any red flags??

Another quick question for those of you that have applied/interviewed for gas residencies, are there known D.O. friendly allopathic programs out there? What do you think of the Osteopathic Gas residencies? And are there any programs that I need to stay away from? Any info would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[p-bo]

This is probably contrary to what most of the egomaniacs that post will say (judging by the rank lists) but after doing 14 interviews at a miriad of places.... your training in gas is mostly up to you.

You will get lots of cases almost anywhere and you can read anywhere..... thats what your training will consist of. Ya, you may not do 50 lung transplants per year, but neither does the average joe, you'll still be an excellent gas passer.

I think it comes down to geography (unless you want to be the chair of a department), if you're not happy, you wont be as productive and wont get out of residency all you could or should.

Stay away from the DO programs simply b/c they are not stable.... as a DO you'll be fine in the allopathic world. Do well on the usmle, thats the only scholastic thing anyone seemed to really comment on. (I'm a DO).

Good luck

 

[R U SED 8]

Originally posted by Stump
You all say that reporting USMLE scores are not required, but residency programs will at least know that I took it, right? Won't that raise any red flags??

Stump,

USMLE scores are only available to residency programs provided that you released them in the first place. In other words, if you opt not to have your scores released, then get a sub-par result on the exam, no one but you will know.

However, given that we are entering the medical field and becoming physicians, this does raise the ethical dilemma of what to do when questioned in the interview about whether or not you took the exam?! Do you lie and say you never took it, or admit that your scores were not good. I suppose you need to let your conscience be your guide.

But study hard, do well, and none of this will be an issue! Hope this helps!

 

[Arch Guillotti]

This thread is very interesing to me. I am a third year osteopathic student intent on an allopathic gas spot. I too faced the dilemma of whether or not to take the USMLE. I rolled the dice with the USMLE, taking it the Saturday after the COMLEX. Unfortunately, there was a wide disparity in my scores. I scored well on the COMLEX (81%) but cr@ppy on the USMLE (200, roughly 25%). So now I have a few more dilemmas. Do I report the USMLE scores? If so, do I take Step 2 and try to make up my poor Step I showing? Do I not report the scores and hope for the best?

I want to go to the Southeast, so PD's there may not be as familiar with the COMLEX as they might be elsewhere (NE, midwest). Ugh. I thought USMLE Step I was an extremely hard test. I had lots of biochem, genetics, molecular biology and stuff that I thought was really obscure - in addition to the usual psych/social questions that had a minimum of three right answers. The COMLEX Step I seemed more clinically oriented. Maybe because of this I will do better on USMLE Step II since it is more clinically oriented. However, the truth of the matter, from what I understand from others as well as reading this board - most people score about the same on the two exams.

For those of you preparing for Step I, my advice is just like evryone else's. First Aid, BRS path and physio and do lots of questions. For the OMM part, I read Savarese only and did just fine on the OMM questions.

Anecdotally, I spoke to a DO applicant earler this year applying to allopathic programs in the NE and midwest (Chicago) area. I don't know his board scores but I don't think he rocked them (I believe he took the USMLE). He seemed like just another decent applicant amongst thousands of others. He was having no problems getting interviews. When he called programs, he was generally told that the USMLE cutoff for interviews was >190-200 (disclaimer: I don't know the relative strength or rano of these programs but I believe some of them were large univ. programs).

Hope this helps and would like to hear from anyone else, esp. you fourth years anxiously awaiting the big day.

Arch

 

[gas-x]

Arch,

As far as your plan...take USMLE II and study hard for it. But, take it early in your fourth year so that the score will be returned to you before interview season. If you score much higher (>15 pts) than your Step I score, report USMLE and COMLEX. But, if your score is so-so, then only report your COMLEX scores. Just make sure you take Step II early. that's the key.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

Gas-x,

Thanks for the reply. That was my thinking for the best strategy. So when do you think is the latest date that I can take it? It takes what, 6 weeks to get scores back? So in August sometime I guess. If I fill out ERAS and release my COMLEX scores only, get my USMLE's back and am pleased - I guess I would release them at that time, huh? Just trying to get the logistics down.

