Carribean verses Unranked American schools

[DMBFan]

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I was wondering whether it was the same thing to go to the Carribean or an American med school that is unranked. Do you have more of a chance of getting a competitive residency even at an unranked med school?

 

[Law2Doc]

I was wondering whether it was the same thing to go to the Carribean or an American med school that is unranked (like Drexel). Do you have more of a chance of getting a competitive residency even at an unranked med school? I am asking this bec. I have 2 cousins - one went to the Carribean and another one went to med school here, but they both matched in the lesser competitive residencies - internal medicine. Now my cousin who went to school here wanted to go into radiology but didn't get matched in it..SO based on this, I was wondering whether everyone should just save the headache of applying to American schools if you know you aren't going to get into a Top 25 school and just go to the Carribean? I know I sound slightly defeatist but I am just wondering....Thanks for any help

You've got to be kidding. While I'm sure anecdotally you will be able to cite an outstanding carribean candidate who will end up in the same place as a struggling US med student, your chances of getting a good residency are enormously enhanced coming from an accredited US med school than from a carribean school. Please...

 

[DMBFan]

You've got to be kidding. While I'm sure anecdotally you will be able to cite an outstanding carribean candidate who will end up in the same place as a struggling US med student, your chances of getting a good residency are enormously enhanced coming from an accredited US med school than from a carribean school. Please...

There is no need to be all temperamental. I was just wondering - I guess I should take my singular experiences and not make them universal.

 

[wendywellesley]

I was wondering whether it was the same thing to go to the Carribean or an American med school that is unranked (like Drexel). Do you have more of a chance of getting a competitive residency even at an unranked med school? I am asking this bec. I have 2 cousins - one went to the Carribean and another one went to med school here, but they both matched in the lesser competitive residencies - internal medicine. Now my cousin who went to school here wanted to go into radiology but didn't get matched in it..SO based on this, I was wondering whether everyone should just save the headache of applying to American schools if you know you aren't going to get into a Top 25 school and just go to the Carribean? I know I sound slightly defeatist but I am just wondering....Thanks for any help

what did your cousin get on his boards? was he a good med student? ranked highly in his class at Drexel? you don't have to tell me the answers, but they are important questions. if you do well on the boards and work hard in med school in the US than you are better off than an equal student who went to the carribean, i believe. I've seen Drexel's match list and it isn't too shabby (it's actually pretty impressive if i remember correctly). i think it all depends on how hard you work while in med school and how you do on the boards.

 

[Law2Doc]

There is no need to be all temperamental. I was just wondering - I guess I should take my singular experiences and not make them universal.

Didn't mean to be tempermental, maybe I was a bit too harsh. However your post comes off as if you are bashing sub top-25 med schools and was likely to incite some people. I mean, comparing drexel, etc. to a carribean school and all...

 

[Slippery Pete]

There is no need to be all temperamental. I was just wondering - I guess I should take my singular experiences and not make them universal.

this is so lame it's on the verge of being trollish

 

[uclabruin2003]

ha i wonder if this dude is serious.

 

[phdmed07]

This guy either has to be kidding or he needs a MRI of his head. Doest even deserve an answer.

ECU Med 07

 

[MWillie]

Some people say there's no such thing as stupid questions. I beg to differ.

 

[americanidiot]

let's all chill for a sec guys/gals. no need to be harsh.

 

[DMBFan]

Everyone chillax. Edited message so that people's fragile sense of self wouldn't be destroyed.

 

[YzIa]

Everyone chillax. Edited message so that people's fragile sense of self wouldn't be destroyed.

To reply to your edited post, short and sweet, you have a much greater chance of matching competively from any US allopathic schoool than a carribean school.

That being said, you probably would most likely also match better from any osteopathic school than from the carribean as well.

 

[melimi]

To reply to your edited post, short and sweet, you have a much greater chance of matching competively from any US allopathic schoool than a carribean school.

