7% of SGU students transfer to US-based MD Schools

[zut212]

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According to SGU's website, 6%-7% transfer to US-based schools. I'm a resident of Massachusetts, and I'd love to transfer to a school based here. I am not even considering applying to a school her for MD due to my less than stellar undergrad GPA (3.2 in Biomedical Engineering), and I anticipate a 28+/-1 MCAT score (i.e. 27-29).

However, I do anticipate that I will perform really well once I'm in MD school at SGU.

What would it take for me to transfer to a school in Massachusetts from SGU?
What semester do people make the transfer?
What are good reasons to do so?

 

[xanthomondo]

According to SGU's website, 6%-7% transfer to US-based schools. I'm a resident of Massachusetts, and I'd love to transfer to a school based here. I am not even considering applying to a school her for MD due to my less than stellar undergrad GPA (3.2 in Biomedical Engineering), and I anticipate a 28+/-1 MCAT score (i.e. 27-29).

However, I do anticipate that I will perform really well once I'm in MD school at SGU.

What would it take for me to transfer to a school in Massachusetts from SGU?
What semester do people make the transfer?
What are good reasons to do so?

I would work on your application and apply to US schools before you run to SGU if your intentions are to attend a US school. 6-7% isn't a whole lot, and you may have to repeat a year if you do successfully transfer. Personally, I'd rather look for a post-bac program that offers a guaranteed interview slot into a medical school based on some contingency and do that for a year (and then you'll have an advantage in med school)

 

[45408]

Planning on being part of that 6-7% is a terrible plan.

 

[cpants]

If you want to go to a US school, I would try to make that happen before going to SGU. Look at it this way. If you go there, you have a 93-94% chance of not ending up in the US, let alone Massachussetts. You'll graduate there or not graduate.

 

[dogenthusiaist]

I agree with the above posters SGU should definitely be a last resort. I was debating between a DO school and SGU for a long time and a US school is always the best choice in terms of residency placement. As for transferring I know a large number of people in Caribbean schools and none of them have ever been able transfer. IMHO its a very bad idea to go to a Carib school and plan on transferring.

As for your stats I know a lot of people who got into US MD schools with an MCAT of 28. Your GPA could use a lil work but that can be remedied with a post bac or SMP program. A couple of my classmates are in the Cincinnati SMP program where you get an MS in Physiology and they really liked it. But I'm sure there are a ton of programs in the northeast as well. Good luck with everything and please pm me if you have any other questions.

 

[Ischiowhat]

According to SGU's website, 6%-7% transfer to US-based schools. I'm a resident of Massachusetts, and I'd love to transfer to a school based here. I am not even considering applying to a school her for MD due to my less than stellar undergrad GPA (3.2 in Biomedical Engineering), and I anticipate a 28+/-1 MCAT score (i.e. 27-29).

It's funny how certain you are about underperforming on the MCAT and then over-performing in med school. You would be saving yourself a lot of trouble if you just dealt with this now vs. later. Take post-bacc classes, do an MCAT prep course, find a way into a US school, and avoid the Caribbean. There are reasons people don't want to go that route...

 

[Aphtalyfe]

I do anticipate that I will perform really well once I'm in MD school at SGU.

What would it take for me to transfer to a school in Massachusetts from SGU?
What semester do people make the transfer?
What are good reasons to do so?

First of all... I don't think many people anticipate that they won't do really well.

Since no medical school in Massachusetts is known for taking international transfers, you would need a family member or family friend in high places to be considered. Also the 6-7% of people that transfer from SGU, are probably in the top 10% of their class in both step score and medical GPA. There is a 90% chance you will not be in the top 10%. Of the people who do transfer, they usually transfer into the few schools that are known for taking international transfers. (again none are in Mass)

Most people transfer after taking step1, and transfer into 3rd year.

You should definitely do a post bac if you want to end up at a medical school in Massachusetts.

 

[reedman]

why aren't you looking at US DO schools? don't be an international student unless you have to. there are plenty of great med schools in the states that will give you an interview.

 

[virusgirl]

Getting into a Massachusetts school is no walk in the park even with average stats. Harvard is not going to take you. UMass interviews a lot of people but accepts relatively few of them. BU and Tufts are probably a little easier to get into but they still reject plenty of folks with good numbers every year.

A friend of mine did not have a great GPA, but she enrolled in Harvard's extension school, took a bunch of classes and absolutely destroyed them, and ended up at UMass, her first-choice school. So that is an option for you -- if you have an amazing upward trend they (and other schools) will notice that.

You could also take a look at UNECOM. Granted it isn't Massachusetts, but it's pretty close and the osteopathic schools will be more willing to accept your GPA as is.

Don't go Caribbean, and if you do, don't count on being in that 6-7%. Caribbean grads can and do go on to successful careers, but they face some pretty significant obstacles in the process so try to stay state-side if you can.

 

[The Poet Sings]

why aren't you looking at US DO schools? don't be an international student unless you have to. there are plenty of great med schools in the states that will give you an interview.

a quick glance at their post history shows they're aware of DO schools, but seem to have decided against them for whatever reasons (i only quickly glanced, but this one thread caught my eye as quite amusing with the responses http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=9812649)

 

[cpants]

There is no shortage of these posters who are underqualified for MD schools, yet still feel like sticking their nose up at DO schools. I really don't get it. Worrying about practicing internationally when you are in the OP's position is just ludicrous. Worry about practicing in the US first. Anything else is secondary.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Dude, if you are a mediocre college student, why would you expect to suddenly become a stud medical student?

 

[Ischemic]

OP, do you realize that SGU accepts close to 400-500 students into their class per cycle and they have 2 cycles of applicants. That's close to 1000 kids in a normal class!! Furthermore, the teaching faculty is known to be pretty bad and it's hard to do well in SGU. To the fact of the 6-7% those are the ones who were even ALLOWED to take STEP 1, SGU and all other carib schools ONLY let students that they think can pass the test sit for it AFTER they do a whole a couple of months or so of taking test prep courses. So chances of you going to SGU and rocking it and earning grades worthy of transfer is VERY SLIM to unlikely.

Also, you want to take the time to think of what happens if you are not that 6-7% you end up doing rotations as an international student. There are more students than rotations spots and you will have to travel to different places all over the country every month or so for different rotations. That's very expensive. With more and more new med schools opening, I'd take the time to do post-bac/SMP and have your luck applying to MD/DO schools in the US. Who cares if it's not in MA? Really, is your goal to be a med student at MA or a doctor? You should feel lucky to be a MD student ANYWHERE.

 

[orthomyxo]

Check out DO schools ffs.