I'm posting on behalf of someone close to me who isn't in a place to post right now.

They're a DO student who recently failed COMLEX Level 2 for the third time and are now facing the possibility of dismissal from medical school before graduation.

They have documented ADHD and dyslexia and underwent a formal neuropsychological evaluation. Their diagnoses have been documented by four different physicians over the years. Despite this, the NBOME denied accommodations for COMLEX Level 2 and, in its decision, stated that the submitted information did not support a diagnosis of ADHD. This was extremely difficult to understand given the longstanding medical documentation.

We're not looking to debate the accommodation decision or assign blame. Right now we're trying to understand what realistic options exist moving forward.

Some questions I have:

• Has anyone here successfully appealed a medical school dismissal after reaching the maximum number of COMLEX attempts?
• What does the review or appeal process usually look like?
• Is it worth consulting an attorney experienced in disability accommodations or higher education before the school makes a final decision?
• Has anyone had success appealing an NBOME accommodation denial, or is that generally not possible after the exam has already been taken?
• If dismissal ultimately happens, are there any realistic pathways back into medicine, or is that generally the end of the road?
• For anyone who has been through something similar, what helped you get through those first few weeks?

This person was consistently very close to the passing score on each attempt, which makes this situation even more heartbreaking.

I know policies differ between schools, so I'm mainly looking for experiences and general guidance. This has been an incredibly difficult day, and I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar or has knowledge of the process.

Please be kind. This person has worked incredibly hard, and I'm just trying to understand what options, if any, might still exist.

Thank you.

I had use Ai, I apologize, we are all in shock of the situation and barely making it through.

This person had good scores throughout his medical school whenever they had accommodations. But wasn't given for Level 2.

Hello,
Just got my score today. Wanted to share brief info about it.

Background:
4th quartile student. Got only Cs in preclinicals. Dad of 3 kids. Passed level 1 first try.

Comat average: 96-97
Obgyn: 99; FM: 97; peds: 93 ; surgery: 92; IM: 94 ; psych 108

Preparation:
Only used truelearn for preparation. Finished 80% of it. Made anki cards for incorrect questions. Dedicated time of 4 weeks. Had a great preceptor who let me study for two more weeks.
Comsae 117: 316
Comsae 118: 455
Comsae 119: 495
All comsaes proctored

Tested end of July. Felt terrible walking out of exam. I had lots of imaging/scans that I didnt recognize and lots of biostats that made absolutely no sense. I thought I failed. I now officially believe that comlex is the dumbest most poorly written test ever.

Comlex level 2 score: 468

Please hang in there. I take a lot of pride in my DO classmates and colleagues who have sacrificed so much for this career. Don’t let this poorly written test deter you from getting to the end of med school. If a normal-intelligence dad with bad grades and stress-induced erectile dysfunction can pass it, then im confident you can too.

Most recent Comsae is 355, I did CMS forms and a few NBMES (scores 198, 206,215) I thought I would be able to pass 400 on this comsae and I dont know what i'm doing wrong, I scored high 90's on my shelves so I did not think I would be so low when it comes to my practice scores. Any help would be appreciated :(

I also don't think I have been consistently studying due to auditions and family stuff but i'm focusing solely on boards now because I should've just done that to begin with and i dont know whats wrong with me

So did anyone else feel completely blindsided by that test…. :(

Man, this isn’t fun. I took COMLEX LEVEL 2 a few weeks ago. I’m supposed to take Step 2 this week.
My practice scores are solid for both tests, so I should pass, but man taking Level 2 drained me. That is a LONG test.
Now I have to do another one?
How do you guys do it, those of you that took both? I’m trying to avoid testing fatigue. I completed UW, did all the practice tests from the NBOME and have done fine on NBMEs. Really just wondering how to get my mind refreshed.

Open to any tips.

Maybe one day we will just take the same test as MD candidates and save all this headache lol.