Arch

 

[Molly Maquire]

Arch,

You might not need to worry too much about your Step I score.

I know things are getting more competitive in gas, but I know someone who matched last year at a big university program in New York with slightly less than a 200 (this was after doing an audition elective, however).

 

[gas-x]

Slight correction to molly's statement. last year's match is definitely not the same as this year's. and it will be very different from next year's match. over the course of two years, the competition level has increased dramatically. some PD's have told me that their number of applications have doubled since 2001.

as far as the USMLE date, take it in early august or so. you can submit your ERAS without reporting your USMLE score. once you get the score, you can then update it and the application will be updated online. the programs will get your new scores very soon afterwards. besides, taking step II after your third year isn't too bad. you've already taken all the core rotations.

good luck.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

Thanks to those who replied. I am planning on taking Step 2 in mid to late August - is this early enough?

TIA

 

[Stump]

Could anyone please post your average board score ranges, so I can get an idea of what kind of numbers the various residency programs are looking at. I would love to get an idea about what would be considered competitive. Good luck to all on the upcoming match.

Thanks in advance !!!!

 

[Stump]

bump

 

[CaliGirlDO]

As a 4th year DO who just matched for a gas spot, I can assure you that it IS possible to match in anesthesia with ONLY COMLEX scores. I only submitted Step I COMLEX scores because historically I'm a lousy test-taker when it comes to standardized exams. I didn't want to take USMLE for financial, time and personal reasons, HOWEVER...if you have the option at this point, I would take the USMLE and see what score you get. As other people have mentioned, you don't have to release your USMLE scores to ERAS when you apply if you don't like them. It ought to be slightly more competitive next year to get anesthesiology, so another reason to give yourself some options. I did notice several programs who won't even interview or consider your application without a USMLE score...namely U of Arizona and Utah. I'm sure there are others who weren't so brazen to tell me that outright. Good luck!

 

[Stump]

Hey any of you "D.O. gas docs to be" care to list the programs you applied to that are DO friendly as well as the ones to stay away from. Please write about your experiences while on the application trail (good and bad). I'm only a second year now (getting ready for those damn boards), but am starting to collect info now. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[Stump]

Anybody???

 

[nicholastoday]

I'm just wondering where you got this information, not that I am doubting you, but I have been looking to find whether or not we as DO students are required to release our USMLE scores or not and I can't find info yet.

I was told that if we apply to an ACGME approved residency they will see our USMLE scores no matter what. Is this true?



USMLE scores are only available to residency programs provided that you released them in the first place. In other words, if you opt not to have your scores released, then get a sub-par result on the exam, no one but you will know.
However, given that we are entering the medical field and becoming physicians, this does raise the ethical dilemma of what to do when questioned in the interview about whether or not you took the exam?! Do you lie and say you never took it, or admit that your scores were not good. I suppose you need to let your conscience be your guide.

But study hard, do well, and none of this will be an issue! Hope this helps![/QUOTE]

 

[pgy13]

I almost never offer an interview to a DO without USMLEs. I imagine a lot of programs do the same, now that the applicant pool has expanded.

 

[Green912]

3rd year D.O. student. I took the USMLE step-1 and am scheduled to take step-2 in early August. I've heard success stories in various fields from people on both sides. It's comes down to a question of comfort level and I knew that if I didn't take the test I'd always wonder if it was holding me back. Maybe taking both steps is overkill but it's only money right.

 

[Idiopathic]

Take it, but do well. Dont assume that just because you study for COMLEX you can hit the USMLE as well (or vice versa) Plenty of people I know got burned out taking the tests back to back and didnt do as well as they should have on USMLE, had they given themselves some decompression time/extra study time, in my opinion.

 

[Carm]

Can only speak from my own experience with the selection process, but I would definitely take it. Comlex is a different scale which makes head to head comparisons difficult. Even someone familar with both scoring systems might find it difficult to compare two candidates.

One of my DO colleagues says he expects DO applicants to take the test. He was proud and confident of his education, and wanted an "even playing field" with the other applicants.

