SGU v. NOVA?

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DrIsoleucine

DrIsoleucine

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I'm trying to make the decision of whether to attend SGU (Grenada) or Nova. My deposit for St. George's in due on Feb. 15th, so I need to make a decision soon. If you could offer any advice or personal insight, I would greatly appreciate it.

Here's the deal:

Nova is four hours from home and would be very convenient. I love the campus and I'm indifferent about the whole MD/DO thing. However, I thing it would be an incredibly enriching experience to live outside the U.S. for two years... the antithesis of convenience.

The SGU campus is beautiful and I have always wanted to live in NYC, where SGU has many clinical rotation sites. Currently, it seems that SGU will cost ~10K > Nova during the course of all four years (this number includes $1000 for airfare for each year at SGU). Can anyone tell me if this seems accurate? Although they're both expensive schools, I expected the costs of attending SGU to be significantly higher.

I'm currently leaning towards NOVA because it seems like the obvious choice, but I'm tempted to pull a Robert Frost and take the road less traveled...

But do you think living in Grenada will be a decision I'll later regret? Possibly no longer viewing it as enriching experience, but just a huge pain in the a**? And also the source of a ridiculous amount of debt too? Yet either way I guess I'll be in the hole financially.

Anyhow, this ambivalence is killing me. PLEASE offer any help that you can.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!
 
I'm trying to make the decision of whether to attend SGU (Grenada) or Nova. My deposit for St. George's in due on Feb. 15th, so I need to make a decision soon. If you could offer any advice or personal insight, I would greatly appreciate it.

Here's the deal:

Nova is four hours from home and would be very convenient. I love the campus and I'm indifferent about the whole MD/DO thing. However, I thing it would be an incredibly enriching experience to live outside the U.S. for two years... the antithesis of convenience.

The SGU campus is beautiful and I have always wanted to live in NYC, where SGU has many clinical rotation sites. Currently, it seems that SGU will cost ~10K > Nova during the course of all four years (this number includes $1000 for airfare for each year at SGU). Can anyone tell me if this seems accurate? Although they're both expensive schools, I expected the costs of attending SGU to be significantly higher.

I'm currently leaning towards NOVA because it seems like the obvious choice, but I'm tempted to pull a Robert Frost and take the road less traveled...

But do you think living in Grenada will be a decision I'll later regret? Possibly no longer viewing it as enriching experience, but just a huge pain in the a**? And also the source of a ridiculous amount of debt too? Yet either way I guess I'll be in the hole financially.

Anyhow, this ambivalence is killing me. PLEASE offer any help that you can.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!
 
If you plan on practicing in the US, go for NOVA. You'll thank me later for this.
 
Seriously, this is getting absolutely absurd. I bet there are three IDENTICAL threads on this on the main page alone. PLEASE USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!! This has been done a billion times. Let me give you the run down and then someone please lock this damn thread:

- If you want to practice in the US, go to med school in the US
-Living on that island isn't like going on a carrib vacation ... apparently it actually sucks
-It's harder to match as an FMG, you get the bottom of the barrel
-You can still try to do your rotations in NYC from a DO school.
-Also, if you really don't want a DO behind your name ... just say so. There is nothing wrong with saying, I want the MD. If that is the case, go to SGU.

bottom line ... DO school >> FMG school. Everyone can debate whatever they want, I'm just spewing up the bullet points of what every single one of these threads eventually comes to. Bye ... lock please!
 
Jaggerplate,

Actually I've searched this exact topic, "SGU v. NOVA" for a couple months now and have not found one comparison of the two. This is the reason why I finally broke down and became an official member- so I could be the first one to ask for a juxtaposition of the pros/cons versus these two schools.

Please do a search yourself before you make such hasty assumptions.

How do you infer that I would not want D.O. after my name? Did I say anything negative regarding osteopathic medicine? No, I said that I was INDIFFERENT about the two.

I've shadowed both D.O.s and two doctors that graduated from SGU that practice in the U.S. They were all very grateful to their alma mater. So how can you say go to Nova IF you want to practice in the United States? I've googled many prestigious residency programs with SGU students currently enrolled in them. Many FMGs practice in the U.S., so what is the reasoning behind your logic?

