I'm just wondering if anyone went to a Caribbean school and their spouse went with them? Also did the spouse possibly work? I'm not applying to medical yet but if all else fails I do plan on going to the Caribbean and I was just wondering what happened to the spouses. My boyfriend is a cook and was dreaming about there being resorts that might hire Americans. I don't know probably just a dream.
Spouses in the Caribbean?
- Thread starter malisa
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malisa said:
Since I am not attending a Caribbean school I intended to just pass this thread up. But, you haven't gotten any responses and since I came within inches of going to SGU last year I thought I'd tell you what I know. My wife and I were married last June 18. She is a school teacher and as of April of last year the only school that had accepted me was Ross and SGU. So, we spent an agonizing year worrying about what we would do. Several doctors I knew had simply left their families in the states the two years they were on the islands. I refused this option. But I was told that my wife would not find a job. According to officials at the school, the few jobs that were there were reserved for locals (remember Dominica and Grenada are 3rd World). So we were forced to plan for my wife not having a job. Unfortunately, we could not get loan money to support us both, so we ended up not going. I studied all last summer, retook the MCAT, did a lot better, and now I'm wait listed at 4 MD schools and accepted at a DO school. There are many options. Good luck in deciding!
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I suggest you to look around on the ValueMD forums for more info. I do know I have heard of spouses working in the Caribbean in the service industry as it is one of the easier industries to work under the table. As for legally working there, I'm not sure.malisa said:
Obviously, it would make sense to focus on the more touristy islands, so AUC (St. Martin) and SMU (Caymans) would probably be your best bets. I am in the process of applying to AUC and I do know there is a spouse's club that would probably be a good source of info for you.
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What about teaching at an international school? While researching St. Martin, I have seen job postings come up at Caribbean International Academy. I'm not sure if other islands have these sorts of schools, but it may be worth investigationg. 🙂GAdoc said:
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malisa said:
There is actually a 'significant others' organization at SGU (grenada).
http://sguso.org/
B
bananamd
You know, I one of the main reasons I married my wife was I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her... doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Are there married couples outside the USA and Canada... yes, it turns out, there are lots of them. Allright, I'll stop being so sarcastic!!
My wife and I started Saba University School of Medicine in Jan 2005 and have had an absolutely wonderful Basic Sciences experience (which is ending in less then 50 days! YAHOO!)
1) My wife as well as other spouses, girlfriends/boyfriends, etc... have found jobs on Saba. From working at local businesses to the school library. And no, the myth that all jobs are for locals is incorrect (including on other islands; I know from contacts at SGU, AUC and Ross). Saban local businesses help you acquire the government work permit.
2) Most of these islands are not developing countries; but of course, they do not have a strip mall and Starbucks on every corner! Saba has three very good grocery stores which have anything you could desire (and you can request for them to ship your needs here). It is very clean, etc...
3) Crime free - No, but name me one place in the states which is!
4) SUSOM has a spouses organization (SOS) with lots of members and resources.
In the end, it is what you make of it... I am happy that my wife came with me... these are 20 months tat have provided us a very unique experience tthat shall never be forgotten.
Best regards,
My wife and I started Saba University School of Medicine in Jan 2005 and have had an absolutely wonderful Basic Sciences experience (which is ending in less then 50 days! YAHOO!)
1) My wife as well as other spouses, girlfriends/boyfriends, etc... have found jobs on Saba. From working at local businesses to the school library. And no, the myth that all jobs are for locals is incorrect (including on other islands; I know from contacts at SGU, AUC and Ross). Saban local businesses help you acquire the government work permit.
2) Most of these islands are not developing countries; but of course, they do not have a strip mall and Starbucks on every corner! Saba has three very good grocery stores which have anything you could desire (and you can request for them to ship your needs here). It is very clean, etc...
3) Crime free - No, but name me one place in the states which is!
4) SUSOM has a spouses organization (SOS) with lots of members and resources.
In the end, it is what you make of it... I am happy that my wife came with me... these are 20 months tat have provided us a very unique experience tthat shall never be forgotten.
Best regards,
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Off topic but need info ASAP...thanks...
I was searching the med school website and noticed that
one of the requirments is "1 year of General Biology or Zoology (w/
labs)". I have not taken this specific course but have taken other bio
classes: Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Experimental Bio Lab
(upper division lab) and will be taking Molecular Biology LAB (upper
division lab). I was wondering if this these classes (taken at UC Irvine)
fulfills the Bio requirement since it constituets to 12 units of lecture
and 8 units of lab which is also equivalent to 1 year of bio with labs.
Thank You
I was searching the med school website and noticed that
one of the requirments is "1 year of General Biology or Zoology (w/
labs)". I have not taken this specific course but have taken other bio
classes: Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Experimental Bio Lab
(upper division lab) and will be taking Molecular Biology LAB (upper
division lab). I was wondering if this these classes (taken at UC Irvine)
fulfills the Bio requirement since it constituets to 12 units of lecture
and 8 units of lab which is also equivalent to 1 year of bio with labs.
Thank You
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You and I need to talk. I am married with 2 children, will be 43ish upon matriculation, and can use as much advice as possible.Mom2five said:
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CCEMTP2DOC said:
We had 4 kids when we started...number 5 born in the middle of school. It's a difficult juggle but not impossible. I made some of my best friends on the island. There were all ages of students...young 20s to grandparent age. When people said "but your husband will be x age when he's done, blah blah" My attitude was that he will get older no matter what the only difference is he will or will not be a doctor at that age.
Nothing about med. school is easy...but that is true in all walks of Life. I try to have a positive attitude. If your wife and children support you and have some idea of the things ahead then you will be better adjusted.
You can send me a pm if you have specific questions. Right now my hardest issue is having $$ to let the kids do some of the sports/lessons etc that THEY want to do (read not what I want them to do). I'm ok with not having the home furnishings I like and other material goods, but I just want my kids to have the opportunity to pursue some of their dreams too. I guess that is what our family is about...trying to let us all do the things in our heart. We all have big dreams and want to avoid medicine gobbling us all up. So far so good (yet I am on this site 🙂 ) I'm a people person though and have a passion to help when I can.
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I'm stalking you Banana.
No, not really, it's just me, "SID."
Honestly, I think people would get a lot more info by following the suggestion already made by going to
www.valuemd.com.
Best of luck all!
~S 😎
Graduating Saba USOM June 2007
No, not really, it's just me, "SID."
Honestly, I think people would get a lot more info by following the suggestion already made by going to
www.valuemd.com.
Best of luck all!
~S 😎
Graduating Saba USOM June 2007
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Well here is an option. My wife is a realtor and recently found a company that can actually go with her. Believe it or not she will actually be working as a realtor/loan originator in Dominica for U.S. transactions. At the same time, she has decided to offer free lessons in real estate investing, mutual funds, etc to spouses of med students (even med students if they are able to attend) so that med students can expect more than $40K/year residency pay in high cost cities. Best of all she will be making a great income (~5K-20K / month! Talk about sugar mama 😍 ) If anyone wants some information on my wife's company contact me and I will get you some information. I believe they are actually hiring (since it is a new company and is expanding to Mexico, Canada, and Japan) and they do all of the training.
God bless!
~Andy
God bless!
~Andy
