Ross University HIV+ Student

[PotentialVetStu]

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Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

 

[twelvetigers]

Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

I have no idea if that's true but I really hope not. I don't think they do any testing.

If there is medicine that you take regularly, the best bet will probably be to have a good supply with you (on your person) with whatever documents, but that's a guess here.

 

[fredandcessna]

Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

I have no information about this, but I feel it would be very unethical of them to prohibit HIV+ students to attend. They can't discriminate against you based on your HIV status... Keep us posted. SDN is here for you!

 

[Coquette22]

This site says there are restrictions, but is unclear what they are. http://www.bodypositive.org.nz/Pages/Travel_and_Immigration/
But this PDF says there are no restrictions: http://www.businessfightsaids.org/s...N TravelRestrictions_FactSheet.pdf?1340226042
Your best bet would be to contact the St Kitts embassy/consulate directly.

 

[Mad Jack]

Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

I can find no information about such a ban in St. Kitts/Nevis in regard to visas. Ross' school of medicine in Dominica, however, does require an HIV test. Call the school to ask- just say that you want to make sure all of your paperwork is in order and you want to know what health screenings you need beforehand if you want to be discreet. Good luck!

 

[Mad Jack]

I have no information about this, but I feel it would be very unethical of them to prohibit HIV+ students to attend. They can't discriminate against you based on your HIV status... Keep us posted. SDN is here for you!

There are many countries that refuse to issue visas to HIV+ individuals- it isn't discrimination on the part of the school, but rather the country has decided that individuals with HIV pose a public health threat, and they are precluded from being issued a visa on the same basis as someone with tuberculosis or any other infectious disease. While I do not agree with the policy, it's within a nation's rights to decide what illnesses they would like to exclude from entering their country.

 

[Osudairy]

Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

I am certain one on the forum is going to laugh at this question. We are all adults here and HIV is nothing to poke fun at. I think this is a legitimate question as some countries do have travel restrictions on HIV (as said earlier). I would wait to hear back from Ross or contact St. Kitts directly. They will be able to tell you for sure. We are here for you. Please keep us updated as this may be a question brought up again in the future.

 

[missdarjeeling]

There are many countries that refuse to issue visas to HIV+ individuals- it isn't discrimination on the part of the school, but rather the country has decided that individuals with HIV pose a public health threat, and they are precluded from being issued a visa on the same basis as someone with tuberculosis or any other infectious disease. While I do not agree with the policy, it's within a nation's rights to decide what illnesses they would like to exclude from entering their country.

Yup, it wouldn't have anything to do with the school aside from the fact that it happened to be located in a country with this kind of policy. I had to provide evidence of a negative HIV test to get a student visa to Russia, and there was nothing that my school or the host school could've done to change that. Nevermind that I'd be more likely to get HIV in Russia than to give it to someone else.

In any case, the best thing to do, IMO, would be to contact Ross. It might be more difficult and more confusing to contact the consulate. The consulate's website indicates that you need to pass an HIV test in order to become a citizen (http://www.stkittsnevis.org/citizen.html), but it doesn't mention any such requirements for visas. Ross's information sheet on applying for a visa says they require vaccination records, a TB test, and a test for syphilis, but there's no mention of HIV: http://www.rossu.edu/veterinary-school/housing/documents/ApplyingforaStudentVisa.pdf . It seems like an HIV test wouldn't be necessary if you're just studying there as a vet student, but it's best to confirm directly and get the right information from the horse's mouth.

 

[PotentialVetStu]

Thank you everyone for the support! I have emailed ross directly. I honestly don't know what Ill do if I cannot attend vet school. Ross is pretty much the only place I qualify to go as of right now, which is still up in the air, still waiting on a decision. My anxiety about this whole situation is at an all time high, and it definitely wasn't my choice to have hiv, ex cheated and condom breaks...bad scenario as I was only 20.... But I'm hoping I have a good result with Ross.

I planned on taking enough medicine to last me the 4 months, and usually I skip one day ever other week just to kind of rest from the side effects that I still have (hasn't been an issue in the 10 years I've taken the same medicine thankfully) so ill get another week of medicine out of that just in case I need it. The only thing that sucks is I would like to STAY on the island, but I don't know how I would get my medicine there, as of right now I don't pay anything for it thanks to insurance and a government program.

