Ross students

[owleyes]

Are current Ross students satisfied with their decision to attend Ross? Despite being stressed, are you happy? Do you feel like you'll make it out okay and get a decent residency? What is your favorite part of the decision and What is your biggest regret about attending Ross?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Clearlythere]

Are current Ross students satisfied with their decision to attend Ross? Despite being stressed, are you happy? Do you feel like you'll make it out okay and get a decent residency? What is your favorite part of the decision and What is your biggest regret about attending Ross?

I just finished my first year at Ross, I hate the island and the school doesnt care if you pass, its incredibly stressful and mentally draining because there is absolutly no support system. You go without power sometimes and the food is horrible, if I knew what it would be like would I have still gone? Probably. Its tough but after youre done you know if you can get through the first 16 mths you can get through ANYTHING. I made my decision and I'm following it through.I wouldn't reccomend Ross unless you want to become a doctor more than anything and are willing to go through hell for it. I wrote more about Ross in the "DO" Thread if you want to know more.

 

[Bevo]

heh.

basic sciences seemed great compared to my experiences in clinicals thus far. its really hit or miss if you stumble into a good rotation or not. ANd I've had more than ample time to study.

at least I'm still in the US.

 

[Leukocyte]

I just finished my first year at Ross, I hate the island and the school doesnt care if you pass, its incredibly stressful and mentally draining because there is absolutly no support system. You go without power sometimes and the food is horrible, if I knew what it would be like would I have still gone? Probably. Its tough but after youre done you know if you can get through the first 16 mths you can get through ANYTHING. I made my decision and I'm following it through.I wouldn't reccomend Ross unless you want to become a doctor more than anything and are willing to go through hell for it. I wrote more about Ross in the "DO" Thread if you want to know more.

I agree. I am a MS-4 (graduating in August 2006)

I loved the island (tough and stressfull, but I felt like a real college student...since there was a "campus"....

My last two years in clinicals were HELL (my time on "the rock" was much better). I enjoyed Miami, but when I came to NYC, the stress and frustration began. I am very depressed....but I only have 3 months to go!

It is during Clinicals that Ross really drops the bomb...It is during clinicals that Ross really shows that it does not care.

Do I regret going to Ross. YES (When I entered Ross, I was OK with the idea that I might end up in FM, IM,..... NOw, after going through clinicals I want Ortho, NeuroSX, Plastics, or ENT)

What would I have done differently:

-Apply to D.O.
-Apply to Dentistry

...but that is just me.

Good Luck.

 

[bulletproof]

I agree. I am a MS-4 (graduating in August 2006)

I loved the island (tough and stressfull, but I felt like a real college student...since there was a "campus"....

My last two years in clinicals were HELL (my time on "the rock" was much better). I enjoyed Miami, but when I came to NYC, the stress and frustration began. I am very depressed....but I only have 3 months to go!

It is during Clinicals that Ross really drops the bomb...It is during clinicals that Ross really shows that it does not care.

Do I regret going to Ross. YES (When I entered Ross, I was OK with the idea that I might end up in FM, IM,..... NOw, after going through clinicals I want Ortho, NeuroSX, Plastics, or ENT)

What would I have done differently:

-Apply to D.O.
-Apply to Dentistry

...but that is just me.

Good Luck.

sorry dude...good luck getting into plastics. Clearly you must enjoy the misery somewhat as I notice all your listed specialities are surgical ( relax...just kidding). In any event, if, as I have, you have come to the realisation that a great majority of medicine is total B##sh#t, reduced to rounding, soap notes, rounding, etc. maybe you might be interested in anesthesia, radiology, path. All are pretty good lifestyle, intellectually stimualting. I mean, do you really want to wither away in the hospital in a neurosurgery residency?????
Anyway as to the OPs question. I regret not going to Ross sooner..that is about it. Clinicals are hit or miss, as others have mentioned. At least I get to hang out with my g/f, go out and eat good food, go to clubs and bars, work on my tan while reading non-medical stuff at the beach....so hey I am enjoying my third year experience...ample time to study.
As for the island..yeah parts of it blow...but I had researched going there to the point that I was ready for it...plus I made good friends and travelled, got certified in scuba diving etc. so I look back on it now as a positive experience. Good luck to all in their decisions.

