Island Schools

[pp9]

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Hey all. I searched through the threads and couldn't find anything that relates to my question very well, so I apologize if this is a repetitive thread. Please link me to an already existing one if possible!

But I just got, more or less, an advertisement for SGU in the mail today. But let's back up a little bit.

4 for 5 with rejections, expecting my IS to give me a "no" come March when their letters go out. "What are my chances?" thread thinks I have a decent GPA with good experience. GRE could always use some improvement, but higher than most of the scores I've been seeing on various threads. Essays were read by several people and given the thumbs up. Absolutely planning on doing file reviews at each school.

But my mind is already thinking about this next cycle (or whichever future one I participate in) and where I should apply. In comes the ad from SGU. It seems they are directly asking their interviewees for quotes to answer every question that someone doubtful might have. Here are a few to better explain why I'm in the mindset I'm in:

"This is what St. George's does-it takes people who are told they aren't going to achieve something..."
"I would recommend anyone to go to SGU...had I gone to a UK school, I wouldn't have qualified."
"SGU ushers in class of nearly 800 medical students." 😵
"I have always felt just as prepared as any of my veterinary counterparts from state schools."

Let's face it. Even at the 2013 symposium, the speaker (I can't remember which of the schools he was from) flaunted the fact that they take students who are rejected elsewhere and give them a shot. A vet student once told me that his friend applied to 16 US schools and Ross, only being able to get into Ross. Does this not promote a stigma, if you will, regarding the island schools? Will I be judged/looked down upon/given a hard time during job hunting if I choose to apply/attend an island school? When I read quotes and experiences such as this, I think "Oh, I'll be a shoe-in there! They just said they'd give me a chance!" And then I think, "Does this mean they have lower standards?" Besides the fact that it is horrendously expensive, I don't want to attend school there only to regret it.

I know that there are students out there who LOVE their school and choice. I also want to hear from those who regret going to an island school or have negative opinions on them. I want to be more informed.

 

[that redhead]

Yes, the Caribbean schools tend to matriculate students with lower than average academics. Yes, there are still people out there that look down on students who came from the Caribbean schools. But plenty of people in the veterinary community understand that these schools are putting out veterinarians who are just as capable as those from other accredited schools.

I'm not sure what you'd regret about attending a Caribbean school over another school. Cost and distance from family/friends/familiar stuff are the two that jump out at me, but I pay a heck of a lot more going to school in Canada as a US resident than SGU students pay. And if you applied to other OOS schools, you're already thinking about the distance aspect. Other than doing your clinic year at a state-side school, your education should be equivalent to any other AVMA accredited institution.

It seems like your biggest concern is how others will interpret your (potential) decision to attend a Caribbean school. There will be those who look down on you for it, but the majority of people (employers included) won't particularly care.

 

[pp9]

It seems like your biggest concern is how others will interpret your (potential) decision to attend a Caribbean school. There will be those who look down on you for it, but the majority of people (employers included) won't particularly care.

That's what I hoped to hear from someone already in veterinary school! I agree that a DVM is a DVM. It's just the POTENTIAL for difficulties far into the future that worry me.

 

[deleted498041]

One of the best veterinarians I know graduated from Ross University. One of the worst I know graduated from Ross. I think it really depends on what you're going to put into it and how hard you're willing to work after graduation, because you will be working against that stigma. Your clinical years are absolutely key if you want to prove what a great future doctor you are -- but that's true of any vet college. The reputation of those Caribbean schools is not as bad as it used to be, and part of that is because they passed the accreditation process. I would absolutely never in a million years go to an unaccredited school like St. Matthews, but I would go to the other two if it were my only option.
Yes, the money and the distance are difficult. I don't know where you're from in the US, but it would be easier and cheaper for me to fly home from a Caribbean school than it would be from where I'm at now. I think the money is pretty equivalent to my tuition at WesternU, but your cost of living is going to be higher in the Caribbean just because of things like groceries. Your electricity will go out all the time and you have to be prepared to study by candlelight. They do not treat animals the same way they do in the US, and that's a cultural difference you'll have to prepare yourself for.

 

[pp9]

Thanks for the input! I wish it was more feasible to at least tour the schools. I didn't know power was an issue that frequently. How exactly do they treat animals? More like animals and less like humans like we do in the US?

 

[equineconstant]

I can't comment on the culture of the islands, but I've talked to graduates of those schools and LSU takes Ross students for the clinical years. It may be easier to get into the island schools, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily easier to stay there. If they're still accredited schools, then you should get a comparable education there as to somewhere in the states. If you can get through veterinary school and become a great veterinarian but for whatever reason your stats don't reflect that, an island school could give you a chance to go for it.

That said, I really can't speak to whether that would the right decision for you.

 

[BlackDog17]

I will readily admit that part of the reason I chose to attend AVC over St. George's was the stigma. Now that SGU is accredited they are definitely more respected, but even so, I did not want someone looking at my resume and assuming that I "wasn't good enough" to get into a non-Carribean school. There were a lot of other factors too - proximity to home, familiar culture, smaller class sizes, ability to go other places without needing a plane ticket, etc that influenced my decision much more heavily though.

That said, I definitely did not want to go through another application cycle and I highly doubt it would have helped me, so if SGU had been my only acceptance I would have gone there, no question. And I'm sure I would have done well there and been happy enough. My undergrad advisor told me that she knew a bunch of Ross students who did their clinical year at her vet school, and the professors frequently remarked that the Ross students were often better prepared than the U.S. students, especially in terms of clinical skills. This was long before Ross was accredited too. Now that both Ross and SGU are accredited, you can be certain that you will get the same high level education there as you will in the U.S. So your decision really comes down to your own personal preference and what you want to do with the next four years of your life.

