what is everyone's perception about this school's DVM program? i just found out about this school today, and i know that some in the veterinary world don't regard the caribbean schools very highly.
Saint Matthew's University
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Sunnex,
I have only visited the school and spoken with some students at this point. I had a 30 minute meeting with the Dean in December and liked what he had to say for the most part. The 'campus' is extremely small - it's really a 3 building office complex, the anatomy classes are being held at their new hospital which is a good 30 minutes away. This is because they have grown over the last few years. I found the island insanely expensive. I have two small dogs, so i wanted to be close to the school and obviously needed a place that would accomodate them. I found a very nice 1BR for 1800 US a month😱 There are dorms there that are more reasonable, and certainly if you have roommates, it would be more affordable.
Aggiegolf is a student there. I haven't seen him on here since i visited, but maybe he's just been busy. If you look up his posts, you can get a lot of helpful information. I decided to attend St. George's - i love the campus and they are potentially very close to accredidation
. The final AVMA site visit is supposed to occur by next Spring - rumor has it. I also like that SGU has many more clinical options for the 4th year and is well established. Hopeful07 is a current student there and has been extremely helpful with information regarding the school.If i were not going to SGU, SMU would have been my second choice. The students seem like any others - really like a lot of what is going on and frustrated with other aspects. All in all, as long as the school is financially sound, i think you would get a fine education there. You will see all sorts of comments on this and other boards about the Carib schools. Take it for what it is worth. I am a firm believer that it is what you make of it.
My advice is to talk to some current students and go visit if you are really serious about going there. Also, if you are anticipating taking out loans, you must do your research and make sure they have sources lined up still. They did when i was there, but i know they changed Lenders at some point last year.
Best of luck to you!
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Ross is the only Carib school where you can apply for US federal loans, so that was a big thing for me. Ross is also considered the most established program in the Carib, and my personal experience is Ross grads are extremely well prepared, thoughtful, and talented doctors.
I only met one SMU student; she was in an externship at our hospital. I felt she was a little less prepared and not quite as sharp as the other externs we've had. Of course you can't base a school on one person, but there were some things I thought she should have known or had experience with and she didn't. So take it for what it's worth, and make the decision that works best for you.
I only met one SMU student; she was in an externship at our hospital. I felt she was a little less prepared and not quite as sharp as the other externs we've had. Of course you can't base a school on one person, but there were some things I thought she should have known or had experience with and she didn't. So take it for what it's worth, and make the decision that works best for you.
I work with a doctor (Vet A) that went to Ross and is extremely talented. I also work with a doctor (Vet B) that went to a highly ranked school and wonder at times if she ties her own shoes.
Here's the double standard I think you might face- Some may say that Vet A is awesome 'despite' going to Ross. If she went to a school in the states, nobody would think twice about it. Also, had Vet B gone to Ross, some would probably base her perfermance on the school, not just a personal lack of common sense.
Although I agree that you can't judge a school based on 1 graduate, some people will. I only know 1 carib doctor and she is great. I think that perceptions of these schools will change as they keep producing more talented doctors, so don't be afraid to be one of them.
