Don't Let Carib Admissions Staff Fool You

[jakeislove]

skip junior is yes

Wouldn't figuring out a way to match this year make more sense than creating online accounts for tirades about Caribbean schools?

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[Mr.Happy]

Wouldn't figuring out a way to match this year make more sense than creating online accounts for tirades about Caribbean schools?

He didn't match 2 years in a row. He said he's going to try one last time in the 2015 match. Meanwhile, he's also applying to MD, DO, and DPM programs as back-up while also looking at Assistant Physician positions in Missouri.

 

[W19]

Wouldn't figuring out a way to match this year make more sense than creating online accounts for tirades about Caribbean schools?

Yeah, but it might be hard after going thru the match a couple of times... However, I find it surprising that OP wants to go to med school AGAIN.

 

[jakeislove]

My organic chem lab TA from my undergrad is a very smart fella and I have no doubt he could have got into a DO school if he wanted to but he decided to join SGU instead because I'm assuming he thought the DO title was shameful. He didn't get into any US MD schools. Ridiculous!

I met another pre-med who's joining IAU school of medicine in Jan 2015 because he'd rather get an MD than a DO. He knows all the cons about Caribbean med schools but he told me his game plan is to work super hard and receive outstanding Step 1 and 2 scores, to the point where residency PDs have to take him. He said he's confident he can get 260+ though I don't know how he can be so confident.

He's confident of a 260+ without ever seeing the material?! Dude must be a super genius like Wile E. Coyote, LOL!

Things are changing way too much for such risk taking.

 

[jakeislove]

Yeah, but it might be hard after going thru the match a couple of times... However, I find it surprising that OP wants to go to med school AGAIN.

That would be really fun to read about.

MD, MD might look a little odd on a business card. That being said, an MD from the Caribbean is essentially useless without residency.

All jokes aside; I do hope SJ comes across better during interviews than on the forum.

 

[Mr.Happy]

That would be really fun to read about.

MD, MD might look a little odd on a business card. That being said, an MD from the Caribbean is essentially useless without residency.

All jokes aside; I do hope SJ comes across better during interviews than on the forum.

well, to each their own, but I think he comes across pretty good in the forum. He's honest and he doesn't pull any punches. He's also unique compared to most people. I guess he's not a sheep or a follower but rather the leader/shepherd. He's not afraid to say what's on his mind even if other people may not like it. Anyway, it's not like he's swearing or trolling or doing stupid stuff.

 

[jakeislove]

well, to each their own, but I think he comes across pretty good in the forum. He's honest and he doesn't pull any punches. He's also unique compared to most people. I guess he's not a sheep or a follower but rather the leader/shepherd. He's not afraid to say what's on his mind even if other people may not like it. Anyway, it's not like he's swearing or trolling or doing stupid stuff.

Someone who didn't match should be improving their CV, PS, doing externships, interview skills, studying for step 3, researching programs, making contacts, asking friends who matched for help, and whatever else will improve their chances.

An online campaign against Caribbean schools?! That's a true waste of time, energy and should be categorized as "stupid stuff".

To each their own. It just seems like a poor use of time, considering his/her situation. I really can't be the first person to express this opinion, LOL!

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

An online campaign against Caribbean schools?! That's a true waste of time, energy and should be categorized as "stupid stuff".

I'd hardly call a couple of SDN threads an "online campaign against Caribbean schools". I'd also argue that there are thousands of posters on this site who have managed to balance their time and lead productive careers despite posting on SDN.

 

[W19]

Let says OP got into a US MD school, does he/she have to take the boards again? I understand that for DO, he/she has to take the COMLEX... I kind of find his/her situation very strange.

 

[gyngyn]

Let says OP got into a US MD school, does he/she have to take the boards again? I understand that for DO, he/she has to take the COMLEX... I kind of find his/her situation very strange.

No. One cannot repeat a passing USMLE score.

 

[gyngyn]

Someone who didn't match should be improving their CV, PS, doing externships, interview skills, studying for step 3, researching programs, making contacts, asking friends who matched for help, and whatever else will improve their chances.

An online campaign against Caribbean schools?! That's a true waste of time, energy and should be categorized as "stupid stuff".

