Time to interview invite at SGU and Ross?

[brutus]

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I posted this on the international board, but no one responded, so I thought I might try on this board too...

I am about to apply to St George and Ross, however, I have a question...
I am wondering how fast I am likely to be invited for an interview if I am going to be invited?
The reason I ask is that I think I may have a good chance of being accepted off the waitlist at one of the schools I'm waitlisted at and don't want to have to spend lots of money going to their interviews if that happens.
I know they can interview off the islands, but I'd really like a chance to see the schools if I'm going to go, so I do plan to go if invited.
Thanks!

 

[JZZZZZZZs]

brutus,
I got my SGU interview invitation 2 weeks after submitting my application. It's a regional interview in the states. I don't think they even gave me the option of visiting Grenada since I'm pretty sure that most of their applicants prefer regional interviews. Hope this helps. I'm also in the same situation as you. Waitlisted at a US school and patiently waiting...while considering other options. 😀

 

[Nefertari]

JZZZZZZZs,

Just considering options for reapplying and wondering if you also applied to DO programs in addition to SGU?

My question is basically--would it be more difficult applying for primary care residencies from SGU or a DO school? (I'm CA resident, btw) I'm sure there are many other considerations in comparing the 2 options, but if you've looked into them for the past cycle, I'd love to hear your comments. Thanks.

 

[skypilot]

Western College of Osteopathic Medicine Pomona (Pomona, CA) has a very good California match. It is posted in the osteopathic forum I think.

 

[Nefertari]

Slickness,

Thanks for your input. If I have to reapply, I might consider Touro since I'm only an hour away. I'm interested in general internal medicine--so I hope they have a good CA match in that area.

 

[JZZZZZZZs]

Nefertari,
Unfortunately, I don't know too much about DO programs besides knowing that this discipline leans more towards the musculoskeletal system and its manipulations in treating diseases. With that said, I did not apply to any DO schools during this cycle.
However, I do think you raise a good point by comparing the ease of obtaining a good residency in CA between going to a US DO school or a foreign allo school. From looking at SGU's match list, it looks like most people went into residencies on the east coast only with a couple ending up in CA in Kern County, LA County and LA VA hospital.
With this kind of data, I would highly recommend that you look into DO programs over foreign allo schools if you want to come back to CA to do your residency.
As for me, I'm not sure whether I'll be going to SGU. The more I realize how close I am during this application cycle to getting into a US school, the less I want to go there. Also, I've got a 1 year master program that I'm considering if the waitlist acceptance doesn't pan out. Then, I've got to gather my stamina to apply for 2005! 😱
Wishing you all the best!!!! Are you reapplying for 2004?

 

[Nefertari]

JZZZZZZZs,

Thanks for briefing me @ the SGU match list. I didn't consider it last year, so I need to catch up on researching my options before having to reapply. I'm still waiting post-interview on 1 school, and have been waitlisted @ 2 others.

I agree w/ you @ feeling close. Even though I still don't have an acceptance, I did much better this year than my premed advisor or I thought possible, and got to interview @ some great places. But b/c of my age, I think I'll only reapply 1 time and see where that takes me. Yeah, I need to decide if DO is a viable option.

Hope your waitlist has a lot of movement and that you won't have to do the 1 year master program. But if we have to reapply, at least we have a better idea of our chances @ certain schools. Btw, I love your avatar--reminds me of the yummy corn I had today!

 

[phdmed07]

Jzzzzzz, dont go to SGU or Ross...you are way too close. Reapply and do the one year masters program. Just kick some major butt first semester so medical schools can see your grades. Just remember there is nothing wrong with reapplying. It took me 3 cycles to finally get in. I could of went to Ross several years ago but I went to grad school instead.

ECU school of Medicine 07

 

[PublicHealth]

Keep in mind that SGU, Ross, and other caribbean medical graduates are considered FOREIGN medical graduates. While many match into decent residencies, FMGs are usually last to be reviewed in the application process after MDs and DOs. Of course, if you ace the boards, dazzle attendings during rotations, then you may be able to secure a choice residency slot.

E-mail people who have graduated from caribbean medical schools to see what they think. Most websites provide a list of graduates and their e-mails.

