Which school?

[J ROD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I know the major three Caribbean schools are SGU, ROSS, and AUC.

Which one would be better to go to in order to make sure you can get a US residency. Not even a competitive residency, just IM or Psy.

I know that SGU has the best connections and usually is considered to be the best. But, the tuition is much higher than the other two.

ROSS and AUC cost about the same, but I think for me I rather go to AUC because of the smaller class size and better island.

If I can get a US residency from any of the three, I would chose AUC hands down.

Is there any reasons I may not be aware of to consider?

I just took the MCAT for the second time and I feel I got a 26-27. I got a 24 on my first MCAT. So, I doubt I will get into a US MD and I do not want DO after my name. Nothing wrong with it. I just want a MD if possible.

Appreciate any advice or info!

 

[dragonfly99]

I think if you got 27 on the MCAT you should go for a US medical school. Have you even tried applying to a US school yet? Have you taken a comprehensive test prep course like Princeton Review or Kaplan? What is your undergrad GPA? Can you get in to one of those 1-year postbac programs in the US? Going to school in the US just makes your life easier down the road. It would be HORRIBLE to go to one of those Caribbean med schools and then not get a residency...which does happen. Just look around this board. Have you talked to the premed or health professions advisor at your undergrad school? Depending on what school you go to, he/she could be helpful.

Also, I think if you are going to do the med school thing, go whole hog. I know it is super painful to pay high tuition, but if I were in your position, I would pay the money to go to a school that has a high high pass rate on the US medical licensing exam, and has a good track record of setting up 3rd and 4th year clinical clerkships that are good. I think SGU's board pass rate is comparable to many US schools. What is the pass rate for Ross and this other school? The 2nd thing I think you need to think about is your 3rd and 4th year med school clinical rotations. I know it is hard (almost impossible) to think that far ahead, but trust me, these are a super important part of med school. The first 2 years with decent professors and you studying you can learn what you need to learn. If you get stuck in some useless clinical rotations in 3rd and 4th years of your school, it will be hard for you to get letters of recommendation or make connections for residency, and you will be slow at working up and taking care of patients as an intern, which sets you up to get labeled as a "bad" intern. You don't want that. I can see you are an ambitious and proactive person. I know it is tempting to go for the cheap tuition, but I would think twice. What you want is a residency in the US and you don't want to make any choice that would jeopardize that. You also want to make sure you are going to learn wherever you go...you need some decent teachers.

 

[IMbound]

I would agree w/ most of what dragonfly has to say. I went to SGU, had a great experience, matched into my first choice of IM residency and now started fellowship in hem/onc. So I have to say SGU did everything I wanted it to do for me. You should try to get into stateside schools before trying for carib ones. I don't really think I would take the MCATs again as you already took it twice. If your GPA is great then try for a US school, if you don't get in then for SGU, ROSS, AUC, or SABA. AUC and SABA is significantly cheaper than SGU and ROSS but I don't believe the clinical clerkships offered are as set in stone as SGU. Hope that helps.