What's so good about Saba?

[Lotsof77]

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Before you all flame me, I was accepted to Saba and AUC. AUC is no problem. Just that AUC has bad admins who never answer emails and I forsee the Island as a major distraction.

So, then...

What's so good about Saba?

I don't mind their international faculty. But I'm sort of afraid of their mandatory attendance for everything, and their low ACGME rotation sites. Can any one help me out of this fear b/c I would really like to attend Saba, but fear that I will make the wrong decision because of the above.

For starters, can anyone tell me whether Saba's low count ACGME-rotations is okay in terms of licensing in most states? And will this be no problem at all getting licensed in California? Thanks.

 

[Lotsof77]

Oh, I might add that AUC doesn't look like the right place and study mindset for a single. Imagine eating in a restaurant all by myself...

 

[busupshot83]

Some postivies I've heard of Saba:

+ small classes, personal support
+ no distractions on the rock
+ cheap

 

[McGillGrad]

Some postivies I've heard of Saba:

+ small classes, personal support
+ no distractions on the rock
+ cheap

That is about what I would have said.

The lower tuition is a major factor (when you consider that your scores are far far more important than which of the top 5 schools you go to).

With that being said, it would always be nice to have lots of choice, such as with St-George.

 

[Lotsof77]

That is about what I would have said.

The lower tuition is a major factor (when you consider that your scores are far far more important than which of the top 5 schools you go to).

With that being said, it would always be nice to have lots of choice, such as with St-George.

True. I know I may sound paradoxical, but I believe Saba is better than AUC at the USMLE. I've seen their newsletter. 3 people with 99% in Step I and 1 person with 99% in Step II this August alone. Certainly, Saba has "The Potential" to deliver a quality USMLE-based education. Not sure about AUC tho. Name me 1 person from AUC who scored 99% either. Last I read on the AUC blind mice forum, someone who posted there frequently scored 80% (are you kidding me?) Also, take this in light of the fact that Saba does not force you to take a shelf exam in order to be certified for taking the USMLE, which just goes to show you the true potential and motivation of a Saba student. Can you say less distraction = higher USMLE? I think so!

But still, I am worried about Saba's clinicals (ie. low ACGME-rotations). Will this be a problem with licensing later on in most places (Texas not implied)?

 

[dbiddy808]

If you are willing to travel from rotation to rotation they will make sure you get all ACGME approved electives. That's what most of my classmates did. Luckily, I set up all of my own at ACGME approved sites in my home town so I didn't have to worry about that.

 

[Lotsof77]

Electives, eh. Any info on the cores? Don't medical boards rank cores first?

 

[Aucdoctobe]

I've repeatedly said that Saba is the best deal in the Caribbean right now. Had they been licensed in California at the time of my application, I would have went there.

 

[Lotsof77]

I second that... But what about cores? Their clinical advisor said that not all of their cores are greenbook. Will this be okay later on to get licensed?

 

[joseph2707]

I need some advise (and some good information).

1) Will the residencies at EVERY one of these schools -- SABA, AUC, Ross and SGU-- be acreddited?

2) Is there anything else I need to worry about?

3) What are the strengths of SGU (that separate it from the other schools in the carriibean)?

4) Is it actually better than SABA, AUC or Ross?

5) Will I get a bad education at any of these shools?


PLEASE ADVISE (and check out my mock rejection letter). Thanks.

 

[Lotsof77]

the residencies at EVERY one of these schools -- SABA, AUC, Ross and SGU-- be acreddited?

Er, most of us who have any sense participate in the National Residency Matching Program. Same as US students.

Is there anything else I need to worry about?

Work your butt off (this applies no matter where u go). If you are not a US citizen/green card holder, do not count your eggs in any hospital. There a quite a few hospitals that will help you obtain work visa during residency. You could, on the other hand, marry a US citizen and obtain a green card.

3) What are the strengths of SGU (that separate it from the other schools in the carriibean)?