 

[pp9]

Thank you guys for the feedback! It is obvious that the schools wouldn't be accredited if they weren't up to par. I think I will see how much it would cost to tour. Or at the very least, do some heavy research.

 

[Rainheart]

I guess I'll chime in here with my opinion- because I wasn't accepted my first cycle either, so of course I did think about the schools in the Caribbean. And, I'll just chime in about one of my best friends at SGU.

The decision, of course is ultimately up to you. For me, I really did not think that the island schools were an option for me. I refuse to fly my dog on a plane- that just scares me. I don't want to put him through that. And, I would not go anywhere I could not bring him. He's my best bud and heart dog. So, that was that. Besides, you are very far from family/friends isolated on an island. You only can come home for Winter/Summer break (though, that is what I am doing now..) But from Missouri, if something were to happen, I could get home (relatively) quick than compared to an island.
With my friend down there- she says that she really doesn't like it. She said that she didn't have much of a chance of getting in somewhere in the US (which I'm not really sure how true that was- I didn't know her GPA). She applied right after being rejected her first cycle for the class in the fall and got accepted. I think that if she had applied to some different schools in the US (and not the ones right near us like we both did) she might be somewhere in the US. Instead, she is down on an island she hates and just can't wait for the next year and a half to be done before she is on her rotations somewhere in the US.

A second cycle was definitely worth it for me- My GPA was great, but my GRE scores were lacking. I also looked into other places to apply besides those fairly close to me. Did I end up at the school I applied farthest from home? Yes- but I don't regret it at all. Mizzou has a great program and I felt at home here when I interviewed during my second cycle (I did not apply here first cycle).

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Editing because expense is something to highly think about. I'll be graduating with much less debt than my best friend.

 

[TooLove]

I know two brilliant doctors from Ross, and I know a tech who recently graduated from SGU and is doing great. I think there definitely is a stigma associated with the island schools, but that seems to be changing with schools getting accredited and putting out good grads. Every school is going to produce a few "bad" doctors. I think it has more to say about that person than the caliber of the school. If I had only gotten into a school in the Caribbean, you can everything that I would have packed my bags and gone. That being said, I ended up at an island school anyway - except this one is currently covered in snow and ice. The Caribbean is looking mighty good right now....

 

[dvm'08]

I would make sure to absolutely exhaust your in-state school options at all costs before going the Caribbean route. Given the economic future of the profession, you need to factor finances into these decisions more now then ever, and I would view this as a last resort.

Having taught 4th year students from both Ross, SGU, and number of US universities, I can say that there is virtually no difference in the student pool. There are stellar students at all schools, and there are students who struggle.

I would select a university that is going to be the most cost effective and that allows you to minimize your debt load by the time you graduate.

 

[pp9]

I also have been hesitant to even consider the Caribbean option due to finances. However, it is impossible to know when my IS or even in-country options are exhausted. I'll never know until I get an acceptance letter and stop worrying about it 🤔

 

[dvm'08]

I appreciate the challenges you face; many people are in your shoes. Its very easy to lose sight of the financial reality when you're trying to achieve a goal you've been working towards for years. Universities do a fantastic job convincing you that you your educational debit is 'the cost of doing business', and that you will prevail once you've got your degree in-hand.

The reality is you absolutely need to consider the financial implications of going down this road. Veterinary medical degrees are not good investments these days. Period. Veterinary medical degrees that come at a cost of $350K are tantamount to financial suicide. No matter how much you want this to be your career, its not justifiable (nor sustainable) to accumulate that debt load with salaries being abysmally low. Too many new veterinarians are struggling to put food on their tables, let alone enjoy a decent quality of life (which they most certainly deserve). The cost of veterinary education is criminal... the compensation is tragic.

 

[jmo1012]

One of the best veterinarians I know graduated from Ross University. One of the worst I know graduated from Ross. I think it really depends on what you're going to put into it and how hard you're willing to work after graduation, because you will be working against that stigma. Your clinical years are absolutely key if you want to prove what a great future doctor you are -- but that's true of any vet college. The reputation of those Caribbean schools is not as bad as it used to be, and part of that is because they passed the accreditation process. I would absolutely never in a million years go to an unaccredited school like St. Matthews, but I would go to the other two if it were my only option.
Yes, the money and the distance are difficult. I don't know where you're from in the US, but it would be easier and cheaper for me to fly home from a Caribbean school than it would be from where I'm at now. I think the money is pretty equivalent to my tuition at WesternU, but your cost of living is going to be higher in the Caribbean just because of things like groceries. Your electricity will go out all the time and you have to be prepared to study by candlelight. They do not treat animals the same way they do in the US, and that's a cultural difference you'll have to prepare yourself for.

i think generally cost of living here is more expensive than the average person is used to, but it really is all in how you live. i can 100% attest to that. you can get cheap housing here. you can choose not to run AC all the time. you can choose to eat more local foods that are substantially cheaper (there are lots of students that brag about the amount of fruits and veggies they can get in town for $10 USD). you can choose not to be a party animal/spend tons on alcohol. you can choose to cook more than eat out. you get the idea
maybe st. kitts has more power issues, but not once in the 3 years i've been here has there been a time where i had to study in the dark because of a power outage. they do happen from time to time, as do water outages, but its nothing crazy extensive, and the water issue can be circumvented by living somewhere that stores water too.
the a lot of the islanders have a different mentality towards animals here. they are animals and not family members. that said, i've done several rural vaccine/spay/neuter clinics and it seems very similar to that with the exception of the climate and sets of diseases being different. there are plenty of people that love their animals and care about them a lot, but it's not suburbia by any stretch. the culture is for animals to free roam as they please and although we do a ton of community outreach through various programs, there is still a lot of educating that can be done about pet ownership.

