To the OP:
Well, you have heard a lot of negative stuff about the Caribbean. I can't deny that being a US grad versus a Caribbean grad will be an advantage in securing a residency, especially a more competitive kind, and in obtaining licensure. This is why most of us will tell you to try to secure a spot in a US med school first. If that doesn't pan out, then apply to the Caribbean.
That being said, if you end up going to the Caribbean, you can obtain a residency if you are willing to work at it. That means that you strive to obtain high Scores on Step 1 and Step 2, impress the hell out of your attendings on clinical rotations, and get excellent letters of recommendation.
Also, when you apply for residency, apply broadly so you'll increase your chances of getting more interviews, and, in the end, matching. Being from the Caribbean, you probably won't get anything like derm or plastics, but plenty of Caribbean grads match into the primary care specialties. There are also Caribbean grads who match into moderately competitive specialties like general surgery, EM, or anesthesia.
And no, I do not regret going to the Caribbean. I thought I obtained a good education from SGU. Also, it was a great opportunity to study abroad and gain a different perspective.
Could not have said it better. While there absolutely are some negatives about attending a caribbean school such as SGU, Ross, or AUC, in my experience it has been the ones who have focused on the negatives who tend to do less well....however you define that...ie. letting where you go to school dictate what you are willing to accept with respect to residency etc.
As TopGun notes, and as has been repeated time and again on these forums, Plastics et al. are for all intensive purposes out of the realm of the carib. grad. But there are still many great fields available to the FMG. Some more competitive than others, yes, but all within range with the right step scores ( a fxn. of the individuals capacity for memory retention and exam prowess ), and the ability to sell well at interview/ audition rotation etc. Applying broadly is a must particularly when applying to fields such as Radiology, Surgery, or EM.
Once in residency, your medical school is of little consequence. You are doctor 001, pgy1, and your buddy, Jeff, from SUNY-upstate COM, is doctor 002, pgy1 etc., and when you go to fellowship interviews your residency evaluations, and letters from your residency director hold the most weight, along with research during residency ( esp. in fields like cards. ). Imho these things fall within the purview of the individual and not the school.
Just a quick reminder of some of the options open to carib. grads coming out of these residencies:
IM - GI, Cards, Interventional Cards, Nephro, Heme/Onc, Electrophysiology, Pulm/ICU...
Surgery - Pediatric, cardiac, trauma, vascular, transplant...
Anesthesia - Pain, ICU, Peds, Cardiac...
Peds - Neonatology, Peds Neuro., Peds cardio.
Radiology - Msk, Interventional, Neuro, Neurointerventional, MRI...
EM - sports medicine
FP - sports medicine
OB/GYN - REI ($$$$), Gyn Onc, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM)
And so on.....
