what about the "island" schools??

[planningMD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

what do you guys think of the "island" schools?? sgu/ross/auc

what i think:
pros???
1) its on a cool island considered to be a vacation area
2) you get your MD
3) generally a REAL back up that you could likely get into
4) you can still get federal loans through these 3

cons???
1) you have to jump through extra hoops just to practice, basically anywhere
2) normally costs more
3) stigma of being taught in the caribbean
4) extra travel costs, and hard to ship things down there
5) living conditions not as good as in the usa
6) gov / police not the same as usa

 

[DD214_DOC]

what do you guys think of the "island" schools?? sgu/ross/auc

what i think:
pros???
1) its on a cool island considered to be a vacation area
2) you get your MD
3) generally a REAL back up that you could likely get into
4) you can still get federal loans through these 3

cons???
1) you have to jump through extra hoops just to practice, basically anywhere
2) normally costs more
3) stigma of being taught in the caribbean
4) extra travel costs, and hard to ship things down there
5) living conditions not as good as in the usa
6) gov / police not the same as usa

#4 in your pros list may be going bye-bye. There's a bill in congress that removes the grandfather clause that allowed SGU/Ross/AUC eligibility for federal stafford loans, which will effectively deny these schools such. Losing their DOE number also means your private funding options will be severely limited to high-interest companies, as no DOE number means greater risk.

In a few more years, if things continue the way they are, the Cairbbean may not be a very viable option, even as a last-resort.

 

[planningMD]

#4 in your pros list may be going bye-bye. There's a bill in congress that removes the grandfather clause that allowed SGU/Ross/AUC eligibility for federal stafford loans, which will effectively deny these schools such. Losing their DOE number also means your private funding options will be severely limited to high-interest companies, as no DOE number means greater risk.

In a few more years, if things continue the way they are, the Cairbbean may not be a very viable option, even as a last-resort.

are you sure? i thought what i had read was that the house WANTED it in, and the senate took it, then at the last session, the senate adopted the house bill, with a few modifications, modifications that had no effect on the "grandfather" clause, thus keeping the top 3 eligible for federal funding???

 

[UCLA2000]

If it's your only option then so be it. At the end of the day you're still an MD.

Don't forget to look at the "non island" schools in Mexico. Universidad Autonomo de Guadelajara is the most well respected amongst them.

I would never choose an "island school" over a US school. I still think you have a shot at a US school.

 

[McGillGrad]

If you are asking yourself if it is a good idea (and you have no been successful in the US) then you might want to consider a change in career.

In other words, if you are not 100% sure that nothing will stand in your way of getting an MD, then it will be a rough and potentially expensive adventure on the islands.

 

[Static Line]

what do you guys think of the "island" schools?? sgu/ross/auc

what i think:
pros???
1) its on a cool island considered to be a vacation area
2) you get your MD
3) generally a REAL back up that you could likely get into
4) you can still get federal loans through these 3

cons???
1) you have to jump through extra hoops just to practice, basically anywhere
2) normally costs more
3) stigma of being taught in the caribbean
4) extra travel costs, and hard to ship things down there
5) living conditions not as good as in the usa
6) gov / police not the same as usa

I would normally not endorse any of the island schools, however, the three you mentioned have decent reputations. I personally know many physicians and know of many others who went to these schools. If you can make it through those schools you can make it anywhere. None of them have ever had any problems practicing in the states. They may have had to go through a couple extra procedures and maybe some extra red-tape concerning paperwork but big deal. They're physicians today, and someone who couldn't get in here and was too proud to look at those schools is probably flipping burgers somewhere. Their specialties range from family medicine to surgery, and all sorts of things in between. Doesn't matter who you are, if your board scores are competitive they're competitive. In the real world it doesn't matter where you went to school-whether you have an Harvard MD, a DO degree, or a caribbean MD degree--if you are a competent physician, and you can effectively communicate to your peers and patients you will be liked and you will have much business.

As far as the stigma goes-tell people to "blow-you," who cares what they think. If they are that obnoxious then chances are most people don't listen to them either. I have read some of your other posts, and you may be right, you may have screwed up your chances to get into a school here stateside but it will not hurt in trying. Just remember, the caribbean schools will also want to know why you didn't make it here, so you are not a shoe-in just because you apply and have good stats, there are plenty who have also been rejected by the caribbean schools as well. You do have a negative history that will follow you. They are not in business to just let anyone in and pass them. I have a friend at Ross currently, and as far as I can tell, his education is comensurate with mine but he doesn't have much of the same support that I have. Overall, the process is more difficult but certainly attainable.

As far as cost goes, many people in stateside schools end up "200+ k" in debt, so do most people who go to the islands. At that point what does an extra 20 or 30 k really matter? If that is all you can do I say go for it. But you will have a long road in front of you if you are concerned with what others think about you or the school you have chosen.