I will readily admit that part of the reason I chose to attend AVC over St. George's was the stigma. Now that SGU is accredited they are definitely more respected, but even so, I did not want someone looking at my resume and assuming that I "wasn't good enough" to get into a non-Carribean school. There were a lot of other factors too - proximity to home, familiar culture, smaller class sizes, ability to go other places without needing a plane ticket, etc that influenced my decision much more heavily though.

insert joke about not spelling "Caribbean" correctly here 😉 (i tease i tease!)

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adding more about finances:
a lot of people do an excellent job at ranting about how expensive the caribbean schools are, but please stop and consider where you are applying to. There are nearly a dozen more US schools that are MORE expensive to attend than SGU. My tuition bill for the year is $32k - much more than a lot of in state schools, but a lot less than quite a few as OOS.

you need to look at the whole financial picture when thinking about schools. can you go in state? will you need to retake course work? do you need a masters degree (the answer to this is almost always no)? what is your current financial situation? what is your current lifestyle? etc.
there are so many variables to look into when making this decision financially. personally, although it was more expensive than IS, it was NOT more expensive than the OOS i was applying to based on my stats.
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i also get a little ticked when people jump on the "island life sucks" bandwagon. you get out what you put in. there are absolutely people and personality types that are not meant for this environment. you need to consider your personality and what you are willing to "endure." i hate when people come here because it was the offer they got and then spend 3+ years whining about how much they HATE EVERYTHING. you get out what you put in. i absolutely love it here. i dread leaving in may for clinics. i have really come to loathe the way americans live in urban areas (i.e. where my family lives). you can choose to be miserable or you can choose to find the silver lining. vet school is a lot of misery. it is not rainbows and butterflies and unicorns. (okay its rainbows if you live on a tropical island because we have hundreds each term haha but you get the point). it is stressful and it is unbelievably hard work. there will be lots of times when you question why the heck you are doing this to yourself. every school has it's own set of problems. we get caught up in thinking we are in just the worst place in the world, but its the whole grass is greener concept.
i'll get off my soapbox now 🙂
as a side note, i had a classmate who HATED every second of every day she spent here. she ultimately transferred after 1st year (THANK GOODNESS) and now she laments about how much she misses the caribbean. i want to punch her sometimes and see if that helps her to remember how much of a ball of misery she was for 250 days!

 

[BlackDog17]

insert joke about not spelling "Caribbean" correctly here 😉 (i tease i tease!)

lol, in my defense, I was on my phone! 😛

 

[BlackDog17]

Thank you guys for the feedback! It is obvious that the schools wouldn't be accredited if they weren't up to par. I think I will see how much it would cost to tour. Or at the very least, do some heavy research.

I know SGU will cover your travel expenses to visit the school if you do choose to enroll there. Something to think about!

 

[deleted498041]

adding more about finances:
a lot of people do an excellent job at ranting about how expensive the caribbean schools are, but please stop and consider where you are applying to. There are nearly a dozen more US schools that are MORE expensive to attend than SGU. My tuition bill for the year is $32k - much more than a lot of in state schools, but a lot less than quite a few as OOS.

you need to look at the whole financial picture when thinking about schools. can you go in state? will you need to retake course work? do you need a masters degree (the answer to this is almost always no)? what is your current financial situation? what is your current lifestyle? etc.
there are so many variables to look into when making this decision financially. personally, although it was more expensive than IS, it was NOT more expensive than the OOS i was applying to based on my stats.
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i also get a little ticked when people jump on the "island life sucks" bandwagon. you get out what you put in. there are absolutely people and personality types that are not meant for this environment. you need to consider your personality and what you are willing to "endure." i hate when people come here because it was the offer they got and then spend 3+ years whining about how much they HATE EVERYTHING. you get out what you put in. i absolutely love it here. i dread leaving in may for clinics. i have really come to loathe the way americans live in urban areas (i.e. where my family lives). you can choose to be miserable or you can choose to find the silver lining. vet school is a lot of misery. it is not rainbows and butterflies and unicorns. (okay its rainbows if you live on a tropical island because we have hundreds each term haha but you get the point). it is stressful and it is unbelievably hard work. there will be lots of times when you question why the heck you are doing this to yourself. every school has it's own set of problems. we get caught up in thinking we are in just the worst place in the world, but its the whole grass is greener concept.
i'll get off my soapbox now 🙂
as a side note, i had a classmate who HATED every second of every day she spent here. she ultimately transferred after 1st year (THANK GOODNESS) and now she laments about how much she misses the caribbean. i want to punch her sometimes and see if that helps her to remember how much of a ball of misery she was for 250 days!

YES. Just wanted to chime in about the finances aspect. My tuition this year was $48,510. Definitely more than what a St. Kitts student will pay.
In addition, don't go to a school and complain about how you hate it or make snide comments about the school and curriculum the whole time. We get it, you're not at your top choice. Shut up about it, it's annoying. WesternU has a ton of students that were rejected from Davis and I am so sick of hearing how bitter they are about it. I like the curriculum, and I'm happy about my choice, so stop trying to bring me down about it.

 

[jmo1012]

YES. Just wanted to chime in about the finances aspect. My tuition this year was $48,510. Definitely more than what a St. Kitts student will pay.
In addition, don't go to a school and complain about how you hate it or make snide comments about the school and curriculum the whole time. We get it, you're not at your top choice. Shut up about it, it's annoying. WesternU has a ton of students that were rejected from Davis and I am so sick of hearing how bitter they are about it. I like the curriculum, and I'm happy about my choice, so stop trying to bring me down about it.

you have no idea how "happy" it makes me to hear that its not just some island students that hate their living situation. such a good example of how you get out what you put in!

