What's up with Caribbean Schools?

[Taty]

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I think that's true in any field. Law is worse. A LOT WORSE!!!!!!

I've heard people tell me with law you can't even get a decent high paying job unless you come out from one of the more prestigious programs because there's an overabundance of lawyers out there.

Not really true I work in litigation support for one of the biggest corporate US law firms. I have seen many lawyers from many places...They say all depends from how smart you are and how good you are. Admissions to law school same as to medical -crapshot, if you aced your LSAT and went to HArvard it does not mean that you will be a great lawyer...all depends from you...

 

[spicedmanna]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

It's a no-brainer. Apply to DO schools. But not to just the one, apply to more schools to maximize your chances.

 

[Taty]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

NYCOM.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

omg, nycom. there is absolutely no question.

 

[Kuba]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

there's no question - nycom

 

[45408]

Here's a story. A student with a 3.8 and 30......Does that tell you anything?

Yeah, that he was the average incoming medical student in the US, and he obviously studied a LOT harder than his classmates in the US or in the Carib. Ask him how many of his Ross classmates failed out.

Ok I'll make it clearer..
He didnt get into any typical US residencies.
At all. He has to do a internship in order to even have
a chance at getting into a US residency.

oh, woops, missed this point. Are you sure you're not talking about a transitional year?

 

[45408]

What does OP signify?
It's been bothering me for some time.

online *****


oh, wait, that's what it means at another forum I post at

 

[gotmeds?]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

If you're considering SGU because you're set on getting the MD, it would probably be better to retake the MCAT and reapply. Otherwise, if you're trying to decide between Caribbean vs. DO, I think it's DO, hands down.

 

[gujuDoc]

there's no question - nycom

NYCOM....no contest. I've seen match lists from them and they are one of the better DO schools. I think NYIT-NYCOM, Nova, UHS, and a few other DO schools are far superior then people give them credit for.

If you take a look at match lists those schools mentioned above have awesome placements.

 

[Dr JPH]

While an American from a Caribbean school is still better off than your typical FMG, I'm curious as to how a Carribbean grad would compare to a DO grad.

I could tell you first hand.

In fact, I could tell you based on personal experience how a DO fares against MDs on a day to day basis. I am in a city with 5 medical schools (4 MD and 1 DO) and I work with people from each of those schools all the time.

I would tell you the truth here but either A: you wouldnt believe me or B: your belief system would be shattered and you will spend the rest of your life questioning the most simple of concepts.

If you are still questioning things then go to the Carib, because after all you WILL get the MD degree. And thats important because nowadays patients are asking to see credentials before you give them a rectal exam.

 

[Packamylase]

I could tell you first hand.

In fact, I could tell you based on personal experience how a DO fares against MDs on a day to day basis. I am in a city with 5 medical schools (4 MD and 1 DO) and I work with people from each of those schools all the time.

I would tell you the truth here but either A: you wouldnt believe me or B: your belief system would be shattered and you will spend the rest of your life questioning the most simple of concepts.

If you are still questioning things then go to the Carib, because after all you WILL get the MD degree. And thats important because nowadays patients are asking to see credentials before you give them a rectal exam.

Way to put things, JP.

 

[colliea21]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

retake mcat

 

[DrVanNostran]

I still don't know what to do lol. 2 WL, most likely one more coming. Next year, Ill be applying to 5-7 Osteopathic schools, but I know I will be thinking about SGU..so confused.

 

[gujuDoc]

I still don't know what to do lol. 2 WL, most likely one more coming. Next year, Ill be applying to 5-7 Osteopathic schools, but I know I will be thinking about SGU..so confused.

Go the route you feel most comfortable with if you don't get off the waitlist, but after applying 4 times I'd consider the DO and carrib options a lot more while you reapply if you reapply to MD schools. Good luck. Sorry to hear that you haven't gotten any luck yet. Have you thought about doing a special masters program??

 

[YupGypsy]

That's because people don't know what they're talking about.