I seriously couldn't sleep all night but Im hoping good results are coming my way. Hopefully I even get in! My interview was last Monday and it went iffy, the guy I had wasn't the nicest unfortunately..... but I think I made a good impression....

 

[Cheerio5683]

I'm sorry t

Thank you everyone for the support! I have emailed ross directly. I honestly don't know what Ill do if I cannot attend vet school. Ross is pretty much the only place I qualify to go as of right now, which is still up in the air, still waiting on a decision. My anxiety about this whole situation is at an all time high, and it definitely wasn't my choice to have hiv, ex cheated and condom breaks...bad scenario as I was only 20.... But I'm hoping I have a good result with Ross.

I planned on taking enough medicine to last me the 4 months, and usually I skip one day ever other week just to kind of rest from the side effects that I still have (hasn't been an issue in the 10 years I've taken the same medicine thankfully) so ill get another week of medicine out of that just in case I need it. The only thing that sucks is I would like to STAY on the island, but I don't know how I would get my medicine there, as of right now I don't pay anything for it thanks to insurance and a government program.

I seriously couldn't sleep all night but Im hoping good results are coming my way. Hopefully I even get in! My interview was last Monday and it went iffy, the guy I had wasn't the nicest unfortunately..... but I think I made a good impression....

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this, the process of applying to vet school is stressful enough without having to worry about your health. I hope you get good news soon and that everything works out for you! Keep us posted, we are rooting for you!

 

[battie]

Thank you everyone for the support! I have emailed ross directly. I honestly don't know what Ill do if I cannot attend vet school. Ross is pretty much the only place I qualify to go as of right now, which is still up in the air, still waiting on a decision. My anxiety about this whole situation is at an all time high, and it definitely wasn't my choice to have hiv, ex cheated and condom breaks...bad scenario as I was only 20.... But I'm hoping I have a good result with Ross.

I planned on taking enough medicine to last me the 4 months, and usually I skip one day ever other week just to kind of rest from the side effects that I still have (hasn't been an issue in the 10 years I've taken the same medicine thankfully) so ill get another week of medicine out of that just in case I need it. The only thing that sucks is I would like to STAY on the island, but I don't know how I would get my medicine there, as of right now I don't pay anything for it thanks to insurance and a government program.

I seriously couldn't sleep all night but Im hoping good results are coming my way. Hopefully I even get in! My interview was last Monday and it went iffy, the guy I had wasn't the nicest unfortunately..... but I think I made a good impression....

Have you posted your stats in the "What are my chances?" thread? You may feel that Ross is your only option, but there are several people with less than stellar stats that use this site to their advantage and get into a US school in spite of their numbers. If you were to get into a US school, both your HIV status and med situation would be solved.

 

[Osudairy]

Have you posted your stats in the "What are my chances?" thread? You may feel that Ross is your only option, but there are several people with less than stellar stats that use this site to their advantage and get into a US school in spite of their numbers. If you were to get into a US school, both your HIV status and med situation would be solved.

Very true. Maybe post your stats in there and see where you stand. Members will share with you their opinions about where to apply with your current application. Was Ross the only school you applied to?

 

[deleted676737]

I was thinking the same thing as bats. Are you sure that Ross is your only option? As in, is your GPA too low and so set in stone (too many credits) that there's no repairing it at this point? You may be a qualified applicant at some US schools and not even know it. Now, if you just have your heart set on Ross, that's one thing, but don't automatically consider yourself out of the running just based on stats. Most of the numbers on my application (specifically GPAs) were below average by vet school "standards", and I've recieved four interviews and an acceptance on my first try.

I'd definitely second the recommendation of posting in the What Are My Chances? thread! This is a super helpful, supportive community and I'm more than willing to bet that you'll get fantastic feedback there.

Best of luck with everything! We've got your back! 🙂 I hope this all works out for you!