 

[epivetlove]

In addition, don't go to a school and complain about how you hate it or make snide comments about the school and curriculum the whole time. We get it, you're not at your top choice. Shut up about it, it's annoying. WesternU has a ton of students that were rejected from Davis and I am so sick of hearing how bitter they are about it.

This seriously bothers me. No one forces you to apply to particular schools (hopefully) or to ultimately attend vet school. If you weren't truly interested in a particular program, then why apply? Especially since there were applicants that would have been more than thrilled to take your spot. There's always this crazy sense of urgency surrounding vet school applications/admissions, but I think more of us need to take a deep breath, step back, and really consider if we'd be happy at a certain school for the next four years or not. I understand this feeling as I'm going through it now, but I've committed to only applying to schools (if I have to do multiple rounds) that would work for me--financially, emotionally, geographically, etc.--even if it meant waiting another year to start school. I think as pre-vets we sometimes forget about the journey and focus too much on the destination.

Vet school is already a beast, no reason to make it any harder on ourselves (or those around us).

But maybe I'm just crazy for thinking like this.

 

[pp9]

I agree...one of the schools I applied to this round was simply because they had lower average stats. I know now that had it been my only acceptance, I would NOT have been happy to go there (still would have gone though...).

 

[beatles1964]

In my case, I applied to 11 schools (which was a little excessive IMO), 7 US and 4 international (Edinburgh, RVC, Ross, and SGU). Even before I applied I had fallen completely in love with SGU. I think it had a lot to do with the promo videos and marketing materials I had seen. To be fair, I did attend an info seminar for Ross and wasn't nearly as "wow'd" in comparison. Out of all the schools I applied to, my 1st interview was with SGU. This was my 1st app cycle and when I was accepted, it was a tremendous relief to know I was going to vet school somewhere! I had made the promise to myself that I would go wherever I was accepted regardless, because I didn't want to apply more than once and take a whole year off (because frankly, I didn't have any internships or anything lined up). Of course I planned to attend a US school over a foreign school, but if I wasn't accepted stateside I would be willing (sorta) to travel.

So here are my thoughts on the island schools. I personally felt sooo much more comfortable with SGU over Ross...I've heard more negatives from students who have attended Ross (but from the beginning I was more partial to SGU). Two summers ago I had met 2 students from SGU on a mobile HSUS RAVS clinic and they seemed completely qualified, even more than some of the US students of the same year. Their surgical skills were also very advanced. From talking with them, they too said they were not accepted into any US schools but they had absolutely no regrets attending SGU. They did say it is a completely different atmosphere and lifestyle on the islands. The fact both Ross and SGU are accredited is one less hurdle, but there are a lot of other things I started considering once accepted that I had never thought of prior to applying.

- Airfare can be super expensive depending on the time of year
- International banking; you'd need to set up a Caribbean bank account (they don't accept US bank cards or checks, only credit cards)
- currency exchange
- International health insurance
- Loans and how being in a different country would work with FAFSA
- I'd need to purchase a car once there
- VISAs- not needed for SGU, not sure about Ross

Like others have said, I think the stigma of graduating from island schools has changed for the better, but I was personally met with some opposition from some of the older vets I have worked with. Then again, some of the younger vets I've talked with said, they've had great experience with island students and grads. Regardless of where you go, you'll come out a DVM. You could be at the bottom of your class at a US school or the top of your class at an island school. You may have to work harder to prove you do have what it takes at Ross or SGU, but it can be done. Ask yourself if you'd be willing to apply again to more US schools in a 2nd cycle or would you be willing to give the islands a chance like they did you. Good luck!

 

[twelvetigers]

Even before I applied I had fallen completely in love with SGU. I think it had a lot to do with the promo videos and marketing materials I had seen.

I'm sure they put a lot of money into advertising and promoting. Which doesn't disqualify any of the good things you had to say about the school, of course. But I wonder sometimes what it would be like if schools really had to compete to get students - like the opposite of how it is now.

Of course the schools compete by offering scholarships and stuff, but I'm sure they know that someone will take that seat, no matter what.

 

[pp9]

I'm sure they put a lot of money into advertising and promoting. Which doesn't disqualify any of the good things you had to say about the school, of course. But I wonder sometimes what it would be like if schools really had to compete to get students - like the opposite of how it is now.

Of course the schools compete by offering scholarships and stuff, but I'm sure they know that someone will take that seat, no matter what.

It is true that the island schools seem to be heavily advertising. They have banners at the top of SDN now haha. I don't think any other vet schools actively advertise or even recruit like the island schools do. The US schools can confidently assume that every single seat will have numerous applications.

 

[Must Love Dogs]

They did say it is a completely different atmosphere and lifestyle on the islands. The fact both Ross and SGU are accredited is one less hurdle, but there are a lot of other things I started considering once accepted that I had never thought of prior to applying.

- Airfare can be super expensive depending on the time of year
- International banking; you'd need to set up a Caribbean bank account (they don't accept US bank cards or checks, only credit cards)
- currency exchange
- International health insurance
- Loans and how being in a different country would work with FAFSA
- I'd need to purchase a car once there
- VISAs- not needed for SGU, not sure about Ross

Like others have said, I think the stigma of graduating from island schools has changed for the better, but I was personally met with some opposition from some of the older vets I have worked with. Then again, some of the younger vets I've talked with said, they've had great experience with island students and grads. Regardless of where you go, you'll come out a DVM. You could be at the bottom of your class at a US school or the top of your class at an island school. You may have to work harder to prove you do have what it takes at Ross or SGU, but it can be done. Ask yourself if you'd be willing to apply again to more US schools in a 2nd cycle or would you be willing to give the islands a chance like they did you. Good luck!