Going to the cheaper, less reputable school saves you money, but it does you no favors when applying for residency.

It's unfortunate, but reputation matters a lot in this field.

do some research. Reputation does matter but not as highly as you have described.

 

[colliea21]

Go the route you feel most comfortable with if you don't get off the waitlist, but after applying 4 times I'd consider the DO and carrib options a lot more while you reapply if you reapply to MD schools. Good luck. Sorry to hear that you haven't gotten any luck yet. Have you thought about doing a special masters program??

I think you should consider doing this and raise your GPA, retake the mcat(as I said before🙄 ) and never give out...never!!👍

 

[gujuDoc]

I think you should consider doing this and raise your GPA, retake the mcat(as I said before🙄 ) and never give out...never!!👍

Confused about your post. Why rolling your eyes at me?? Was that directed at me or DVN?? Oh and in my case, i am applying to SMP type of programs.

 

[bigdog8829]

I could tell you first hand.

In fact, I could tell you based on personal experience how a DO fares against MDs on a day to day basis. I am in a city with 5 medical schools (4 MD and 1 DO) and I work with people from each of those schools all the time.

I would tell you the truth here but either A: you wouldnt believe me or B: your belief system would be shattered and you will spend the rest of your life questioning the most simple of concepts.

I for one would really like to hear the truth.

 

[spreebee]

Ok I'll make it clearer..
He didnt get into any typical US residencies.
At all. He has to do a internship in order to even have
a chance at getting into a US residency.

I know people barely passing the USMLE from Carribean Schools and still matching into a residency... Also, you look at the match list for AUC for the last year, and I see people matching into orthopedics and neurosurgery. It's hard to beleive that this guy with the stats your talking about can't get into a decent residency... You've got to be kidding...

 

[pyrois]

I was wondering why are caribbean schools portrayed as the lowest thing you can go. I have read comments saying that if you don't get into US schools for 2 years then (what the hell) go to the caribbean. And what's with "you won't get a decent residency if you go to a carib. school?" I think that if the school is accredited and you get high USMLE scores and do your thing while in med school you have pretty good chances of getting a "decent" residency. Sure, a Harvard/Hopkins doc has the "reputation" factor backing him up but not everything is about that...just my opinion.

There's nothing wrong with Caribbean schools.

If the top student at Harvard decided to go to the Caribbean instead, he would probably do just as well (perhaps better, because he'd stand out more).

The problem is, the top student at Harvard seldom decides to go to the Caribbean. In fact, even the bottom student at the least selective continental US school seldom decides to go to the Caribbean.

As a result those who go already have a track record of having difficulty performing well on standardized tests. Subsequently, it is rare to find someone attending a Caribbean school who scores very high on the USMLE.

Now this isn't to say that it doesn't happen! Each year there are a few students who got their act together during medical school and performed admirably on the boards from the Caribbean, and they certainly do get into respectable residency programs.

But if you want to bet money on who's going to study hard and pull that 260 on the boards, I'll put my $5 on the WashU med student who got that 44 on the MCAT and a 3.9 GPA from MIT over the student who barely made it into the Caribbean pulling a 25 and a 2.8.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Ok so I am a student with a 3.8 overall, good LOR, 4.0 in the sciences, and a good amount of volunteer work. I busted my ass and still am but got a 24 on the mcat where should I go. D.O.(nycom) or SGU. I want to do surgery in the long run.

NYCOM. Just in case you didn't get the message.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

aruba jamaica oooh i wanna take ya to bermuda bahamas come on baby mama
key largo montego baby why dont we go to the kokomo
we'll take it fast and then we'll take it sloooo
thats where we wannnna gooooo
way down in kokomo

 

[MadHopsMD]

aruba jamaica oooh i wanna take ya to bermuda bahamas come on baby mama
key largo montego baby why dont we go to the kokomo
we'll take it fast and then we'll take it sloooo
thats where we wannnna gooooo
way down in kokomo

do you just sit and write poetry all they long? lol

 

[gujuDoc]

There's nothing wrong with Caribbean schools.

