Hey guys,
I am a Ph.D graduate and a M.Sc....and i want DERMatology!

I am tired of applying to schools in Canada and getting waitlisted.

I have many top notch papers and a GPA which increases from a 2.9 to a 3.8 in my 4th, but averages a 3.1 CGPA due to unfortunate events that i can explain this.
MCAT 9V 9B 10P Q

This is the thing, I want to go with my wife to a school we both get in. She has lower marks, but can prob get into a caribbean school with me or possibly a lower tier US School. She has about a 3.2 CGPA no Mcat yet....

Should we try for SGU in the caribbean and go there, (go there and transfer?) OR wait and try to get into a US school...

I have read that some SGU graduates with research get into Derm (well one or two...), with the PHD and MSC i have and some new papers shouldnt i get in from a school like SGU?

thanks in advance I need some wisdom

Hi, came across your post,
Dermatology is extremely competitive even for american graduates, I would strongly recommend that you go to an American Medical School, your publications, PHD etc will help you obtain Dermatology.
There are always stories of FMG's obtaining highly Competitive residencies, but usually they have some sort of connection, or they do several years of research within the institution they obtain residency.
Good luck

I would take the whole couples-admission angle into focus and ask myself whether you would do better together or not. If the former is the case then go to SGU together and do very well and hope for the best.

Hey guys,
I am a Ph.D graduate and a M.Sc....and i want DERMatology!

I am tired of applying to schools in Canada and getting waitlisted.

I have many top notch papers and a GPA which increases from a 2.9 to a 3.8 in my 4th, but averages a 3.1 CGPA due to unfortunate events that i can explain this.
MCAT 9V 9B 10P Q

This is the thing, I want to go with my wife to a school we both get in. She has lower marks, but can prob get into a caribbean school with me or possibly a lower tier US School. She has about a 3.2 CGPA no Mcat yet....

Should we try for SGU in the caribbean and go there, (go there and transfer?) OR wait and try to get into a US school...

I have read that some SGU graduates with research get into Derm (well one or two...), with the PHD and MSC i have and some new papers shouldnt i get in from a school like SGU?

thanks in advance I need some wisdom


I'm a M.D. and dermatology resident in the USA. I'll be blunt and truthful. If you want a decent shot at Dermatology, then go to a Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME) accreditted medical school (ie, USA or Canadian medical school).

If you go to a Caribbean med school, your shot at Dermatology will be VERY, VERY LOW. Not zero, but very close to zero. Caribbean med schools are NOT accreditted by the LCME. Even for USA grads, Dermatology is very competitive. There are just over 300 available open allopathic (M.D.) USA dermatology resident positions per year (very few) and everyone wants derm for obvious reasons (ie, good lifestyle, good pay, etc). The typical accepted dermatology resident is in the top of their med school class and/or "walks on water". Dermatology residency programs can choose the "cream from the crop". 99% of the time, Dermatology residency programs choose the very best grads from LCME accreditted medical schools. FMG's, especially from the Caribbean, Grenada, or Mexico, are looked down upon.

That being said, what is more important to you? Should you go to med school with your wife in a NON-accreditted Caribbean med school and have a VERY LOW chance of getting into Derm? Or should you go to a LCME accreditted med school where you have a decent chance of getting into Derm from the start? You must choose between your career goals and your family's long-term goals. And even if you do get accepted and go to a LCME accreditted med school, there are no guarantees that you'll get into Derm because it is so darn, crazy competitive. You still need to prove yourself by getting outstanding grades, having great USMLE scores, and making good connections with Derm faculty.

This may sound harsh, but it's the truth. You should know what you're getting into. Good luck :luck:

Could also go to DO school and go for DO derm residency though that would be competitive too.

DO-->allo derm is rare, probably as rare as Carb IMG-->allo derm though it does happen once in a blue moon.

Best shot as above, LCME schools in the US/Canada/PR if you want allo derm. Name helps but even WVU (though I am not intimately familiar with their reputation) had 4 derm matches this year.

http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/students/admissions/match2006.asp

The US school. 100%. Let there be no doubt in your mind about this. (Though there maybe should be some doubt in your mind about your commitment to derm before you've even started med school.)

just to add another loud voice to the consensus - go to a US school if you are serious about wanting to compete in a well, competitive specialty.

The ugly truth is that you and your wife have to decide what is best for both of you and your relationship - that may mean she gives up her dream of medical school, that she delays it while you train in a US school or that you and she spend your medical training apart (she in the Caribbean or elsewhere and you in the US). I do not envy you the decision but it appears that may be what you botha re facing at this point, should you get into a US school.

best of luck.

It's a rather complex issue. As previously posted, your chance of getting into Derm coming from the Carib would be extremely low. There's just too many top-notch LCME-grads out there in the applicant pool.

However, your chance of getting Derm even from a US school is by no means automatic. You'd need really good Steps, Honors, AOA if available, etc. etc. in order to feel fairly safe in landing a Derm residency. Yes, your Ph.D. would be helpful, but is it in a field related to Derm?

Honestly, you'd probably need a backup plan to Derm regardless of which route you take, to be on the safe side. If you're aiming for a good (academic) program, then I'd strongly recommend staying in the US, and making the airlines happy by commuting to SGU to see your fiancee. If your second option is a solid, but not top-grade, residency in say IM, then SGU can get you there. But remember, that you will ALWAYS be at a disadvantage if you graduate from a non-LCME school.