Transferring From A Caribbean School??

[selfhealer]

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Hi all,
Its been awhile since I've been on the forum, but I had a quick question regarding transferring from a Caribbean med school.

First off, I am not currently in a Caribbean med school. I am a non-trad student (30 years old) with an undergrad degree from 2001, and have recently gone back to school to take the med school pre-recs.

I had not planned on applying to any Caribbean schools, however someone recently suggested something which appealed to me for a number of reasons.

They suggested applying to one of the better Caribbean schools, attend the Caribbean school for the first 2 years, and then apply to transfer to a U.S. med school.

I won't go into the reasons why this plan appeals to me, but I do have a question.

All other things being equal, does one have a better chance being accepted to a U.S. school as a transfer student from a Caribbean school (assuming good grades), or are your chances of being accepted to a U.S. school better if you apply right off the bat, as a first year student.

I know there are tons of variables here (your undergrad grades, your MCATS, etc); which is why I phrased my question "all other things being equal".

So, assuming 2 students have the same undergrad grades, MCATS, extracurriculars etc., which student would have the better chance of being accepted to a U.S. med school; the student who applies right off the bat as a first year, or the student who has attended one of the better Caribbean med schools for 2 years, received very good grades, and then applies to a U.S. school as a transfer?

I hope I've made myself clear. If anyone needs me to clarify anything, don't hesitate to ask. Thanks so much-SH

 

[PinkIvy08]

Well that someone does NOT have your best interest at heart. Caribbean schools should be your ultimate last option (as in, you've applied and re-applied and couldn't get in MD or DO). It's hard enough trying to transfer between MD schools, I'd say transferring from a Caribbean school to any MD or DO school is damn near impossible. Don't do it!

 

[Ischemic]

Even transferring between US allo schools is very very hard, so transferring from a Caribbean to a US allo school pretty much never going to happen given the stigma associated with Caribbean schools in general. Will this always be the case? No,maybe if you get really really lucky. Do I recommend it? Nope, not if I can help it. Your best bet would be to apply to US MD and DO schools and do SMP/post-bac programs to improve your resume and try. Your plan Z should be Carribean schools.

 

[RedSHIFT]

The applicant applying for an entering class is competing on average for 100 seats ( 150-200 acceptances) per school.

The transfer student is applying for attrition spots...typically 4 to 5 per school. And those are the schools that accept transfer students.

 

[artx2008]

Well that someone does NOT have your best interest at heart. Caribbean schools should be your ultimate last option (as in, you've applied and re-applied and couldn't get in MD or DO). It's hard enough trying to transfer between MD schools, I'd say transferring from a Caribbean school to any MD or DO school is damn near impossible. Don't do it!

Agreed!

 

[futureboy]

OP, the Caribbean IS a viable path to becoming a physician, but ONLY if you do not gain admission to US MD/DO schools. Yes, you CAN transfer from the Caribbean to US schools, but only from the "big 4" (St. George's, AUC, Ross, and Saba). Even so, it's a longshot at best. It may also be possible (not sure) to transfer from other Carib schools, but you would have to start over at the US school.

For more info, check out the SDN international/Caribbean forum, or www.valuemd.com.

 

[riverjib]

I completely agree with everyone who posted here. If you have to go to the Caribbean, it's a last resort. That's not to say you won't have a meaningful career here. There are six schools (you can find the names elsewhere on this forum) that are worthwhile in the sense that you do your clinical rotations in the US and the USMLE pass rates are decent or good. But you are limiting yourself greatly in terms of the residencies you can get.

Transferring to another medical school (especially one that is higher-ranked) is far more difficult than transferring to another college. It's not like undergrad, where you can transfer from a lower-tier school or community college to the Ivies and top-tier schools once you prove you've grown up enough to handle that academic rigor. You have to have great grades and compelling circumstances to apply for transfer, and even if you do, many schools still don't accept transfers.

People who suggested "transferring" might have meant that you can go to Caribbean schools for the "basic science" portion (first two years) and complete the second two years in the US. Otherwise, it sounds like a huge stretch, as the top students at Ross and AUC are vying for the top rotations, not the best places to transfer. I've never actually heard of a successful transfer from Caribbean schools, so it's probably rare, though it might happen?

