What is the benefit of taking USMLE vs COMLEX?

[IslandStyle808]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I agree.

This idea all started from the discussion about 2 people: One person failed COMLEX, but passed the USMLE with a score >200. Another got a 230ish score on the USMLE and barely passed the COMLEX with like a 425. Those are a bit more realistic, but still rare scenarios.

Another part of it stemmed from MadJack's classmate who had a 250 on the USMLE, but failed the COMLEX. Still we all know this is rare scenario.

 

[UserUnidentified420]

Another part of it stemmed from MadJack's classmate who had a 250 on the USMLE, but failed the COMLEX. Still we all know this is rare scenario.

There's so many combinations of what can go wrong in my future scores I don't even know which nightmare to stress out about.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Another part of it stemmed from MadJack's classmate who had a 250 on the USMLE, but failed the COMLEX. Still we all know this is rare scenario.

Still, did any of those people ever explain or figure out why that happened? The only possibility I can think of is that maybe they've only done UWorld and did absolutely no COMBANK/COMQUEST questions, making themselves ill-prepared for the COMLEX style questions even though they knew the concepts well enough and were ready for USMLE.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Still, did any of those people ever explain or figure out why that happened? The only possibility I can think of is that maybe they've only done UWorld and did absolutely no COMBANK/COMQUEST questions, making themselves ill-prepared for the COMLEX style questions even though they knew the concepts well enough and were ready for USMLE.

Probably the most likely explanation that anyone could think of in this situation. In the end, one should try to study for it after taking the USMLE making sure to use Savarese or a COMLEX specific Q bank.

 

[atomheart]

An upperclassman from my college said it best: you take the USMLE to open doors in the future.

My COMLEX level 1 was more difficult and the score I received under-predicted my Step 1 by 20 points which tells me whoever came up with these conversion formulae is an idiot.

 

[clamsauce]

USMLE doesn't have OMM on it thus it is automatically a superior test because OMM sucks mostly lmfao.

 

[shadowlightfox]

USMLE doesn't have OMM on it thus it is automatically a superior test because OMM sucks mostly lmfao.

That is a moot issue. OMM isn't exactly the toughest part of the COMLEX to begin with. If anything, I don't know how well or rigorously your school prepares you in your OMM course, but had you kept up with OMM materials throughout the first two years diligently, they'd be easy points on the COMLEX.