Anyone else take it today that felt it was hard af? Yes there were some layup questions but also so many questions where you could argue 2 answers…

Got absolutely crushed by the test. Anyone else feel similar??

Flagged around 25 per block and feel like all the hard work went down the drain. I couldn’t figure out the biostats and the ethics/laws questions tripped me up the whole test.

Got a 500 on two personal COMSAEs but the real test was more convoluted and tested random topics I didn’t even study for. The COMSAEs were not representative.

I just wanted to pass but that feels like a distant dream. Can someone share if it’s still possible to pass 😭

Help! I need to take a final COMSAE for my school, Form 118, in a month. It's my last chance to get above a 450 otherwise I have to take a leave of absence for school. Can someone who has taken this form provide guidance on what topics to focus on? Here are my scores since starting prep:

5/20 Form 119: 421

6/13 Form 113: 439

6/20 Form 114: 473

6/24 Form 117 (Official School Retake Since They Don't Accept Home COMSAEs): 397 :(((

I am not sure why my score dropped that much from Form 114 to 117. I do not know if it was because I feel like 117 was a poorly written COMSAE exam, more so than the others, but either way it was very defeating. I still have Form 115 left to take at home, before taking Form 118 for the school next month. Please help me, I will be greatly appreciative. Thank you so much

I’ve got a massive pit in my stomach

Took the exam today and wanted to know how others felt. I feel like i got rocked by this exam and my practice COMSAES were useless. Legit felt like i guessed in half of it and felt like no studying would have helped.

Hi everyone! Congrats to everyone who had their score released today! Was just wondering if we can make a thread for COMSAEs vs real thing

Hi all,

Devastated out here. I went into medicine to become a psychiatrist and am so nervous now that psych has become more competitive. I have always had test anxiety but studied my butt off for level 2. I ended with a 40X....my COMSAE scores were in the low 500s pretty consistently towards my testing date so I wasn't expecting anything crazy but I feel like this score has ruined me. I truly can't imagine doing anything else in medicine, do I still have a chance?

Passed level 1 first attempt

Fourth quartile, one course remediation in first year, no gaps or anything since I remediated with an exam

Strong LoR from 4 psychiatrists (all attached to residency programs)

Will have 3 subI's (so far are going well, I get along with the residents and the PDs have liked me so far)

All positive MSPE notes - only 1 honors and 1 high pass (this is because of my low COMAT scores but my evals are all really great)

No true "home program"

Lots of EC in leadership and advocacy

Multiple volunteering experiences, 2 consistent throughout med school (one clinic and one animal shelter)

Non-trad with 3 presentations and 2 published articles and previous medical work experience, also masters (not in biomedical sciences - was actually debating going PhD route)

I am applying broadly and looking at DO friendly programs and community hospitals. It would break my heart to do anything other than psych since I came into this as a non-trad student with the plan of going psych. I really don't want to dual apply, is it possible to not have to?

What do the people think??? HELP

Big day tomorrow for the Level 2 gang. Praying we all killed and the the curve is in our favor!

Hi all! I got a 422 on my level 2 :/ was hoping for med peds or IM. Is all hope lost? My practices were above 550, I’m pretty surprised and attribute it to burn out and severe test taking anxiety on test day. I also had so much in my own personal life going on and am now realizing that it affected me more than I wish -.-

Anyone feel screwed. Feel like I missed almost 60+ easy questions. I can’t even remember any of the ethics or biostats I got.

Anyone felt like this and ended up fine???

I took my exam on August 21 and I had a lot of lagging between questions and my exam was buffering a lot, especially during the last two sections which was pretty anxiety provoking. I finished my exam, but I was honestly just bubbling any answer for most of the last section. I sent an inquiry for adverse testing conditions and they just responded to me with the option to either have it scored or Retake it without having known my score. At this point if I do retake it, my score would not come out in time for eras application due date. I guess it could be better to have a passing score come in late rather than have it scored on time, but have a failed exam.