Why are you in such a rush? I'm your age, and probably the same high school year. I actually returned to be an undergrad, and I'll graduate this May with classmates 9-10 years my junior. It's worth investing time now so you won't have regrets later. If you have questions, PM me.

 

[NickNaylor]

As someone else said, transferring should never be plan A. Many schools don't accept transfer students under any circumstances (check out some websites if you're curious). Attempting to do so from a Caribbean school would be infinitely more difficult.

 

[selfhealer]

Thank you to everyone who replied.
I'll briefly explain why this initially appealed to me.

As I said Im 30 years old, and I have the opportunity to begin my med school education at one of the better caribbean schools mentioned, as soon as i like (this coming spring, or this coming summer if I'd prefer).

Obviously what appealed to me about this is that I could start med school right away. If I pursue the US school route, I will likely not begin until fall of 2013....that is quite a difference.

The reason I posted this thread was that I was curious if I could possibly get "the best of both worlds", by starting immediately at the Caribbean school, and then transfer to a US school, thus providing me with a degree from the far more respected, US school.

It seems from the responses though, that it would be highly improbable for me to succeed in transferring from a Caribbean school to US school.

I agree with everyone that caribbean schools should be a last resort for me, especially since it appears that I will be a competitive applicant for US med schools.

The only way I would consider the Caribbean school would be if I had good reason to believe that I would have success in transferring to a US school. Since everyone seems to feel this would be beyond a long shot, it seems that I will just have to remain patient and wait for my acceptance to a US school. Thanks-SH

 

[futureboy]

As I said Im 30 years old, and I have the opportunity to begin my med school education at one of the better caribbean schools mentioned, as soon as i like (this coming spring, or this coming summer if I'd prefer).

Obviously what appealed to me about this is that I could start med school right away. If I pursue the US school route, I will likely not begin until fall of 2013....that is quite a difference.

I understand where you're coming from. As a nontrad, it is tempting to take the faster Carib route to "get on with it." I'm actually considering going to the Carib for this reason--I'm a bit older (42), though, and waiting those 2 or 3 years seems to matter more for me than it would to a younger person such as you. It's probably better for you to wait and see if you can get into a US school before going to the Carib.

 

[JaggerPlate]

If you matriculate at a school ... plan to finish there. Transfers are RARE in the medical world, and most schools actually have defined standards of what/where they will accept transfers from (ie only LCME schools, or LCME + DO schools, etc). If it were this easy to do 2 years at SGU then transfer to a US MD school and hang that diploma on your wall ... lots more people would do it.

 

[scapermoya]

not to beat a dead horse here, but it's late and i'm bored.

the reason why it will take you extra time to have the chance to get into a US med school is the same reason why it would be so hard to transfer from the carib. to the US... they are much less rigorous institutions with a considerable stigma. considering how few people successfully transfer within the US, it would be really foolish to plan on transferring from the Caribbean.

looks like you either go now and finish down there, or wait until you get your requirements complete and apply to a US school. i'm quite a bit younger than you, but I would still wait in your position. the difference in education/residency options would be worth it.

 

[MedicalP]

As someone else said, transferring should never be plan A. Many schools don't accept transfer students under any circumstances (check out some websites if you're curious). Attempting to do so from a Caribbean school would be infinitely more difficult.

Cole is right. Besides, why do you want to go to a Caribbean school anyway?

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi all,
Its been awhile since I've been on the forum, but I had a quick question regarding transferring from a Caribbean med school.

First off, I am not currently in a Caribbean med school. I am a non-trad student (30 years old) with an undergrad degree from 2001, and have recently gone back to school to take the med school pre-recs.

I had not planned on applying to any Caribbean schools, however someone recently suggested something which appealed to me for a number of reasons.

They suggested applying to one of the better Caribbean schools, attend the Caribbean school for the first 2 years, and then apply to transfer to a U.S. med school.

I won't go into the reasons why this plan appeals to me, but I do have a question.