A lot of great points you made, but I just wanted to comment on a few of your points (and maybe even ease your mind a bit on a few things 🙂 ). I am currently a first termer at SGU, so I'm just speaking from MY experience at SGU. I won't lie, it is quite different going to school on an island than going to a school in the states, and some things do require a little more work, but it is not near as bad as I had first thought when applying.
-As far as banking goes, it's not 100% necessary to open a Caribbean account. I have classmates here who are able to use cards from back home without foreign transaction fees (for certain banks) or get reimbursed for any fees (i.e. Charles Schwab). It just takes time to research and ask different banks what their policies are as far as foreign transactions go. It really is a personal choice as to what you decide to do for banking; you can open a Caribbean account if you want, or you can find a way around it. Plus, the grocery stores (or at least IGA) takes credit cards.
-For insurance, the school has (from what I've heard) a pretty good sponsored health insurance policy. As for me, my original insurance from back home covers me while I'm here, so it wasn't a problem for me. I was able to waive the school's health insurance and just use mine, so always check with your insurance provider and weigh your options.
-Loans: As far as I know, it's pretty much the same as if you were in the states since it all goes through the NY office, but always ask if you're not sure.
-Car: If you live on campus, it's really not necessary, and even if you live off campus (depending on where you live). There is a pretty good bus system here that is FREE to students that takes us around to the normal places (i.e. the grocery store, beach, campus, etc.). However, there are people off campus that like having a car, so again, personal choice.
So, there's some things to think about or look into. Also, some of the best resources for me has been the upper term students, classmates, or even alumni! There are many others who have been down this road and have found better ways to do things; don't be afraid to ask them about their experience or how they went about doing something. I have yet to meet another student who has refused to answer a question for me (unless they really didn't have an answer or didn't know) or help me with something (like lending me one of their books when I needed it). Most people are super helpful, and it really can be like a second family.
Just keep in mind that this isn't a life style that everyone can handle, and you really have to know yourself and if you're up for it. But, also keep in mind that it isn't impossible and there are many others in the same boat/are going through it with you, and there are many more that have made it through. There have been rough patches, but you know what, I wouldn't change this experience for anything. I am proud to be here and don't regret it. I guess things work out for a reason 🙂 Do what you think is best for YOU and what'll make YOU happy and successful!
Sorry about the length, but I hope this helped ease some concerns or just helped anyone better understand life at SGU.

 

[pp9]

A lot of great points you made, but I just wanted to comment on a few of your points (and maybe even ease your mind a bit on a few things 🙂 ). I am currently a first termer at SGU, so I'm just speaking from MY experience at SGU. I won't lie, it is quite different going to school on an island than going to a school in the states, and some things do require a little more work, but it is not near as bad as I had first thought when applying.
-As far as banking goes, it's not 100% necessary to open a Caribbean account. I have classmates here who are able to use cards from back home without foreign transaction fees (for certain banks) or get reimbursed for any fees (i.e. Charles Schwab). It just takes time to research and ask different banks what their policies are as far as foreign transactions go. It really is a personal choice as to what you decide to do for banking; you can open a Caribbean account if you want, or you can find a way around it. Plus, the grocery stores (or at least IGA) takes credit cards.
-For insurance, the school has (from what I've heard) a pretty good sponsored health insurance policy. As for me, my original insurance from back home covers me while I'm here, so it wasn't a problem for me. I was able to waive the school's health insurance and just use mine, so always check with your insurance provider and weigh your options.
-Loans: As far as I know, it's pretty much the same as if you were in the states since it all goes through the NY office, but always ask if you're not sure.
-Car: If you live on campus, it's really not necessary, and even if you live off campus (depending on where you live). There is a pretty good bus system here that is FREE to students that takes us around to the normal places (i.e. the grocery store, beach, campus, etc.). However, there are people off campus that like having a car, so again, personal choice.
So, there's some things to think about or look into. Also, some of the best resources for me has been the upper term students, classmates, or even alumni! There are many others who have been down this road and have found better ways to do things; don't be afraid to ask them about their experience or how they went about doing something. I have yet to meet another student who has refused to answer a question for me (unless they really didn't have an answer or didn't know) or help me with something (like lending me one of their books when I needed it). Most people are super helpful, and it really can be like a second family.
Just keep in mind that this isn't a life style that everyone can handle, and you really have to know yourself and if you're up for it. But, also keep in mind that it isn't impossible and there are many others in the same boat/are going through it with you, and there are many more that have made it through. There have been rough patches, but you know what, I wouldn't change this experience for anything. I am proud to be here and don't regret it. I guess things work out for a reason 🙂 Do what you think is best for YOU and what'll make YOU happy and successful!
Sorry about the length, but I hope this helped ease some concerns or just helped anyone better understand life at SGU.

Thanks for the reply! My biggest hesitation is being so far from family and my dog (I would NEVER fly my dog either). How spread out is the island? What is the crime like? What is the worst part about living there for you?