Yes, there are similar posts ie. SGU v. DO, however none ask my question specifically. Clearly, I am not asking whether DO is better. Let me clarify. I am asking for information about NSU-COM (specifically) versus St George's.

Thanks for your "helpful" advice...
 
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=489936&highlight=carribean

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=462657&highlight=carribean

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=457767&highlight=carribean

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=403483&highlight=carribean


These threads cover the basics and I found dozens if not hundreds of similar threads doing two searches. Check them out. The information provided will not really be different than what you want about Nova. When the AMA looks at FMG, it doesn't matter if the school is US owned or in Pakistan. All bases are covered with the generalizations.
 
Thank you zmeister22. I just looked at the links you posted and I sincerely appreciate your help.

However, these links are just like the links that I've seen before. The scope is too broad. A lot of generalizations are made about carib schools and I wouldn't even consider going to any of them except for SGU. SGU is supposedly the outlier of the carib schools. Ross on the other hand is notorious for accepting too many students, ending up with an enormous attrition rate.

Therefore, I'm left with the same problem. Maybe my question is too specific? I'm pretty sure it's not a hackneyed question. Thank you, search f(x).
 
The way I see it is that Nova is closer to friends and family and ~$40,000 cheaper. And the only reason that SGU is still a contender is that you might want to experience living somewhere else.

I think you could save that money, see your family a whole lot more than once or twice a year by plane ride, and use that $40K to visit whatever tropical island for as long as you want.

It's a foreign country and will cost you $40,000 more. It's a pretty obvious choice to me.

Edit: Ah, I reread your original post. So it's only $10K more over four years. Still, when you finish school and look at how much money you need to pay back, $10K less is significant.
 
tkim said:
I think you could save that money, see your family a whole lot more than once or twice a year by plane ride, and use that $40K to visit whatever tropical island for as long as you want.
Click to expand...

👍👍
 
Very True. However, I must not have explained the costs properly. There will be a 10k difference for ALL four years, so SGU will cost about $2500 more than NOVA per year. But you're totally right... that's still money that could be spent elsewhere.

I greatly appreciate your input! Thank you! 🙂
 
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I think this question is very personal to your specific goals and desires. Many people have to make tough decisions about where they go and when it comes down to it you'll just have to do the same. I know many successful DO's and my own doctor is a FMG (from Ross). It IS harder to match a residency from a foreign school with no other factors considered besides the school that you attend. However, there are many more factors that actually are considered so even this question can't truly be answered. If you do great on the boards you stand a good chance to broaden your options regardless of the school you attend. There are people who choose foreign schools over DO. It is because they want to be MDs. If you truly don't care, my advice would be go DO. The stress financially and emotionally will be much less if you attend Nova. Plus, it's a great school from what I hear. I'm from a small town in Alabama and we have two Nova graduates, one is in critical care and the other is a plastic surgeon! Good luck with your choice and just do what is your gut feeling.
 
Also, BOO Florida Gators!
War Damn Eagle!
 
Thanks, aliDO. That was definitely the most helpful response yet. You made some great points that are helping me gain some perspective. Thanks again!
 
hahaha disregarding your previous post... GO GATORS!!!
 
Did you factor in how much it will cost you to live in NYC for clinicals? Besides you can aways do electives in NYC. NOVA has a nice set up of teaching hospitals in Florida and Georgia with many residencies of there own.
 
go to sgu so i get ur spot at nova lol 🙂
 
DrIsoleucine said:
Jaggerplate,

Actually I've searched this exact topic, "SGU v. NOVA" for a couple months now and have not found one comparison of the two. This is the reason why I finally broke down and became an official member- so I could be the first one to ask for a juxtaposition of the pros/cons versus these two schools.

Please do a search yourself before you make such hasty assumptions.

How do you infer that I would not want D.O. after my name? Did I say anything negative regarding osteopathic medicine? No, I said that I was INDIFFERENT about the two.

I've shadowed both D.O.s and two doctors that graduated from SGU that practice in the U.S. They were all very grateful to their alma mater. So how can you say go to Nova IF you want to practice in the United States? I've googled many prestigious residency programs with SGU students currently enrolled in them. Many FMGs practice in the U.S., so what is the reasoning behind your logic?

