I am a second year IM resident at an allopathic, large state university. I took and passed both comlex and usmle step 1 and 2 (with good scores) and did very well on comlex step 3. I am now trying to decide whether I need to take usmle step 3 as well to make myself the most competitive candidate for an allopathic heme/onc fellowship. I would have no problem taking usmle step 3 "just in case," but just discovered that would mean also having to go back and take usmle step 2 CS (for $1100). Just trying to measure the risks and benefits.
need to take USMLE step 3 as a D.O?
- Thread starter docMZS
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I think the risk/benefit analysis greatly outweighs taking Step 3 at this point. You've proven you can pass the USMLEs with good scores (and Step 3 is the easiest of them all) and you've proven your clinical exam taking skills w/ COMLEX PE and COMLEX 3. I don't think you stand to gain anything from taking USMLE 3 (lots of people apply to fellowship without having taken it...I did) and you stand to lose a couple thousand bucks.
Plus, there's always the (admittedly very slim) chance that you could bomb it and then you'd be doubly hosed.