 

[MDgirl76]

I just finished my first year at Ross, I hate the island and the school doesnt care if you pass, its incredibly stressful and mentally draining because there is absolutly no support system. You go without power sometimes and the food is horrible, if I knew what it would be like would I have still gone? Probably. Its tough but after youre done you know if you can get through the first 16 mths you can get through ANYTHING. I made my decision and I'm following it through.I wouldn't reccomend Ross unless you want to become a doctor more than anything and are willing to go through hell for it. I wrote more about Ross in the "DO" Thread if you want to know more.[/QUOTE

I actually loved my time at Ross.. It's true it is a lot of self study and the school overall could care less if you pass (though some professors will help you if you ask ).. but know this going in - that its a lot of self study.. which really isn't too bad in my opinion.. very doable.. The power and food is sub par to the US as far as not getting what you have become used to.. but it really was kind of fun experience overall in my opinion.. I got to travel quite a bit outside of Ross and do tours within Ross while I was there and I wouldn't trade that.. I studied on my own time, which I prefer.. and take one exam a semester on all your classes.. travel, enjoy the weather, also depends on your friends there and having a support system in that way helps.. I am one of those who did not even apply to a US school after visiting a friend at Ross and still feel the same, I wanted more than just an education.. its a once in a life experience but it all depends what you hope to gain from it and what you actually do gain.. some people hate it and find it very hard to adapt to an environment that at times can be so different (power outages, etc).. some love the experience for a short 16 months of their life and for me I would not trade that.. I think residency intern year is the toughest part of the medical ladder still..

 

[MDgirl76]

You are finishing at a good time (Aug).. do u know what you want to apply for? I would tell you to hang in there and maybe its worth it in the end but I am waiting to figure this out myself.. All my non med friends are not tied down to hospitals.. medicine is a jealous mistress.. now why doesn't this profession try to make sure doctors are able to have a balanced life during all of this training? doesn't make sense.. you spend your life trying to help others be healthy and doctors have it worse than most if not all professions .. its very hard to live healthy balanced lives and no one cares to work toward fixing that in this profession - IT SUX !

I agree. I am a MS-4 (graduating in August 2006)

I loved the island (tough and stressfull, but I felt like a real college student...since there was a "campus"....

My last two years in clinicals were HELL (my time on "the rock" was much better). I enjoyed Miami, but when I came to NYC, the stress and frustration began. I am very depressed....but I only have 3 months to go!

It is during Clinicals that Ross really drops the bomb...It is during clinicals that Ross really shows that it does not care.

Do I regret going to Ross. YES (When I entered Ross, I was OK with the idea that I might end up in FM, IM,..... NOw, after going through clinicals I want Ortho, NeuroSX, Plastics, or ENT)

What would I have done differently:

-Apply to D.O.
-Apply to Dentistry

...but that is just me.

Good Luck.

 

[MDgirl76]

Sorry some days I'm in vent mode..

You are finishing at a good time (Aug).. do u know what you want to apply for? I would tell you to hang in there and maybe its worth it in the end but I am waiting to figure this out myself.. All my non med friends are not tied down to hospitals.. medicine is a jealous mistress.. now why doesn't this profession try to make sure doctors are able to have a balanced life during all of this training? doesn't make sense.. you spend your life trying to help others be healthy and doctors have it worse than most if not all professions .. its very hard to live healthy balanced lives and no one cares to work toward fixing that in this profession - IT SUX !

 

[awdc]

I also enjoyed my time on the island. In clinicals, I feel like a med student with no "home" (i.e. campus). Just thrown into hospitals with even less of a support system than there was on the island. The difference was especially real to me since one of my buddies was a U.S. med student here in NYC. Whereas he could go in and see his advisor, see his financial aid counselor, have a library to go to, have his pick of rotations, etc., I was just lucky to get someone on the phone. It's especially frustrating when you want to get into certain specialties that are competitive and find out that most places won't accept foreign med students for even a rotation.

 

[psychdocmike]

Are current Ross students satisfied with their decision to attend Ross? Despite being stressed, are you happy? Do you feel like you'll make it out okay and get a decent residency? What is your favorite part of the decision and What is your biggest regret about attending Ross?

i'm with bulletproof, and all of the other positive people here. all of the ross haters out there are forgetting one thing, namely that u.s. schools weren't knocking down their door. many of us were rejected or excluded from other venues, and this is a viable alternative. i wasted 3 years researching other options before i realized ross existed. i couldn't believe that if there was an option available like a caribbean school, why wouldn't more people take it. the fact is, if you want to do this, places like ross make it possible. if you're just going to med school because your dad or your mom or your uncle is a doctor, and if you don't go you'll be disgraced by your family, maybe you should consider another field. basic sciences are hard anywhere. being away from your family and loved ones and friends for extended time and not being able to buy cocoa puffs make it harder. i'm glad i got the chance, i'm extremely proud of what i accomplished and i only regret not going sooner.