If the top student at Harvard decided to go to the Caribbean instead, he would probably do just as well (perhaps better, because he'd stand out more).

The problem is, the top student at Harvard seldom decides to go to the Caribbean. In fact, even the bottom student at the least selective continental US school seldom decides to go to the Caribbean.

As a result those who go already have a track record of having difficulty performing well on standardized tests. Subsequently, it is rare to find someone attending a Caribbean school who scores very high on the USMLE.

Now this isn't to say that it doesn't happen! Each year there are a few students who got their act together during medical school and performed admirably on the boards from the Caribbean, and they certainly do get into respectable residency programs.

But if you want to bet money on who's going to study hard and pull that 260 on the boards, I'll put my $5 on the WashU med student who got that 44 on the MCAT and a 3.9 GPA from MIT over the student who barely made it into the Caribbean pulling a 25 and a 2.8.

to a certain degree I agree with you. However, to a certain degree I don't think a person getting a 26 MCAT is necessarily going to be the one to get the lowest score on the boards.

That said, my problem with Carrib schools is that they weed people out AFTER getting in rather then before. Here in the states they are selective in who they let in but then they do everything they an to keep those studentss in the program by providing resoures for struggling students which the island schools dont do.

 

[gujuDoc]

I know people barely passing the USMLE from Carribean Schools and still matching into a residency... Also, you look at the match list for AUC for the last year, and I see people matching into orthopedics and neurosurgery. It's hard to beleive that this guy with the stats your talking about can't get into a decent residency... You've got to be kidding...

A residency or residency of their choice??? Please be less vague. Sure they can get into those primary care spots but will they get in the competitive fields that most people desire to into.

 

[Law2Doc]

do you just sit and write poetry all they long? lol

In case you were serious, actually the Beach Boys get credit for those lyrics.🙄

 

[Law2Doc]

I know people barely passing the USMLE from Carribean Schools and still matching into a residency... Also, you look at the match list for AUC for the last year, and I see people matching into orthopedics and neurosurgery. It's hard to beleive that this guy with the stats your talking about can't get into a decent residency... You've got to be kidding...

I think you need to look at the number of those starting such med schools and then compare it to the number that obtain decent residency spots rather than jump right to the match lists. Huge attrition, numerous people repeating one or more years, and lower USMLE pass rates means that the entire match list often only represents a small fraction of those who started this journey in a given year. Making it a bad match list. By contrast in US allo, about 90% of those who start in any given year end up matching.

The differential between the percent of US vs offshore in terms of matching into the most competitive residencies is even more extreme. Sure it happens, but eg. a 10-15% chance is a whole lot better than a <1% chance. These schools are great for second chances at becoming a doctor if the US path doesn't pan out. That is why the cottage industry appeared. But those folks often have to take what they can get in terms of residency. It remains to be seen whether this gets tighter (particularly after the baby boom bubble passes) as allo schools increase their number, and new US schools pop up at rapid rates.

 

[sistermike]

We could all debate on why students choose the Caribb -- but it obviously has something to do with the face that they will accept students with sub-par stats more readily compared to schools in the states. However, I am sure there are some students who choose to go there who have decent G.P.A.'s and decent MCAT's.

 

[Law2Doc]

However, I am sure there are some students who choose to go there who have decent G.P.A.'s and decent MCAT's.

Certainly non-US students may have a host of reasons to go to caribbean schools. If we are talking about US students, then if they had competitive numbers, they likely have other, non-numerical issues that kept them out of US schools, because, why else would you pay more money to go offshore and have a stigma and a harder road, if you could get in someplace stateside?

 

[gujuDoc]

Certainly non-US students may have a host of reasons to go to caribbean schools. If we are talking about US students, then if they had competitive numbers, they likely have other, non-numerical issues that kept them out of US schools, because, why else would you pay more money to go offshore and have a stigma and a harder road, if you could get in someplace stateside?

