By Jessica Freedman, MD
President of MedEdits: Medical Admissions
Because the competition for admission to medical schools in the United States is extremely strong, many applicants consider attending medical school in the Caribbean. In fact, a great many bright and talented applicants are now opting to obtain their medical education in the Caribbean.
How can you decide what is the best choice for you? What must you consider in evaluating these schools? And will you be able to obtain a residency in the United States after you graduate? To help you decide if attending a Caribbean medical school is a good choice, this article provides a framework for evaluating these schools and the success of their graduates.
A Little Background
In the last four decades, the Caribbean has seen a steady increase in the number of medical schools on the islands as well as the size of their student bodies. In the late 1970’s three Caribbean medical schools were established: American University of the Caribbean, originally located on the Island of Montserrat, Ross University on the Commonwealth of Dominica, and St. George’s University in Grenada. Since their inception, these schools have educated many US citizens seeking a medical education outside the US, and now about 60 medical schools in the Caribbean are listed in the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMERs) International Medical Education Directory (IMED).
The physicians who graduate from Caribbean medical schools play an increasingly important role in the US health care system by supplying residency programs with qualified applicants and helping to meet a well documented physician shortage, particularly in primary care medicine. While accreditation, didactic studies (first and second years of medical school), and clinical rotations (third and fourth years of medical school) differ among institutions, requirements for graduate certification in the United States, as outlined by the Philadelphia based Educational Committee on Foreign Medical Graduates, are the same for all students graduating from all international schools, including the Caribbean.
Caribbean Medical School Accreditation
An article by van Zanten et al published in the June 2009 edition of Academic Medicine reviews some of the processes by which Caribbean medical schools undergo external quality assurance. Accreditation for Caribbean medical schools is on several levels, including local Ministry of Health accreditation by some individual Caribbean country’s government, regional accreditation by organizations such as The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The World Health Organization (WHO) does not accredit medical schools but maintains a list of schools that are recognized by local governments. In the United States, The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation of the US Department of Education (NCFMEA) of the United States Department of Education determines whether the process conducted by an accrediting organization is comparable to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) process of accreditation. This is a voluntary process so not all schools undergo this evaluation. If a school’s accreditation is deemed comparable to the LCME process, then that country can apply for US federal loans for those students. Currently, only 3 schools in the Caribbean are eligible for these loans.
California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York require individual school review and approval for Caribbean students to do rotations in that state. In California, not only must the individual school be approved for clinical clerkships but the student’s clerkship and course work must be approved by the state medical board to obtain residency and subsequent physician licensure. Any deficiencies in clinical training, as determined by the state, may need to be remediated to practice in California. Many other states defer to California’s approval for the purpose of licensure because most do not have their own approval process. Also of note, New York has the largest number of international medical graduates in residency training and about one third of residency programs in the US are located in the state of New York.
It is important to know which organizations have accredited any school you consider attending. Knowing if the state in which you intend to practice recognizes your school is also important. Caribbean medical schools proudly display these accreditations on their websites so if an accreditation is missing, be wary.
Quality of Medical Education in the Caribbean
Another recent study by van Zanten and Boulet published in Academic Medicine examines the quality of medical education in the Caribbean. The report finds tremendous variability in both the quality of undergraduate medical education and in students’ performance. The only way to evaluate the education Caribbean medical students received was to examine students’ scores on the United States Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1, which is taken after the second year of medical school. Investigators calculated the average USMLE Step 1 first time pass rate for each country in the Caribbean. In evaluating this data they also took into account that some islands have more than one medical school. The countries with the highest percentage of students passing the (USMLE) Step 1 on the first attempt were Grenada (84.4 %) and Dominica (69.7%). Countries with the lowest pass rates were Saint Lucia (19.4%) and Antigua/Barbuda (22.9%).
Preclinical Years
Students typically spend the first four to five semesters of medical school in the Caribbean completing basic science courses before taking USMLE Step I. Basic science curriculums in the Caribbean are similar to US curriculums. Some schools offer a fifth semester, either in the Caribbean or in the US, to help students prepare for the USMLE Step 1 and transition to their clinical semesters.