Low attrition rate (Also, Saba--->4%). High USMLE???? (Lol, Saba had 4 people with 99% just this past summer/early fall). Affiliations with Ivy league hospitals, ie. Yale (does this matter? If you can get all ACGME-cores at other schools, this shouldn't matter if they are affiliated w Ivy league schools or not). Great American faculty (er, 90% of what you learn, you learn from books). Great residency opportunities (er, they just have more students, so more match in more competitive. Actual ratio comparable to other schools). Licensable in all 50 States (ya right. Tell that to Texas. Even Saba, the tiny school, has graduates practicising in 43 States. Will be 44 soon, as they just got California's approval)

4) Is it actually better than SABA, AUC or Ross?

Many people who overlook other schools will tell you that it is definitely better. But according to my points in #3, if you are more than the average student/have great motivation other schools might do you justice for less money.

5) Will I get a bad education at any of these shools?

I'd like to say no, if you are talented/motivated. But YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You may be a top gunner, but if you are easily distracted by casinos, strip clubs, beaches, etc. you will get burnt on SXM (AUC). Remember, phenotype = genotype + environment. All schools offer the same genotype (decent education). It's up to you to decide which environment suits your temperament. Choose the wrong one and you will falter. Here are some typical "stereotypes".

SGU: OMG, this is the Harvard of the Caribbean (Texas doesn't give a dang). OMG, I think I will respect this school and others who attend it. OMG, I paid twice as much as Saba to be in a class five/six times as big. But hey, Harvard is an awfully big school, ain't it. Everything feels so Harvardly. (More like Linda Loma/lower tier US school). I love this school. I love everyone. I think I will study hard. (Nah, I'm just mocking SGU cuz it's so darn ridiculously expensive. Otherwise, I might have went there instead). 🙄
Ross: Absolutely nothing to do, but hey, wanna be weeded out? No? Can you study in such a competitive environment due to "weeding out" mentality? Are you the competitive type? Good!
AUC: Casinos, strip clubs, golf courses, bars, beaches. Do you value island life?
Saba: Relaxing, no where to go but to your books. Do you want your spouse to have nothing to do for 2 years straight while you are married?

PLEASE ADVISE (and check out my mock rejection letter).

Mock? Where?

 

[joseph2707]

That was extremely helpful. SABA sounds like the school for me.

What about Ross? Is it the same price as SABA?

Is SABA really not that competitive?

Why do you believe Ross is very competitive?

Why would it be different than SABA?

How much is SABA tuition and living expenses?

Should I be worried about finding a job after graduating from a medical school in the carribean?

Does any of these schools help you get work?

Which 7 states can I not do my residency in?


The mock rejection letter is in the ALLOPATHIC (M.D.) thread under "Hillarious letters" and finally in "design your own rejection letter" -- last page.

 

[Lotsof77]

What about Ross? Is it the same price as SABA?

Er, seems like you haven't done your homework. You should visit the schools' web site for the official breakdowns of their costs:

www.sgu.edu
www.rossmed.edu
www.aucmed.edu
www.saba.edu

However, I will give you a freebie and tell you that tution is around 105-110K for 4 years at Ross, whereas tuition is around 75-80K for Saba.

Is SABA really not that competitive?

Don't tell me that you want to be openly competitive with 40-60 other students? Do you want to be beaten up, since every one knows you? 😉 (Do it secretly)

Why do you believe Ross is very competitive?

High attrition rate. There is another forum solely dedicated to IMGs: ValueMD. That's where all the CURRENT students frequent to vent their frustration. You will discover that the Ross forum has the most school bashing...

Why would it be different than SABA?

Considering that Saba's average class size is 45-60, whereas Ross's class size is ~120, do you suppose Saba likes to admit people who have a high probability of failing out so that their (business) could dwindle?

How much is SABA tuition and living expenses?

www.saba.edu
(Sorry, the freebie ends) 🙄

Should I be worried about finding a job after graduating from a medical school in the carribean?

Take a look at each of their 2004 residency match list and tell me. You do suppose they all drive taxis after completing their quality residencies, don't you? 🙄 😉

Does any of these schools help you get work?

You mean residency? Yes. You mean after residency? Er, Would UCLA or Hardvard or Yale owe you any work after you graduate?

Which 7 states can I not do my residency in?

None????? Hey mate, it's just a residency. They don't expect you to practice there.

But if you mean, which 7 states can you not license in...

