Caribbean is a big decision and I applaud you for listening to what you really want, regardless of what people may judge of it being. That said, I'm curious if you believe that the obstacles and cost that come with Caribbean are worth the two letters. Again, I like that you know what you want, but sometimes getting what you like involves liking what you get.
Thank you. What I wanted to comment on was the obstacles and cost thing. Oh and before I say anything let me say I've researched the issue to death and interned with a St. Georges graduate for five months (he was there during the invasion nonetheless).
Here's the deal: In terms of cost...I don't see an issue. If you're on the AZCOM thread it's about as expensive as it comes at 43k a year. That's 172k overall.
Ross is 140k overall.
American University of the Caribbean is about 120k overall.
St. Georges is 190k overall.
Yeah flights can be expensive...housing is about the same...but you don't need a car for two years so think how much you save that way. Car costs an average of $5k a year.
Now if you're married or having significant others then it's a big deal to move out of the country. There aren't as many amenities and it's tough. But in the same token you're not exactly roughing it; Google the Rumors Were True to read a blog about it. So if you're young, single, and want to experience a bit of the world it's a great experience. Do you know that if you go to St. Georges you can do electives in Prague or clinicals in the UK? You can even do your first year in the UK if you want (but can have possible California accredation issues down the line). Not to mention their pass rate on the USMLE (not the COMLEX since only DO students take that) is higher than quite a few DO schools.
So as long as you sitck with the big, established schools down there: SGU, Ross, AUC, and SABA (though you can't get loans there) you'll do fine. Their match lists are pretty comparable to DO's as well; better than some and worse than others.
What worries me is the clinical situation. They don't have their own hospitals and stuff. But the same thing goes with DO schools. And St. Georges at least has that huge $100 million contract with the New York City Hospitals. If you go to NYCOM you rotate with the SGU students and Rossies according to that thread.
So other than worrying about the greenbook issue for California accredation I don't really see how the obstacles are so bad. In a lot of ways there are a lot of plusses:
1) Less stressful admissions
2) More time to study for the boards
3) Lots of hospitals to do rotations at
4) The big schools have a good reputation and it will only get better. Ross is now rolling out an advertising campaign on the radio.
5) You're an MD (If this is the route you would rather take. A lot of DO's go there b/c they genuinely want to be a DO. Others do it b/c they're allo rejects).
But there are cons. Lack of reciprocity for instance. Stigma of going foreign. Large class sizes (problem for some), going out of the country (can be good or bad..personally I looked forward to it!). Not having someone crack your back everyday (mine is aching right now! aarrgh!)
All in all I think you'll probably place similar going Carib or DO (check the match lists) and that really where you ultimately end up is dependent on you.