What am I competitive for?

[sandstorm223]

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I'll keep it short. Just got my COMLEX score back: 620s.

Did not take Step 1.

Top 25% class rank.

What am I competitive for? There are a variety of specialties that interest me; would I be able to match most specialties at former AOA programs or will I likely be stuck primary care because I didn't take Step?

**Of note, it seems that people are scoring lower than usual on Level 1 this year, which may give my percentile score a boost. Not sure If that changes anything.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I would say that you can match a good amount of specialties with that. But you may end up being regionally constrained to programs and areas that historically take more DOs.

So no, you're not stuck in primary. But your shots at more academic and university based programs in certain specialties like IM may not be too good.

 

[Bobcat18]

Bad decision not to take step 1

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Primary care and you’re fine.. any sub-speciality desires are going to hindered without a step score.

 

[DrWhozits]

You are competitive for anything that DOs are usually competitive for.

Problem with your last statement is that PDs don’t know/care about the percentiles. One of the things about the USMLE that is so nice is that they are steady year to year. COMLEX changing it really just f***s all of the people who only have a COMLEX.

Congrats on a great score, although I’m not sure that it helps you much.

 

[Dr. Death]

It's not too late. Take step 1 if you want something more competitive. Plenty of people take it after third year @SynapticDoctah is one I believe. Even a 210 on step 1 would be better than applying with only COMLEX. See charting outcomes

 

[Redpancreas]

Bad decision to not to take Step 1. That said, your way out of primary care if that’s not what you’re interested is Peds/IM then specialization. Many respectable places will take you.

 

[UnoMas]

Study hard during 3rd year for shelf exams and rotations, schedule vacation at the end of 3rd year- study for 3 weeks and take Step 1. Will be quite a bit of work but you'll be glad that you did. I am a 4th year and I took my step 1 last month, did very well. Clinical rotation and shelf exams help tremendously. My COMLEX is great (60 points higher than yours) but it felt like a fake score without a Step 1 score, nobody took it seriously. Now with a good Step 1 in hand, I feel like the sky is my limit. Feel free to PM me

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

.

 

[sandstorm223]

SO frustrating that a great COMLEX score basically means nothing. We have everything to lose but nothing to gain. I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I need to hear it straight.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Were you dead set on doing something outside of family medicine or other pirmary care level? If you knew you wanted to do something outside of primary care, why didn't you want to take Step 1?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

SO frustrating that a great COMLEX score basically means nothing. We have everything to lose but nothing to gain. I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I need to hear it straight.

It means something, just not what an equivalent USMLE would. I wouldn't hang your head, just do like unomas and get that step 1 done.

 

[sandstorm223]

Were you dead set on doing something outside of family medicine or other pirmary care level? If you knew you wanted to do something outside of primary care, why didn't you want to take Step 1?

Yeah I have a lot of interests and they are all outside the primary care spectrum. I delayed because I was crushing COMSAEs but was getting national average on NBMEs. I thought it would be better to have no USMLE than average/possibly below average. I know it was the wrong decision now, but it's too late for that.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Yeah I have a lot of interests and they are all outside the primary care spectrum. I delayed because I was crushing COMSAEs but was getting national average on NBMEs. I thought it would be better to have no USMLE than average/possibly below average. I know it was the wrong decision now, but it's too late for that.

It's better to take the USMLE and end up with national average than to not take it and only have a COMLEX score. Even though it's not the most ideal, I agree with the posts above. You can still take the USMLE in your third year depending on your rotation schedule.

 

[DarkHorizon]

Yeah I have a lot of interests and they are all outside the primary care spectrum. I delayed because I was crushing COMSAEs but was getting national average on NBMEs. I thought it would be better to have no USMLE than average/possibly below average. I know it was the wrong decision now, but it's too late for that.

What are your interests?

 

[sandstorm223]

What are your interests?

Radiology and pathology primarily but also would love cardiology. Regarding cardiology specifically, I'm not sure if I could match an IM program that is good enough to lead to a cards fellowship.

 

[UnoMas]

Take Step 1, Step 2. Get good scores, match Cleveland Clinic, bust ass for 3 years, hello Cardiology!!!!

 

[DarkHorizon]

Radiology and pathology primarily but also would love cardiology. Regarding cardiology specifically, I'm not sure if I could match an IM program that is good enough to lead to a cards fellowship.

You can get pathology with a pulse and a passing score.