Exactly. Most people that I knew, who went to the island schools, went for one or more of the following reasons:

1. They had a great GPA but poor MCAT score and didn't want to wait a year and retake it or they tried multiple times and couldn't get a good score.

2.They had a low GPA and low MCAT score and didn't want to do a postbac or SMP to get into a school because they felt it a waste of time.

3. They had a decent GPA and MCAT but they waited too late to apply and didn't feel like waiting a year when theycould start in January at a school like Ross. I knew a guy who had a 3.5 and 31 and good ECs. Lots of clinical experience working as a patient care tech, etc. Had one interview but got sick and couldn't make it and then he didn't want to wait out the rest of the cycle so he went to the islands in the following semester.

4. They went to a school that didn't require the MCAT because they didn't want to take it and spend more time applying to good american schools.

I know several people who fit into one or more of these categories. No one chooses to go to the islands over an american school if they have offers from both. People go there because they are tired of putting their life on hold and the islands gives a second chance to not have to wait.

That's how it has been with the students I've met.

 

[gujuDoc]

Actually there's one more reason I wanted to add to that list:

5. They are not US Citizens or Permanent residents but want to still get US licensing and the island schools offer them a route to do that if they don't get in the limited number of schools that take international students.

 

[Law2Doc]

Exactly. Most people that I knew, who went to the island schools, went for one or more of the following reasons:

1. They had a great GPA but poor MCAT score and didn't want to wait a year and retake it or they tried multiple times and couldn't get a good score.

2.They had a low GPA and low MCAT score and didn't want to do a postbac or SMP to get into a school because they felt it a waste of time.

3. They had a decent GPA and MCAT but they waited too late to apply and didn't feel like waiting a year when theycould start in January at a school like Ross. I knew a guy who had a 3.5 and 31 and good ECs. Lots of clinical experience working as a patient care tech, etc. Had one interview but got sick and couldn't make it and then he didn't want to wait out the rest of the cycle so he went to the islands in the following semester.

4. They went to a school that didn't require the MCAT because they didn't want to take it and spend more time applying to good american schools.

I know several people who fit into one or more of these categories. No one chooses to go to the islands over an american school if they have offers from both. People go there because they are tired of putting their life on hold and the islands gives a second chance to not have to wait.

That's how it has been with the students I've met.

I personally think #3 and 4 are a bit poorly thought out reasons to go offshore. Another year is meaningless in what will be a 45+ year career, so it's smarter to keep as many residency doors open as possible. And while the MCAT is hard, mastering med school courses is a lot harder, and so folks who shy away from this initial challenge are perhaps setting themselves up to be attrition statistics. This is not a field for folks who shy away from academic challenges - it is one where you will be forever tested. Just my opinion.

 

[Funky]

Exactly. Most people that I knew, who went to the island schools, went for one or more of the following reasons:

1. They had a great GPA but poor MCAT score and didn't want to wait a year and retake it or they tried multiple times and couldn't get a good score.

2.They had a low GPA and low MCAT score and didn't want to do a postbac or SMP to get into a school because they felt it a waste of time.

3. They had a decent GPA and MCAT but they waited too late to apply and didn't feel like waiting a year when theycould start in January at a school like Ross. I knew a guy who had a 3.5 and 31 and good ECs. Lots of clinical experience working as a patient care tech, etc. Had one interview but got sick and couldn't make it and then he didn't want to wait out the rest of the cycle so he went to the islands in the following semester.

4. They went to a school that didn't require the MCAT because they didn't want to take it and spend more time applying to good american schools.

I know several people who fit into one or more of these categories. No one chooses to go to the islands over an american school if they have offers from both. People go there because they are tired of putting their life on hold and the islands gives a second chance to not have to wait.

