Friend who failed a semester at MUA in Nevis

[Brigade4Radiant]

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Read these blogs

http://2medschool.blogspot.com/

http://4medschool.blogspot.com/

http://6medschool.blogspot.com/

Also a 26 isn't that bad. A 26 is the avg for matriculates into D.O schools.

 

[ar2388]

sure a red suit is fine.. but NO suit is death. it has to be a suit.. not a professional dress or a blouse and pants, but a suit 🙂

 

[EagerToBeMD]

Unless you got acceptances from 100% of the places you interviewed, you will never know if this statement is true. In fact, even at the places you got in, you will have no way of knowing whether this wasn't the one sticking point that made it a close call decision that almost kept you out of med school.

Actually, I did get in to every place I interviewed. And out of the seven interviews I attended, I was complimented on my attire at four, including two that said it was "a breath of fresh air" to see someone wearing red. Believe me, my outfit didn't hurt me, despite what some would want pre-meds to believe.

 

[Law2Doc]

Actually, I did get in to every place I interviewed. And out of the seven interviews I attended, I was complimented on my attire at four, including two that said it was "a breath of fresh air" to see someone wearing red. Believe me, my outfit didn't hurt me, despite what some would want pre-meds to believe.

Congrats on all the acceptances, and glad it worked out for you. I don't really care what premeds believe. I just know enough faculty at the places I've worked that would have held it against you that I think it's not the calculated risk I would suggest to anyone. I actually am aware of a guy who interviewed in a purple suit and it didn't make a great impression at most places. Some people can pull off what others can't, perhaps. Doesn't make it bad general advice to play it conservatively though. For every time you lucked out finding someone who thought it was a breath of fresh air, I'm going to bet that there were others who would have met with a negative double-take.

 

[EagerToBeMD]

Congrats on all the acceptances, and glad it worked out for you. I don't really care what premeds believe. I just know enough faculty at the places I've worked that would have held it against you that I think it's not the calculated risk I would suggest to anyone. I actually am aware of a guy who interviewed in a purple suit and it didn't make a great impression at most places. Some people can pull off what others can't, perhaps. Doesn't make it bad general advice to play it conservatively though. For every time you lucked out finding someone who thought it was a breath of fresh air, I'm going to bet that there were others who would have met with a negative double-take.

Well, first off, I'm a woman. Second, anyone who rejects someone because of the color of her suit has something wrong, in my opinion. Assuming the person doesn't have cleavage hanging out or isn't wearing a miniskirt with fishnets, what difference does the color of a professional business suit make as to whether or not they'd make a good physician? Nothing.

Even LizzyM once mentioned that a red suit would be a welcomed change from all the black that pre-meds think they have to wear.

 

[Law2Doc]

Well, first off, I'm a woman. Second, anyone who rejects someone because of the color of her suit has something wrong, in my opinion. Assuming the person doesn't have cleavage hanging out or isn't wearing a miniskirt with fishnets, what difference does the color of a professional business suit make as to whether or not they'd make a good physician? Nothing.

Even LizzyM once mentioned that a red suit would be a welcomed change from all the black that pre-meds think they have to wear.

I think a red suit on a woman is not out of the realm of conservative -- I would argue that is not the case if you were a guy wearing a bright colored suit. Male interviewers don't know womens' fashion so you get away with a lot more in a predominantly male interviewer system. While I agree that folks shouldn't reject someone based on the color of their suit, in an interview setting first impressions are everything. Folks form an opinion about someone very rapidly. That opinion may change as the discussion progresses, but there's already a presumptive impression that has to be overcome. And folks who interview are largely pretty conservative. I would bet that LizzyM wouldn't suggest that a male interviewee come in wearing a red or purple suit and wouldn't call it a welcomed change. Maybe a guy could get away with a flashy tie, but honestly a bright tie on a black suit is still pretty darn conservative. When you are interviewing for a professional job, you dress professional. How a professional dresses is dictated by the folks in the profession. Someone who wears something different might be a nice change of pace, but there's always a risk. The LizzyMs of the world don't speak for all interviewers. Probably not even all at her own program.

 

[Ok2Panic]

Well, first off, I'm a woman. Second, anyone who rejects someone because of the color of her suit has something wrong, in my opinion. Assuming the person doesn't have cleavage hanging out or isn't wearing a miniskirt with fishnets, what difference does the color of a professional business suit make as to whether or not they'd make a good physician? Nothing.

Even LizzyM once mentioned that a red suit would be a welcomed change from all the black that pre-meds think they have to wear.

