Looking Back – Year 2

Let me be honest with you…it doesn’t get better. I know, you were probably hoping for some source of hope. Sorry my friend. Year two is just as difficult, if not more so, than year one. Why? How? One word – BOARDS.

In addition to their classes, they now have to prep for their board exams – USMLE (M.D. specific) or COMLEX (D.O. specific). For those that do not know what D.O. means, it stands for ‘ Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine’. In some cases, should your S.O. go to a D.O. school, they may choose to take both board examinations. This was/is because at this current time, there are two separate matches. One for D.O. residency programs and the other for M.D. residency programs. They occur a month apart from each other. If your spouse is going to be a D.O., chances are is they may want to partake in both matches or just one. Depending on which one they want to partake in, they need to take the applicable board examinations. The material for the most part is the same with a few differing subjects here and there…it’s just double the test days and costs more money. Lucky you! However, recent events in the medical community have confirmed that the Match that will occur in 2020 will be just one. Both the D.O.’s and M.D.’s will partake in the same Match Day. Which I think, will be easier/better. But, like anything, we shall see.

There is a Facebook group for the S.O.’s of those who attend my husbands medical school and I joined it as soon as possible. It includes everyone from first years to fourth years. One of the questions that gets asked often is what to do the summer between first year and second year. My husband did research thinking that it was going to better bolster his application for residency. However, I would NOT recommend that. That summer is the LAST “true” summer you will have. Spend it traveling and relaxing. We didn’t and I wish we had. Every summer from then out your S.O. will spend it either studying or on rotation or moving (summer between medical school and residency). Enjoy it while you can.

xoxo