That's how it has been with the students I've met.

here's my input about this. I know two carribean students. One did pretty well on the mcat (31 or 32 i forget) but a not that great gpa and didn't want to do a SMP or didn't know about it and didn't want to wait a year so went straight to med school. The other i think probably didn't have a great gpa or mcat so chose to go into the carribean. He also didn't know about an SMP but probably would not have done it. Seems to me that the carribean students i know just want to start practicing already.

 

[Law2Doc]

Seems to me that the carribean students i know just want to start practicing already.

That may be so, but it's actually the rare person in med school who doesn't change their minds about their ultimate choice of specialty during med school. For this reason, you want to take steps to keep more doors open to you. While one might like the idea of primary care and thus want to take the fastest route -- what happens when they decide along the way that a more competitive speciaty is what they really want?

 

[DrVanNostran]

Go the route you feel most comfortable with if you don't get off the waitlist, but after applying 4 times I'd consider the DO and carrib options a lot more while you reapply if you reapply to MD schools. Good luck. Sorry to hear that you haven't gotten any luck yet. Have you thought about doing a special masters program??

I think you should consider doing this and raise your GPA, retake the mcat(as I said before🙄 ) and never give out...never!!👍

Hey-

Thanks for the input. I am applying to SMP programs and for this upcoming cycle I will be applying to 14 Allo schools and 6 Osteopathic schools. If I don't get in, Ill head to SGU or Ross 🙂

 

[Saabdriver]

There's nothing wrong with Caribbean schools.

If the top student at Harvard decided to go to the Caribbean instead, he would probably do just as well (perhaps better, because he'd stand out more).

The problem is, the top student at Harvard seldom decides to go to the Caribbean. In fact, even the bottom student at the least selective continental US school seldom decides to go to the Caribbean.

As a result those who go already have a track record of having difficulty performing well on standardized tests. Subsequently, it is rare to find someone attending a Caribbean school who scores very high on the USMLE.

Now this isn't to say that it doesn't happen! Each year there are a few students who got their act together during medical school and performed admirably on the boards from the Caribbean, and they certainly do get into respectable residency programs.

But if you want to bet money on who's going to study hard and pull that 260 on the boards, I'll put my $5 on the WashU med student who got that 44 on the MCAT and a 3.9 GPA from MIT over the student who barely made it into the Caribbean pulling a 25 and a 2.8.

Do not believe this propaganda for one minute. There is no way that you would end up matching into the same residency in the same specialty (or fellowship, or faculty position, or academic rank) attending school in the Caribbean compared to Harvard (or any other top US allopathic school).

 

[Dr JPH]

I dont know why this is even under question.

There are a few simple truths out there.

When a strong allopathic residency program wants a candidate they will always, always, always chose in the following order:

1. MD (trained in the US)
2. DO (trained in the US)
3. MD (trained outside US)

And even at that, there is a heirarchy.

Will many of these programs take a better qualified DO over a US trained MD? Yes.

Will any of these programs take a better qualified Non-US MD over a US-trained MD or DO? Not as likely.

If you want the best of the best residencies, get yourself a nice seat at a prestigious allopathic school in the US.

If you go DO, be prepared for a few more doors to open before you are on an even keel...this has been less a problem recently and in many specialties. And then there are always osteopathic residencies as well.

If you go MD in the carribean, be prepared for many, many closed doors...despite how hard you work.

Now...do we all "know a guy" who did something? Of course.

I "know a guy" who went to school at Ross and did his residency in Radiology in New York City. But he also knows, and I know, that the other 300 people in his class were not so lucky. He was #3 in his class and even at that, he had connections.

So can you become a neurosurgeon while training in the islands? Sure. But you better be at the top of your class, rock the boards, get stateside for all your rotations and even then you need to know the right people and kiss the right ass.

I say skip the islands and go DO. Nurses love what we can do with our hands. 👍

 

[DrVanNostran]

I dont know why this is even under question.

There are a few simple truths out there.

