It's true that it is much easier to get into a Carribbean School, like Ross 3.2, [as reported by medschool.net before they shut down] as opposed to most US MD schools which average about 3.67 [http://www.aamc.org/]
I feel that Carrib schools give those students, who may have not done so well in undergrad, a chance at becoming a doctor.
• If there is such a fine line between US students and Foreign ones then why kick half of them out when US schools do not? Why give practice tests with cutoff numbers to determine if they will pass? Is this to artificially inflate the numbers?
When you go to medical school next year, do you think your school would be better if they kicked out 50% of the students who are not performing up to par? •
To me this intense weeding out process at Ross (and others) is not surprising. This is very similar to the French system, in which almost all applicants are admitted to the first year. After the first year of Med school, a comprehensive exam weeds out 2/3 of the class!! Nevertheless, all applicants are given a shot at medicine in the first year.
Lilic, why doesn't P = MD at Hopkins? Many schools, including Hopkins and Howard have letter grading system.
•As recently as last year, MCAT scores were not required at all at Ross. Now, you can be accepted without MCAT scores but need to sit for it prior to enrolling in classes. Since you have already been accepted, your score does not matter. •
As recently as two years ago Hopkins didn't require MCATs, so what's your point? (This statement was made in jest, please don't attack me by saying "well Hopkins is Hopkins, they even look at high school grades")
The arguement: "these offshore schools don't have as high admission stats as US schools" , just doesn't cut it. Following this logic, one could argue that doctors from SGU (3.4 and 26MCATS) are better than docs from Howard (22MCAT), Morehouse, Finch (3.2GPA) and some others. And that MD's are better than DO's b/c they couldn't cut it.
A doctor is evaluated by his clinical abilities. As I have stated before, if a doctor is incompetent then it will show in his work, regardless from Ross, Harvard, or Hopkins.
•As much as I want to be a doctor, going to the any of the "Islands" is just not an option I personally believe in. To be a good doctor, you need to be , not just dedicated, but intelligent. Very intelligent. If I don't get accepted into the US, then to me, it is not meant to be. Dedication and determination means that you are dedicated and determined. These are wonderful attributes......but.... it does NOT mean that you are smart. It does not mean that you are smart enough to be a GOOD physician. •
Marleybfour , sorry to burst your young and idealistic bubble of medicine which was blown, most likely, by your parents. The reality is that there are many Sh**y doctors; most of them are quite stupid, plagued by their know-it-all attitude and probably kill a few patients. But, the fact is, you don't have to be a brainiac to become a doctor. Bottom line: it may be easy to BECOME a doctor, but to BE one is quite difficult. If becoming a doc, practicing medicine and helping others is your goal, then it makes no difference which path you choose.
It's getting much easier to recognize the freshman bunch of premeds: they think MD's are better than DO's, US docs are better than IMG's, and surgeons better than physicians. Unfortunately, some of these guys never shed their biases and it becomes evident in medical school and throughout life.
Good Luck to all of you
~Lubdub
