Okay guys, i dont want to quote everyone who has replied so im just going to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone. felt it is much easier this way
I didnt know AACOMAS does grade replacement, I will factor in what my GPA could potentially be if i retook the classes I got a C in and get back to everyone. It's only gonna help strengthen the argument to not go to the caribbean.
I very much appreciate everyone's response. Ill post a bit later with the updated grades if I could get an A in the classes I got a C in.
One other question before I go, my advisor is seriously pushing for the Caribbean. I guess thats why I was initially leaning that way. Can someone explain why? Im sure she would know the current situation of IMG but she still thinks its a better option
Your advisor is clueless. Retake classes. Retake the MCAT aiming for at least an average score (~500, the higher the better though) and apply early and broadly DO.
updated: if i were to retake the classes that i got C's in, my cumulative GPA would be a 3.43 and my science GPA would be a 3.36. Obviously better than before and can be done in one semester easily. Does that give me a much better chance? (along w increasing my MCAT)
sorry if my questions seem redundant. i didnt even think i would be considering doing this and just want to make sure its worth it.
Yes it's worth it. That would significantly improve your chances.
...is it really that bad? like say i choose to go to AUC or SGU and do pretty well on boards, ill only have a 50/50 shot to match?! or is that a bit of an exaggeration? I'm probably gonna get some backlash for even asking but is the hate on the Caribbean bc they limit your ceiling as a doctor and its not the most ideal situation or is it because its really an awful place to get an education and you will come out not knowing anything
Its not about the education. It's more about the support, cost, and how you're viewed as an IMG when applying for auditions and residency.
It's doable for someone to make it through the Carib and match
somewhere, but it'll be a much harder journey and your options will be significantly limited. To put things in perspective, at many of the Big 4 Carib schools, attrition is in the range of 30-50%, most of which occurs in the first 2 years (so almost have the people that start won't even make it to Step 1).
Tuition is on the level of private US medical schools, so you're talking about $50-$60k/yr, and cost of living is outrageous on the islands. Almost everything must be imported and it's marked up for students/tourists. Imagine spending $7-$8 for a gallon of milk. It adds up fast, and you will end up spending more than you would going to one of the most expensive US schools in one of them most expensive cities.
Assuming you make it through and get average on boards, you're limited to the non-competitive fields (think FM, IM, psych) in primarily community hospitals. If you really kick butt and score in the top quartile or higher, you have a shot at the moderately competitive fields (think EM, Anesthesia, Radiology) in primarily community hospitals. This is also after applying to 100-200 programs (I know IMGs where this is the norm - they don't want to not match).
You will have issues getting audition rotations (is doable, just not at great locations), I can't tell you how many hospitals I see that explicitly say that they don't take IMGs for ANY rotations or that they only consider IMGs for left-over rotation slots.
I know plenty of IMGs, and plenty of friends went to the Carib. Some are back on the mainland with 2yrs worth of med school debt and nothing to show for it. The successful ones are hoping to match this year into a community IM or FM program. They'll likely be fine, but not one of them recommends doing it. They also say they wish they went to a school (any school) that had affiliated residencies, because the idea of not matching asan IMG is one of the scariest things (and after 2-3 years of not matching, chances drop so low that it looking for another career tends to be the only option).
Things were different before, but it's just getting worse and worse now. Who knows what it'll be like in 4-5 years?
By SOAP... what is that? I'm still a pre-med (applying June). That pretty much involves cold-calling and frantically searching for open residency slots in your desired area right?
The SOAP is a series of mini-matches that occur after the NRMP match. It involves students applying and programs submitting offers. You can accept the offer, or hold out for the next match, but with each step of the way chances diminish. It's much better than the scramble, which you describe and which still happens after the AOA match.
good to know. obviously there are good stories and bad ones also. but im under the impression that there are 10 bad ones for every 2 good ones unfortunately :/
Its probably closer to 10 bad ones for every 5-7 good ones right now. The thing is with most DO schools its more like 1 bad one for every 8-9 good ones. Attrition average for US DO is ~8%, and GME placement is ~99%.
What if your goal was just family medicine in some small town Midwest America? Would you recommend the Carib route if someone failed to get into a USMD or DO school?
You'd be better served spending a year improving what's wrong in your app, and reapplying stateside.
If after 2-3 unsuccessful cycles it doesn't work out, really evaluate your options. If you can find any other career worth pursuing, do it. If it's only medicine, onle ever consider going to one of the Big 4 schools, and know full well that the only way you're getting out is if you busy your but everyday and have some luck on your side. In other words, go in knowing the risks.
Do you have to do well on the USMLE to get into a family medicine residency?
What happens if you fail the boards, either carrib or USMD school? Can you still get a residency?
As a US MD, one fail will likely not keep you from matching if the field/program doesn't matter to you. Obviously you'll have to eventually pass it. As a DO, it may (or may not) keep you from matching, but you should be able to secure some spot in the scramble. As an IMG, its really tough. You
may be able to find something, but your chances are very very low. IMGs don't sit for the exam to just pass, they need to kill it. average is acceptable, but a fail is practically a death sentence. Thats why many spend anywhere from 2-6 months of dedicated study time devoted to it.