When a strong allopathic residency program wants a candidate they will always, always, always chose in the following order:

1. MD (trained in the US)
2. DO (trained in the US)
3. MD (trained outside US)

And even at that, there is a heirarchy.

Will many of these programs take a better qualified DO over a US trained MD? Yes.

Will any of these programs take a better qualified Non-US MD over a US-trained MD or DO? Not as likely.

If you want the best of the best residencies, get yourself a nice seat at a prestigious allopathic school in the US.

If you go DO, be prepared for a few more doors to open before you are on an even keel...this has been less a problem recently and in many specialties. And then there are always osteopathic residencies as well.

If you go MD in the carribean, be prepared for many, many closed doors...despite how hard you work.

Now...do we all "know a guy" who did something? Of course.

I "know a guy" who went to school at Ross and did his residency in Radiology in New York City. But he also knows, and I know, that the other 300 people in his class were not so lucky. He was #3 in his class and even at that, he had connections.

So can you become a neurosurgeon while training in the islands? Sure. But you better be at the top of your class, rock the boards, get stateside for all your rotations and even then you need to know the right people and kiss the right ass.

I say skip the islands and go DO. Nurses love what we can do with our hands. 👍[/

SOLD!!!! All kidding aside, great post.

 

[tgp511]

College Basketball Capitol of the World

You live in Durham or Chapel Hill?

While I revel in my school's 1999 (and 2004) NCAA championship.😀

👎 I'll take that as a no.

 

[maestro1625]

Can't say that Durham really counts at the moment...


...and around here the "I scored a 12 on the MCAT" is the usual excuse for going offshore.

 

[xylem29]

I was wondering why are caribbean schools portrayed as the lowest thing you can go. I have read comments saying that if you don't get into US schools for 2 years then (what the hell) go to the caribbean. And what's with "you won't get a decent residency if you go to a carib. school?" I think that if the school is accredited and you get high USMLE scores and do your thing while in med school you have pretty good chances of getting a "decent" residency. Sure, a Harvard/Hopkins doc has the "reputation" factor backing him up but not everything is about that...just my opinion.

how can you not understand why they are portrayed as the lowest thing? a relatively large % (not 50% large, but large compared to US schools) will either quit or flunk out b/c they were never qualified for med school to begin with - but they get in.

SABA will grant acceptances even if you have not written the MCAT if your grades and everything else is high. People who score a 24 on their MCAT gain admission to Carribean schools - is it not obvious why they are not looked highly upon? That being said, the school's themselves I feel do not offer an inferior medical education, I think their curricula is the same as US schools - and their clerkships are done in the US anyway. The only thing that is inferior is their acceptance standards - lower gpa, lower mcat, etc.

With that being said - I feel and strongly believe that someone who was given a second chance (which is what these schools are, that's why their reputation is so bad) and who was able to handle med school, do well on step 1, graduate from these carribean schools and who do well on their rotations in US hospitals are every bit as qualified as a US grad.

 

[TexasFool]

some people get fed up with american med schools dicking them around and they really want to be docs. If you go to a good carib school and get good grades on board exams you'll do good in life the only concern is if you didn't do good on the MCAT you might not do well on the USMLE and then you might not get the residency you want, but if you go to a carib school and do well I think you'll be fine.

I was wondering why are caribbean schools portrayed as the lowest thing you can go. I have read comments saying that if you don't get into US schools for 2 years then (what the hell) go to the caribbean. And what's with "you won't get a decent residency if you go to a carib. school?" I think that if the school is accredited and you get high USMLE scores and do your thing while in med school you have pretty good chances of getting a "decent" residency. Sure, a Harvard/Hopkins doc has the "reputation" factor backing him up but not everything is about that...just my opinion.

 

[pyrois]

Do not believe this propaganda for one minute. There is no way that you would end up matching into the same residency in the same specialty (or fellowship, or faculty position, or academic rank) attending school in the Caribbean compared to Harvard (or any other top US allopathic school).

It's not propaganda.