I don't think you guys are disagreeing. L2D isn't implying that this is a reasonable way to judge people, just that it probably happens. And also of course you wouldn't get outright rejected because of the color of your suit, but the idea is, with any other judgments that people make about others, it just colors your interaction with said person. I definitely had interviews where it seemed like my interviewer just didn't like me, and just interpreted everything I said in the worst light. I think it's really that kind of thing, more than anyone saying "Red suit? No freaking way."

Anyway, I'm glad it worked out for you, but I don't think your experience is enough to dismiss the general observation that medicine is somewhat conservative.

 

[EagerToBeMD]

I don't think you guys are disagreeing. L2D isn't implying that this is a reasonable way to judge people, just that it probably happens. And also of course you wouldn't get outright rejected because of the color of your suit, but the idea is, with any other judgments that people make about others, it just colors your interaction with said person. I definitely had interviews where it seemed like my interviewer just didn't like me, and just interpreted everything I said in the worst light. I think it's really that kind of thing, more than anyone saying "Red suit? No freaking way."

Anyway, I'm glad it worked out for you, but I don't think your experience is enough to dismiss the general observation that medicine is somewhat conservative.

I never said medicine wasn't somewhat conservative. If you read my first post in this thread, you'll see that what I said was that while it's conservative, the idea blown out of proportion. I'm finishing up third year now and I've never seen this hardline conservatism that people talk about all the time. Is it conservative? Yes. More than most other professional fields? No. That was my point. The red suit story was just to illustrate how much people exaggerate the conservatism. When I made the decision to wear the red suit, I was told by many med students that it would be the kiss of death for me. Just an example of how people try to push the conservatism mantra and make it bigger than it is. It's there, sure, but it's not as strict as some make it out to be.

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

It's getting harder with each passing year, it seems. The number of US med school spots has increased over the last several years, while the number of residency spots has remained fairly constant. This has resulted in a higher percentage of family practice (and other typically less popular specialties) positions being filled by USMG students each year--meaning less spots available to FMGs. As more and more USMG spots are added, I suspect in about 5-10 years you will have to be best of the best in terms of scores, research, etc. to be competitive for even the less popular specialties in the US.

wow i always knew it was hard to get in from the caribbean, but i thought for something like family practice it wouldn't be a big deal. only time will tell i guess. and step I!

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

For what it's worth, I agree with whomever recommended taking some practice USMLE Step 1 exams to see where he sits. If he isn't consistently passing the practice exams, then I would seriously consider cutting losses at this point and scrapping the med school idea. It's no joke that for the rest of his life, everything is going to be predicated on doing well on standardized, computerized exams. This includes getting accepted to residency, getting one's medical license, doing well each year in residency on in-service exams (and not passing these can and does get people "fired" from residency), passing specialty boards, and every 5-10 years (depending on the specialty) passing renewal boards.

Until the day you retire, your career as a physician of any sort will depend on you doing well on standardized exams. Your friend needs to seek assistance to see if he can improve at these...or seriously consider a different career.

 

[FutureMDiA]

Is MUA better than AUA?

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Is MUA better than AUA?

Don't even consider either of them.

 

[TeddyBoomBoom]

Lol @ ppl worrying if wearing a cute dress/skirt is going to tank an interview.


Unless you're a dude- then it better be a charcoal grey skirt, or else.


Back to the thread, OP's friend should remediate/repeat, or find another career ASAP.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Is MUA better than AUA?

You can ask this question in every forum and the answers will remain the same. Either improve your stats and try to get to a US based school, improve your stats enough to try for a Big 4 Caribbean school (though this isn't a good idea), or look for a different career. Going to MUA or another of these schools is going to usually be a waste of your time and money.

 

[FutureMDiA]

But i read at few places that MUA and AUA are not as good as big 4 but they are close enough with big 4 and they aren't COMPLETELY waste of money and time compare to other schools like st. james, windsord, IAU, CMU etc... The thing i am still doing research on is which school would be the best AFTER big 4. i am getting differ answers, some are saying AUA, while others are saying MUA.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

But i read at few places that MUA and AUA are not as good as big 4 but they are close enough with big 4 and they aren't COMPLETELY waste of money and time compare to other schools like st. james, windsord, IAU, CMU etc... The thing i am still doing research on is which school would be the best AFTER big 4. i am getting differ answers, some are saying AUA, while others are saying MUA.

Any of the schools after the Big4 aren't worth your time or money. Your chances of successfully getting through those schools and graduated AND getting a residency spot is poor.