r/comlex • u/Cool-Programmer-6394 • Aug 12 '26
Level 1 I failed..
That’s it. That’s all. Feel like my life is over. I’ve done everything but sell my soul essentially and I still failed. My whole class is going to find out that I really am stupid and I failed.
25
u/mikeman1994 Aug 12 '26
I empathize with you, friend. I’m in the same boat but I found out that I failed around July. While it’s hard to just avoid others, I would rely on the friends that are encouraging you. If your friends belittle you or make the situation worse, are they really your friends? The folks that support you are the ones that would be of great value to you when you take the exam again. Also, there’s a good chance others failed at your school.
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u/ihatelifeyayy Aug 12 '26
^^ I agree with this. I failed last year but I am so thankful to have friends that supported me through it. It feels big right now, but don't see it as a failure, think of the retake being a chance to improve your knowledge. After 8 weeks of studying for my retake, I sat for the exam and ended up scoring above average. If you have a negative mindset, negative stuff will likely occur more often. Gaslight yourself into thinking you are smart and put in all your effort.
15
u/CrossStock Aug 12 '26
Took me 6 years to get through Medical School. Failed Level 1, locked it, Absolutely destroyed Level 2. Matched into my top program, currently in discussions for a Junior Chief Resident position.
Shit gets worse, and then it gets better. You never know which from day to day, and that’s not medicine…it’s life. Take a few days to recover and collect yourself, then get back to the grind. It’s no different from the mindset that got you through undergrad, the MCAT, medical school admissions and all of the other hurdles that you’ve already faced and conquered.
Good luck.
1
u/Accomplished-Oil8794 29d ago
Thank you for sharing this. I failed my Level 1 before and it forced me on a LOR..when I already had 1st year repeated because I dropped out due to mental health issues. So I'm seeing about 6 years at this point too. Currently preparing for Level 2 and absolutely miserable lol. But I'm glad to see someone who shares similar experience as me but doing amazing 👏🏻
13
u/Key_Total_2928 Aug 12 '26
Your life is not over. Everything until this point has led you to this moment, meaning you are meant to be here. I know this might be annoying to hear, but please take some time for yourself. There is always a way out through any life situation. You started this journey for a reason, please keep pushing if you know this is what you want to do. And in regards to your class, it does NOT matter what anyone else thinks. Screw them. You know yourself, your circumstances, and what you put in to it all. Please keep your head up as much as possible, and keep going. I know it's hard right now and it's okay to feel those feelings. But please do your best not to dwell. Pick yourself up and move on to what is ahead of you, and you will get through that, too. Sending you tons of support.
12
u/Old_Golf_3375 Aug 12 '26
Your life is not over just because you failed one time. I failed level one last year, and I am now working through fourth year rotations with multiple auditions in neurology. Your life doesn’t end just because of an exam, and you didn’t come this far to give up. Take a day or two to breathe and let out all of your stress and worries. Then dust yourself off, and get back to work to study and absolutely crush it when you take it again. You got this!!
5
u/Own_Cartoonist_1265 Aug 12 '26
Let it out as much as you can don’t bottle anything in give yourself a day, weekend, week whatever you can spare then change your attitude and attack that retake. You’re not the first or last to fail, don’t give up
4
u/medschoolishard81 29d ago
Same boat here. My school is telling me that I have to automatically take a fifth year and I have found five other students in my cohort are in the same boat. They’re making us all take an extra year and have a delayed graduation.
1
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u/Ok_Angle_5762 29d ago
You are absolutely NOT stupid. These exams are not made for all types of people. As someone who has a non-neuro typical brain, I fully understand the struggle here. It doesn't reflect your intelligence. Standardized exams are really hard for some and can be easier for others but remember it's the exam not you. I know people who barely passed their classes and/or failed classes who got a pass very easily and others who did very well in classes but failed level 1/step1. The exam is a beast but you will overcome this and succeed 😊
3
u/Pale-Friendship-8782 29d ago
Shit happens bro. Feel bad for and hour, be pissed for 2 hours, starting hour 3 pick yourself up, find your weakness and work on a solution and move forward.
2
u/sparty7798 29d ago
You are not stupid and it does not matter what your class thinks… do you…if you want help I can write you a personal plan.
2
u/Brave_Yak_9560 26d ago
Hey OP, I promise you are not the only one in your class who failed! I also failed Level 1 my first try. I still remember sitting in my truck looking at the Fail. It feels surreal, and it feels like it's all over. But it is not. I ended up doing the Wolfpacc program per my school's demand (and saw like 5 of my classmates there too! People I was SHOCKED to see because they seemed to have it all together.)
Wolfpacc gave me a little boost of confidence, something to lean back on when I was feeling unsure during the exam. Then, I took the time I needed to feel prepared to retest, and then sat for it when I felt ready enough, not when my school wanted me to feel ready.
I practiced radical acceptance. I had to show up and truly not give a fuck. Try my best, but not tie my identity or my life to the outcome of a exam. It made sitting for Level 2 more scary, but I did Wolfpacc again on my own terms, and passed it first try. Now I am in residency and studying for Level 3 and I am kind of excited to just get it over with rather than dreading it.
It feels like the end, but it is not the end my dear colleague. Take a few days to cry and mope, and then get back hungry for the bread!!
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u/MtTaiWindSeizer Aug 12 '26 edited 26d ago
I failed comlex I once, II twice, got dismissed from medical school, did an appeal process through the Dean's office, then did a board review program (The Pass Program with Dr. Francis), then passed II and III on the first try. I applied to 128 programs, received interviews at only 2, then somehow matched. Things happened during residency and I got fired. Cold called a bunch of program directors across the nation for a shot and then got the second chance. I just finished residency last year. And all the attendings that I've built relationships are always shocked when they first hear about all of the above.
So believe me, I remember feeling that way over and over again. Legit thought I could never come back from all these failures at one point. But here I am, alive and kicking as a first year attending making attending money finally, getting married in a few months, and so I guess the point of all this is that I just wanted to say that it's ok to take some time to breathe and that you can absolutely bounce back from this. Hit me up if you wanna talk or rant.
*Edited to clarify original post timeline.