Dr Trek 1 said:
That's true. In fact a few years ago the highest USMLE I score was from someone at an offshore med school. Board scores mean nothing about the quality of medicine that will be practiced, however.
However, at offshore med schools students are miserable, student moral is terrible, and the schools even claim that they "do not have adequate medical facilities so be sure to get a full physical before you leave the US". Also, they use letter grades. This just promotes more competition amongst students and lowers the student moral even more.
Someone who wants to practice medicine should put the needs of the patient first. This means they should get the best medical education possible. If a school, like SGU, does not offer "adequate medical facilities", then how are they supposed to teach adequate medical skills? And how are their students supposed to put the patient first if the school doesn't?
I agree with you totally. Board scores really measure nothing about one's clinical abilities. I also think that a lot of the students do tend to be a bit miserable. Not necessarily at first, but once you're on an island for awhile, it starts to get to you. It's hard sometimes to stay positive, but I tried my best, and I think things went okay.
I do, however, think that the quality of my education at SGU has been very good. Granted, I have nothing to compare it with. I suppose I'll really find out when clinicals begin in a few weeks and I'm working along with other students from SGU, Ross, SUNY Downstate, et al. But our school really beat clinical skills to death, and I'm confident that I will be able to perform a decent H&P when I start--maybe not a perfect one, but certainly not clueless.
Unfortunately, most of the Caribbean is "developing", which means that, yes, medical care is substandard. But the hospital experience there made me realize how lucky we are here, even with all of the managed care crapola, busy emergency rooms (especially here in Rochester!), and way too much politics. The hospitals aren't as modern as here certainly, but I saw patients with the same problems: CHF, diabetes, Hypertension, AIDS, Berry Aneurysms, posterior urethral valves in a newborn, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, allergies, etc. And, it is always stressed that
listening to your patient, and forming a trustworthy and professional rapport is vitally important to their care.
I would have loved to attend U of R--I live about 15 min. away in Irondequoit--but my MCAT's were just too low. But, then again, it doesn't mean that I won't make a good physician. SGU has given me a chance, and I'm glad they did.