That being said, you probably would most likely also match better from any osteopathic school than from the carribean as well.

plus, remember that a couple of the caribbean med schools, the ones in Puerto Rico, are actually considered US allopathic schools, but DEF a lot easier to get into (ex: Ponce School of Medicine). however, you need to be bilingual to get into UPR Med.

 

[DMBFan]

plus, remember that a couple of the caribbean med schools, the ones in Puerto Rico, are actually considered US allopathic schools, but DEF a lot easier to get into (ex: Ponce School of Medicine). however, you need to be bilingual to get into UPR Med.

Really? that is interesting. So you don't have to jump through hoops to get a residency in America if you go to a school in Puerto Rico?

 

[skypilot]

Neither Canada or Puerto Rico are a problem because they are accredited by the LCME making them the equivalent of U.S. schools.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I was wondering whether it was the same thing to go to the Carribean or an American med school that is unranked. Do you have more of a chance of getting a competitive residency even at an unranked med school?

You would have a better chance at the worst american school than the best foreign school for the simple fact that you are in an american school.

Going to a foreign school would be a poor choice unless it your only alternative. Foreign Medical Graduates have much lower USMLE scores than M.D.'s and D.O.'s, on average, and have a much lower acceptance rate into ACGME programs.

 

[crys20]

are ya kidding me? there aren't and bad US MD schools. Much more reputable than anything foreign. DO schools are too!

 

[Dr Who]

Really? that is interesting. So you don't have to jump through hoops to get a residency in America if you go to a school in Puerto Rico?

You wont have to jump through any hoops. The three med schools in PR are fully accredited (AMA, LCME) and are considered US schools in every way. They are not well known because they are not from the mainland, but if you look at their match list (Ponce for instance), I think you will be surprised at how well their students place in many competitive residencies.
No, they are not top 25 and are generally easier to get into than most med schools, but dont let the MSAR fool you. PR is a mostly spanish speaking island in the carribean, so they scale the MCAT (which is all in english) for the native spanish speakers, resulting in lower overall scores. Just imagine if we had to take the MCAT in italian instead of english, I think most of us would have much lower MCAT scores, woudnt we.
That applies to island residents only though. For mainlanders those accepted usually have scores >25. Taking that into account we see why the "official" MSAR average MCAT scores are a bit skewed. While its easier than many schools to get in, its not a walk in the park.
In the end going to med school in PR is infinately better than going to any foreign med school. BTW tuition (~$19,500/ yr) and cost of living isnt that bad, it sure as hell is a lot cheaper than going to SGU or ROSS.

 

[drguy22]

all US medical schools are in the top 2 % of universities worldwide....

source: aamc article on problems wit US news.

 

[virilep]

Everyone chillax. Edited message so that people's fragile sense of self wouldn't be destroyed.

hey dude, chillax is my word!

 

[Fantasy Sports]

Going to a foreign school would be a poor choice unless it your only alternative. Foreign Medical Graduates have much lower USMLE scores than M.D.'s and D.O.'s, on average, and have a much lower acceptance rate into ACGME programs.

So if we were to extend your logic, since DOs have much lower USMLE scores than MDs on average, and have a much lower acceptance rate into ACGME programs... would that mean DO schools are a poor choice as well

 

[CanuckRazorback]

You would have a better chance at the worst american school than the best foreign school for the simple fact that you are in an american school.

Going to a foreign school would be a poor choice unless it your only alternative. Foreign Medical Graduates have much lower USMLE scores than M.D.'s and D.O.'s, on average, and have a much lower acceptance rate into ACGME programs.

So long as you don't throw top Canadians schools in the mix. McGill and UToronto have international reputation and I know that 87% of McGill graduates match their top residency choice in Canada and in the US.

 

[OSUdoc08]

So if we were to extend your logic, since DOs have much lower USMLE scores than MDs on average, and have a much lower acceptance rate into ACGME programs... would that mean DO schools are a poor choice as well

No, because DO's prepare for the COMLEX instead of the USMLE and most ACGME residencies will accept COMLEX scores. Foreign Medical Graduates prepare for and only may take the USMLE.