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I've seen so much misinformation over the years that as a current caribbean medical student who has both experienced and researched the subject I needed to clear the air on what it is and what it isn't so people can make an informed choice on the subject. I'll try to be as thorough as possible without being overly long.
Q
What are my chances of becoming a practicing physician if I go to a caribbean medical school?
A
This is a complex question and it really depends largely on which caribbean school you attend. If you go to SGU you likely have the best chances which is why it is typically considered amongst both AMGs and IMGs to be #1. I would say SGU likely lost about 10 to 20% of its starting class which may seem harsh however keep in mind even some US MD schools lose a % of their class every year for various reasons. Most of these students are lost during basic science which are the first two years that occur in the classroom as they are overall a lot more challenging to pass than clinical years. Their official numbers state 93% of students who graduate match into residency and go in to be practicing physicians however some think these numbers may be a little fudged. Based on students I know I'd be surprised if it's any lower than 85% therefore if you go to Sgu you have about a 78- 85% chance if becoming a practicing physician from the day you enter the door. Now this is a far cry from some of the lesser known schools such as MUA , AUA etc in which about 50% match into residency and about 50% make it through basic science years. In those schools your chances land at about 25%.The other big four schools Ross, AUC , and SABA will have numbers slightly worse than SGU mostly because of a larger loss of students in basic science years. I wish I could give more concrete numbers but I simply don't know them. Point is if you must go carribean go SGU or at least big four. For comparison DO and USMD schools likely put you around 90-97%% chance of going from MS1 to Resident. Keep in mind a lot of these numbers are not offical but really based on what Ive been told and heard form various sources.
Why do these students not make it through to residency?
This is really multi faceted. For most it's simply that they can't handle the course load. There are two types of students at carribean schools. Those that studied hard their whole life and just could get the grades/ MCAT for USMD and those who slacked off in college but still want to be doctors. For the former if they couldn't hack it in college there is a chance they won't be able to in Med school either. There is a certain curriculum you must teach to be accredited as a medical school that can be licensed in the US so no matter where you go you'll get around the same education and it's not easy. In the latter there are those that simply don't want to buckle down and therefore don't study to the level needed to keep up with the curriculum. Besides that there is the matter of residency which mostly boils down to USMLE scores , at least for IMGs. If someone passes but gets a low scores on their usmle it can be difficult to match because the averages have gone up so much In recent years.
How hard are Caribbean medical schools?
You'll hear so many horror stories about caribbean schools that you'd think they are trying to fail you and even at SGU every time a difficult exam was written the rumors would again start to fly. In my opinion they are just that… Rumors. Medical school is hard because medicine is hard however I can honestly say if you dedicate yourself to studying I believe just about anyone with around average intelligence can pass and even excel. The big difference with Caribbean schools is they simply don't give the individual attention that US schools do. At a US school they will do everything to make sure every student passes , holding your hand the whole way. At a caribbean school due to either an excess number of students or lack of resources there are limited avenues for struggling students. Yes they offer tutoring from classmates and yes you can always talk to professors but it's simply not the same level of care that you'll get at a US school. For the most part it's up to you to pass and if you can't then you'll maybe get one more chance before you're gone.
What is the difference between a US grad and Caribbean grad?
For the most part it comes down to name and the general rule that the US protects their own. The vast majority of residency programs will take a US graduate over an IMG or international medical graduate , what caribbean students are, regardless of stats , unless the difference is glaring and potentially harmful. Increasingly university programs are having policies of no IMGs. I know and have even worked with many US graduates of both MD and DO and I can honestly say there is no true difference in training or general level of competence between US and foreign graduates. Medical accreditation has become far too standardized for there to be large differences between the way schools are run and train their students. In my opinion you'll put yourself In The best position for residency matching if you go to a US school , MD > DO simply due to the fact that US prefers its’ own so heavily. If there is any true difference between the two schools it is the way US schools open up opportunities to things such as research and networking however those are once again school specific . Keep in mind though they can make a big difference in where you eventually match and how prestigious your name may one day be. As anything in life a big name, Harvard, carries a lot of weight but for the most part once you finish residency it's your competence not your school that really matters when being considered for a job.
What kind of Doctor can I be coming from a caribbean school?
While there are always exceptions understand that the vast majority of caribbean graduates will end up matching in Internal Medicine, pediatrics, family medicine , or psychiatry. Obgyn anesthesia, surgery and ER being somewhat doable depending on your level of competitiveness. This is because these are the most IMG friendly residencies to get. Does this mean you can't get dermatology? No, however get ready for an Everest level uphill battle in which any single mistake can take you out of the running completely. Another thing to understand is that while some of these sound pretty close to what US grads match in, we simply don't match in the same programs. USMD programs typically being higher tier university programs and giving a higher chance at matching the more lucrative fellowships such as cardiology , and gastroenterology.
What is the future of caribbean medical schools?