 

[jmo1012]

- Airfare can be super expensive depending on the time of year
- International banking; you'd need to set up a Caribbean bank account (they don't accept US bank cards or checks, only credit cards)
- currency exchange
- International health insurance
- Loans and how being in a different country would work with FAFSA
- I'd need to purchase a car once there
- VISAs- not needed for SGU, not sure about Ross

1. Airfare is expensive and it definitely depends on when you purchase tickets and where you fly from. its cheaper to be a DC resident than a CA resident if you catch my drift
2. not at all necessary - i've been here nearly 3 years and i get along just fine without a local bank account. many students choose to set up local accounts, but plenty more don't and have no issues
3. school has a health insurance plan or you can use your own - i think most people use the school's insurance plan but i personally am still young enough to be on my dad's plan so i do that
4. loans are the exact same for US students. the only snag is if you wish to attend a non-US school for your clinical year, you cannot get federal loans for that (in which case you would take out private loans)
5. definitely do not have to have a car. i went 5 semesters without one and the only reason we have one for term 6 is because we're lazy and its admittedly more convenient than the bus system. the bus system is decently extensive though and free
6. no visa for SGU, i'd be willing to bet the same goes for Ross - and it's not really that we dont have visas, it's that the school takes care of that bit

Thanks for the reply! My biggest hesitation is being so far from family and my dog (I would NEVER fly my dog either). How spread out is the island? What is the crime like? What is the worst part about living there for you?

you say you'd never fly your dog, but you might feel differently after you settle into the routine. if you want more info on why i think thats the case, feel free to PM me.

the island is largely tropical rain forest, with a majority of the inhabitants located along the coast. St. George's parish is obviously the biggest, but the island itself has 110,000 residents. everything you need is conceivably in a 5-30 minute distance of the school. that said, there are other fun things to do elsewhere on the island and student groups go fun places all the time

crime is relatively minor. students tend to blow things out of proportion, but the crime here is NOTHING compared to city living. most of the crime here is petty theft. frustrating and annoying, but really no different than what you would find in most areas of the US. if you wouldnt do it at home, dont do it here essentially. you of course need to be aware of your surroundings and take care of yourself/make smart decisions.

currently the worst part about being here is the annoying administrative changes the upper 2 classes are dealing with. the same crap that happens anywhere essentially. overall the drama level here is pretty high too. tends to happen when you live/breathe/sleep in the same area with no escape for 4 months. it can get lonely being so far away from home, but i doubt that i'd go home or have people visit if i was in the US simply because this is a very rigorous and time demanding program. its not like i'm sitting around twiddling my thumbs thinking gee it sure would be nice if mom and dad were here so i had something to do.

i'll say it again - this lifestyle and program are not for everyone. it is a major life adjustment. it is a major deal to start vet school and start an entirely new life in a completely unfamiliar place, in a totally new culture, where your previous support system is so far away. not everyone is happy here. not everyone should be here. vet school is not a right, its a privilege.

 

[pp9]

I wouldn't fly my dog simply because she is too large to be a carry-on, and airplane cargo holds are not always/adequately temperature controlled. Pets do die due to heat or cold during travel, as well as the fact that not everyone is willing to gently handle a carrier when they have only a few minutes to unload the plane. I prefer to avoid the risk entirely. My dog is not cargo.

I'm glad to hear that regarding crime. It always seemed like it was actually a dangerous place to live. How is your internet? Power? Water? Do you live on or off campus?

 

[jmo1012]

I wouldn't fly my dog simply because she is too large to be a carry-on, and airplane cargo holds are not always/adequately temperature controlled. Pets do die due to heat or cold during travel, as well as the fact that not everyone is willing to gently handle a carrier when they have only a few minutes to unload the plane. I prefer to avoid the risk entirely. My dog is not cargo.

I'm glad to hear that regarding crime. It always seemed like it was actually a dangerous place to live. How is your internet? Power? Water? Do you live on or off campus?

1. internet is taken care of by my awesome landlord so we've had it from the moment we arrived. usually the biggest hassle is when you first move in some place, you have to "schedule" the provider to come out and turn it on and such. this can take days just because its Grenada. otherwise it usually works quite well all the time

2. my power is normal? a lot of apartments have both voltages so you can us american plugs but otherwise you need to get a transformer. those are expensive, but you then turn around and sell it for the same price when you're done. my understanding is that power outages used to be a more frequent thing here, but it's really not been an issue since i got here. we honestly used to have more problems when i lived on campus (they seemed to have a bad semester where it would surge a lot on the weekends).

3. i assume you're asking if the water is safe to drink - it is. or at least locally it is. i probably wouldnt go drink tap water in a small town, but the restaurants and local stuff is all fine. yes there is a small risk of getting badness from the water, but its very small, and if you are that worried, then you need to not eat any fresh items ever (i.e. no tomatoes on a sandwich, no salad etc because you better believe theyre not pouring bottled water on that stuff to wash it 😉 ) like i said though, very small risk. and obviously no one avoids fresh foods because of it, that was just a perspective example

4. i lived on campus for 3 semesters, didn't get a housing contract for the 4th and now i'm off campus for 3 semesters. its mostly a personal choice. i love where i live and my landlord is phenomenal, but there are pros and cons to living on and off.

 

[pp9]

I read somewhere that the actual presence of running water is unreliable, especially during dry months. Specifically, you are unable to shower/flush/anything. And that the power is equally unreliable. But I'm glad to hear the power has improved!

 

[BlackDog17]

I read somewhere that the actual presence of running water is unreliable, especially during dry months. Specifically, you are unable to shower/flush/anything. And that the power is equally unreliable. But I'm glad to hear the power has improved!

I've heard similar things, specifically that the desalination plant that services the campus tends to get overloaded and water for laundry/bathing has to be turned off frequently to conserve so there will be enough fresh water for everyone to drink. Can't remember where I read that though, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[anesthtc]

That's what I hoped to hear from someone already in veterinary school! I agree that a DVM is a DVM. It's just the POTENTIAL for difficulties far into the future that worry me.