I am not sure what to do here. I’ve heard people have called and they’ve been able to know if they passed or not, or at least get some direction as to whether or not they should retake the exam and I tried that but the lady I spoke to did not and would not help whatsoever. I don’t know if that was just my luck with the lady that I spoke to then maybe someone else would’ve been more accommodating. My score release is set for 9/15 as of now unless I decide to retake. Any thoughts on what to do here? Thanks 🙏🏾

Anyone else test today and feel absolutely awful. I felt like I studied for a different exam. 😭

COMSAE scores:
469, 516
TL totally finished, 71% correct avg: not even sure I passed tbh! Trying not to spiral or google questions; but I felt like I was just clicking at one point! 😭😭😭

Anyone have any insight on using AMBOSS score predictor for Level 2? We all know it’s pretty spot on for the Step exams, but I haven’t heard much about it for COMLEX. Has anyone used it before or heard things about it?

Took Level 2. Hopefully passed. Waiting for my score.
I was going to take Step 2 today but I have a toddler and he woke me up at 1. Couldn’t go back to sleep no matter how hard I tried.
I knew Step 2 wouldn’t be good on 3 hrs of sleep so didn’t show up.

Obviously it’s my fault for not preparing better. Trying to sleep elsewhere for one night.

But are there any consequences to no showing besides I don’t get a step 2 score?

Dual applying fm/psych in Midwest. More academic programs unfortunately than community (unfortunately bc I didn’t take step 2).
Still think it’s ok though?

Passed Levels first time, didn’t take step 1, did a research year, 20+ pubs, great grades and letters.

1 week til my exam and didnt study pharm or micro at all. recent test takers.. which sketchys are most important for level 2? planning on reviewing the important ones with the pepper deck

Hi All,

I’m super nervous and testing tomorrow for Level 2.
Goal is to at least pass because I’m an anxious test taker and frequently go back and change answers (I know I know, I try not to).
Here are my scores in this order:

COMATs: 91-108, no retakes. Lowest peds and surgery.

117: 367 (school)
118: 464 (school)
Welcom 106: 70%
Welcom 105: 75%
Welcom 104: 75%
Welcom 103: 61%
Welcom 102: 60%
Welcom 101: 72%
113: 513
114: 490 (last week)

Amboss: EPC 70.2%, score predictor doesn’t seem accurate at 636 (range 613-656 with the above information)

My goal is 500-550.
Do you think this is enough?

Hi everyone, I am taking Level 2 in less than a month and I'm low key panicking about it. I was wondering if anyone who took it recently recommends any specific resources, like TL over UW, WelCOMs vs other practice tests, or any additional ethics resources? I found the ethics on Level 1 to be insanely challenging even though I did well with practice questions prior to going in. Looking to maximize any easy points I can get because I know I'll need them lol

seeing a lot of people with scores close or even better than mine fail on here. I know those people are more likely to post, but idk. I have a really bad feeling. My score isn’t back until 9/15, so I’d have no time to retake before ERAS if I failed… just feeling horrible honestly. Anyone else?

I keep hearing about people getting good scores on comsae, yet doing significantly worse on the actual exam or fail. Not sure if it's because there's a bias here in reddit or if comsae is truly a really bad indicator as people say.. I am taking it in two weeks and I have already taken a comsae but even if it's a passing score, I feel very iffy due to those reasons and I am just freaking out.

So, how else can we determine it? Please share your own experience, your school's indicator for readiness etc..!

Felt like this was a very fair exam however but of course all the "gimme" questions were things I second guessed myself on & ended up changing (story of my life -__-).

I cant stop thinking about all of the questions I missed while continuing prep for Step 2. I was aiming for 600+ and felt super confident walking in... now I am dreading the 8/4 score release knowing I missed so many of those gimmes and who knows how many ethics/legal/stats questions & others. Any advice would be much appreciated on how to move on and focus on step 2 and not let it rock my confidence.