As it stands currently Id say it is getting more difficult for caribbean graduates to match into a residency position. This is mainly due to the increase in US graduates and stagnant number of residency positions. While you may see an article being passed around (this one got me too) that states there will be no more IMG spots in a few years this simply isn't the case. Currently there are thousands of residency positions every year filled by IMGs and while there are less and less every year we are a long way from none. In my opinion there will eventually be a push to greatly increase the number of residency positions as the doctor to patient ratio gets dangerously skewed however there is no telling if or when that will actually happen. For now just know that a time In which no IMGs get a residency is far off however the number will drop year after year for the foreseeable future. If you plan on going caribbean and want to be safe, don't dip below the bottom quartile of the class and you'll have little trouble matching in something, graduating from a top four caribbean school.
If all of this is true Why do US MDs hate IMGs so much.
If you go through SDN you'll see a US grad badmouthing IMGs and caribbean schools everywhere.I've met a lot of US grads from personal friends, colleagues , to just people met on the interview trail and I can honestly say they do NOT hate IMGS by any means. Most US MDs I've met have been very nice and have not been condescending in the least bit. it's my opinion that something about sdn posters makes them more likely to post negative comments , or it may just be something about people who like posting anonymously on the internet.
Should I go to a Caribbean school?
Obviously this is a personal decision and one in which you'll have to weigh your options. If you can get into a US school then in my opinion you should go. Many top Caribbean students will tell you they could've gotten into DO but simply wanted to be an MD and I'd say most now regret that decision due to just how much harder it is to match in certain specialities come residency time. There's a good chance you'll change your mind a lot before finishing medical school and you want as many doors open to you as possible. With that said however there are tricky situations in which you're not competitive enough for US medical school now but if you do a masters or post back you may be in the future. Now if you listen to sdn they'd all say no question you should get the masters/ post-back but Its not that simple. I know many people in Caribbean schools who have masters sometimes even multiple ones and still ended up in the caribbean. Also, going DO may not be enough of an advantage to justify 2 or three extra years out of school as many of the most coveted universities are mostly USMD only so the jump may be only slight if you're going into a field like internal medicine or pediatrics. For the most part I'd say if you have your heart set on anything but internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine , psych and you KNOW you'll be a competitive applicant by adding another degree or doing a post back then it's worth doing otherwise you're really just wasting years and racking more debt for little in return. If I went back I would 100% still apply caribbean. I worked my butt off and pulled Usmle scores in the 90th%, applied Internal medicine and now have interviews at some really great places both university and community. While I'm not a typical story taking a few years to get a masters really wouldn't have changed anything in my future as a physician even if I decide to do a fellowship. On the flip of that I have friends who have bought into the USMD or none policy so much that they graduated college before me and are still racking up masters degrees and retaking the MCAT in the hopes of making it into a USMD school. Is that really worth it? In my opinion no but once again it’s not my decision.Good Luck Feel free to post with any further questions.
Q
What are my chances of becoming a practicing physician if I go to a caribbean medical school?
A
This is a complex question and it really depends largely on which caribbean school you attend. If you go to SGU you likely have the best chances which is why it is typically considered amongst both AMGs and IMGs to be #1. I would say SGU likely lost about 10 to 20% of its starting class which may seem harsh however keep in mind even some US MD schools lose a % of their class every year for various reasons. Most of these students are lost during basic science which are the first two years that occur in the classroom as they are overall a lot more challenging to pass than clinical years. Their official numbers state 93% of students who graduate match into residency and go in to be practicing physicians however some think these numbers may be a little fudged. Based on students I know I'd be surprised if it's any lower than 85% therefore if you go to Sgu you have about a 78- 85% chance if becoming a practicing physician from the day you enter the door. Now this is a far cry from some of the lesser known schools such as MUA , AUA etc in which about 50% match into residency and about 50% make it through basic science years. In those schools your chances land at about 25%.The other big four schools Ross, AUC , and SABA will have numbers slightly worse than SGU mostly because of a larger loss of students in basic science years. I wish I could give more concrete numbers but I simply don't know them. Point is if you must go carribean go SGU or at least big four. For comparison DO and USMD schools likely put you around 90-97%% chance of going from MS1 to Resident. Keep in mind a lot of these numbers are not offical but really based on what Ive been told and heard form various sources.
Why do these students not make it through to residency?
This is really multi faceted. For most it's simply that they can't handle the course load. There are two types of students at carribean schools. Those that studied hard their whole life and just could get the grades/ MCAT for USMD and those who slacked off in college but still want to be doctors. For the former if they couldn't hack it in college there is a chance they won't be able to in Med school either. There is a certain curriculum you must teach to be accredited as a medical school that can be licensed in the US so no matter where you go you'll get around the same education and it's not easy. In the latter there are those that simply don't want to buckle down and therefore don't study to the level needed to keep up with the curriculum. Besides that there is the matter of residency which mostly boils down to USMLE scores , at least for IMGs. If someone passes but gets a low scores on their usmle it can be difficult to match because the averages have gone up so much In recent years.
How hard are Caribbean medical schools?
