My Story! Any Advice!

This is a post created on valuemd.com so I thought I'd include it here for any input. Thank you

Hey everybody,

I just recently created an account here on valuemd.com and must say that I appreciate this forum providing a great deal of information about offshore medical schools. I guess its best if I tell you guys about my story and any advice about what I should do would be much appreciated:

I graduated high school back in 1996 and started college at Georgia Tech. Back then I was extremely unmotivated, didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, etc, etc. I did extremely poor there and decided to leave in 1999. In the meantime, I went back home, enrolled at another school and did mediocre at best but eventually transferred back to Tech the following fall of 2000. Unfortunately, while at Tech I was still immature did not realize the value of a good education and was academically dismissed in 2003. Yeah I know its absolutely ridiculous. What's even more mest up is that I was caught cheating on an exam in a computer engineering class. I then moved out to California helped a friend of mine in a start up furniture business and eventually realized how much I hated the business world. That was when it really hit me. Suddenly I realized that needed to get back to school and my goal was to go to medical school. I wrote a letter to Georgia Tech essentially stating my case as to how I feel that I should be given a second chance there and they fortunately took me back for the summer of 2005 class.

Since then I have turned my life completely around:


I needed 3 semesters worth of classes to finish my business degree which I did. During those 3 semestors I maintained an overall 3.5 GPA and finally graduated in spring 2006. I also worked in a radiology company and assisted the radiologists in their work. Unfortunately, my overall GPA from Tech is a pathetic 2.15 GPA. However since then I enrolled in a state university in my hometown as a post-bach student to redo all of the pre-med prerequisites. I took both inorganic chemistry's with lab in the summer and last Fall decided to challenge myself by taking Biology I w/lab, Physics I w/lab, Organic Chemistry I w/lab and Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/lab. I not only got all A's in all these classes but was near the top of my class in all of them. I am going to get great recommendations from the professors of these classes.

I have certainly turned my life around and I KNOW THAT I CAN HANDLE the rigorous curriculum of medical school. I have one more semester left which starts on monday and I am taking part II of those four science classes. I know I'll make another 4.0 this semester. That will give me a 4.0 GPA in 40 hours of taking post-bach classes.

I will be taking the MCAT's in the end of July and with adequate preparation I plan on doing the best I can, perhaps a 33-34. I'm really hoping they'll forgive me and realize that I've changed my ways. Do you guys think that I need to mention that I was caught cheating too? Is it on a trascript that I have to send to the schools.

So what do people think?
Do you guys think that I have a chance at obtaining admission to St. George's or perhaps Ross? I feel that those two have the best repuations. I actually spoke with their admission counselors and they were both encouraging. It seemed that Ross was making it sound that I would be accepted and the admission counselors at St. George made it sound like they would focus more on my recent academic performace.

My goal is to matriculate in January 2008. Thank you all kindly for your $0.2.

Why not try US MD? if your last 40+ hours are 4.0 with a hopeful 30+ MCAT.

Why not try US MD? if your last 40+ hours are 4.0 with a hopeful 30+ MCAT.

I would. But I just turned 29 and realistically I probably won't be able to matriculate until I turn 32. I don't want to start that late. But do you know if the schools down in the caribbean are forgiving of past mistakes. I'm sure Ross would accept me because of my stellar performance now. But I'm still afraid that they won't even consider me if they find out I was caught for cheating 7 years ago. It was stupid like I described in the post above but I'm praying that they'll see that I've totally reformed.

sid876 said:

I would. But I just turned 29 and realistically I probably won't be able to matriculate until I turn 32. I don't want to start that late. But do you know if the schools down in the caribbean are forgiving of past mistakes. I'm sure Ross would accept me because of my stellar performance now. But I'm still afraid that they won't even consider me if they find out I was caught for cheating 7 years ago. It was stupid like I described in the post above but I'm praying that they'll see that I've totally reformed.

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I disagree with the other poster, I read everything and yes I think your best chance is the "Big 4" for medschool you should get accepted,


BTW this SDN not VMD.

oldpro said:

I disagree with the other poster, I read everything and yes I think your best chance is the "Big 4" for medschool you should get accepted,


BTW this SDN not VMD.

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I feel the same way, Oldpro. Which school did you go to? Can you tell me your experiences. If I get into Ross and St. George I want to make an informed desicion before I go. I know that in Ross its more up to you, Dominca is a tough place to be, but if you're able to grind it out you can get done and be back in the US sooner. Realistically, difficult is it at Ross? I know it depends on the individual, but I'm now in completely different zone. I've been really excelling academically and everything seems to be coming together. Ofcourse I bust my butt to do well. My goal wherever I go is to work so hard that I get as close to a 4.0 as possible and score top scores in the USMLE Step 1 exam so that I might transfer back to a med school in the US and if not still get a fairly competitive residency. How much studying does it take to get to do this well? I'm willing to putting in a good 7-8 hours a day and more on the weekends if need be.

Thanks and goodlluck to all.