Yes, there are similar posts ie. SGU v. DO, however none ask my question specifically. Clearly, I am not asking whether DO is better. Let me clarify. I am asking for information about NSU-COM (specifically) versus St George's.

Thanks for your "helpful" advice...
Click to expand...


Um, OK, wow...maybe there wasn't the EXACT same thread "SGU v.s. NOVA" but maybe, just maybe (I don't know, in just some freak happenstance that NOVA is similar to other DO schools) there was another thread about 'Caribbean v.s. D.O.' do you think then, that the advise would be along the same lines as what you would get had you posted a new and washed-out thread topic?


If you are indifferent about the two then what will change your mind to attend one school over another....tuition? Location? Quality of preclinical/clinical years? Once you answer that question you will have the answer as to which school is a better fit for you.


PlAnEjaNe
 
Go to Nova.

I should note that this advice is coming from someone who was using DO as a backup. You really do not want to be a FMG.
 
Go to NOVA and never look back!
Seriously, don't get pwned going to SGU when you can go to a much better school with a lower tuition.
 
I understand your feelings about the road less travelled, but I still think it is an unwise one, especially if MD/DO doesn't mean much to you. You can always do rotations in NYC area and apply for a residency there, but you have to think of the overall career move. I still like my chances of getting a solid residency through NOVA better than SGU.

Save the adventure for when you are making real money. You can use that 10k for that.
 
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DrIsoleucine said:
Jaggerplate,

Actually I've searched this exact topic, "SGU v. NOVA" for a couple months now and have not found one comparison of the two. This is the reason why I finally broke down and became an official member- so I could be the first one to ask for a juxtaposition of the pros/cons versus these two schools.

Please do a search yourself before you make such hasty assumptions.

How do you infer that I would not want D.O. after my name? Did I say anything negative regarding osteopathic medicine? No, I said that I was INDIFFERENT about the two.

I've shadowed both D.O.s and two doctors that graduated from SGU that practice in the U.S. They were all very grateful to their alma mater. So how can you say go to Nova IF you want to practice in the United States? I've googled many prestigious residency programs with SGU students currently enrolled in them. Many FMGs practice in the U.S., so what is the reasoning behind your logic?

Yes, there are similar posts ie. SGU v. DO, however none ask my question specifically. Clearly, I am not asking whether DO is better. Let me clarify. I am asking for information about NSU-COM (specifically) versus St George's.

Thanks for your "helpful" advice...
Click to expand...

Laugh ... yeah I am absolutely shocked that "NOVA V. SGU" brought up no exact results in the search engine. Your question is extremely different from the 5,000 x DO school vs. Carib threads (but I'm sure the person below your post who brought up 5 threads within 20 seconds of searching made that point clear enough). As far as your other comments ... doctors from SGU practice all over the US, but many times they have trouble matching competitive residencies and just something about your attitude made me think that you would rather have an MD after your name ... maybe that was just me. In conclusion ... go to SGU !!! Hope that was 'helpful' ...
 
DrIsoleucine, I also debated the same question: DO vs SGU?
Im not a DO hater nor a caribbean hater. And in my HONEST OPINION, i think many premeds dont have their facts straight when it comes to DO or Caribbean schools (i think SGU interviewer's petpeeve was the simple fact that people are ignorant when it comes to caribbean schools). On SDN, you will get more PRO-DO responses and on VALUEMD, you will get more PRO-SGU responses.

The truth is: you cant go wrong w/ either choice. There are PROS and CONS to both. We can discuss Pros and Cons later if you like.