All other things being equal, does one have a better chance being accepted to a U.S. school as a transfer student from a Caribbean school (assuming good grades), or are your chances of being accepted to a U.S. school better if you apply right off the bat, as a first year student.

I know there are tons of variables here (your undergrad grades, your MCATS, etc); which is why I phrased my question "all other things being equal".

So, assuming 2 students have the same undergrad grades, MCATS, extracurriculars etc., which student would have the better chance of being accepted to a U.S. med school; the student who applies right off the bat as a first year, or the student who has attended one of the better Caribbean med schools for 2 years, received very good grades, and then applies to a U.S. school as a transfer?

I hope I've made myself clear. If anyone needs me to clarify anything, don't hesitate to ask. Thanks so much-SH

As others have indicated, transferring is not a viable option. Each med school takes at most 1-3 transferees each year to their third year class, if at all. To transfer you usually have to have one of a very limited reasons to transfer, usually limited to (1) a spouse being transferred, or (2) family health issues. And you generally have to be the most qualified of those folks who want to transfer to that program. There are always a number US allo folks who want to relocate to each open spot for various reasons. These folks have a very low probability of snaring an open spot. The folks coming from offshore would have even less chance. Sure, there have been a very small handful of folks who have been successful at transferring from the caribbean, but it's pretty much the same percentage chance of folks who have been successful winning the lottery or marrying a supermodel. Not something you bank on. Sorry, bad bad game plan.

As everyone else has indicated, going offshore is a fine second chance at med school but should never be a first shot at med school. Only after you have tried and failed, give or take some years of remediation should you go offshore. The disadvantages are signficant and simply not worth it if you can gain US admissions. And once you go, you had better plan to graduate from there, because there aren't realistic options to transfer. It's not like undergrad where transfers are common. They are rare, even between US allo schools, and downright hope diamond rare coming from anyplace else. Forget about it.

 

[J ROD]

not gonna happen....you will have to remain a FMG

 

[teenmachinery1]

I'm basically echoing everyone else.

transferring is a longshot within the U.S. m.d. school system.

transferring from carib to U.S. is NOT gonna happen.

 

[Snarkalark]

what about after 2 years and a really nice step 1 score?

 

[JonathanMD]

I'm also a non-traditional student (27) and I go to a Caribbean school (Ross) and let me just add on to what others have said:

I've really only heard of people transferring out under special circumstances. For example, if you were married, she was pregnant, and she attended a US school.

If you are a "normal" student and are betting on your good grades to get you that transfer... don't bet on it.

 

[Law2Doc]

what about after 2 years and a really nice step 1 score?

We were already assuming both these things when we said "not gonna happen". Very few med schools ever take any transfers prior to the completion of the first two years for the simple reason that not everybody does the courses in the same order, and some use system vs subject based and so if you transferred prior to the end of second year, there is a very good chance you'd have gaps in your education. Additionally, most med schools require you to have satisfactorily completed step 1 before transferring. On top of that, EVERYBODY who wants to transfer into third year will have completed 2 years and step 1. So you have however many US med school transferees already having done that and they tend to get first dibs, if there are spots to be had. And then who knows how many offshore folks who are better than you who also want to make the same move. On top of that, transferring is very rare in the first place -- not common like undergrad. And on top of that, you have to have one of a very short list of reasons, such as your spouse got transferred, or you need to be close to an ailing parent. You can't transfer just because. Given all those reasons, your chances to transfer from an offshore site are almost nonexistent. You will hear of one or two people who have done it, but certainly not many, and not enough to make this a realistic game plan. Forget about it. Once you go down the offshore route, your only hope is to finish there. That's all there is to it. You don't get back on the same track until residency, and your residency specialty options will be considerably more limited. Which is why you don't opt to go offshore as your first choice -- you do it as a fallback position. A good way to still be a doctor if other paths don't pan out. Never a first choice plan. And not with any realistic expectations of graduating other than as an offshore grad, if you complete your training at all (and with the crazy high attrition those places have even that's not a given).

 

[J ROD]

what about after 2 years and a really nice step 1 score?

...let me try this....

you have a better shot of walking on water or turning water into wine...

not gonna happen with some intervention from God!! 😀