If you're in the Caribbean, and you score a 300 on the USMLE (historically impossible, but theoretically achievable), are well rounded, and do well on the interview, you will match anywhere you so please.

That statement, is fact.

I think what you meant to say, is that it's highly unlikely for a person who ended up in the Caribbean to so drastically adjust their study habits and time management skills to achieve the necessary stats and publications for a high level residency.

 

[Funky]

It's not propaganda.

If you're in the Caribbean, and you score a 300 on the USMLE (historically impossible, but theoretically achievable), are well rounded, and do well on the interview, you will match anywhere you so please.

That statement, is fact.

I think what you meant to say, is that it's highly unlikely for a person who ended up in the Caribbean to so drastically adjust their study habits and time management skills to achieve the necessary stats and publications for a high level residency.

it's also highly unlikely that someone with a 300 USMLE potential can't get into anywhere besides the Caribbean imo

 

[crimsonkid85]

it's not about what you know. it's about who you know. a friend of mine currently at HMS told me that a few years ago, another HMS med student became legendary when he didn't match at all, and had to scramble for residency. he called up the surgery residency director at MGH, and voila! became a resident at MGH in about two seconds.

lesson learned*: if this scenario were to happen at any school, wouldn't you want it to happen at Harvard? (or whichever school is your number 1 choice?)

😀 *the story is true, but take what you will from it....i am only semi-serious about the lesson learned...

 

[gujuDoc]

it's also highly unlikely that someone with a 300 USMLE potential can't get into anywhere besides the Caribbean imo

Exactly!!!! Most people who have that potential also score well enough to be in the states at an MD or DO school here, most likely MD schools in most cases unless the person really just felt the need to go DO over an MD acceptance due to other reasons.

Furthermore, there's a lack of research opportunities and easily available connections in the Carribean schools whereas American graduates have an easier time making connections during rotations, getting better research opportunities, and other factors that lead to residency matching at their top choices.

There's a lot more then just the USMLE scores that I'd imagine go into matching into a residency program.

 

[xylem29]

it's not about what you know. it's about who you know. a friend of mine currently at HMS told me that a few years ago, another HMS med student became legendary when he didn't match at all, and had to scramble for residency. he called up the surgery residency director at MGH, and voila! became a resident at MGH in about two seconds.

lesson learned*: if this scenario were to happen at any school, wouldn't you want it to happen at Harvard? (or whichever school is your number 1 choice?)

😀 *the story is true, but take what you will from it....i am only semi-serious about the lesson learned...

ru serious or lying here?

 

[DrVanNostran]

Exactly!!!! Most people who have that potential also score well enough to be in the states at an MD or DO school here, most likely MD schools in most cases unless the person really just felt the need to go DO over an MD acceptance due to other reasons.

Furthermore, there's a lack of research opportunities and easily available connections in the Carribean schools whereas American graduates have an easier time making connections during rotations, getting better research opportunities, and other factors that lead to residency matching at their top choices.

There's a lot more then just the USMLE scores that I'd imagine go into matching into a residency program.

That was my biggest concern with SGU. When I asked my interviewer about this, he said yeah theres a lot of research BUT people usually have to come back to the states and take another year off for the research. The actual research opportunities on the island are minimal.

 

[Law2Doc]

it's not about what you know. it's about who you know. a friend of mine currently at HMS told me that a few years ago, another HMS med student became legendary when he didn't match at all, and had to scramble for residency. he called up the surgery residency director at MGH, and voila! became a resident at MGH in about two seconds.

lesson learned*: if this scenario were to happen at any school, wouldn't you want it to happen at Harvard? (or whichever school is your number 1 choice?)

😀 *the story is true, but take what you will from it....i am only semi-serious about the lesson learned...

Hard to imagine that any MGH slots went unfilled into the scramble...

 

[45408]

Hard to imagine that any MGH slots went unfilled into the scramble...

maybe it was in <insert Panda's previous residency> he said that he called the surgery RD, not that he got INTO surgery