 

[neutropenic]

I also enjoyed my time on the island. In clinicals, I feel like a med student with no "home" (i.e. campus). Just thrown into hospitals with even less of a support system than there was on the island. The difference was especially real to me since one of my buddies was a U.S. med student here in NYC. Whereas he could go in and see his advisor, see his financial aid counselor, have a library to go to, have his pick of rotations, etc., I was just lucky to get someone on the phone. It's especially frustrating when you want to get into certain specialties that are competitive and find out that most places won't accept foreign med students for even a rotation.

But it's like that for some US schools too. Dartmouth students often do rotations outside of Hanover due to its small population and its role primarily as a tertiary care center. My question is how do you take your rotation exams and/or shelf exams without a campus in the United States? Do you just take them at home on the honor system like some US schools?

 

[Leukocyte]

But it's like that for some US schools too. Dartmouth students often do rotations outside of Hanover due to its small population and its role primarily as a tertiary care center.

Do Dartmouth students get:

-Career counciling?
-Help/support?

Do Dartmouth's clinical advisors return their student's calls/e-mails?

(I am not includung AUC, SGU,...since I am not at these schools)

My question is how do you take your rotation exams and/or shelf exams without a campus in the United States? Do you just take them at home on the honor system like some US schools?

-We do not take CLINICAL shelf exams at Ross. We did take BASIC SCIENCE Shelf exams on the Island.

-Some Cores have exams, others do not. It depends on the particular hospital you are at. The exams come from Ross or the Hospital it self.

How do we take the exams (IF OFFERED)? They put us all in a room at the hospital and give us the test.

Good Luck!

 

[Leukocyte]

i'm with bulletproof, and all of the other positive people here. all of the ross haters out there are forgetting one thing, namely that u.s. schools weren't knocking down their door. many of us were rejected or excluded from other venues, and this is a viable alternative. i wasted 3 years researching other options before i realized ross existed. i couldn't believe that if there was an option available like a caribbean school, why wouldn't more people take it. the fact is, if you want to do this, places like ross make it possible.

I agree. Ross and the other Carib schools do give us a "second chance" to become doctors. And Yes, the Carib. is a reasonable route for those who did not get into US schools......But you have to know what you are getting yourself into. I DID NOT. I expected the same treatment as US schools. It is really my fault. My mistakes are:

-I did not do enough research before going to the Carib. I was too excited/anxious to be a Doctor.

-I did not apply for another cycle. Did not re-take the MCAT.

-I did not apply to D.O. schools.

-I did not know the difference between an FMG, US-MD, DO.

-I expected US school treatment/support.


In summary, I went to the Carib. with starry eyes and with very little knowledge. I wish I knew what I was getting my self into. It is my mistake for not asking more questions before going.

So If the Carib. schools are in it for the Money, I do not blame them. They are a back-up plan, and provide second chances for most of us. If they provide little support, again I do not blame them...We got what we paid for, and they are a back-up plan anyway. I blame my self for not knowing what I was getting my self into.

So please, plaese, please...do your homework before going to the Carib:

-Apply to US schools FIRST (MD and DO)
-Ask questions about the schools - know everything.
-Ask yourself, "How bad is my desire to be a doctor?"
-Ask, Ask, Ask, Ask........

If you did all of the above (and where not lucky getting into a US school), then you might be a good candidate for Caribbean medical schools.

Good Luck!

 

[neutropenic]

Do Dartmouth students get:

-Career counciling?
-Help/support?

Do Dartmouth's clinical advisors return their student's calls/e-mails?

(I am not includung AUC, SGU,...since I am not at these schools)

Dartmouth students do get these services, even when they are away from Hanover. nb: I am not at Dartmouth.

-We do not take CLINICAL shelf exams at Ross. We did take BASIC SCIENCE Shelf exams on the Island.

-Some Cores have exams, others do not. It depends on the particular hospital you are at. The exams come from Ross or the Hospital it self.

How do we take the exams (IF OFFERED)? They put us all in a room at the hospital and give us the test.

