I just now made an account, so I can finally start asking questions instead of just creeping haha! Was anyone here accepted, and loves the idea of going to SGU, but is just a bit nervous due to how far away it is? I was accepted to Midwestern as well, and am leaning more toward that one, simply because it is in the states. SGU seems like a very put-together program, all of the faculty and admissions people I've talked to are so helpful. I just would love your opinions on SGU as a whole and whether or not adapting to island life is easy. (Not to mention, people love to talk down to island schools constantly with zero reason, so this makes me nervous as well). Any input y'all can offer is great! Thanks!
Hello! I figured I'd give my input on this as a new graduate from SGU. While attending SGU was a great and unique experience, there are many things you should think about if you are on the fence about going there. Adapting to island life really depends on you as a person. I personally am very adaptable, so it was not too difficult for me adjust, but I do know many classmates who struggled (whether it be mental health, loss of support, or home sick ect). You just have to remember that you are going to a third world country where you don't have the same necessities as the US and are pretty much stranded away from friends and family (virtual messages and facetime can only get you so far sometimes when you want/need support). Yes, they have plenty of modern things on the island but don't expect there to be starbucks, mcdonalds or walmart ect to be there. The ocean view is a nice destressor, but you can only enjoy it for so long before you have to go back to studying. So depending on how you cope with stress or mental health may be a deciding factor whether you attend or not. I will say myself and several of my classmates I have talked to would have loved to been accepted into a US school for the sake of being closer to our support systems or other personal reasons if given the opportunity.
Also in regards to the talking down on island students in particular, I have yet to meet anyone in the real world who has anything negative to say about my education. During clinical year, the professors usually only know you're an island student if you tell them and most of the time my knowledge was on par or even sometimes more than current students on certain subjects. All the students from my clinical school and from what I've heard from colleagues are more than welcoming and very friendly to us joining them.
If you have any additional questions feel free to PM me