Here is a list of SGU residency postings:
http://www.sgu.edu/ERD/ResidPost.nsf/bypgy?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=PGY1&Count=-1

you will make it as a DOCTOR either way as long as you work hard. there was this really good post (on valuemd?) where this person emailed SEVERAL (and i mean SEVERAL) program directors about their opinions on SGU graduates. ill try to find it for you if i can. to sum it up- generally speaking, they were very positive in their opinions/thoughts regarding SGU graduates and accepted them.

i can go on and on w/ this... but i think, after all is said and done, you should do a lot of research and list all the PROS/CONS for both schools. then weigh each factor according to their significance to YOU! and go from there.
 
vickfan1 said:
DrIsoleucine, I also debated the same question: DO vs SGU?
Im not a DO hater nor a caribbean hater. And in my HONEST OPINION, i think many premeds dont have their facts straight when it comes to DO or Caribbean schools (i think SGU interviewer's petpeeve was the simple fact that people are ignorant when it comes to caribbean schools). On SDN, you will get more PRO-DO responses and on VALUEMD, you will get more PRO-SGU responses.

The truth is: you cant go wrong w/ either choice. There are PROS and CONS to both. We can discuss Pros and Cons later if you like.

Here is a list of SGU residency postings:
http://www.sgu.edu/ERD/ResidPost.nsf/bypgy?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=PGY1&Count=-1

you will make it as a DOCTOR either way as long as you work hard. there was this really good post (on valuemd?) where this person emailed SEVERAL (and i mean SEVERAL) program directors about their opinions on SGU graduates. ill try to find it for you if i can. to sum it up- generally speaking, they were very positive in their opinions/thoughts regarding SGU graduates and accepted them.

i can go on and on w/ this... but i think, after all is said and done, you should do a lot of research and list all the PROS/CONS for both schools. then weigh each factor according to their significance to YOU! and go from there.
Click to expand...

I don't think its so much that SGU doesn't provide a quality medical education ... what is shady is basically that if your credit checks you, you are accepted. This is why so many people drop out, and why it attracts a lot of applicants who maybe shouldn't be going to medical school. I've also heard (just on this site though so take that as you will) that they hold people back from taking the boards to make their pass rates look better, and I have heard from numerous sources that they do have trouble matching into competitive residences.

Just ask yourself one question ... Why would you study medicine outside of the US if you wanted to practice medicine in the US?? That just doesn't make sense to me when you have the opportunity to go to a US medical school.
 
vickfan1 said:
DrIsoleucine, I also debated the same question: DO vs SGU?
Im not a DO hater nor a caribbean hater. And in my HONEST OPINION, i think many premeds dont have their facts straight when it comes to DO or Caribbean schools (i think SGU interviewer's petpeeve was the simple fact that people are ignorant when it comes to caribbean schools). On SDN, you will get more PRO-DO responses and on VALUEMD, you will get more PRO-SGU responses.

The truth is: you cant go wrong w/ either choice. There are PROS and CONS to both. We can discuss Pros and Cons later if you like.

Here is a list of SGU residency postings:
http://www.sgu.edu/ERD/ResidPost.nsf/bypgy?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=PGY1&Count=-1

you will make it as a DOCTOR either way as long as you work hard. there was this really good post (on valuemd?) where this person emailed SEVERAL (and i mean SEVERAL) program directors about their opinions on SGU graduates. ill try to find it for you if i can. to sum it up- generally speaking, they were very positive in their opinions/thoughts regarding SGU graduates and accepted them.

i can go on and on w/ this... but i think, after all is said and done, you should do a lot of research and list all the PROS/CONS for both schools. then weigh each factor according to their significance to YOU! and go from there.
Click to expand...

Actually most people on ValueMD.com also advise applicants to go to DO over any carribean if one wants to practice in America.
 
Ok. First off, don't post the same question in multiple forums. I replied to this on the re-applicant. Second, you're posting in the pre-DO forum. Your responses may be a bit bias anyway. It is like walking into a democratic HQ and asking whether you should vote for a democrat or a republican. Sorry for the political thing, but that is all that I hear/see lately!
 
MossPoh said:
Ok. First off, don't post the same question in multiple forums. I replied to this on the re-applicant. Second, you're posting in the pre-DO forum. Your responses may be a bit bias anyway. It is like walking into a democratic HQ and asking whether you should vote for a democrat or a republican. Sorry for the political thing, but that is all that I hear/see lately!
Click to expand...

I don't think it's a bias fact; rather, it's an objective fact. You will get an easier shot at your first choice residency as a US DO than a FMG MD (not to mention, more opportunities as well).