 

[hazelmoo]

Thank you everyone for the support! I have emailed ross directly. I honestly don't know what Ill do if I cannot attend vet school. Ross is pretty much the only place I qualify to go as of right now, which is still up in the air, still waiting on a decision. My anxiety about this whole situation is at an all time high, and it definitely wasn't my choice to have hiv, ex cheated and condom breaks...bad scenario as I was only 20.... But I'm hoping I have a good result with Ross.

I planned on taking enough medicine to last me the 4 months, and usually I skip one day ever other week just to kind of rest from the side effects that I still have (hasn't been an issue in the 10 years I've taken the same medicine thankfully) so ill get another week of medicine out of that just in case I need it. The only thing that sucks is I would like to STAY on the island, but I don't know how I would get my medicine there, as of right now I don't pay anything for it thanks to insurance and a government program.

I seriously couldn't sleep all night but Im hoping good results are coming my way. Hopefully I even get in! My interview was last Monday and it went iffy, the guy I had wasn't the nicest unfortunately..... but I think I made a good impression....

I'm so sorry that this happened to you! I hope it all works out with Ross, but even if it doesn't, there are 28 US schools that you can apply to next cycle. And you could stay in the US and have easier access to your doctors and pharmacists! Good luck with everything! ❤️

 

[PotentialVetStu]

Hey Everyone, thanks for all of the support, its lovely! I really appreciate it: I did hear back from the government offices of st. kitts and nevis and they told me that the HIV ban is old, and is no longer enforced, and if my medicine is available on the island I am able to get it at no cost as a student!

Reason I'm saying Ross is my only option is: I hope that I don't sound like I'm being immature, thats not it at all, promise.

1) I don't have a Bachelors.
2) I did only OK on the GRE (145)
3) I haven't taken any organic chemistry.
4) My GPA is only a 3.22.
5) I only took a physics class that was enough to satisfy the requirements at ross (4 credits, conceptual in nature, not general physics)

. I totally get I have to pay my dues, but I'm already 31 and do not want to wait until I'm 40 to graduate veterinary school. I know personally I won't make it though other physics classes as my math skills aren't on that type of level where physics is concerned, but I did very well in statistics and pretty much have A's in all biology classes, C's in GenChem1 and B in GenChem2. So I'm definitely not the smartest guy here, and undergrad sucks for everyone involved. I just would like to be able to do what I really love.

I was looking at possibly applying to St. Matthews if rejected by ross, after taking an Orgo 1 class as they only require 1 semester.

I might get thrown in VetPrep. But, hopefully that is a good step in the right direction.

 

[rockatiel]

Hey Everyone, thanks for all of the support, its lovely! I really appreciate it: I did hear back from the government offices of st. kitts and nevis and they told me that the HIV ban is old, and is no longer enforced, and if my medicine is available on the island I am able to get it at no cost as a student!

Reason I'm saying Ross is my only option is: I hope that I don't sound like I'm being immature, thats not it at all, promise.

1) I don't have a Bachelors.
2) I did only OK on the GRE (145)
3) I haven't taken any organic chemistry.
4) My GPA is only a 3.22.
5) I only took a physics class that was enough to satisfy the requirements at ross (4 credits, conceptual in nature, not general physics)

. I totally get I have to pay my dues, but I'm already 31 and do not want to wait until I'm 40 to graduate veterinary school. I know personally I won't make it though other physics classes as my math skills aren't on that type of level where physics is concerned, but I did very well in statistics and pretty much have A's in all biology classes, C's in GenChem1 and B in GenChem2. So I'm definitely not the smartest guy here, and undergrad sucks for everyone involved. I just would like to be able to do what I really love.

I was looking at possibly applying to St. Matthews if rejected by ross, after taking an Orgo 1 class as they only require 1 semester.

I might get thrown in VetPrep. But, hopefully that is a good step in the right direction.

I'm glad to hear you'll still have access to healthcare that you need on the island 🙂 of course as long as the meds are there.

But I do agree with with others that for health reasons you may want to consider trying to take that extra physics or organic class or whatever you need to stay in the states. My mom is severely immunocompromised from an autoimmune disease and even the slightest of stresses can leave her a with with a head cold, that turns into pneumonia, that takes months to go away. Stress of living in a new environment may make you ill and unable to focus on vet studies. Of course everyone is different health wise but it's still something to consider.

