Ross students! Help!

[roadwarrior]

I've done a search but most of the threads are outdated. here are my questions:


My friend at SGU says Ross is not as good because there are some serious issues with clinical rotations, and at the interview I was told that was not the case. Then I heard SGu got this crazy 100 million dollar contract with a bunch of hospitals..where can I find the real scoop?


Anyone had to go through MERP and was it worth it? How did the loans work out?

Is SGU really so much better island wise than Ross?

I have to make my mind up and if anyone can point me in the right direction..thanks

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[McGillGrad]

Ross and SGU both have awful islands.

SGU has more organized and guaranteed clinicals and Ross is less supportive and less organized, especially for clinicals.

 

[dr f8]

The island that you are on has a big impact on your daily life. I know. I am at MUA in Nevis and this island is terrible as well. In fact, the island life is much harder to deal with than the school life is, IMO.

 

[IniquityBliss]

SGU and Ross are looked at as equals. There are pros and cons to both of them. I'm at Ross now, so I can't give a lot of details about SGU. But I can tell you some things about Ross and the rotation situation.

Yes, SGU signed a HUGE contract with hospitals in NYC. They did not sign a contract with every hospital in New York state. Ross students weren't really at those hospitals to begin with. Every medical school (even the ones in the states) have to pay a fee to a hospital to accept their students for rotations (unless they have some sort of exchange agreement or other arrangement).
So, SGU was proactive and just paid a ton of money to secure spots for their students.


People run into problems with rotations for a number of reasons. For example, you pick the hospitals that you want to go to, but you're not in charge of that hospital. They will select you, you don't write a letter to a hospital and say 'Hi, I'm coming for rotations.' If you have poor scores, you're going to have a tough time finding spots. No hospital wants a C med student there for rotations when they have an applicant pool of other (Ross for example) students who have A's. If you shoot yourself in the foot, it's going to hurt. If you come to Ross, they will tell you this on Day 1. So, bottom line, if you're a poor student, you're going to have problems. You have an obligation to yourself, the school does not have an obligation to graduate a physician who will not better the profession.

People think that if they get into med school the med school should take care of them and baby them. This is incredibly flawed logic. Every medical school in the world has attrition and it exists because not everyone is cut out to be a doctor. Those who only squeak by in their first 2 years face challenges when it comes time to do rotations. If you're still not convinced and think that the school has an obligation to make sure you get a spot, you're partly right. And they'll find you one, but it'll take longer. They will not, however, find you a residency. You're on your own for that one and bad students don't match. Just do your work and you'll be fine.

I heard so many rumors before I came here. I had met a Ross grad and when I expressed my concerns he looked at me like I was crazy. He had never heard the things I was telling him. Once I got to the island, everyone here (including the dean) said "There are a lot of rumors. Don't believe them." Yes, she's the dean and she should say that, but all of the students ahead of me said the same thing.

I hope this helps a little. I have a test to study for, but I'll try to check back and give more feedback if I can.

 

[McGillGrad]

People with one post and new accounts popping up to defend Ross are usually school officials trying to hide the truth.

 

[AngryBaby]

Ross and SGU both have awful islands.

Actually GND isn't that bad, though this is certainly a subjective assessment. Any island that has mochas and oreos and good pizza/calzones for sale can't be all bad . Now there's quite a bit of the island I haven't seen, but from a student's point of view True Blue and Grand Anse campuses and the capital are the only places you'll need to go and we're talking 2nd world.

Apparently the island's come a long way in the past few years judging from opinions I had heard prior to arriving from people I trust. There's been rumors of the gov't opening up some parts of business to foreign investment, although it doesn't look like foreigners can buy land.

Anyway St. Maarten>GND>Dominica certainly, but I don't have any real problems with GND at all.

 

[McGillGrad]

Yes, a bit harsh..but it is better to arrive assuming the worst and being pleasantly surprised. I LOVE island life and only intermittently miss mainland conveniences. Many others I have met cannot wait to leave...

Actually GND isn't that bad, though this is certainly a subjective assessment. Any island that has mochas and oreos and good pizza/calzones for sale can't be all bad . Now there's quite a bit of the island I haven't seen, but from a student's point of view True Blue and Grand Anse campuses and the capital are the only places you'll need to go and we're talking 2nd world.

Apparently the island's come a long way in the past few years judging from opinions I had heard prior to arriving from people I trust. There's been rumors of the gov't opening up some parts of business to foreign investment, although it doesn't look like foreigners can buy land.

Anyway St. Maarten>GND>Dominica certainly, but I don't have any real problems with GND at all.

 

[AngryBaby]

yeah I agree. My wife and I were expecting worse than what we've got here so we've been pleasantly surprised, which was nice.

 

[IniquityBliss]

I'm not a school official, I'm a student. I usually post on valuemd.

 

[Penguinofsorts]

oops sorry - I searched for Ross, thinking veterinary school...my info is non-applicable...

 

[MDPWR]

Ross and SGU both have awful islands.

SGU has more organized and guaranteed clinicals and Ross is less supportive and less organized, especially for clinicals.

MCG speaking the truth!!!