To the OP, if you really really think the two initials at the end are more important than the fact I just stated, go to SGU. Otherwise, any smart person would pick NOVA.
 
JaggerPlate said:
I don't think its so much that SGU doesn't provide a quality medical education ... what is shady is basically that if your credit checks you, you are accepted. This is why so many people drop out, and why it attracts a lot of applicants who maybe shouldn't be going to medical school.
Click to expand...

SGU has admissions standards on par with many DO schools, which is often why you'll see people compare the two (last time I saw SGU's class averages, they were listed as a 25 MCAT and a ~3.4 gpa). In any event, I would go to Nova simply because I wouldn't want to go out of country for med school, but SGU is a great alternative if it's what you're looking for.
 
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fisko82 said:
SGU has admissions standards on par with many DO schools, which is often why you'll see people compare the two (last time I saw SGU's class averages, they were listed as a 25 MCAT and a ~3.4 gpa). In any event, I would go to Nova simply because I wouldn't want to go out of country for med school, but SGU is a great alternative if it's what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

SGU takes alot of canadians which typically have scores good enough for alot of USMD programs. And I believe SGU takes 300 students twice a year, How many graduate 400, 500? With that large of class you are bound to have a couple match in tough residencies,but is it proportional to other schools?
 
Toohotinvegas33 said:
SGU takes alot of canadians which typically have scores good enough for alot of USMD programs. And I believe SGU takes 300 students twice a year, How many graduate 400, 500? With that large of class you are bound to have a couple match in tough residencies,but is it proportional to other schools?
Click to expand...

Yup ... that was my point frisko. Seriously, I don't want people to think I'm just bashing SGU or the Carib, because honestly I think if you are qualified to be in med school you can do just fine there. My whole mindset has always been ' why leave the US to study medicine if you want to practice medicine in the US??'
 
DocInProgress said:
I don't think it's a bias fact; rather, it's an objective fact. You will get an easier shot at your first choice residency as a US DO than a FMG MD (not to mention, more opportunities as well).
Click to expand...

I've confirmed this w/ an attending MD that I work w/. DO looks better than FMG when applying for residency.
 
JaggerPlate said:
This is why so many people drop out, and why it attracts a lot of applicants who maybe shouldn't be going to medical school. I've also heard (just on this site though so take that as you will) that they hold people back from taking the boards to make their pass rates look better, and I have heard from numerous sources that they do have trouble matching into competitive residences.
Click to expand...

1) Drop out/Attrition Rate- less than 5% at SGU. you are probably thinking of ROSS which has an attrition rate of ~30%

2) Hold people back- there is a DECELERATION program where students stay for an extra semester. However, we're talking about the minority here. Most students do not have to do this. I know a student who did this because his Science GPA wasnt so great (compared to his cumulative GPA) and his science MCAT wasnt so great (compared to his whole MCAT score).

3) Check out the link i posted before and you guys tell me... how good is the match? Yes, you have an abundance of noncompetitive INTERNAL MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE, PEDIATRICS, etc but isint it the same for DO schools (majority going into noncompetitive fields)?
 
DocInProgress said:
I don't think it's a bias fact; rather, it's an objective fact. You will get an easier shot at your first choice residency as a US DO than a FMG MD (not to mention, more opportunities as well).
Click to expand...

the problem with the statistics:
90-something% landing residency for MDs
70-something% landing residency for DOs
50-something% landing residency for FMG MD

it doesnt help SGU when all the other 5000 caribbean schools (some nonaccredited) combined their statistics w/ SGU. the truth is, SGU is hands down better than all other caribbean schools. the cost & class size are SGU's biggest red flags.

get this guys:
USMLE STEP 1 scores
- 90-something% pass on first try for US MD
- 70?-something% pass on first try for DO
- 90% pass on first try for SGU.

ok, so u can make the claim that "first time passing rates" is a meaningless statistic compared to AVERAGE SCORE on USMLE step 1. i believe the avg score for a US MD med student is 216 and the average score for a SGU med student is 210? something like that, its a 6 pt difference. and keep in mind, these are the US MD rejects (who, generally speaking, arent as great as test takers as their US MD counterparts).

and if the education is the same, how come DOs first time passing rate only 70-something % on USMLE? shouldnt it be closer to 90%?

i hear that the score on these exams is a reflection of the STUDENT and not so much of the school.