Apply to Ross, SGU, AUC and Saba after taking your MCAT and be honest.

sid876,
I went to Ross for the same reason...I didn't want to wait. I was 24 and didn't want to try for US school and be in the same position 2 yrs later...so I researched the carribean schools...and started a few months later. However, I wouldn't plan on going to an off-shore medical school with the intention to transfer...if some my fellow students couldn't transfer into a US school (one guy in particular...his grades were perfect and his step 1 was off the chart), then I believe it most be very difficult to do. Meaning- you must know someone for this to happen.

Hey Brucie,

Thanks for the post. Yeah, I figure its going to be very difficult so I'm not expecting to transfer back. But I'll work really hard and try. The worst that could happen is that I'll still do very well and put myself in a position to obtain a good residency.

What were your experiences there? Is it really that difficult to do well if you work very hard?

Thanks

brucie said:

sid876,
I went to Ross for the same reason...I didn't want to wait. I was 24 and didn't want to try for US school and be in the same position 2 yrs later...so I researched the carribean schools...and started a few months later. However, I wouldn't plan on going to an off-shore medical school with the intention to transfer...if some my fellow students couldn't transfer into a US school (one guy in particular...his grades were perfect and his step 1 was off the chart), then I believe it most be very difficult to do. Meaning- you must know someone for this to happen.

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Sid876,
I have very fond memories of Dominica...I am in the minority though. I recently went back to visit 6 months ago. I saw old friends from the island and met lots of new ones. Dominicans can be extremely friendly people. I loved the island, but I also love the outdoors. Some of the NYC students had trouble adjusting to such a simple way of living.
As far as the schoolwork, Ross gave us all the opportunity to fulfill a dream. However, you will be in a huge class with hundreds of other students and average teaching. I know this because I rotated with some US students who told me their experiences...I am sure we have all heard that R.O.S.S. also means...Rely. On. Self. Study. And this is a true statement, but not just for studying...for financial aid, for finding rotations, going through the match, etc. Basically, we are our own source of information...there are so many hurdles that lie ahead for everyone in just the beginnings- as you are...but I don't want to overwhelm you. Take one hurdle at a time...or in your case, it will be one Mini at a time.
I guess I have very mixed feelings about Ross, but I had only a few options...you just make do. I don't regret going to Ross...I met wonderful people- in school and along the way. I expanded myself as a person by experiencing a different culture. Ross has sort of made me a stronger person...I have had to become very resourceful and independent in order to make it through. IMG have to work so much harder for everything...your will to be a doctor will surely be tested.
So back to your question "is it possible to do well?" Of course it is...I have had a few friends who have done exceptionally well (board scores)...one must stay focused, stay driven, and not party too much while you are down there. As a Ross student, you are considered one of many...so I don't know how much they care if you fail out. Like I said, I graduated with a 1/3 of my class...some failed out or just will graduate with another class. However, if you fight hard, Ross has some pretty good hospitals affiliated with it for clinical rotations and is regarded as one of the more reputable Caribbean medical schools- which will help when looking for residency. I graduated with some great clinical experience, but I had to fight for those rotations...making life difficult...because you have to also stay on top of the financial aid department. But most of that you won't have to worry about for another two years. For the first two years at Ross...just try and keep up with their ever-changing rules. One semester they require "such and such" to leave the island...another semester they require something else to even take step 1.
These are just a few pros/cons of my experiences...I write on this forum because over 4 years ago I was in this same dilemma of what to do and where to go. These forums helped me enormously, and the people shared their advice of what to expect on the island and later helped my transition. So if there is any specific question...this was sort of general experience.

sid876 said:

I feel the same way, Oldpro. Which school did you go to? Can you tell me your experiences. If I get into Ross and St. George I want to make an informed desicion before I go. I know that in Ross its more up to you, Dominca is a tough place to be, but if you're able to grind it out you can get done and be back in the US sooner. Realistically, difficult is it at Ross? I know it depends on the individual, but I'm now in completely different zone. I've been really excelling academically and everything seems to be coming together. Ofcourse I bust my butt to do well. My goal wherever I go is to work so hard that I get as close to a 4.0 as possible and score top scores in the USMLE Step 1 exam so that I might transfer back to a med school in the US and if not still get a fairly competitive residency. How much studying does it take to get to do this well? I'm willing to putting in a good 7-8 hours a day and more on the weekends if need be.

Thanks and goodlluck to all.

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Sorry been on break for awhile, I'm at a school you should only consider after the BIG 4 ( SGU, SABA, ROSS and AUC) St. James. Really the school I attend is ok but it is not as proven as the big 4 and does not have California approval. As far as bashing there will be a lot on here that bash this school or that, they all have strengths and weaknesses but this I do know the schools must have WHO listing and then I would look to see approvals ( not accreditations like some schools claim, no state accredits the caribbean just the Cali approval for License and the NY, TX and FL for clinicals ) The rest aof the states look for the WHO and ECMFG cert for you to be Lic along with green book clinicals. Run far away from any school that says "We are in the process of WHO, it means that they are right now worthless and they need that to prove they are legit and have a charter otherwise they are a true Diploma mill.