Okay, I'll let you in on this one, since you won't get that informative sheet unless you are accepted. I found this on some guy' post. The blue is those who already have Saba graduates practicing... However, there is an addition, California. (So CA should be blue too).

My 8cents.

 

[radboy710]

Hey Lotsof77,

From talking to all my friends that left saba on April 04, none of them have had problems doing their core rotations up to date. Saba's list consists of only greenbook rotations, a lot of other schools will include non-greenbook rotations. Considering Saba has only been approved by cali this past year they are working on attaining several more for greenbook rotations and they have actually signed a contract with a hospital (green book), which will allow them to send 100 students per year to do their cores. The other thing you have to consider is that Saba graduates b/w 35-50 students per semester up to this point and therefore the need for a more extensive list for cores has not been needed. Like a previous post has noted, some people do set up their own cores, so that leaves less to pe placed. Currently there are three hospitals where Saba students can do most if not all their cores: Kansas city, Baltimore and Louisiana.

The things that I believe to help Saba students score well on boards it that we have mandatory shelf exams for certain courses in different semesters and then we have a final Kaplan exam (350 questions, just like the boards) before we leave the island to study for or take the USMLE exam.

Hopefully this helps,
R

 

[awdc]

3 people with 99% in Step I and 1 person with 99% in Step II this August alone. Certainly, Saba has "The Potential" to deliver a quality USMLE-based education. Not sure about AUC tho. Name me 1 person from AUC who scored 99% either. Last I read on the AUC blind mice forum, someone who posted there frequently scored 80% (are you kidding me?)

That 99 probably is not a percentage. The USMLE has not reported percentages since May 1999. The two-digit score on the score report is used just to satisfy certain states with laws still based on the era when US grads and FMG's would take two different exams. It's next to useless for residency directors because the three-digit score is what counts. I think if you've really seen USMLE score reports, a 220-something all the way through 240-something could be a 99. You can check www.usmle.org for more info.

 

[rokshana]

High USMLE???? (Lol, Saba had 4 people with 99% just this past summer/early fall).

4. 4!!!Are you REALLY validating a record of high step 1 scores by saying only 4 people last summer score above 230-240('cause that's what 99% represents).
I have no doubts that SABA is up and coming and in 5-10 years will hold its own with the big 3, but high scores can be achieved by any gunner motivated to do so regardless of the school he goes to, but the established school offer thing that the newer school just can't.

SGU has clinical centers that allow you to say in the same geographical city, work with the same doctors and staff the whole 3rd year.

SGU has alumni that are spread far and wide in all echelons of medicine, both academic and non academic(and if you don't think that's just as important as good grades and good steps scores, you are sadly naive).

Yes SGU is by far the most expensive of the caribbean schools, but certainly not out of the norm for med schools in general. Plus (and a big plus at that) $156,000 of that expense can be covered by a Stafford loan(2.34% baby) so it is certainly possible that you can pay less for your education elsewhere, and still OWE more due to the high interest rate paid on conventional education and non-educational loans(though since Ross and AUC are eligible for Staffords, it does make them even less expensive).

And actually much of our faculty at SGU are Brits and Canadians, not Americans- but you have to learn >90% of your material from books if you don't HAVE a great faculty- having facultty that is interested in teaching and invested in you doing well makes a BIG difference!! Many of our faculty have gone above and beyond in the last few months-uprooting their families, leaving their homes behind, etc., to make sure that we get the best possible education. They are FULL TIME. PERMANENT. FACULTY. Part of their sense of identity comes from being a professor at SGU- I wonder with the high turnover rates of profs and with the reliance on visiting professors to teach the bulk of core classes, whether the same can be said at the some of the other schools.

I'm not knocking SABA,I think that they have done a great job of creating a reputable school in a very short time and it certainly is a credit to them that they are mentioned in the the same breath as SGU,Ross, and AUC (along with SMU- another up and coming school, ivan no with standing)
, but make no mistake, older established schools DO offer something that the younger ones can't yet- you have to decide whether they are important to you.

 

[D.A]

Since we are on the Saba case, I would like to know if anyone has done any comparative study between Saba and its sister school MUA. Is the island of Nevis as study friendly as Saba? Is MUA following in Saba's footsteps given that both schools seem to share owners?