Tag: COMLEX

Posted on by

Postponed COMLEX Due To Covid: What Do I Do?

postponed COMLEX

Question About Postponed COMLEX:

Hello, I am DO third year medical student interested in radiology. However, I worry about the current situation that I put myself in. During this COVID summer, exam dates got thoroughly messed up to the point where my COMLEX was pushed back two times, leaving me with the decision to delay the beginning of my third year to take Step I or to leave it and focus on COMLEX 1. I chose the latter decision because I was thoroughly exhausted from studying due to my postponed COMLEX. Unfortunately, I received a low score and have dug a relatively large hole for myself.

I know that trying to take Steps I, II, and COMLEX 2 is not an option in my third year. But I wanted to ask you if I had to take a year off, would it be worth taking Step 1 since by then it would be a pass/fail exam? And if I did not take Step I and significantly improved on Step 2 and COMLEX 2, what would my chances be for matching into DR after 4th year? What are other things that I can do to optimize my chances of matching right away or, if not, matching after taking a year off?
Best

Answer:

For most programs, the COMLEX exam holds much less weight than the USMLE. If you score well on the USMLE and don’t score so well on the COMLEX, it does not matter as much. That said, if you decide to take the new pass/fail USMLE Step I, the scores for the USMLE Step II become much more important, especially coming from a DO school. So, it will become a much more critical exam to do well on. I would go as far as to say that a good USMLE Step II score will become a requirement for you to get in since programs will most likely use this score as a screening criterion for interviews. (in the past, you only needed Step I.)

Taking a year off to take an exam is a red flag from a program director’s perspective. Why? Because it shows that you may not be able to multitask well. And, radiology residencies involve lots of multitasking. So, if you are taking off an entire year to take exams, it raises lots of questions from a program director’s view. If you decide to take that route, you need to do something else that will add to your CV for getting into a radiology program, such as a relevant radiology research year/fellowship. Taking off a year just to retake the exams would be a disaster for your application.

My two cents,
Barry Julius, MD

 

 

Posted on by

Can I Get Into Radiology With Poor COMLEX Scores?

Question:

 

Hello Dr. Barry Julius,

I am a 4th-year osteopathic medical student that is struggling to figure out how I can pull off getting into a radiology residency with disappointing COMLEX scores and a completely sub-par application.

Background:

I finally realized what I wanted to do in medicine and now I fear it’s too late. I come from a surgical background having been a Certified Surgical Technologist and First Assistant for ten years before getting to medical school. I realized during my 3rd year that I didn’t want to be a surgeon.

I fell in love with radiology during my ER rotation this year. I loved feeling like I was finally helping patients by reading films. So many times, I felt like I never got to the root of a patient’s problems in internal medicine and family medicine but with radiology, I felt like I was solving a problem. As soon as the radiology bug bit me, I immediately started researching requirements for getting into a diagnostic radiology residency. This task broke my heart into a million pieces. All I found was how competitive the programs were and how essential board scores were.

Main Problem

Passing COMLEX level 1 was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in medical school. I failed twice and finally barely passed on my 3rd attempt. I’m both ashamed and proud of how many times took the exam. I’m proud because I never considered quitting. Medicine has always been my passion, and nothing would ever make me give up on the dream of becoming a physician. I never felt like COMLEX was ultimately going to defeat me.

I’m also proud because I learned a lot about how to study and how I learn best. I’m ashamed because it made me feel like I wouldn’t make a great physician. Many mentors and patients have told me that I would make a fantastic physician. In my heart I know I would.

My Current Situation

I made friends with the radiologist at the hospital where I did my ER rotation, and I’m doing an elective rotation with him starting next week. I’m really excited about this opportunity but lingering in the back of my mind is maybe I have no chance of getting into a radiology residency. Tons of people have told me there is no way to salvage my situation, but I can’t accept that. I’m a fighter and always have been.

Even if you never reply to this message I honestly appreciate the chance to vent. The bottom line is, I will never give up trying to achieve what I want especially now that I’m so passionate about it. After reading some of your posts, I just wanted to know what you would do in my situation. What is your advice for someone like me, with a worthless application, but a strong drive to do whatever is necessary to achieve a goal?