I hear that SGU has a free class (optional, not for credit) where they prepare you for the USMLE (kinda like princeton review/kaplan).

again, im not ADVOCATING that SGU is a better option. I just have the tendency to play DEVIL's advocate when it comes to SGU vs DO threads. I would easily defend DO if there was DO bashing on this thread. In fact, I mentioned how i asked the same question as the original poster... and im leaning toward DO (PCOM) for my own personal reasons (smaller class size + $$$).
 
vickfan1 said:
the problem with the statistics:
90-something% landing residency for MDs
70-something% landing residency for DOs
50-something% landing residency for FMG MD

[...]

get this guys:
USMLE STEP 1 scores
- 90-something% pass on first try for US MD
- 70?-something% pass on first try for DO
- 90% pass on first try for SGU.
Click to expand...

The comparison would be better made if you had match rates specific for SGU, but looking at these numbers, I could say:

"Even though only 70% of DO's passed step I on their first try, 70% matched MD residency spots."

Conversely, I could say:

"Even though 90% of SGU students passed step I, only 50% of them matched."

These are meaningless statements.

Roughly 50% of DO students match in the DO match, leaving the other half in the MD match. That combined number should total greater than 70% entering residency. But I can't be sure about that.

Roughly 90% of DO's passed COMLEX 1, which is our licensing exam series. It's the COMLEX that we need in order to gain licensure. The USMLE is what some DO's need to match in the MD match. Obviously the priority to DO's is the COMLEX.
 
You're comparing the best caribbean school with every DO schools combined. Your comparison isn't fair. Either compare the best statistical DO school to the best statistical caribbean school or DO schools in general with caribbean schools in general. Apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

In addition, one may score higher on the USMLE but there are MANY FMG's that still can't land their top choice residencies because many hospitals are biased toward FMG students. Thus, they will give a DO student with lower stats a higher priority than a FMG student with a better score.
 
Here's how it looks wherever you go after graduation:

Grenada, West Indies vs U.S.A...not M.D vs D.O.

If that simple line cannot help your decision then you either not living in the real World, or are in some sireous denial.

Good Luck
 
vickfan1 said:
DrIsoleucine, I also debated the same question: DO vs SGU?
Im not a DO hater nor a caribbean hater. And in my HONEST OPINION, i think many premeds dont have their facts straight when it comes to DO or Caribbean schools (i think SGU interviewer's petpeeve was the simple fact that people are ignorant when it comes to caribbean schools). On SDN, you will get more PRO-DO responses and on VALUEMD, you will get more PRO-SGU responses.

The truth is: you cant go wrong w/ either choice. There are PROS and CONS to both. We can discuss Pros and Cons later if you like.

Here is a list of SGU residency postings:
http://www.sgu.edu/ERD/ResidPost.nsf/bypgy?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=PGY1&Count=-1

you will make it as a DOCTOR either way as long as you work hard. there was this really good post (on valuemd?) where this person emailed SEVERAL (and i mean SEVERAL) program directors about their opinions on SGU graduates. ill try to find it for you if i can. to sum it up- generally speaking, they were very positive in their opinions/thoughts regarding SGU graduates and accepted them.

i can go on and on w/ this... but i think, after all is said and done, you should do a lot of research and list all the PROS/CONS for both schools. then weigh each factor according to their significance to YOU! and go from there.
Click to expand...


does PGY mean post graduation year? did it really take some ppl 2,3 or 4 years (post graduation) to match into peds??
 
tkim said:
The comparison would be better made if you had match rates specific for SGU, but looking at these numbers, I could say:

"Even though only 70% of DO's passed step I on their first try, 70% matched MD residency spots."

Conversely, I could say:

"Even though 90% of SGU students passed step I, only 50% of them matched."

These are meaningless statements.
Click to expand...


2nd part of that is not right. 50% of caribbean medical students (not SGU) get matched.
 