Low GPA isn't be all end all--I read on the APVMA page that Iowa State accepted a 2.5 GPA student last cycle. You can make your app stand out in other ways!

Also, you sound like you think you should be ashamed of your HIV, or that you think it's holding you back. There's plenty of successful medical professionals who have gone through what you're going through. Don't limit yourself and don't blame yourself. You'll make a great DVM!

 

[dyachei]

Hey Everyone, thanks for all of the support, its lovely! I really appreciate it: I did hear back from the government offices of st. kitts and nevis and they told me that the HIV ban is old, and is no longer enforced, and if my medicine is available on the island I am able to get it at no cost as a student!

Reason I'm saying Ross is my only option is: I hope that I don't sound like I'm being immature, thats not it at all, promise.

1) I don't have a Bachelors.
2) I did only OK on the GRE (145)
3) I haven't taken any organic chemistry.
4) My GPA is only a 3.22.
5) I only took a physics class that was enough to satisfy the requirements at ross (4 credits, conceptual in nature, not general physics)

. I totally get I have to pay my dues, but I'm already 31 and do not want to wait until I'm 40 to graduate veterinary school. I know personally I won't make it though other physics classes as my math skills aren't on that type of level where physics is concerned, but I did very well in statistics and pretty much have A's in all biology classes, C's in GenChem1 and B in GenChem2. So I'm definitely not the smartest guy here, and undergrad sucks for everyone involved. I just would like to be able to do what I really love.

I was looking at possibly applying to St. Matthews if rejected by ross, after taking an Orgo 1 class as they only require 1 semester.

I might get thrown in VetPrep. But, hopefully that is a good step in the right direction.

Take organic chemistry and do well. You'll probably want access to doctors in the states. Also, your GPA isn't that low. Not low enough that you don't have some options if you were to finish the requirements even over the summer.

I got Cs in most of my Chem classes and got into vet school (and graduated!) so you can do it, too

 

[Osudairy]

I got Cs in most of my Chem classes and got into vet school (and graduated!) so you can do it, too

Hear, hear!

 

[jmo1012]

I was an island student, and I just want to throw out there that if you are going to need access to medical care, an island school is not a good idea for you. They have...passable medical care for the most basic of things, but you are comparing 3rd world medical care to the US. Particularly at Ross, where you have the medical school in a different country. Many sick (really sick not just a little cold or something) end up needing to transfer their medical care back to the US for a time, which frequently means having to withdraw from that semester. If you are sick enough to require medical evacuation, that adds an additional layer of complexity and expense. All of this has happened to students I know. My good friend had to be med evacd off for surgery after dealing with substandard care for days and had to withdraw that semester.

I personally was healthy for the most part, but I did end up with a linger bronchitis/walking pneumonia one semester, and the medical advice I received was that I just needed to drink more orange juice. And this was from a campus doctor, where we have a full medical school. 8 weeks later when I got back to the US, I was prescribed antibiotics, steroids, and bronchodilators and magically that worked better than orange juice.

If you aren't going to need medical care because you are very healthy then great! This isn't meant to scare or be mean. Vet school is hard, and the last thing you want to do is get somewhere that isn't a good fit for you, trust me.

Also, you NEED to bring all meds with you with a supply to last the duration of your time there. DO NOT ship meds. Bad plan. Had friends that had that back fire. Mail is also 3rd world haha.

I will end this by saying that I adored my time in Grenada and wouldn't change it for anything. I'd move back in a heartbeat. But it would not go long term if I had health issues or had a family member that needed good care, because I know that would be gambling.

 

[futureDoc@Fl]

Please don't be cruel. I don't know if anyone here has any information but I am hiv+ and have read some stuff that when you enter st. kitts to be a student they do not allow hiv+ people. I have emailed admissions and waiting for a response.

Do the really HIV test you when you enter the island? don't laugh please, its what I have read.

Does anyone know HIV+ people on the island? How do they get medicine? Is there somewhere to go?

Thank you

where you able to attend ROSS I’m in the same boat as you.