You can certainly get rads at a community program with your score. You’ll have to apply to a lot of programs to find out. You can get into university programs with your score in IM. Of course you’ll be better served with a USMLE score on all fronts, but you can still do it.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

SO frustrating that a great COMLEX score basically means nothing. We have everything to lose but nothing to gain. I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I need to hear it straight.

Yeah I have a lot of interests and they are all outside the primary care spectrum. I delayed because I was crushing COMSAEs but was getting national average on NBMEs. I thought it would be better to have no USMLE than average/possibly below average. I know it was the wrong decision now, but it's too late for that.

Yah, >210 on the USMLE is basically where we draw the line for whether or not to take it or not. If you were getting upper 220s and lower 230s you should have taken it.

I mean, it's never 'too' late to take it. You were doing well enough that I suspect you'll likely do well if you practice.

 

[SLC]

Are you seriously asking what the most competitive thing you can reasonably expect to get into is?

Don’t you have any real interests?

Because I can tell you with 100% honesty that chasing something competitive just because you scored well on boards is a big mistake. If you want Ortho, then congratulations. But if you’re gonna go choose Ortho because you scored in the 600’s, your life is at serious risk of sucking if/when you realize that your true passion is in Peds or IM.

In other words, congrats on an above average score. Go find out what you actually like doing, and don’t make determining if your score is “too good” for that field any part of the decision making process. That’s a backward way of approaching things.

 

[Jinxapotato]

I mean with a 621 COMLEX it shows that you are a good student, so I'd really take Step 1...I have similar COMLEX score as you, and I took Step 1 during my early 3rd year and it was doable (and I did good)

So long that you are above average, Step 1 will open many more doors.

 

[Redpancreas]

SO frustrating that a great COMLEX score basically means nothing. We have everything to lose but nothing to gain. I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I need to hear it straight.

The OMM is easy points from what I've heard and that's not fair. So far, none of the studies I've found trying to equate the exams try to separate out who cared about OMM on COMLEX vs. who took the USMLE first, then studied two days for OMM and took the COMLEX. Not saying you won't score 250+ on the USMLE, just saying that I don't think they're necessarily equivalent exams.

 

[DocWinter]

I strongly agree with SLC above that your score should not determine your decision. I do get that you are in the M2-3 phase right now and feeling the field out however.

Basically any AOA or former AOA program is within reach for you. People have matched into ortho and derm with lesser numbers. A large factor is not just field but quality of program as well, so do your research and consider aways once you get an idea of the field that interests you.

It gets much messier once you start considering staunchly ACGME programs. First order of business is to find your interest then you can narrow down where you fit in that field

 

[Frogger27]

It may be hard to match cardiology in the future without step score

 

[uhmocksuhsillen]

I'll keep it short. Just got my COMLEX score back: 620s.

Did not take Step 1.

Top 25% class rank.

What am I competitive for? There are a variety of specialties that interest me; would I be able to match most specialties at former AOA programs or will I likely be stuck primary care because I didn't take Step?

**Of note, it seems that people are scoring lower than usual on Level 1 this year, which may give my percentile score a boost. Not sure If that changes anything.

Take step 1. Put yourself on the same field as the MDs.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

My situation is a little different since I took mine after a "research year" between 2nd/3rd year, so technically I took mine after my 2nd year of education...I am a third year now.

1st year, second year, COMLEX, research year, USMLE, third year

Were you able to study effectively during your research year? Ya'll fellows always looked pretty busy.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Were you able to study effectively during your research year? Ya'll fellows always looked pretty busy.

Haven't got my Step scores back yet, so when those come out I can answer this.

 

[Kr#36]

Yeah I have a lot of interests and they are all outside the primary care spectrum. I delayed because I was crushing COMSAEs but was getting national average on NBMEs. I thought it would be better to have no USMLE than average/possibly below average. I know it was the wrong decision now, but it's too late for that.

This really isn't something you did wrong. This is, however, a terrible look for your school. My school would NEVER allow someone with your specialty interests not to take USMLE or allow them to make the decision on whether or not to take without first providing them the advice you've gotten here. Either way you've got a shot at IM, Rads, and path with your score. You'll just have to pinpoint programs that actually know how to recognize a good comlex score.

 

[Staphylococcus Aureus]

Interactive Charting Outcomes in the Match - The Match, National Resident Matching Program

 

[sandstorm223]

Interactive Charting Outcomes in the Match - The Match, National Resident Matching Program

Thanks!