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DocInProgress said:
You're comparing the best caribbean school with every DO schools combined. Your comparison isn't fair. Either compare the best statistical DO school to the best statistical caribbean school or DO schools in general with caribbean schools in general. Apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

In addition, one may score higher on the USMLE but there are MANY FMG's that still can't land their top choice residencies because many hospitals are biased toward FMG students. Thus, they will give a DO student with lower stats a higher priority than a FMG student with a better score.
Click to expand...

you have a point there. maybe its more fair to compare SGU against the TOP DO school. however, the poster's original question was SGU vs NOVA and not just another, general Caribbean vs DO thread. I never applied to NOVA and i dont know much about the school other than the very basics. I know a good bit about SGU because my SGU interviewer was very imformative about the facts.

lets say AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, the goal is to go to the school that gives you the best residency/match. is it NOVA or SGU that does this? Instead of IMPRESSING medical school adcoms/interviewers, we will have to impress PROGRAM DIRECTORS for our residency.

program directors are HUMAN. some will favor DOs (especially if the PD is a DO). others will favor MDs (even if its foreign). others will favor BLONDE female doctors. others will favor african-americans. they are human w/ their own preferences.

the fact that SGU (and Ross) has 2 years of clinicals in NY hospitals gives them a slight edge/preference over other foreign medical graduates.

i sound like im advocating all premeds who is asking the same question (SGU or my home state DO?) to go SGU... which i am not trying to do. i think BOTH are great options w/ their own pros and cons.

as for neolium, yes PYG means POST YEAR GRADUATE. i dont know if that means it took them 2, 3 or 4 years (post graduation) to match into peds.

again, if you want the BEST ADVICE. i say you (the original poster) talk to some SGU graduates and DO graduates. SGU/DO graduates have opinions that actually matter. us PRE-MEDers get our facts mixed up easily and spread rumors like its the truth. lol. oh yeah and talk to some PROGRAM DIRECTORS while ur at it!
 
vickfan1 said:
as for neolium, yes PYG means POST YEAR GRADUATE. i dont know if that means it took them 2, 3 or 4 years (post graduation) to match into peds.
Click to expand...

PGY# = 'post graduate year' #=residency year in training. A PGY3 is a 3rd year resident.
 
Should I go to NSU for the upcoming interview in mid Feb? It costs a lot and I don't want to interview for a waitlist spot. I have also been accepted to SGU.

Anyone can provide some info?
thanks
 
StriveToBeDr said:
Should I go to NSU for the upcoming interview in mid Feb? It costs a lot and I don't want to interview for a waitlist spot. I have also been accepted to SGU.

Anyone can provide some info?
thanks
Click to expand...

We don't know you on a more personal level than we know the OP ... read the thread and take the same advice??


I can't express NOVA >>>>>> SGU in my opinion though.
 
Ok, so from reading the posts so far, the conclusion is NOVA over St. George. Here's a new one....St. George or LECOM-Erie? Anyone familiar with LECOM knows what I'm talking about.
 
nocardia007 said:
Ok, so from reading the posts so far, the conclusion is NOVA over St. George. Here's a new one....St. George or LECOM-Erie? Anyone familiar with LECOM knows what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...

Hahaha ... notttt new. The argument is any DO vs Carib, not really a specific DO school vs a specific Carib MD school. I think the general idea is that DO > SGU (more people will probably argue this in context with newer DO schools but whatever).
 
Well, if around 60% matched into FM or IN, shouldn't it look good to have MD title, as around 60% from SGU match into those as well.
 
A few things are fishy with that match list from SGU:

First if around 600 people matriculate each year and the attrition rate is only around 5%, why does that match list only have roughly 400 people on it? Did they fail, did they not pass step 1 or did they fail to match?

There are a bunch of people doing normal residencies well past when they should have been done. This throws up red flags in my book: pgy 8 gen surgery? 2 Pgy 7 gen surgeries? Pgy 7 psych? 2 PGY6 FM (seriously)? PGY6 neuro? 22 people doing PGY 6 general surgeries?

Furthermore with all the talk about carribean holding certain students back from taking step 1, really, how accurate is that step 1 pass rate?
 
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