My shot at Caribbean Schools.. Please help!

[omgmd]

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Thank you in advance for all your help.
My Stats:
GPA 3.0, Science 2.69 (Science Major)
MCAT 23M: V7, PS 8, BS 8

Extensive clinical exposure, 150+ hours of shadowing (6 different doctors), great leadership experience, Internship at a local hospital (15 hours per week for 9 months), 20 hours part time work each week, highly involved, Both Clinical and Laboratory research experience.

Thank you once again.

 

[MLDM]

I'm a St. George's student. If you're interested in St. George's (easily #1 in Carribean, just saying) maybe you should shoot Bob Ryan, the associate dean of enrollment for the SOM, an email with your question [email protected]. He's amazing at what he does and if there's a way he'll find the track to MD that works best for you and the school. Good luck.

 

[Unzbuzzled]

Thank you in advance for all your help.
My Stats:
GPA 3.0, Science 2.69 (Science Major)
MCAT 23M: V7, PS 8, BS 8

Extensive clinical exposure, 150+ hours of shadowing (6 different doctors), great leadership experience, Internship at a local hospital (15 hours per week for 9 months), 20 hours part time work each week, highly involved, Both Clinical and Laboratory research experience.

Thank you once again.

If you don't get into SGU (which is pretty much the only respected carib school) i'd say go for an SMP. To be honest, it'll be hard with your stats to do either, and if you really want to be a doc, I think you owe it to yourself to give the MCAT another shot. A 28+ score will get you into an SMP program and if you work hard, you'll be in a US MD school in less than 2 years. You could try for the Carib now, but it will make it harder for you to land a choice residency later on.

 

[omgmd]

What do you suggest i email him?
Should I ask him if I have a shot? or should I tell him my circumstances and see what he thinks of my application?

 

[PteFabulous]

The only way you will find out if your stats are good enough is to apply and find out. There's a range of stats that are accepted and every school will be different in whats most important in the decision making.

That being said, going to Caribbean is a lot of work, and a tough road to go down. Make sure you do your research beforehand and remember things don't always work out the way you planned.

 

[Unzbuzzled]

That being said, going to Caribbean is a lot of work, and a tough road to go down. Make sure you do your research beforehand and remember things don't always work out the way you planned.

This is true. People don't do SMP Programs because there's a chance of failure, but if you go to the Caribbean, there's a 50+% chance of failure, whereas some SMPs boast success stats of 80+%. You owe it to yourself to apply to SMPs. And I'd def retake that MCAT. It's a small price to pay if it means you'll improve your chances of getting in somewhere stateside.

 

[Temperature101]

Thank you in advance for all your help.
My Stats:
GPA 3.0, Science 2.69 (Science Major)
MCAT 23M: V7, PS 8, BS 8

Extensive clinical exposure, 150+ hours of shadowing (6 different doctors), great leadership experience, Internship at a local hospital (15 hours per week for 9 months), 20 hours part time work each week, highly involved, Both Clinical and Laboratory research experience.

Thank you once again.

Why not try a 1 year postbacc like the one at LECOM that guarantee a spot to their DO school if you maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program...

 

[baller1990]

Why not try a 1 year postbacc like the one at LECOM that guarantee a spot to their DO school if you maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program...

Hey can you please give me more info on the LECOM post bacc program. is it really a 1 year program?

 

[shouldigomd]

This is true. People don't do SMP Programs because there's a chance of failure, but if you go to the Caribbean, there's a 50+% chance of failure, whereas some SMPs boast success stats of 80+%. You owe it to yourself to apply to SMPs. And I'd def retake that MCAT. It's a small price to pay if it means you'll improve your chances of getting in somewhere stateside.

Where does that stat of 50% failure come from... I think people look at high attrition the wrong way. Caribbean schools (SGU / Ross) are businesses that are about the $$. No question. But that isn't to say the education is bad or the opportunity is poor.

The school isn't failing students... it's the other way around. You accept a lower standard of student for a very demanding process... its only obvious to assume there will be more students failing. It is your own fault if you pay for an opportunity and can't handle it!

If attrition rates were on par with US schools then i would be very worried. If i saw a school accepting a lower standard of student with very low attrition rates ... i would be very skeptical at the quality of the education i was receiving.

SGU has high attrition because it is hard! it isn't a free pass to a US residency. You have to work very hard to be a practicing physician in the US ... no way around it. I like the high attrition. It keeps me motivated. You work hard and see yourself succeed while many of those around you can't handle it.

But to the OP ... i agree with unzbuzzled. Definitely retake the MCAT because improving that score can be done quite easily with simply studying all the concepts. With your current stats you might have a slim chance at SGU's charter foundation program (1/2 year if you pass your accepted to MD program) ... and a slightly better chance at Ross's MERP program (same type of thing). Get a 27+ MCAT and you will have a decent chance at both.

 

[Temperature101]

Hey can you please give me more info on the LECOM post bacc program. is it really a 1 year program?

The program is one year and they guarantee an interview for their DO program if you maintain a 3.0 GPA and have a 23 MCAT, which you already have. The interview is kind of a formality ...Therefore, if you maintain that 3.0 GPA, you pretty much got a spot in DO program unless you come across as a weird person during the interview....Check the lecom website to get more info. The only problem you might have is that they ask for a 2.7 sGPA.

 

[Unzbuzzled]

The program is one year and they guarantee an interview for their DO program if you maintain a 3.0 GPA and have a 23 MCAT, which you already have. The interview is kind of a formality ...Therefore, if you maintain that 3.0 GPA, you pretty much got a spot in DO program unless you come across as a weird person during the interview....Check the lecom website to get more info. The only problem you might have is that they ask for a 2.7 sGPA.

This is awesome if a DO is what you want. BMS at RFU has about a 80% success rate (and 100% of my class who maintained at least all Bs in the med courses got in). EVMS has a med masters that has something like a 95% linkage. Both BMS and EVMS are essentially like LECOM- if you get at least all Bs, you're in. This isn't to talk down LECOM though- it's an excellent DO school.

I like the high attrition. It keeps me motivated. You work hard and see yourself succeed while many of those around you can't handle it.

So...why didn't you just do an SMP?

 

[shouldigomd]

I tried...There are many competitive / borderline applicants for med schools that don't get in on their first app cycle that turn to these programs. The standards are basically on par with DO schools.

Maybe I got unlucky but my 3.0cgpa / 2.7sgpa / 27MCAT wasn't enough for a 1 year BMS program. Sucks...

I got into a 2 year BMS program but that was too much time for me to swallow. And for a useless masters degree and entry to a mediocre DO school.

 

[Unzbuzzled]

Oh I see. Makes sense. You'll be on the wards soon enough though🙂

 

[Temperature101]

This is awesome if a DO is what you want. BMS at RFU has about a 80% success rate (and 100% of my class who maintained at least all Bs in the med courses got in). EVMS has a med masters that has something like a 95% linkage. Both BMS and EVMS are essentially like LECOM- if you get at least all Bs, you're in. This isn't to talk down LECOM though- it's an excellent DO school.



So...why didn't you just do an SMP?

LECOM requires only 23 mcat and 2.7 sGPA to get into their Postbacc program...RFU and EVMS requirements might be higher.