Pros and Cons of Carib Schools

[SilverCat]

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What bothers me about the match process is that US medical students might get screwed over in the upcoming years if residency slots do not increase and FMGs/IMGs get those spots because they have higher Step 1 scores. I already know that the match favors US med students but I don't know if this will remain the same. I really wish the idiots in Washington and state governments would do more to improve health care instead of advocating for midlevel providers who are a cheap and inadequate substitute for actual physicians.

From what I read on the Step forums, some foreign med schools- like Australia- give far more time to their students to prepare for Step 1. However, I can't see residencies beginning to favor IMGs over US MDs just because of a higher Step score. School reputation, grades, letters of rec, research are also key to a residency app.

I have heard of IMGs being favored over US DO students in surgerical residencies, which I feel is distinctly unfair.

 

[KnuxNole]

If a program heavily or solely favors IMGs that's not a place where a US student would usually apply to anyway. It's not direct competition. Some IMGs are foreign docs who have been practiciing physicians in their home country, and have a leg up due to their strong credentials. Also, some IMGs come from highly reputable medical schools in other countries.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Dude, I meant the used ones in the trash. I ain't gonna use those again lol.

Why are you putting used toilet paper in the trash?

 

[inycepoo]

What bothers me about the match process is that US medical students might get screwed over in the upcoming years if residency slots do not increase and FMGs/IMGs get those spots because they have higher Step 1 scores. I already know that the match favors US med students but I don't know if this will remain the same. I really wish the idiots in Washington and state governments would do more to improve health care instead of advocating for midlevel providers who are a cheap and inadequate substitute for actual physicians.

Feeble understanding of medical politics aside, residency spots = money. CMS is and has been in a solvency crisis since...forever. There's no money; residency spots won't be increasing any time soon, and it has little to do with legislators, but more with money, money, money (...must be funny...in the rich man's world 😎 )

Props to those who catch the reference.

 

[inycepoo]

Why are you putting used toilet paper in the trash?

Don't wanna clog the toilet. This happens often in NYC (not even kidding). We have a wastebasket in the bathroom. Don't tell me you've never seen/heard anything like that, now...

 

[GypsyHummus]

I would consider Caribbean only as a last resort.

In my town, we have residency programs with Caribbean students in them. However, at the clinic I work at, there is a Carrib grad who does not have a residency and this is her 3rd year trying to get one! There are horror stories from the Carib, whereas if you stay in a US school, there is a residency SOMEWHERE for you.

 

[KnuxNole]

eww



I guess one of the many reasons to not live in NYC!

i kid i kid

 

[inycepoo]

eww



I guess one of the many reasons to not live in NYC!

i kid i kid

Lol actually it's more of a personal choice by my parents than anything else. But most of the Asians I know here do it.

So maybe an Asian thing.

 

[rellak]

Lol actually it's more of a personal choice by my parents than anything else. But most of the Asians I know here do it.

So maybe an Asian thing.

Haha I just noticed your name is even I-nyce-poo, so pooing seems to be an important part of your life. 😀 Still, as a west-coaster I have to say just flush!

And getting back to the Caribbean questions, I have lurked on this website for a while and I have yet to see any thread about Caribbean schools wherein grads happily recommended and endorsed their experience. Mostly they express regret and frustration and how much more difficult their lives have become.

 

[inycepoo]

Haha I just noticed your name is even I-nyce-poo, so pooing seems to be an important part of your life. 😀 Still, as a west-coaster I have to say just flush!

Did you catch the NYC in the name, too?

And yes, pooping should be an important part of everyone's lives. No need to keep toxic **** around in your abdomen (pun 100% intended).

 

[MackandBlues]

and isn't financing an issue? Because it's not like these students are filling out a FASFA and getting US loans. So I guess its private loans right? ouch

 

[KnuxNole]

The Big 3 are the ones which have federal loans(Stafford, GradPlus, etc.).

 

[Medstart108]

One thing I've always wondered, why do residencies even consider people who go to non LCME accredited schools? I'm not saying there haven't been good physicians that have gone Carib; just trying to understand the accreditation system.

Because LCME only accredits North American schools. They won't accredit other schools if its not in North America.

LCME doesn't mean if its good or bad, it just means if its ok or bad in North America.

 

[RocknRhoLim]

Feeble understanding of medical politics aside, residency spots = money. CMS is and has been in a solvency crisis since...forever. There's no money; residency spots won't be increasing any time soon, and it has little to do with legislators, but more with money, money, money (...must be funny...in the rich man's world 😎 )

Props to those who catch the reference.

Rude, but true I just know some of the basics and enjoy blaming Congress whenever the opportunity presents itself.

 

[inycepoo]

Rude, but true I just know some of the basics and enjoy blaming Congress whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Fair enough. No offense intended.

 

[487806]

Lol actually it's more of a personal choice by my parents than anything else. But most of the Asians I know here do it.

So maybe an Asian thing.

I thought one hand + warm water = success. Inception! 😱

 

[LiamNeesons]

Are Caribbean schools a viable option?

That ship sailed in 2010.

 

[GypsyHummus]

That ship sailed in 2010.

what happened in 2010?

 

[Law2Doc]

what happened in 2010?

Actually it started a few years before 2010. the AAMC asked all US allo schools to start dramatically increasing enrollment. This led to an annual increase of US med school grads, while no increase in residency slots. At the same time certain systemic changes have begun being instituted, like the "all in" rule (largely doing away with pre matches) and SOAP (more US grad friendly than the scramble). It's a bad time to be an IMG.

 

[Law2Doc]

If a program heavily or solely favors IMGs that's not a place where a US student would usually apply to anyway. It's not direct competition...

actually the "all in" rule and the increase in US grads has changed this, and made many of these historically IMG targets of interest to US grads. So yeah, it's becoming a direct competition, and one the offshore grads will have a tough time winning.

 

[kash money]

Dude, I meant the used ones in the trash. I ain't gonna use those again lol.

This made me lol. Thanks for that 🙂

 

[inycepoo]

This made me lol. Thanks for that 🙂