 

[JZZZZZZZs]

Thanks guys for your encouragement. I'm still unsure of what I want to do. If I end up doing the 1 Year master, I don't know if I can gather enough energy by next month to reapply for 2004. It means that I would have to rework my personal statement by then and it took me 3 months to write it originally. Sigh...🙁 Also, I think applying while I'm in grad school would deter from my studies. So, it would come down to applying for 2005 which seems like so far down the road. I'm no spring chicken. I graduated from undergrad in 2000. You do the math!!!
I just went to my SGU interview this past week and the interviewer told me that it is difficult to get into CA residencies as it is regardless of whether you're an IMG or not since the number of available CA residencies is so small compared to the number of people who want to get in. (I guess it's somewhat like applying to med school also.) However, I don't have any direct knowledge supporting his statement. Is this true or was he just trying to sell me the school? He ended up doing his residency in Virginia but was able to come back to CA afterwards. Do you guys have any thoughts on his comments?

Nefertari, good luck with your waitlists! I chose the avatar because I love corn. Just had some today at a BBQ. 😀

 

[godblessedme]

Hey JZZZZZZZs and Nefertari,
I'm in the same boat. I'm waitlisted at 3 schools and applied to SGU and got in. I also applied to Georgetown's Special Master's program and got in. It's so difficult to think of the alternative plans when you so badly want to go to an Allopathic medical school in the United States and not do anything else. However, here are what my thoughts are. I know at least 10 people (friend's 2 siblings and their friends) who went to SGU and did extremely well on their boards and got really good residency matches. Two of them got into UCLA/VA. And the clinical rotations 3rd and 4th year are ACGME-approved rotations which is very important. SGU does have a 99% match rate and prepares you really well for the boards. I think that it's a good school and even compares to some US schools. It's hard because I'm from cali too and want to come back to cali for residency. It is true that it is difficult to get CA residencies even if you went to school let's say on the east coast simply because most of the people who are from cali or who moved to CA for school want to stay in CA, but it is not impossible even if you went to SGU. USC seems to like SGU grads and take a good amount (I figure it's those peeps who want to go back). Also, many get into residency programs at IVY leagues (BROWN, STANFORD, YALE). My friends are very successful and their specialties range from pediatrics to surgery to anesthesiology. Also,I'm in the same boat as JZZZZZZZs because I graduated from UCLA in 2001 and although this is my first year applying and I did do better than I thought I would (just like Nefertari) and actually had more interviews than two of my friends whose GPA's and MCAT scores are mind-blowing, I still don't know if going to Georgetown's SMP program is worth another 2 years of waiting (although the program is 1 year but you know that applying is a whole year), because first of all it's still not a guarantee to a medical school spot (despite a high percentage) and when I looked at where students from the past three years ended up going to school, a good number of students actually ended up in SGU. SGU is not a bad school at all and becoming a doctor is the objective, right?!. FACT: the chief of cardiology at Duke went to SGU and some profs at DREW went to SGU. ERGHHHHHH, I'm really confused as to what I should do, if my waitlist spots don't become acceptances. Should I just go to the Caribbean and kick ass or should I go to Georgetown and risk still not getting in? What to do??😱

I hope this info helps and if you need more, I could probably answer them.
WAITING SUCKS!!!!
I hope we all get into medical school where we'll be happy and content. I'm praying for us all. Education is what you make of it when you are getting one.

 

[TexasGuy41]

Hey Godblessedme,

Where are you getting the info about a "good number" of people at Gtown SMP that go to SGU? The gtown program gets the GREAT majority of their grads into US allopathic schools - so make sure you ask them specifically if you've heard numbers that say otherwise.

As far as the SGU vs. reapply route - I stand by this one thing: In 30 years it won't matter whether you got into med school THIS year or next year, or the year after. However, it WILL matter if you are an FMG - because you will most likely be practicing in a primary care specialty. If this doesnt' matter to you - then head to SGU (its a great school) and get your MD and more power to ya. However, if you aren't certain that primary care is for you - then reapply.

Especially reapply if you are waitlisted. The avg matriculant at US allopathic schools applied more than once! Jayzzzzz - I know its tough to reapply - but just tweak your personal statement and send it in. If you work on your secondary essays now (the questions they ask don't change) it will only be as hard as printing them and dropping them at the post office when your secondaries come in. Good luck! -Dave