primary care/ internal medicine

[applyinglate]

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Hi,

I am thinking of applying to SGU. I have a 3.32 science gpa total and a 3.378 overall from uva and 3.52 overall from w&m. Both great top public schools. I have not taken my MCATs and don't expect to do too hot.

I am thinking about reapplying next year, look at D.O for this year, or going SGU for the Jan 2010. If I did SGU and wanted to go into internal medicine, can I feel confident that even if I was a average to above average student that I would get a residency in the US? Or is the competition for matching so difficult that I should not have that kind of expectation? Also, If I did IM....would I be able to pay my 230K debt from SGU comfortably?

I am really torn and would love advice on SGU.

 

[RussianJoo]

Hi,

I am thinking of applying to SGU. I have a 3.32 science gpa total and a 3.378 overall from uva and 3.52 overall from w&m. Both great top public schools. I have not taken my MCATs and don't expect to do too hot.

I am thinking about reapplying next year, look at D.O for this year, or going SGU for the Jan 2010. If I did SGU and wanted to go into internal medicine, can I feel confident that even if I was a average to above average student that I would get a residency in the US? Or is the competition for matching so difficult that I should not have that kind of expectation? Also, If I did IM....would I be able to pay my 230K debt from SGU comfortably?

I am really torn and would love advice on SGU.

why aren't you expecting to do well on the mcat? you have a pretty good gpa.. just study for it and you'll do well. going to a carib school you can't be confident about anything.. you're taking a gamble there are no guarantees.

and about how much IM makes that all depends on how many hours a week you work, and where you work. if you work long hours in private practice you'll make more if you work 40 or 50 hours a week as a hospitalist you'll make much much less. also depends what your life style is... if you want to live on Roman noodles in a crappy small apt. for a couple of years you'll be able to pay it off in 2 or 3 years max.. if you plan on getting married buying a house, getting a new car, having kids it might take you 10 or more years to pay it off.

I think you should study really hard for the mcat and if you get above 30 which is totally possible with your gpa you would be able to get into your state school which sounds like it's Virginia. Worst case you should get into a DO school somewhere. Don't apply to SGU until you've applied to at least DO schools.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree w/above...
don't jump the gun, take a year or so, study for the MCAT, get your hospital volunteer work and other extracurriculars in line, and then apply to medical schools (your state school, DO schools, and possibly consider Caribbean @same time or a few months later). Your GPA isn't that bad and depending on the rest of your application and your MCAT score, you might still have a shot at some of the MD schools in Virginia, and/or DO schools in the US, and it would likely cost you a lot less time and aggravation that jumping to the Caribbean right away.

 

[reisub]

I know an SGU student. He had a good GPA (3.7+) but low MCAT (below 25). He recently took the USMLE Step 1, and he feels good about his performance. I also know someone who applied to SGU with a good GPA (3.7) and good MCAT (30+), but wasn't accepted.

I'm told that getting loans in the first place can be tough, but a lot of students manage it. Once people graduate and match into residency, it's the same no matter where they went to school. Only the basic sciences are completed on the island. All of the clinical rotations are completed in the US. So residency matches, while not on par with US MDs, shouldn't be too bad.

My opinion is that SGU is a good school that gives many students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities despite what they look like on paper. However, it is becoming more competitive and selective of applicants.

 

[anesthesio]

SGU is a great Carib school, some would say the best. That being said D.O. would be a smoother path if you don't care about having an M.D. IM and FP aren't the most competitive fields, and honestly what it all comes down to is your step scores.

Coming from SGU is inconsequential, you could go anywhere but you're going to need better than avg scores to get matches. And thinking you're going to not do so hot on the MCAT is the wrong type of thinking. If you know you have weaknesses start studying and doing as many questions as possible. Going to the Carib means you will have to work harder perhaps than if you were in the states because there will be no hand holding whatsoever. Stop being avg!

