Assuming that this was posted on another sub-forum and moved here...
Hi Everyone,
I have a 3.33 cgpa and 497 mcat. I have excellent LOR's, tons of clinical/non-clinical/work/volunteer experiences. I was wondering what my chances look like for St. Georges and Ross? Please no negative posts about Caribbean, I know the cons. Just simply looking for my chances. Thanks!
There are plenty of "what are my chances" threads on this forum. Do a search. Chances are that your questions have already been answered. Short of that, none of us here knows exactly what decision processes are involved in the Admissions Offices of the particular Carib schools. But, as has been intimated, a large part of their decision is most likely predicated on your ability to secure financial aid and/or fund a large portion of the tuition by other means.
That said...
The Program Director Surveys state that almost no program director for a residency program wants to interview a International Medical School Graduate, which is what you will be (maybe) if you go to the Caribbean.
The latest survey data available (2016) represented a less than 40% overall response rate from PDs. So, if 2-out-of-5 responses is a "representative sample"... okay.
Nonetheless, the five most cited factors overall for applicants to be invited for an
interview, in order, were:
- USMLE/COMLEX score
- letters of recommendation in the specialty
- MSPE/Dean's Letter
- Step II score,
- grades in required clerkships
For IMGs, visa status was ranked low but important. NRMP violations was ranked lower, but received the highest impact score.
With regards to being
ranked, the five most cited factors overall for applicants were:
- interactions during interview
- interpersonal skills
- interactions with house staff during visit
- feedback from current residents
- USMLE Step 1 score
I've mentioned this before on this forum, but once you're invited to the interview the playing field is leveled. It's up to you. I trained in a University-based residency program that was a mix of U.S. MD graduates, some D.O.s, and a few IMGs (a couple Caribbean). I got my spot because of how I comported myself during the interview, not in spite of it.
That said, in no place does this survey indicate that "
almost no program director for a residency program wants to interview a International Medical School Graduate". So, I don't know where you got this from (or if you're just making that up), but I and everyone else would be happy to review it if you can provide a link.
SOURCE:
http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NRMP-2016-Program-Director-Survey.pdf
If you really want the MD letters next to your name then retake the MCAT. As Goro says “medical schools aren’t going anywhere” so why rush?
True that "medical schools aren't going anywhere". And, all of us here (myself included) would say exhaust all options in the U.S. first. But, it is not justifiable to assert that (1) just because someone (you happen to agree with) on this forum says something (you agree with) that it makes them an automatic authority on the subject, and (2) that there aren't mitigating circumstances in someone's life that would necessitate an applicant pursuing an alternate pathway (e.g., age, finances, etc.) that you think is inadvisable, it would therefore be unwise to apply a blanket "one size fits all" approach when giving guidance such as you've done.
Please don’t go to the Caribbean.
Please work harder at justifying your advice. TYIA.
-Skip