When to take COMLEX step 2?

[MJJ]

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Hello All,

My COMLEX step 1 is 589. Should I take Step 2 early (i.e August), or can I push it back to October when I have finished application and my audition rotations?
Thanks
MJJ

 

[simpleman]

Hello All,

My COMLEX step 1 is 589. Should I take Step 2 early (i.e August), or can I push it back to October when I have finished application and my audition rotations?
Thanks
MJJ

i thought the norm was in these 3 months april-may-june! and if thinking early, would be march!

i will most likely schedule mine in end of may/beginning of june!

 

[ceftazidime]

Hello All,

My COMLEX step 1 is 589. Should I take Step 2 early (i.e August), or can I push it back to October when I have finished application and my audition rotations?
Thanks
MJJ

This really depends on what specialty you're applying for and whether you're applying allopathic or osteopathic. I would recommend posting in the forum for that particular specialty for better advice, as some programs prefer to have your Step 2 score before they even send you an invite. Your step I score is good though... I'm guessing 589 is about a 90? Speaking from personal experience, I scored in a similar range but took the USMLE as well (and scored similarly), and then took both Step 2s in September, after I applied for Internal Medicine residencies. Got plenty of allo and osteo invites even without Step 2, but this may be characteristic only of IM, plus I auditioned at some of those places.

 

[jrf331]

Dont worry about it. If you learned anything your 3rd year of med. school you will pass without any trouble. It is not that hard and you will prob. do similar to step one. Just take it early and get the thing over with.

 

[DaveinDallas]

Dont worry about it. If you learned anything your 3rd year of med. school you will pass without any trouble. It is not that hard and you will prob. do similar to step one. Just take it early and get the thing over with.

Ok --- so what about us dweebs that only hit the average and made the mistake of not taking USMLE Step 1 and want to get into emergency
medicine?

I'm starting to bust it for Step 2 (gonna take both) and was wondering about when to take and what order to take both USMLE and COMLEX 2?

I'm thinking 3rd week of July after starting to really study 22 June with a review course thrown in and much memorization (like I didn't do for
COMLEX 1 -- yep, no more understanding WTF I'm doing, just pure, raw rote memorization of the facts....).

 

[FutureInternist]

Ok --- so what about us dweebs that only hit the average and made the mistake of not taking USMLE Step 1 and want to get into emergency medicine?

I'm starting to bust it for Step 2 (gonna take both) and was wondering about when to take and what order to take both USMLE and COMLEX 2?

I don't think USMLE 2 will help you as much as 1, since a lot of residencies have cut offs for step 1 scores below which they do not interview & you can even match before having a Step 2 score. If you have to take just one well-written, thought provoking, career defining exam this year, make it the USMLE 1. 🙂

 

[ceftazidime]

Ok --- so what about us dweebs that only hit the average and made the mistake of not taking USMLE Step 1 and want to get into emergency
medicine?

I'm starting to bust it for Step 2 (gonna take both) and was wondering about when to take and what order to take both USMLE and COMLEX 2?

I might be wrong, but I don't think you can take USMLE step 2 without taking USMLE step 1. I've heard rumors of people doing this, but I don't see how its possible since you have to pass step 1 to be eligible for step 2, just like how I can't take USMLE step 3 without taking step 2 CS.

Regardless, EM is a very DO friendly field, and most of them accept COMLEX scores alone from what I've heard. I would research the programs you're interested and see whether or not they require USMLE. Because if you did have to take USMLE step 1 first, it would be next to impossible to study for that and COMLEX step 2 at the same time.

 

[DaveinDallas]

I might be wrong, but I don't think you can take USMLE step 2 without taking USMLE step 1. I've heard rumors of people doing this, but I don't see how its possible since you have to pass step 1 to be eligible for step 2, just like how I can't take USMLE step 3 without taking step 2 CS.

Regardless, EM is a very DO friendly field, and most of them accept COMLEX scores alone from what I've heard. I would research the programs you're interested and see whether or not they require USMLE. Because if you did have to take USMLE step 1 first, it would be next to impossible to study for that and COMLEX step 2 at the same time.

I looked on the USMLE sign up website and saw no requirement to take Step 1 before Step 2. Was also told this by an administrator at the school and various upperclassmen at the time.

 

[FutureInternist]

Lots of FMGs take 2 before 1 so definitely allowed....although I would still suggest taking USMLE 1 not 2

 

[jbp100]

I might be wrong, but I don't think you can take USMLE step 2 without taking USMLE step 1. I've heard rumors of people doing this, but I don't see how its possible since you have to pass step 1 to be eligible for step 2, just like how I can't take USMLE step 3 without taking step 2 CS.

Regardless, EM is a very DO friendly field, and most of them accept COMLEX scores alone from what I've heard. I would research the programs you're interested and see whether or not they require USMLE. Because if you did have to take USMLE step 1 first, it would be next to impossible to study for that and COMLEX step 2 at the same time.

