Should I attend Ross? Help!

[jeffrey85]

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Hi everyone!

I've been doing a lot of research regarding Caribbean medical schools and I've been reading up on a lot of the related threads on SDN. There is a lot of information out there and I'm a little hesitant on making the big decision on where I want to attend medical school. There is a wealth of information on these forums and I was hoping you guys could help me out (especially Skip Intro since he's a Ross graduate). I apologize in advance for any redundant questions but I would greatly appreciate any feedback you can give me.

I am very excited to say that I received an email from Ross inviting me to an interview next week. I feel very lucky to have a potential opportunity to be going to Ross; however, I just wanted to gain some more insight before I pull the trigger.

I've been trying to do research on data regarding increased funding for US residencies and how the new health care system will affect future IMGs on obtaining said residencies. A lot of the users on this site believe that it will be near impossible for new IMGs to practice in the US, which is my goal. However, I've also read a few of Skip Intro's posts where he said that it will still be possible for IMGs to gain US residencies (granted these posts were from last year). This has left me scratching my head and wondering if I stand a chance at practicing in the US if I were to attend Ross.

I suppose I'm just looking for reinsurance, or perhaps valid data that will persuade me not to attend Ross. I don't have a lot of money and I intend to do as much research as possible before I make such a huge commitment. Does anyone expect any significant changes within the coming years that will open more doors for IMGs? The majority believe that that door has already closed.

It's also important to note that I've applied to several post-bac programs and got denied due to my low stats, so I've definitely tried that option before considering Caribbean medical schools. I'm also 29 years old and have been working full-time for 2 and a half years. Even if I had the time to retake the core science courses, I really don't think it would make a significant boost in my GPA since I have earned a total of 152 credits. The "Big 4" really do seem to be my last hope.

Thank you for your time.

Best,
Jeff

 

[Skip Intro]

I was basically in a similar situation as you... in 2001.

I thought long and hard about giving up a life where I already made a decent living to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. There were stories I heard from friends and colleagues (at the time) about how I "shouldn't do it" it was "too risky" and in the end I would end-up regretting my decision.

Long story short, it was the best decision I ever made. I worked hard. I kept focused. And, I was determined not to take "no" for an answer. That was throughout my training. It was a long, arduous road that was worth it.

If you look at the numbers, even with the expansion of U.S. allopathic and osteopathic spots, there is no way that we can make up the deficit gap of physicians in the U.S. There was a "cartel" mentality in the AMA for decades that restricted the number of doctors in practice in the U.S. (Review the history of COGME and their reports going back to the mid-90's and see how the changed their stance when they realized they were wrong... the start of skepticism for me about those who are in charge supposedly knowing what's best for the rest of us.) The biggest lesson learned is that you can never argue with demographics. The Baby Boomers are just starting to enter retirement age now. And, that huge bubble is going to burst into and flood into hospitals, clinics, and all manner of other places in the healthcare world over the next 20 years. The answer is not training more mid-level practitioners with less education and more practice rights. It's to train new doctors. A lot of doctors, even now, are nearing retirement age and they are continuing to practice in an increasingly complex and regulated practice environment. It's only a matter of time before they will have to retire and then there will be a huge gulf of expertise in taking care of more and more complex patients.

I don't believe that the ACGME/AOA will freeze the number of training spots. And, this has not been meted out by historical trends. There has always been fear-mongering about going this route. The only problem I see is the ridiculous trend in outrageous tuition these schools charge, one that has continually increased in the time since I went to and graduated from Ross, and is not necessarily justified other than to fill the pockets of investors. That is the biggest problem I see, namely the ongoing possibility that the FFEL option for loans may someday soon no longer be an option and/or be severely limited. This is more a political issue than anything else.

You have to be prepared. That's all. If you go and you fail out or realize early you can hack it, get out early before you've amassed debt that will follow you for the rest of your life until you pay it off. Even now, I have a large debt load that I pay every month and I went to school and graduated (not that long ago) when the tuition was a lot less. I cannot underscore how important this is, and has been another theme in my posts. I'm not suggesting you enter any program with an "I'm going to fail" mentality; I'm just suggesting you be realistic. This is not a pathway where you go thinking, "eh, I'll see what happens". If you go, you have to go all in.

-Skip

 

[jeffrey85]

Thank you so much, Skip! That's exactly what I needed to hear. I will keep everyone posted on my journey through medical school over the next few years. Thanks!