Testing in Medical School: Help?

[anxiousanxiety]

Hi! I will be starting medical school this year (likely at a DO school) and I feel like I'm already completely overwhelmed by all of the different tests that med students take. What is COMLEX, what is USMLE, what are the steps, what is all of this and when do I take them? Help!

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[Calizboosted76]

Just take some deep breaths. All of this will be explained to you during school. COMLEX level 1 and 2 are the board exams for DO schools. USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 are the board exams for MD schools.

You will likely take Level 1/Step1 when you are a second year medical student and Level 2/Step 2 when you are a third year.

However, stop stressing over that and start stressing over how to study for first year. lol.

 

[Goro]

COMLEX is required for DO students; USMLE is optional, but advised to take unless you're in the bottom quartile.

 

[Cornfed101]

COMLEX is required for DO students; USMLE is optional, but advised to take unless you're in the bottom quartile.

I’m bottom quartile and really glad I took step 2 as I did better on it than COMLEX 2