There is a difference between "accepting" COMLEX and being competitive to match with the COMLEX alone. If you wanna be in a big boy specialty (which EM is becoming more and more of each year) you gotta take the big boy tests.

 

[DaveinDallas]

There is a difference between "accepting" COMLEX and being competitive to match with the COMLEX alone. If you wanna be in a big boy specialty (which EM is becoming more and more of each year) you gotta take the big boy tests.

Is that like learning to piss in the tall weeds? Or should that be urinate into high velocity breezes? Or may be counted with every pendulating richard? Ah, heck, negative perspiration....

 

[It'sElectric]

There is a difference between "accepting" COMLEX and being competitive to match with the COMLEX alone. If you wanna be in a big boy specialty (which EM is becoming more and more of each year) you gotta take the big boy tests.

Seconded. If you really go out of your way and ask allo EM programs what they think about applicants with only comlex scores, you'll start to see a subtle trend. Sure, some programs will still look at you with just comlex, but they'll look even harder and see you in a different light with usmle scores.

That being said, prepare for the usmle. No matter what people tell you, they are not the same exam. Prepare for the USMLE only, do some quick OMM review, and you'll be golden for both (in regards to Step 1 at least).

 

[235750]

prepare for the usmle. No matter what people tell you, they are not the same exam. Prepare for the USMLE only, do some quick OMM review, and you'll be golden for both (in regards to Step 1 at least).

That's what a lot of people have said (Taurs method included). May I ask: if they are indeed different exams, then why do you need to only prepare for the USMLE? Is it because the COMLEX is not as hard?

I've looked at practice COMLEX I questions and compared them to the USMLE I, and I must say, you don't need to understand the material to see that the COMLEX seems to ask questions a little more awkwardly. Do you people who have taken the USMLE/COMLEX agree?

Thanks for your time!

 

[FutureInternist]

The questions you miss on COMLEX will not be because you didn't study hard enough or long enough.....it will be because they are poorly written, "guess what we are thinking" type Qs. 😡
Definitely prepare for USMLE, do Savarese/any other OMM book for 2-3 days & take the COMLEX.

 

[NonTradDO]

I'm pretty sure you can take it anytime if the score is back before graduation unless the school requires otherwise... I'm not going to take it for another few months

 

[It'sElectric]

That's what a lot of people have said (Taurs method included). May I ask: if they are indeed different exams, then why do you need to only prepare for the USMLE? Is it because the COMLEX is not as hard?

I've looked at practice COMLEX I questions and compared them to the USMLE I, and I must say, you don't need to understand the material to see that the COMLEX seems to ask questions a little more awkwardly. Do you people who have taken the USMLE/COMLEX agree?

Thanks for your time!

They're different because the usmle is a better written exam, requiring 3rd and even 4th order thinking. The COMLEX is poorly written with the occasional BS and typically 2nd order questions. Nevertheless, they both cover most of the same stuff (there definitely are some differences, which has been discussed a number of times on here), it's just the USMLE is more challenging (but it's actually possible to know every question). Unlike the COMLEX, which doesn't require higher order thinking, and it's literally impossible to answer every question right, because they will ask you **** out of left field. There are topics on the USMLE not asked on the COMLEX.

Thus, if you study for the USMLE, you'll definitely cover anything/everything they'll ask on the COMLEX (minus the OMM and BS questions you wouldn't know anyways).

Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[SOUNDMAN]

Well said Electric

 

[Thorazine]

i'd try to get it over with before interview season begins (which is mid-october, usually). i had 2-3 interviews per week for about 8 weeks over the fall-winter (minus holiday weeks), and it was really busy with travelling and everything. you dont want step 2 hanging over your head when you are trying to shine on your interview. i think they offer the majority of test dates in september. and try not to take any days off during your audition rotations.
if you can swing an easy rotation in the summer, i'd study and take it then. its a great feeling to have it over with. by the time january rolls around, you probably wont want to do ANYTHING until residency starts 😀

 

[235750]

They're different because the usmle is a better written exam, requiring 3rd and even 4th order thinking. The COMLEX is poorly written with the occasional BS and typically 2nd order questions. Nevertheless, they both cover most of the same stuff (there definitely are some differences, which has been discussed a number of times on here), it's just the USMLE is more challenging (but it's actually possible to know every question). Unlike the COMLEX, which doesn't require higher order thinking, and it's literally impossible to answer every question right, because they will ask you **** out of left field. There are topics on the USMLE not asked on the COMLEX.

Thus, if you study for the USMLE, you'll definitely cover anything/everything they'll ask on the COMLEX (minus the OMM and BS questions you wouldn't know anyways).

Hopefully that makes sense.

That does make sense, thank for your answering my question so well.