 

[Tigerz_Fan]

Hi,

I am thinking of applying to SGU. I have a 3.32 science gpa total and a 3.378 overall from uva and 3.52 overall from w&m. Both great top public schools. I have not taken my MCATs and don't expect to do too hot.

I am thinking about reapplying next year, look at D.O for this year, or going SGU for the Jan 2010. If I did SGU and wanted to go into internal medicine, can I feel confident that even if I was a average to above average student that I would get a residency in the US? Or is the competition for matching so difficult that I should not have that kind of expectation? Also, If I did IM....would I be able to pay my 230K debt from SGU comfortably?

I am really torn and would love advice on SGU.

I am sure that there are many threads about this topic, but anyway:

First of all, if you are planning to leave the US after residency, then go to the carib vs DO. DO degrees are recognized in only a few countries.

If not, given the current situation regarding the competitiveness of the Match (and a situation that will likely not get better), by all means go the DO route. Even a grad from a top carib school such as SGU and with 99/99 on USMLE will have difficulty with the Match for the simple reason that some residency programs will not look at your application because of the Carib thing. Even IM.

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

Va schools have ridiculous standards. EVMS, MCV, and VCU will prob pass on you just becasue of your GPA. I know someone who got waitlisted at EVMS with >3.5 GPa and >30 MCAT. Granted, she was a outer state applicant, but geez. If you can crack at least a 24 on mcat, apply to edwards. this is a DO school near the Blacksburg area.i presonally know a kid in there with a 3.5 GPA and a 24 mcat. Maybe apply to some southern state schools like Arkansas or missippi or schools like that if you are hellbent on the allo route. Another option if you can crack a 24 is EVMS's masters of science track. it is a 1 year masters degree where you take similar classes to M1 except for the thesis. i think suscessful passing --> guaranteed seat in next class. if you score < 24 after taking the mcat a couple of times, go ahead and apply to SGU.Internal med is not hard rfom SGU. Surgery or gas, or derm is another story. JMO!

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

I am sure that there are many threads about this topic, but anyway:

First of all, if you are planning to leave the US after residency, then go to the carib vs DO. DO degrees are recognized in only a few countries.

If not, given the current situation regarding the competitiveness of the Match (and a situation that will likely not get better), by all means go the DO route. Even a grad from a top carib school such as SGU and with 99/99 on USMLE will have difficulty with the Match for the simple reason that some residency programs will not look at your application because of the Carib thing. Even IM.

I think you are a little bit tought here. 99/99 from SGU having a tough time matching in internal medicine, I disgree 150%

 

[Tigerz_Fan]

I think you are a little bit tought here. 99/99 from SGU having a tough time matching in internal medicine, I disgree 150%

Okay, well let's put it like this. If that person from SGU with a 99/99 applies to community programs, then, yes, the Match will be a piece of cake.

If that same person attempts to apply to competitive University programs, then the Match will be very difficult. And don't expect interview invites from top-tier programs as compared to a US grad with the same scores.

I am not being tough. It is just reality. I am finishing IM right now, and that is just the way the world works.

The key to the Match is to apply broadly and wisely regardless of your scores.

 

[futureboy]

I also know someone who applied to SGU with a good GPA (3.7) and good MCAT (30+), but wasn't accepted.

There must have been something else seriously wrong with the person's application. Those stats would be competitive for most, if not all, U.S. allopathic programs.

 

[applyinglate]

At this point, I would need to apply to a masters in the spring and reapply in the summer to medical school and then hopefully go the following year. I will be 24 in Nov. and its tempting to start sooner at SGU (ie. in Jan). Do you think it is a valid reason to not pursue US schools by reapplying next year?

 

[Tigerz_Fan]

At this point, I would need to apply to a masters in the spring and reapply in the summer to medical school and then hopefully go the following year. I will be 24 in Nov. and its tempting to start sooner at SGU (ie. in Jan). Do you think it is a valid reason to not pursue US schools by reapplying next year?

Not a valid reason at all! You have all the time in the world. I am 31 and still basically a career student (I am just starting fellowship).

Definitely reapply for US schools...