Good Luck!

Never even knew there were basic science shelf exams, but your testing procedure is similar to what I have experienced except that all of us from different hospitals who are taking the same rotation at the time take the exam at the same time. Some of the exams are take home on the honor system. Our in house exams are usually not proctored but most are timed. All of our required rotations have exams.


Also, how does Ross give didactics during clinical rotations? Do you have e-learning, blackboard, video on demand lectures? Or do the lecturers come up to talk to you at the hospitals you are at? Or do you depend solely on the hospital's on endogenous grand rounds, noon conferences, etc.

 

[Leukocyte]

how does Ross give didactics during clinical rotations? Do you have e-learning, blackboard, video on demand lectures? Or do the lecturers come up to talk to you at the hospitals you are at? Or do you depend solely on the hospital's on endogenous grand rounds, noon conferences, etc.

Very good question.

Ross's role during the clinical years:

-Certify you for Step 1
-Give you your Core clinical schedule
-Cerify you for Step 2
-Write your Dean Letter and send it to ERAS


Yep, thats about it. No DIRECT educational input from Ross during clinicals. They might write 2 or 3 end-of-rotation "exams". During clinicals we took only 3 Ross "exams"; One in Family Medicine, one in Pediatrics, and one in Psychiatry.

Didactics during clinicals depends on the particular hospital you are rotating at. It you are "lucky", and you are scheduled at a "good" hospital of a particular rotation, then you will learn more than the "un-lucky" student who was scheduled at a "poor" hospital for that rotation. You know what hospitals are "good" or "poor" by talking to fellow Ross students who went before you.

Didactics at the "good" hospitals depend on the hospitals own grand rounds, conferences, lectures from the hospital's attendings/residents, audio-visual lectures at that particular hospital..........

Didactics at the "poor" hospitals are limited and vary widely.

 

[neutropenic]

Didactics at the "good" hospitals depend on the hospitals own grand rounds, conferences, lectures from the hospital's attendings/residents, audio-visual lectures at that particular hospital..........

Didactics at the "poor" hospitals are limited and vary widely.

So there is no quality control to make sure that everyone, regardless of rotation site, receives at least the basic information needed to learn about the fields and do well on step 2? Do you guys have to do OSCEs in preparation for cs?

Over 4-6 weeks of a rotation you do not get a comprehensive set of lectures at your clinical site, you just get whatever topic the residency program happens to be talking about that week (like for neuro you might get there during stroke month so no lectures on movement disorders, neuropathies, etc. just stroke) - that's what the med student didactics are good for-filling in the gaps.

 

[Leukocyte]

So there is no quality control to make sure that everyone, regardless of rotation site, receives at least the basic information needed to learn about the fields and do well on step 2?

BINGO!

Do you guys have to do OSCEs in preparation for cs?

Who? What? What is OSCE?.....NO.

Over 4-6 weeks of a rotation you do not get a comprehensive set of lectures at your clinical site?

Well, it depends on the PARTICULAR hospital. If you happen to be doing the rotation at a "good" hospital,...then Yes. If you are "un-lucky" and doing the rotation at a "poor" hospital, then No.

you just get whatever topic the residency program happens to be talking about that week (like for neuro you might get there during stroke month so no lectures on movement disorders, neuropathies, etc. just stroke)

In general, Yes. Again it depends on the particular hospital you are at.

Your education during clinicals is Hospital Dependent, not Ross Dependent.

ROSS
R - Rely
O - On
S - Self
S - Study

As a Ross student, you need to be strong and self-reliant.

Good Luck.

 

[neutropenic]

Who? What? What is OSCE?.....NO.

OSCE from google: http://www.kmrrec.org/KM/osce/
Many medical schools OSCE their students to help them prepare for step 2cs and just as a quality control to make sure a student can do things like do a basic H&P, physical exam, outpatient encounter, child/domestic/senior abuse screen, smoking cessation counseling, etc.

Wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic or not about OSCE ignorance.

 

[Leukocyte]

OSCE from google: http://www.kmrrec.org/KM/osce/
Many medical schools OSCE their students to help them prepare for step 2cs and just as a quality control to make sure a student can do things like do a basic H&P, physical exam, outpatient encounter, child/domestic/senior abuse screen, smoking cessation counseling, etc.

Wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic or not about OSCE ignorance.

No, I did not know what OSCE meant (but I kinda felt it had to do with what you discribed).

Thanks for the info!