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[lilmiscassie92]

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I am pretty sure I want to go into Psychiatry as a specialty. I have been told it is one of the least competitive fields to get into, even if you are graduating from an international school. I would not mind this at all, even though I know many people discourage it. I wouldn't mind it though, since I have read and heard that many people easily gain residency in psychiatry after coming from an international school. I'm wondering if I'm on the right track of getting in to one of the top four Caribbean med schools.. Right now I have a 3.1 sGPA, 3.667 cGPA, I am UTAing for a biology lab, volunteering at a hospital, a member of two organizations. Over the summer I plan on doing my shadowing then-how many hours of shadowing makes a competitive applicant? This is my second year. I'll be taking O Chem and Physics next year and I'll be done with my major pre-req courses. Are there any other extracurriculars I should be doing? Anything else?

 

[To be MD]

I don't mean to be overly critical, but medical school adcoms will be anyway. First thing's first, your sGPA needs work. Consider what other classes you're taking along with Orgo and Physics; it's hard enough to do well in the classes (with labs) alone. You want A's in those classes, both semesters; you need A's in those two classes to raise that sGPA up to a 3.4 range.

As far as extra-curriculars, you seem to be doing just fine. Consider contacting professors (possibly a lab professor in your bio department) over this summer to use that lab experience to get into research. Also, if you can, try to get some leadership in the two organizations. Being a member of an organization doesn't really prove anything to anyone besides that you go to a few meetings every now and then; focus on what you do with those organizations and how you can better them.

If you're shadowing this summer, try to get 50+ hours. More than that is excellent to see.

Another big thing you need to look at is, I'm assuming, if you're taking Physics and Orgo next year, then that leaves you taking the MCAT in the summer. To be fully prepared for the test and get your scores back, you either are going to have to spend time studying for the test in the Spring of '13 or apply late or apply late and study in the Summer of '13.

Round about way; you're doing okay for some Caribbean schools. But, remember that a Caribbean school (in my opinion) shouldn't be the first choice for you to go to medical. From what I see, you are concerned with the least competitive (i.e. easy) schools and specialty. Step up your game, reach for American schools, and as a 2nd resort apply to Caribbean schools.

Sorry for being judgmental; these are just my opinions.

 

[theseeker4]

I am pretty sure I want to go into Psychiatry as a specialty. I have been told it is one of the least competitive fields to get into, even if you are graduating from an international school. I would not mind this at all, even though I know many people discourage it. I wouldn't mind it though, since I have read and heard that many people easily gain residency in psychiatry after coming from an international school. I'm wondering if I'm on the right track of getting in to one of the top four Caribbean med schools.. Right now I have a 3.1 sGPA, 3.667 cGPA, I am UTAing for a biology lab, volunteering at a hospital, a member of two organizations. Over the summer I plan on doing my shadowing then-how many hours of shadowing makes a competitive applicant? This is my second year. I'll be taking O Chem and Physics next year and I'll be done with my major pre-req courses. Are there any other extracurriculars I should be doing? Anything else?

Do NOT shoot for Caribbean. By the time you graduate, there will be more US med school grads than MD residency spots, unless congress begins spending more on residency funding (not likely any time soon). That means even residencies that are now considered easy for international students to get into will fill with US grads. Get your sGPA up and go for US MD or DO. Caribbean is not a viable option if you want to actually practice in the US.

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to the 'what are my chances' forum.

 

[Catalystik]

If you are set on attending only Caribbean med schools, you might check out SDN's International Medicine > Caribbean Forum.

 

[sector9]

If you are set on attending only Caribbean med schools, you might check out SDN's International Medicine > Caribbean Forum.

Or check out SDN's partner site valuemd.com

That being said, don't go Caribbean if you want to practice in the US. You have only finished one year of college so you still have plenty of time to become competitive in the US