I guess I'll pitch in since I've been mentored mostly by "old guard" veterinarians who are notorious for being the most biased against the island schools. Most of them are certainly under the impression that the Caribbean used to be the place you'd go if your grades sucked and you partied too much. But it seems that Ross in particular has recently made an impression that it can turn out some very capable veterinarians with very strong work ethics. Overall I'd describe their attitude now as "cautious". As a new grad you're probably not going to face the judgment that older Caribbean graduates had to face, but make sure you're okay with/not offended by employers throwing some extra questions at you to determine whether you're part of the new promising island crowd and not the old crowd they knew back when they were in school. I'd actually consider the additional expenses of those schools to be a much bigger concern than any sort of stigma.

 

[jmo1012]

I read somewhere that the actual presence of running water is unreliable, especially during dry months. Specifically, you are unable to shower/flush/anything. And that the power is equally unreliable. But I'm glad to hear the power has improved!

the water does get shut off from time to time and it depends on how bad the drought is. that said, i dont have water issues because my landlord has water tanks in the back yard so that when needed, we have a back up water source. this is very common here, but you're probably less likely to find it in some of the dirt cheap apartments

 

[EdinBelle]

I'm at Ross now, I applied and chose to attend Ross rather than apply another cycle because I have yet to meet a Ross grad who IMO did not practice great medicine. I'm not naive, and I do know that there are graduates of all schools who do not make the best vets, but I felt comfortable with the education that I will receive here and ultimately that is why I chose to apply and attend rather than try another round at a US school.

Now, does the electricity go out? Yeah, for about 5 minutes at a time. So I save my PowerPoints to my tablet and I study with my tablet on battery power for those few minutes. Or I take it as a sign to take a little power nap! The water here has only been turned off once and that was due to a pipe burst that had to be repaired. To be honest, I kinda like living down here. Was I kicking and screaming the whole way down here? Absolutely! I'm missing my family, my friends, and my dogs more than anything. But living down here is so humbling. Everyone is so nice and polite and trying to make you as comfortable as possible. I really feel like I've already learned so much from the kittitians on the island.

Now as for cost. As a NJ resident, I would be paying OOS tuition rates no matter where I went. So the cost of attending Ross is no different than any other school. I bought a car, yes, but I bought my car from a girl who had only paid $500 US more for it than she sold it to me! And as long as I keep it in good condition, I'll end up selling it for about $500 less than what I paid for it! So you kinda get that money right back. And as for my rent? Well my rent is $525 per month for a place that allows pets and has a completely secure fenced on yard. My rent includes cable, water, and internet. If I were to move to California or Philly to attend one of those school, I'd be paying almost double that!

So no, I don't regret my decision to come down here at all. And I think that unless you have an in-state school and would be saving a ridiculous amount of money than there is no reason to not apply to Ross or SGU. Living in another country is life changing and humbling and really allows for a close knit, family oriented community. And what's best of all? You get to become a veterinarian. The SAME veterinarian that everyone else in the US becomes. Except you got to live on a gorgeous island, and relax at the beach after a difficult exam is through!!

 

[jmo1012]

I'm at Ross now, I applied and chose to attend Ross rather than apply another cycle because I have yet to meet a Ross grad who IMO did not practice great medicine. I'm not naive, and I do know that there are graduates of all schools who do not make the best vets, but I felt comfortable with the education that I will receive here and ultimately that is why I chose to apply and attend rather than try another round at a US school.

Now, does the electricity go out? Yeah, for about 5 minutes at a time. So I save my PowerPoints to my tablet and I study with my tablet on battery power for those few minutes. Or I take it as a sign to take a little power nap! The water here has only been turned off once and that was due to a pipe burst that had to be repaired. To be honest, I kinda like living down here. Was I kicking and screaming the whole way down here? Absolutely! I'm missing my family, my friends, and my dogs more than anything. But living down here is so humbling. Everyone is so nice and polite and trying to make you as comfortable as possible. I really feel like I've already learned so much from the kittitians on the island.

Now as for cost. As a NJ resident, I would be paying OOS tuition rates no matter where I went. So the cost of attending Ross is no different than any other school. I bought a car, yes, but I bought my car from a girl who had only paid $500 US more for it than she sold it to me! And as long as I keep it in good condition, I'll end up selling it for about $500 less than what I paid for it! So you kinda get that money right back. And as for my rent? Well my rent is $525 per month for a place that allows pets and has a completely secure fenced on yard. My rent includes cable, water, and internet. If I were to move to California or Philly to attend one of those school, I'd be paying almost double that!

So no, I don't regret my decision to come down here at all. And I think that unless you have an in-state school and would be saving a ridiculous amount of money than there is no reason to not apply to Ross or SGU. Living in another country is life changing and humbling and really allows for a close knit, family oriented community. And what's best of all? You get to become a veterinarian. The SAME veterinarian that everyone else in the US becomes. Except you got to live on a gorgeous island, and relax at the beach after a difficult exam is through!!

👍x1000 - is this a lifestyle for everyone? no, absolutely not. but we have AMAZING opportunities here and living in a 3rd country is extraordinarily humbling

 

[psilovethomas]

I have nothing to contribute, but OP, I must say that an island school sounds damn nice compared to the tundra school you and I attend. Hahaha

 

[jmo1012]

I have nothing to contribute, but OP, I must say that an island school sounds damn nice compared to the tundra school you and I attend. Hahaha

i am going to DIE next year when i have to endure more than 1 month of winter

 

[pp9]

I have nothing to contribute, but OP, I must say that an island school sounds damn nice compared to the tundra school you and I attend. Hahaha

GET US OUTTA HEEEEERE!! Snow all week! Except I believe I saw the first high over 32 degrees coming up soon. Yes people, it has been below freezing for almost a month. I don't think I've seen it go higher than 23 degrees in about three weeks.