To each their own. It just seems like a poor use of time, considering his/her situation. I really can't be the first person to express this opinion, LOL!

Sadly, the salient reason for OP's lack of success is his medical school. Even amazing improvements on factors still within control are unlikely to result in a better outcome.

This perhaps explains his desire to inform others.

 

[W19]

No. One cannot repeat a passing USMLE score.

Wouldn't program directors be reluctant to take him since he took the boards 10+ years ago? I think OP best bet is to try to get into DO since he will have new set of scores.

 

[gyngyn]

Wouldn't program directors be reluctant to take him since he took the boards 10+ years ago?

Yes.
Every year that passes reduces his chance at a US residency.
And it's not just knowledge fade, incipient clinical skills degrade rapidly.

 

[jakeislove]

Sadly, the salient reason for OP's lack of success is his medical school. Even amazing improvements on factors still within control are unlikely to result in a better outcome.

This perhaps explains his desire to inform others.

Others managed to match.

I do wish him well but the posts remind me of another forum's where there's a thread about marriage and green card fraud, LOL!

 

[gyngyn]

Others managed to match.

I do wish him well but the posts remind me of another forum's where there's a thread about marriage and green card fraud, LOL!

Not very many from Windsor...

 

[jakeislove]

I'd hardly call a couple of SDN threads an "online campaign against Caribbean schools". I'd also argue that there are thousands of posters on this site who have managed to balance their time and lead productive careers despite posting on SDN.

Just seems like they'd have bigger fish to fry.

^ being said, I probably shouldn't be watching football.

 

[jakeislove]

Not very many from Windsor...

Ouch!

 

[Conflagration]

So, what would you suggest, gyngyn? How would he be able to be a practicing physician? Should he try for DO school?

 

[gyngyn]

So, what would you suggest, gyngyn? How would he be able to be a practicing physician? Should he try for DO school?

I wish I knew. This is becoming a common problem for which no solution has been presented.

 

[Goro]

TP, you haven't followed politics much, have you?

A Congressman just recently said that ISIL was sending or had Ebola-infected people to the US-Mexican border.

Ahh I didn't know they could just flat out lie like that. Why hasn't there been a lawsuit about this?

Thank for the replies!!! When this rep comes to my school he won't know what hit him. (and this will help me convince friends not to go there)

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

TP, you haven't followed politics much, have you?

A Congressman just recently said that ISIL was sending or had Ebola-infected people to the US-Mexican border.

I thought that was fox news

I also heard about them lying about capturing 10 IS guys at the border. Or bill Maher saying over 1 bil Muslims are radical.

Whats the point of medical school if the world is ending #ebola #IS

Lol

Anyway back on point

Idk I guess like you can't say that people from your school averaged 260 uslme if they didn't right? That has to be illegal.

 

[FutureOncologist]

But wouldn't the top tiers/schools with lots of premeds be more aware? My premed advisers are against the Carribean and pro-DO so I'm biased.

I COULD see a correlation. But I feel as if top-tier schools that don't pump out a bunch of premeds will get some Carib MD schools coming as well.

I went to a Liberal Arts state university that was known for partying and known for taking people with lower test scores. Yet our premed advisory was pretty top-notch (sometimes not as harsh as they should've been). I remember sitting in the office and the adviser told me that they got a call from SGU and Ross to come to the school to have a speech and all she did was laugh and hang up.

 

[spik]

Does anyone know why OP's account is on hold?

 

[Mad Jack]

Does anyone know why OP's account is on hold?

So many reasons.

 

[spik]

So many reasons.

Can you least at least one?

 

[WillburCobb]

Can you least at least one?

Peruse his post history.

 

[Mad Jack]

Can you least at least one?

Oh, he got all carried away in a thread talking about something he didn't understand (sex) and it kind of went downhill from there. I don't know what the final straw was, but there were some good times. I thought he might be Ark's replacement.

 

[Conflagration]

Can you least at least one?

I remember posting with him once when some regulars were loitering on a necro'd thread and he was posting some straight-up creepy stuff directed at me. I didn't report him, though. o.o

That was a rather intriguing discussion.

