Sgu/ross/auc??

[batina17]

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I just want to preface my question by saying that I know that Medical School is no joke and requires alot of hard work, which I am willing to endure. However, I'm also very curious about any sort of personal life I may have as well.

I've heard that Ross is depressingly boring and has been the cause of many people transferring to other "funner" islands like St. Marten (AUC).

Can anyone remark on the social conditions of either SGU, AUC, or ROSS? ANY info would be extremely helpful.

 

[TTSD]

I've heard that too.

SGU and AUC will coddle their students more like a US Med School, I hear Ross you're pretty much on your own to do your studying and pacing. But all three are licensed in all 50 states and have excellent records for foreign medical schools (I hear India has some great ones.. but that's too far for me to consider).

As for Ross, if you know you can handle isolation I think it shouldn't be too bad. As long as you can find one hottie to practice anatomy with...

 

[Skip Intro]

The generally perpetuated (although I don't really think it matters, so take it with a grain of salt) rank order of the Caribbean schools is:

1) SGU
2) Ross
3) AUC
4) the rest

Personally, I hated Dominica. I thought it was a miserable place to be. While there were some fun times scattered about here and there, I don't miss it and have no plans on going back. However, that experience and the school thus far has done an excellent job of getting me where I am right now. I did not apply to SGU or AUC, for a variety of reasons, and knew as much as I could about what I was getting into when I went to Ross. So, I was prepared as much as I could be before leaving.

More students transfer from AUC to Ross than vice-versa. I think this will begin to change as AUC continues to get more clinical sites in the U.S. This is key - do your clinicals in the U.S.

Right now, I'm in the U.S. doing clerkships with U.S. students from both M.D. and D.O. programs, as well as other Caribbean and European (e.g., Hope in Poland, etc.) programs. The point is this: do whatever you can to make sure that you get to the U.S. to do your clinicals. It's not really going to matter, in the grand scheme of things, where you went to do your pre-clinicals. There may be some perceived difference in particular students from different schools, but remember you are an individual and you will be judged as an individual when you are on the wards. No one will look at you as a representation of your school, unless they've had a consistently bad experience with EVERYONE from that particular school - and then, once you prove yourself after a week or two that won't matter any more anyway either.

Good luck whatever path you choose. Do your homework. And, remember, no matter what anyone else's opinion is, it's mostly up to you how far you want to go and what you want to do with your education.

-Skip
MSIII RUSM

 

[batina17]

thanks for your reply. I think that confims that Ross may be a little too desolate for me. But what about AUC and SGU? Can anyone share their experiences there?

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by batina17
thanks for your reply. I think that confims that Ross may be a little too desolate for me. But what about AUC and SGU? Can anyone share their experiences there?

Try out this site, there seems to be a lot of traffic and lots of discussion about the schools you are interested in:

http://www.valuemd.com/index.php

🙂

 

[Brian Pavlovitz]

Hi there! Grenada isn't that bad. If you can stand the occasional power outages and water shortages in the dry season (water typically gets turned off on campus at certain times in the day or night), it's definately liveable. There are some decent grocery stores, and some really nice hotel/resorts with great restaurants. The school food is pretty sad...but I suppose that probably holds true for many of the schools in the Caribbean.

There isn't a heck of a lot to do outside of school, but I try to hit the beach at least a couple of times a term. If you like to scuba dive, this is a great island (I don't, but a few of my friends have received their certification down here). Hiking is great, too.

All in all, I'm happy to be here. But, after spending an extended amount of time down here, you'll get to appreciate all of the comforts of home! You realize that there's a lot you take for granted!

As far as coddling, I don't feel I've been coddled down here at all. You are pretty much on your own as far as going to classes or studying. It's all what you put in to it.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Bevo]

from what a AUC transfer told me

The island and school are a lot nicer than Ross, living wise. Academically, he thought it was worse. He said the professors there taught what they felt like teaching and didn't care if the students passed the exams or passed the USMLE.

He said a lot of people generally had a hard time when it came time to the USMLE which is why he felt he needed to come to Ross.

Ross sounds a lot like the previous posters description of SGU. This last semester we had several power outtages, a few lasting more than a day. We never lose water, but when it rains, the water gets dirty and in my opnion, unsafe to drink. I heard a water treatment plant is being built now or something like that.

Living probably isn't as comfortable as it is at SGU or AUC. Academically, I think its on par with SGU and better than AUC.

Clinical years, I think this is where SGU has a slight advantage. They have these clusters where you can stay to do all your clinicals over the 2 years. From what I understand, the last 2 years at Ross aren't as well organized. Skip will know a lot more about that than I will.

I believe SGU and Ross are the only 2 caribbean schools who have full licensure rights in all 50 states. I think AUC is limited to like 35 states. I remember looking it up for my home state and it was not listed.

AUC doesn't have many US clinical sites, but they just had something done with NY so that should give them more US clinical sites in the future.


My SGU interviewer told me this. If you get into SGU or Ross, you go to one of them. He told me to ignore every other caribbean school because in his research and travelings he found the rest to be inferior.

My premed advisor, who was also the dean of admissions at 2 medical schools, told me something similar. He said I should try for SGU or Ross only and if I had to, AUC. He would ignore every other medical school out there.

Considering I was going through this not too long ago and just finished my 1st semester at Ross.

My advice would be to look at why you are going to the caribbean. Ive met people who have friends who go to AUC. They told me they didn't want to end up like their friends who go to AUC. Many of them repeat semesters because there are soo many distractions there. I think there is a casino right next door.

My advice would be to forget about looking for entertainment on these islands. You're there to study and become a doctor, not to vacation. If you want a break, take a weekend vacation to a better island like St Maarteen.

So look at SGU or Ross. You can give up a year or two of enjoying the better things in life in order to make sure that you enjoy the last 50+ years of it.

 

[Rasta man]

Ladies and gentlemen, more information will be available about Ross University. As soon as my dear friend give me the OK.

 

[batina17]

Thanks, I would be interested to hear what he would have to say.

 

[soopa]

Originally posted by lmbebo

My premed advisor, who was also the dean of admissions at 2 medical schools, told me something similar. He said I should try for SGU or Ross only and if I had to, AUC. He would ignore every other medical school out there.


So look at SGU or Ross. You can give up a year or two of enjoying the better things in life in order to make sure that you enjoy the last 50+ years of it.

I think AUC is a very viable option and it does not necessarily come in a distant 3rd like you would mention here. I would seek out info at ValueMD.com for AUC info.