You'll hear so many horror stories about caribbean schools that you'd think they are trying to fail you and even at SGU every time a difficult exam was written the rumors would again start to fly. In my opinion they are just that… Rumors. Medical school is hard because medicine is hard however I can honestly say if you dedicate yourself to studying I believe just about anyone with around average intelligence can pass and even excel. The big difference with Caribbean schools is they simply don't give the individual attention that US schools do. At a US school they will do everything to make sure every student passes , holding your hand the whole way. At a caribbean school due to either an excess number of students or lack of resources there are limited avenues for struggling students. Yes they offer tutoring from classmates and yes you can always talk to professors but it's simply not the same level of care that you'll get at a US school. For the most part it's up to you to pass and if you can't then you'll maybe get one more chance before you're gone.
What is the difference between a US grad and Caribbean grad?
For the most part it comes down to name and the general rule that the US protects their own. The vast majority of residency programs will take a US graduate over an IMG or international medical graduate , what caribbean students are, regardless of stats , unless the difference is glaring and potentially harmful. Increasingly university programs are having policies of no IMGs. I know and have even worked with many US graduates of both MD and DO and I can honestly say there is no true difference in training or general level of competence between US and foreign graduates. Medical accreditation has become far too standardized for there to be large differences between the way schools are run and train their students. In my opinion you'll put yourself In The best position for residency matching if you go to a US school , MD > DO simply due to the fact that US prefers its’ own so heavily. If there is any true difference between the two schools it is the way US schools open up opportunities to things such as research and networking however those are once again school specific . Keep in mind though they can make a big difference in where you eventually match and how prestigious your name may one day be. As anything in life a big name, Harvard, carries a lot of weight but for the most part once you finish residency it's your competence not your school that really matters when being considered for a job.
What kind of Doctor can I be coming from a caribbean school?
While there are always exceptions understand that the vast majority of caribbean graduates will end up matching in Internal Medicine, pediatrics, family medicine , or psychiatry. Obgyn anesthesia, surgery and ER being somewhat doable depending on your level of competitiveness. This is because these are the most IMG friendly residencies to get. Does this mean you can't get dermatology? No, however get ready for an Everest level uphill battle in which any single mistake can take you out of the running completely. Another thing to understand is that while some of these sound pretty close to what US grads match in, we simply don't match in the same programs. USMD programs typically being higher tier university programs and giving a higher chance at matching the more lucrative fellowships such as cardiology , and gastroenterology.
What is the future of caribbean medical schools?
As it stands currently Id say it is getting more difficult for caribbean graduates to match into a residency position. This is mainly due to the increase in US graduates and stagnant number of residency positions. While you may see an article being passed around (this one got me too) that states there will be no more IMG spots in a few years this simply isn't the case. Currently there are thousands of residency positions every year filled by IMGs and while there are less and less every year we are a long way from none. In my opinion there will eventually be a push to greatly increase the number of residency positions as the doctor to patient ratio gets dangerously skewed however there is no telling if or when that will actually happen. For now just know that a time In which no IMGs get a residency is far off however the number will drop year after year for the foreseeable future. If you plan on going caribbean and want to be safe, don't dip below the bottom quartile of the class and you'll have little trouble matching in something, graduating from a top four caribbean school.
If all of this is true Why do US MDs hate IMGs so much.
If you go through SDN you'll see a US grad badmouthing IMGs and caribbean schools everywhere.I've met a lot of US grads from personal friends, colleagues , to just people met on the interview trail and I can honestly say they do NOT hate IMGS by any means. Most US MDs I've met have been very nice and have not been condescending in the least bit. it's my opinion that something about sdn posters makes them more likely to post negative comments , or it may just be something about people who like posting anonymously on the internet.
Should I go to a Caribbean school?
Obviously this is a personal decision and one in which you'll have to weigh your options. If you can get into a US school then in my opinion you should go. Many top Caribbean students will tell you they could've gotten into DO but simply wanted to be an MD and I'd say most now regret that decision due to just how much harder it is to match in certain specialities come residency time. There's a good chance you'll change your mind a lot before finishing medical school and you want as many doors open to you as possible. With that said however there are tricky situations in which you're not competitive enough for US medical school now but if you do a masters or post back you may be in the future. Now if you listen to sdn they'd all say no question you should get the masters/ post-back but Its not that simple. I know many people in Caribbean schools who have masters sometimes even multiple ones and still ended up in the caribbean. Also, going DO may not be enough of an advantage to justify 2 or three extra years out of school as many of the most coveted universities are mostly USMD only so the jump may be only slight if you're going into a field like internal medicine or pediatrics. For the most part I'd say if you have your heart set on anything but internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine , psych and you KNOW you'll be a competitive applicant by adding another degree or doing a post back then it's worth doing otherwise you're really just wasting years and racking more debt for little in return. If I went back I would 100% still apply caribbean. I worked my butt off and pulled Usmle scores in the 90th%, applied Internal medicine and now have interviews at some really great places both university and community. While I'm not a typical story taking a few years to get a masters really wouldn't have changed anything in my future as a physician even if I decide to do a fellowship. On the flip of that I have friends who have bought into the USMD or none policy so much that they graduated college before me and are still racking up masters degrees and retaking the MCAT in the hopes of making it into a USMD school. Is that really worth it? In my opinion no but once again it’s not my decision.Good Luck Feel free to post with any further questions.