 

[Mr.Happy]

Does anyone know why OP's account is on hold?

I actually messaged a mod about that and one of the reasons is this thread. Some posters thought this is a troll thread and that SJ is a troll because he's made a clear stance against Carib schools in this thread and others.

Another reason his account is on hold is because he couldn't let go of the fact that another poster (NickNaylor) has a negative view about DOs and talks about DOs in a condescending way. SJ didn't do anything trollish or obscene but he did write an angry rant against Nick Naylor. I agree with the mods on that one. SJ needs to learn that others will have differing opinions. Maybe it's good his a/c is on hold so he can cool down.

 

[Mad Jack]

I remember posting with him once when some regulars were loitering on a necro'd thread and he was posting some straight-up creepy stuff directed at me. I didn't report him, though. o.o

That was a rather intriguing discussion.

That was the one.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I forgot if we had Caribbean schools come and speak at my undergrad but they had posters and flyers all over our science building.

Truth be told, I did my research on those schools pretty early (thanks to SDN) and wasn't fooled. I don't think it's right that these schools come and advertise like they do, and am against it. Nonetheless, I feel that most pre-med students are...or should be smart enough to keep themselves informed and educated on their own, so they don't fall for these types of things. A simple google or SDN search, and asking the pre-med advisor would probably reveal the reality of Caribbean schools.

 

[spik]

Oh, he got all carried away in a thread talking about something he didn't understand (sex) and it kind of went downhill from there. I don't know what the final straw was, but there were some good times. I thought he might be Ark's replacement.

I see. I looked only at his recent posts about the Caribbean schools and his application progress. They all sound like decent posts.

 

[Mr.Happy]

I remember posting with him once when some regulars were loitering on a necro'd thread and he was posting some straight-up creepy stuff directed at me. I didn't report him, though. o.o

That was a rather intriguing discussion.

haha yeah I remember reading that thread. Yeah it was weird but I wouldn't call it creepy. I don't think his intentions were bad, he should just have thought before posting. Also, a mod was actively participating on that thread and she even though she read his post against you, she didn't reprimand him or suspend his a/c because of that post.

 

[spik]

I forgot if we had Caribbean schools come and speak at my undergrad but they had posters and flyers all over our science building.

Truth be told, I did my research on those schools pretty early (thanks to SDN) and wasn't fooled. I don't think it's right that these schools come and advertise like they do, and am against it. Nonetheless, I feel that most pre-med students are...or should be smart enough to keep themselves informed and educated on their own, so they don't fall for these types of things.

Unfortunately, not all pre-meds are smart and some do fall for Caribbean medical schools. In my opinion, people who attend Caribbean medical schools should not have access to federal loans.

 

[Conflagration]

haha yeah I remember reading that thread. Yeah it was weird but I wouldn't call it creepy. I don't think his intentions were bad, he should just have thought before posting. Also, a mod was actively participating on that thread and she even though she read his post against you, she didn't reprimand him or suspend his a/c because of that post.

Yeah, but I'm sure that the exchange did not help his case. ^^;

 

[spik]

I actually messaged a mod about that and one of the reasons is this thread. Some posters thought this is a troll thread and that SJ is a troll because he's made a clear stance against Carib schools in this thread and others.

Another reason his account is on hold is because he couldn't let go of the fact that another poster (NickNaylor) has a negative view about DOs and talks about DOs in a condescending way. SJ didn't do anything trollish or obscene but he did write an angry rant against Nick Naylor. I agree with the mods on that one. SJ needs to learn that others will have differing opinions. Maybe it's good his a/c is on hold so he can cool down.

But what is wrong with taking a stance against for-profit Caribbean schools?

 

[Mr.Happy]

But what is wrong with taking a stance against for-profit Caribbean schools?

well some people live in a make believe SDN world and believe that it's "obvious" that Carib MD schools are bad so why is this guy SJ repeatedly bad talking carib medical schools when it's not even relevant? Let' just call him a troll and ban his ass, because why not?

Seriously though, it's quite shocking how gullible a significant proportion of American and Canadian premeds are. I can tell you this, Carib med schools probably still have a full class this year and the next, tells you something.