Just one perspective, but I think it would open more doors. Personally, I think it would totally suck to take two brutal standardized tests, but it would be better in the long run so suck it up and bite the bullet.

 

[lvspro]

Hi,

A 2nd yr D.O. student here. I am interested in anesthesiology and am wondering if I should take the USLMLE? I know interest in this field is growing again, as opposed to the past when it was not competitive. Just wanna hear from any other DO's out there going through this and what are your thoughts?

Thanks!!

2 DO's prematched at my program. Both passed Step 1 with reasonably good scores (I'm guessing 220-ish). Handy piece of info, IMHO.

 

[nicholastoday]

As an osteopath, if I apply to an ACGME approved residency....

Must I release my USMLE score?

Just wondering who knows for sure.

Nicholas

 

[Sugar72]

As an osteopath, if I apply to an ACGME approved residency....

Must I release my USMLE score?

Just wondering who knows for sure.

Nicholas

If the ERAS application is the same as last year - NO.

 

[Sugar72]

Thanks to those who replied. I am planning on taking Step 2 in mid to late August - is this early enough?

TIA

I applied to programs in the southeast last year and the majority of them didn't send out invitations to interview until late september. If you want to be in the first batch of invites you might want to take step 2 towards the beginning of august. It takes 4 weeks to get your scores and that would put your killer step 2 score in front of them early in september. I would definitely recommend taking step 2 and doing like every single usmleworld question beforehand.
This advice is especially true if you are interested in UAB - almost all of their interview spots were filled by October.
Good luck!

 

[Azcomstud]

Tough decisions are coming my way and thought I'd ask you guys for a little advice.

I took both Comlex step 1 and USMLE step 1 and did okay. 227(92) on USMLE1 and 652(95%) on Comlex 1. I WAS going to wait until December/January and just take Comlex step 2 (just pass it), thinking that my scores might be good enough to avoid USMLE step 2. I am starting to think that USMLE step 2 is a must now because of the increase in competitiveness for anesthesia spots. What do you guys think? Are my scores good enough to wait and only take Comlex step 2? I hate standardized tests more than anything!!! Any advise would be appreciated

 

[Induc(junc)tion]

Certainly you will get plenty of interviews with those scores, they are very solid. I would save the money and time, and skip the USMLE step 2. Just take the COMLEX later and pass it. You will be fine.

 

[BDawginit]

I am also a student at azcom, well graduating now, but anyway here is my advice. your usmle score is ok, will prob get decent amount of interviews, but realize that even though that would be a great score if from any allo school, its marginal for a DO student. if you apply broadly you will prob match, although be prepared to go anywhere. I just went through the anesthesia match this year and it is gettin hella competitive espec for us osteopathic grads. It is up to you whether or not to take step 2 early, if you are motivated then do it, but if not and may not do as well dont. step 2 is easier though and doesnt take quite the prep, more like 2 or 3 weeks of hard studying compared to months. best of luck and have a great fourth year in the valley of the sun, i am outta there.

 

[Carm]

Tough decisions are coming my way and thought I'd ask you guys for a little advice.

I took both Comlex step 1 and USMLE step 1 and did okay. 227(92) on USMLE1 and 652(95%) on Comlex 1. I WAS going to wait until December/January and just take Comlex step 2 (just pass it), thinking that my scores might be good enough to avoid USMLE step 2. I am starting to think that USMLE step 2 is a must now because of the increase in competitiveness for anesthesia spots. What do you guys think? Are my scores good enough to wait and only take Comlex step 2? I hate standardized tests more than anything!!! Any advise would be appreciated

As long as the rest of your app is squared away (recs, grades, personality, etc) I think you look fine as is. I can't speak for a DO student b/c I have not applied as one, but you look in great shape as long as teh rest of your app is solid. Since you have to take Comlex 2 to graduate etc as a DO, I personally don't see the benefit in paying and suffering through Step 2 with good scores on Step 1. Just an opinion, but it's your career so make sure you are comfortable with whatever direction you go.