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Need advice whether or not I should take USMLE
Hey guys,
I'm a 2nd year DO student and will be taking COMLEX step 1 next summer. I'm also thinking of taking USMLE, but I'm not sure whether or not I should take it considering the amount of stress that I have to put on to take both boards exams. I heard that if I take USMLE and assuming I did well on it, I could compete with other MD counterparts when I apply for competitive residencies programs. But then I also heard most programs in US accept either COMLEX or USMLE (correct me if I'm wrong). So, I don't know to what extent the USMLE score becomes significant. How do they compare DO and MD applicants? Do they prefer USMLE more than COMLEX? or they consider these the same?
Does anybody have any advice or insight on this? I'm thinking of going to into specialty in Hem/Onc. So this is not a terribly competitive area compared to derm, rad, etc.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated
rtedja
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We have a lot of DO candidates in our program and none of them have taken USMLE. So, I do not think that taking USMLE is going to make all the difference. As far as being considered similar to MD candidates if you have taken step 3, I think programs are pretty much decided on whether they take DO candidates and it may not have much to do with USMLE scores. I would concentrate on getting good COMLEX scores and getting strong LOR's. IF you do that, and do residency in a reasonably good program, you will not have that much difficulty to get into a fellowship. Some of our seniors with DO's go into good fellowships. All the best![/quote] Thanks a lot Prab! rtedja
We have a lot of DO candidates in our program and none of them have taken USMLE. So, I do not think that taking USMLE is going to make all the difference. As far as being considered similar to MD candidates if you have taken step 3, I think programs are pretty much decided on whether they take DO candidates and it may not have much to do with USMLE scores. I would concentrate on getting good COMLEX scores and getting strong LOR's. IF you do that, and do residency in a reasonably good program, you will not have that much difficulty to get into a fellowship. Some of our seniors with DO's go into good fellowships. All the best!
You can do it, we can help!
Prab, Moderator