 

[xffan624]

well some people live in a make believe SDN world and believe that it's "obvious" that Carib MD schools are bad so why is this guy SJ repeatedly bad talking carib medical schools when it's not even relevant? Let' just call him a troll and ban his ass, because why not?

Seriously though, it's quite shocking how gullible a significant proportion of American and Canadian premeds are. I can tell you this, Carib med schools probably still have a full class this year and the next, tells you something.

Yeah, it tells me people are stupid. Casinos make billions every year on the same stupidity.

 

[W19]

Yeah, it tells me people are stupid. Casinos make billions every year on the same stupidity.

I might the next person hitting the jackpot!

 

[spik]

well some people live in a make believe SDN world and believe that it's "obvious" that Carib MD schools are bad so why is this guy SJ repeatedly bad talking carib medical schools when it's not even relevant? Let' just call him a troll and ban his ass, because why not?

Seriously though, it's quite shocking how gullible a significant proportion of American and Canadian premeds are. I can tell you this, Carib med schools probably still have a full class this year and the next, tells you something.

The worst part is that matching after attending a Caribbean school will get even more difficult as the number of AMGs applying for the match increases. It is surprising that some pre-meds choose Caribbean medical schools over DO route.

 

[Mr.Happy]

I might the next person hitting the jackpot!

That's the mentality American/Canadian pre-meds have when they decide to join a Carib med school even after knowing all the risks. "I know most caribbean medical students don't match but I will work hard and be the exception!"

 

[W19]

"Hi my name is Entitled McTitled and I'm a pre med major!! I'm too good for DOs LOL chiropractor eduction."

These are the people who choose Caribbean over DO.

I do not understand for the life of me why someone would choose carib over DO... If that person is not also competitive for DO, I am ok with their carib choice...

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I do not understand for the life of me why someone would choose carib over DO... If that person is not also competitive for DO, I am ok with their carib choice...

Lack of familiarity mostly.

I'm not kidding when I say that my fellow pre-meds (at a top 20 university) literally didn't know what a DO degree was. I only learned about it initially through SDN.

They largely viewed the pathway as:
1) US MD
2) If couldn't get into US MD, post-bacc at Georgetown et al
3) Carib
4) Find a new career

DO didn't even belong in the algorithm.

And my school had, by reputation, a pretty good pre-med advisory committee.

I never had to have any discussions with them beyond option #1 so I don't have first-hand experience with what they told people.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Unfortunately, not all pre-meds are smart and some do fall for Caribbean medical schools. In my opinion, people who attend Caribbean medical schools should not have access to federal loans.

That's a shame then, if a student puts that much time and effort into their classes, the MCAT, and ECs, but doesn't do research into the schools and options for applying. That's like driving across the country to go to Vegas but not booking a proper hotel for when you get there. After all the effort, it could go to waste.

Not saying Caribbean schools are such, but one should only go after doing extensive research and if it's really the best option for them.

Lack of familiarity mostly.

I'm not kidding when I say that my fellow pre-meds (at a top 20 university) literally didn't know what a DO degree was. I only learned about it initially through SDN.

They largely viewed the pathway as:
1) US MD
2) If couldn't get into US MD, post-bacc at Georgetown et al
3) Carib
4) Find a new career

DO didn't even belong in the algorithm.

And my school had, by reputation, a pretty good pre-med advisory committee.

I never had to have any discussions with them beyond option #1 so I don't have first-hand experience with what they told people.

I was very fortunate in that regard. In high school, when I knew nothing about med school admissions, I did a summer program where they let us learn about the medical field and things. For one of the days, they took us to a DO school to talk to med students. So by chance the first med school I really visited happened to be a DO school (I didn't really know much about MD at time either which is funny), so it always seemed like a good option to me.

Edit: Holy ****...the med students I talked to at that school seemed so grown up to me (I was 16 at the time, they must have been MS1 or MS2), just realized I'm around the same year now that they were at haha.

 

[hallowmann]

As they not accredited by the LCME, their data is neither reviewed nor checked for accuracy.
It is also possible that they are including past grads and those who found training in other countries or any combination of chicanery to come up with these numbers.