 

[jmo1012]

GET US OUTTA HEEEEERE!! Snow all week! Except I believe I saw the first high over 32 degrees coming up soon. Yes people, it has been below freezing for almost a month. I don't think I've seen it go higher than 23 degrees in about three weeks.

and this is why i go to school in the caribbean 😉 85F and sunny for the most part year round!

 

[psilovethomas]

i am going to DIE next year when i have to endure more than 1 month of winter

Winter in NC is not bad. Can you even call it winter?😉 I went to yoga this evening and when I stepped outside, you could see the steam coming off my body. It's that cold.

 

[dalmatiandoc17]

i am going to DIE next year when i have to endure more than 1 month of winter

Haha, our NC winter has had multiple days in the 60s. You'll survive just fine 😛

 

[Jeffrey Bates]

Hello, My name is Jeffrey Bates and I am the Director of Enrollment for the Vet School at St. George's University. I think there is a lot of good information here for students to consider. I know no one wants to hear my opinions but I do want to leave you with some facts. First a little back ground about me. I started working for SGU almost ten years ago and have seen our DVM program grow from a class size of 40 students to the 100 students that we bring in now. I watched and helped with with the AVMA accreditation process, and watched our facilities grow over the years. I often hear students say, "well if I don't get into a U.S. school, I'll just go to a Caribbean school" implying that they accept anyone and everyone. In reality SGU has a very strong applicant pool. For our August 2013 class we had just shy of 750 applications for our 100 seats. The average GPA of our incoming students has been right around a 3.45 for the past few classes which is not far off the U.S. average of a 3.55, which means our incoming GPA is actually the same of some of the U.S. schools.

The second topic is cost. Vet school is expensive, there is no getting around that. If you can get into your state school (if you have one) that is definitely going to save you money and would be the financially smart thing to do. Unfortunately for students who live in states like NY, California, Florida, and Texas that have huge populations and vet schools were the average incoming GPAs are around a 3.7, some very strong students don't get in, so they have to look outside of their own state. If you look at SGU tuition compared to U.S. schools out-of-state tuition, we are right on par with most schools, (actually cheaper than half of them). In addition SGU is very generous with scholarship opportunities that could reduce your tuition by up to 40%

I don't think there is as much of a stigma against Caribbean schools as undergraduate students think there is, or wants there to be. Let's face it, we all want to say we went to the best school. I think it is funny when I hear the Cornell students fight with the UPENN students over whose school is better..., then the Tufts students chime is. In reality all AVMA accredited schools have to meet the same basic standards. After that, some schools may be better at one specialty than another school. Each school has their own individual strengths, just like each of us do. Sure you will run into unknowledgeable vets from time to time who have misconceptions about schools outside of the U.S., but for the most part the DVM community is very welcoming of SGU graduates. A recent SGU graduate is now completing a Cardiology residency in Los Angeles. There are typically less than 10 cardiology spots in the entire country, so clearly attending SGU did not hurt him any, and there are many other SGU grads in other competitive residencies around country. In addition SGU has DVM graduates practicing in several countries around the world. You may even be lucky enough to have an SGU graduate as your professor at a U. S Vet school...

Life in Grenada is certainly not for everyone, and will take some adjustments to get used to. But that is true for a lot of schools in the U.S. as well. If you grew up in a big city, NYC, LA, Philly, etc. you would have to adjust to living in Manhatten KS, or Ames Iowa, and vice versa. A lot of people are afraid to leave their comfort zones, (I actually recently gave a presentation about this topic). The bottom line is (if you think back through your life), the events that make us grow/mature the most, are from times spent when we were outside of our comfort zone. I can honestly say that working for SGU, spending time in Grenada, and traveling the world, has made me a better person. A person who now has a better understanding of the world, different cultures and different ways of life. That is an advantage of SGU that graduates appreciate later in life. If you go to your state school, where 90% of the students in your class are all from your state, you may be comfortable, but are you also losing out on an opportunity to grow?

As someone mentioned earlier in this thread we do have a great program which allows interested applicants to tour our campus and meet up with current students and really get a feel of what vet school at SGU would be like. Every presentation I give I tell students the cost of vet school is the cost of a house. You would never buy a house without seeing it first, so you should visit the schools you are looking to apply to as well and make sure they are a good fit for you as an idividual. With direct flights to Grenada out of NYC, Miami, and Toronto, Grenada is not that difficult to get to.

If you have any questions about visiting the campus, or the program itself, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. I also travel and give presentations to pre-vet clubs, so if you are a member of your club and want me to visit you, let me know.

I wish you all the best of luck with pursuit of becoming veterinarians.

 

[TXvet]

I have a very good friend that went to Ross and she is an excellent veterinarian. She has often said she does regret going there as her student loans are very high. She graduated in 2007 and has made steady payments on her loans and despite this, owes more than she did when she graduated. It is a sore subject and causes her a lot of stress. I personally would try and speak to people that have graduated at least 5 or more years ago and see how they feel about the amount of debt they have to deal with every month. I personally would not go to an overseas school b/c of that debt. I often see students post how they don't care about living a lean lifestyle but I guarantee most will get tired of living paycheck to paycheck after 5 to 10 years. Good luck in your decision.

 

[pp9]

Thank you both for the valuable info. I do think the finances would be my first consideration. I will have to meet with someone who knows more about finances than I do.