 

Regards,

Worried Radiology Applicant

 

Answer:

Sorry, I have been unable to get back to you sooner. It has been a crazy week. However, I have had some time to mull the issues that you present in the letter and I have come up with a potential solution. But, it will take some soul searching, grit, and determination.

Why are the medical school exam board exams so critical for radiology residencies? Simply because the radiology boards is also a multiple choice question computer exam that is difficult to pass. And, most residencies would not want to commit resources to a resident that will not be able to pass the boards.

Get To The Bottom Of The Situation

So, this is what do you need to do. First, you need to figure out why you have such a hard time with the exam. This may be the most difficult part for you, to admit there may be a psychological problem with test taking to begin with. Many times this is a simple issue that can be easily solved. They have testing psychologists that can get to the root cause. It would be well worth your time to splurge a few thousand dollars now to get the answer that may save you hardship down the road.

For some, the issue can be solved with something as simple as anxiety exercises before the test. For others, it could be a learning disability that you were not aware of. Regardless, make the time and effort to complete this step. It will be well worth it.

USMLE: The Solution

Second, you need to take the USMLE. The good news for you: Most radiology residencies do not like to use the COMLEX as a screening tool. So, if you were to do well on the USMLE, they would never even care about your score on the COMLEX.

So, finally, I would dedicate a year to studying for the USMLE exams and doing well on them. How would I approach it? I would take a year of research in radiology to stay involved in the field. And, I would study at the same time so that you can get the scores you need.

Bottom Line

It will take a lot of from you to really tackle the issue of passing the USMLE and getting into radiology residency. But, if you really want it that bad, there is a way.

Regards,
Barry Julius, MD

 

Posted on by

How Does A DO Degree, COMLEX Score, And USMLE Step I Outcome Affect The Radiology Match?

I have a follow up question to your prior question on the USLME examination.

 

I am currently a 3rd year DO student interested in radiology but I got a USMLE step 1 score that was below where I wanted (227) but a decent COMLEX Level 1 score (591). Do you find that being a DO towards the lower end of board scores for radiology it will be hard to match to a program? I am above most of the cut-offs that I’ve seen (based on FREIDA Online) and am not expecting to go to a big time university. Frankly, I just want to train at a place that will give me a good enough education so I can practice radiology and feel comfortable!

 

I am just nervous about not getting interviews and going unmatched! But, I love radiology and will apply regardless and see what happens and go from there.

 

Thanks,
Alex

__________________________________________

Let me step back a few steps before answering your question specifically about your particular COMLEX Level I and USMLE Step I board scores.

 

First thing you need to know: It is true that there are a few residency programs out there that may not look at DO candidates in general. Those are the minority of programs. If you have a good ERAS application, most schools will want to interview you even though you are a DO.

 

Second item: It is good that you took both the COMLEX and USMLE examinations because some admissions committees don’t really understand what the COMLEX scores really mean, which puts you at a disadvantage from start. (You won’t have to worry about that obviously since you took them both!)

 

Third: DO degrees are being more highly regarded since the AOA and ACGME has begun to merge. The new merged organization has decided to get rid of residency programs for different specialties including radiology that in the past would not accept DO degree graduates. Previously for that reason, a graduate from a DO school was considered a second class applicant since there was a limited number of DO programs. That will no longer be the case due to the merging of the DO and MD residency programs. In fact, you will probably have a slight advantage over Caribbean MD graduates in the future since you are a United States medical school graduate and you do not have to worry about applying to DO specific programs anymore.

 

And finally in your particular situation: there are probably some large high end academic programs that have very high board cut off scores above yours. But, for most programs, both of your scores would be fine and should get you an interview at many places assuming you have a reasonable application and that the radiology specialty does not become significantly more competitive next year (You proved you have the ability to pass the core examination.) Not only that, plenty of high quality programs, programs that create great radiologists, should be willing to take you at “your board score level”.

 

My advice: Don’t be nervous about not matching. Be confident with the knowledge that your board scores are reasonable. That is one less thing to worry about!

Director1