This. Most of those schools that have students from other countries almost always list finding training in other countries as "matches". They also conflate placement with "matching", two relatively different things, but I guess coming from abroad all that matters is GME placement.

Yup, at my top 20 undergrad they had the SGU and Ross admissions reps come give their spiel. Most of the pre-meds I knew had literally never heard of DO.

Yeah, a school I visited that regularly fed students to the Carib had a ton of students that were all applying Carib and had no idea what DO school was, even with one being a couple hours away. Its a little scary that some people don't really appraise their options and make a decision to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and 4 years (at least) of their lives with such little info.

I blame pre-med advisors and just a general lack of familiarity with the degree. I know DOs that knew nothing about DO school until they went to their pre-med committee meeting and was told they should also apply DO. They were like, "what's that? so you're saying I can be a doctor if I go DO? OK, sounds good, I'll apply." At least the pre-med committee gave them good advice, but how common is that...

Ouch!

Windsor is tough. You come out with barely any tuition (I've heard of people finishing with <$45k in loans), but match and placement rates are pretty poor unless you are getting at least 240+, and even then its a toss up.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

I blame pre-med advisors and just a general lack of familiarity with the degree. I know DOs that knew nothing about DO school until they went to their pre-med committee meeting and was told they should also apply DO. They were like, "what's that? so you're saying I can be a doctor if I go DO? OK, sounds good, I'll apply." At least the pre-med committee gave them good advice, but how common is that...

In this day and age where most info is at one's finger tip, I would not put all the blame on pre-med advisors... It seems like a good chunk of these people are attracted by the M.D. letters after their name.

 

[hallowmann]

In this day and age where most info is at one's finger tip, I would not put all the blame on pre-med advisors... It seems like a good chunk of these people are attracted by the M.D. letters after their name.

I'm sure there's some level of blame on the students for not researching, but MANY people know nothing of sites like SDN. Not everyone is into online forums and gets how they work/uses them. Maybe I'm showing my age a bit, but when I was in undergrad, I learned about programs by going to their websites and looking up the app info. If I didn't even know what a DO was, I'd have no idea to look at DO websites or even look up the degree.

As a pre-med/health advisor its your job to at least direct people to where they could find the right info. Some people were lucky to have a good pre-med advisor that even brought up the idea of a DO. At that point those people could look it up on their own.

If all you ever knew about was an MD, then my guess is that you'll look up all the MD programs in the area and find a ton of ads for Carib schools along the way. You won't really see DO school ads like that.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I'm sure there's some level of blame on the students for not researching, but MANY people know nothing of sites like SDN. Not everyone is into online forums and gets how they work/uses them. Maybe I'm showing my age a bit, but when I was in undergrad, I learned about programs by going to their websites and looking up the app info. If I didn't even know what a DO was, I'd have no idea to look at DO websites or even look up the degree.

I just applied to med schools based on vague/general knowledge of their ranking and overall university prestige. Oh and geography because I decided I didn't want to go anywhere colder than where I went for undergrad. I gave my planned list to the premed advisor and he said - yeah that looks good you'll definitely get in.

Lol at how little I knew back then...

 

[Mad Jack]

I'm sure there's some level of blame on the students for not researching, but MANY people know nothing of sites like SDN. Not everyone is into online forums and gets how they work/uses them. Maybe I'm showing my age a bit, but when I was in undergrad, I learned about programs by going to their websites and looking up the app info. If I didn't even know what a DO was, I'd have no idea to look at DO websites or even look up the degree.

As a pre-med/health advisor its your job to at least direct people to where they could find the right info. Some people were lucky to have a good pre-med advisor that even brought up the idea of a DO. At that point those people could look it up on their own.

If all you ever knew about was an MD, then my guess is that you'll look up all the MD programs in the area and find a ton of ads for Carib schools along the way. You won't really see DO school ads like that.

Except LECOM... Can you hear the calling lol?

 

[deleted407021]

Except LECOM... Can you hear the calling lol?

It is really bad lol!


What I cannot understand (I actually do, but you know) is how someone can say "Imma be a doctor" and never fekin Google anything about it. Googling just about anything to do with the application/premed process yields SDN results right up top. I think these people just don't care or are too obtuse to ask questions.