Living in the Caribbean can present many challenges for those who have never lived outside the United States. For many students, it will be their first time away from the United States for a prolonged period of time. Many of the luxuries found in large US cities, such as restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, and commercial gyms, are not available on the islands, and friends, family, and religious support groups are thousands of miles away. On the plus side, many students form strong relationships with classmates and also enjoy learning about the history and culture of the local West Indian population. Former students also have fond memories of celebrating yearly holidays such as Carnival, the colorful, festive, and historical event celebrated annually throughout the Caribbean.
After successfully passing the USMLE Step 1, students proceed to their clinical rotations, which usually are outside of the Caribbean. When evaluating schools, it is important to ask what percentage of students who initially enroll in each class actually take and pass the USMLE Step 1 and successfully proceed to clinical rotations.
Clinical Years
Core clinical rotations and third and fourth year curriculum in Caribbean schools resemble those of US medical schools. Caribbean schools that offer clinical training in the US have strict guidelines about the location and quality of students’ clinical training. All core rotations and subinternships must be completed in hospitals with which the Caribbean medical school has an active, written affiliation agreement and which have appropriate clinical faculty members. Rotations must be approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In addition, it is preferable that hospitals have approved residency training programs (or their British equivalents) in the specialties through which students rotate. Students also take both parts of USMLE Step 2 (clinical knowledge and clinical skills) after the third year.
Hospitals in which electives are taken should also have approved postgraduate programs in those specialties. For example, it is best to do an anesthesia elective at a hospital that has an anesthesiology residency. Regardless of school affiliation, however, individual hospitals still reserve the right to screen individual students for elective clerkship acceptance. Some individual hospitals and departments do not accept international rotating students, which can limit the away electives in which students can participate. From a competitive perspective, it is always preferable to participate in clinical rotations located in hospitals that not only have ACGME accredited residency programs but are academic teaching hospitals rather than community hospitals.
If I Go To a Caribbean Medical School, Can I Get a Residency?
Graduates of Caribbean medical schools have tremendous success in obtaining residency positions, even in competitive specialties. It helps to attend a well-established Caribbean school, perform well on the USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and obtain strong letters of recommendations. (See my previous articles: Getting Into Residency Part 1 and Part 2 for more information.) Before applying for the residency match and early in medical school, students should strategically plan their clinical clerkships in the US, ideally arranging rotations in the settings where they prefer to match. In recent years, Caribbean students with strong academic and clinical performances have been able to obtain competitive residency positions at an increasing rate. However, the largest number of students pursue less competitive specialties, such as internal medicine or family practice. Some students are also able to ”prematch” into residency positions outside of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
When evaluating the success of a Caribbean medical school’s graduates, it is important to find out specifically where and in what specialties students match. Also determine what percentage of fourth year students match into categorical programs. This information may not be easy to obtain. While schools typically publish their match results, it is unclear if these lists are truly comprehensive.
After residency, Caribbean medical students, along with their domestic colleagues, will obtain board certification and must meet specific requirements for state licensure. The quality of one’s residency training usually carries more weight than the medical school attended, so obtaining the best possible residency and even fellowship can help Caribbean students overcome some of the bias foreign students face when competing for competitive attending positions.
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) Certification and Graduate Medical Education Programs
To be eligible for ACGME accredited residency programs in the United States, and for licensure in many states, students who graduate from a Caribbean medical school must obtain an ECFMG certificate. Eligibility for this certificate includes graduating from a medical school listed in FAIMERs online International Medical Education Directory (IMED) and passing the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (both clinical knowledge and clinical skills). For more details, see the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org.
Questions to Ask
School History
- When was the school established?
- What percentage of students are US citizens?
- By whom is the school run and what are the credentials of the academic faculty?
- Has the school had any recent changes in leadership? Are any leadership changes expected?
Caribbean Medical School Accreditation
- By whom is the school accredited and is the school accredited by the states of California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York? Is the school listed in FAIMER’s IMED?
Admissions, Medical Education and Curriculum
- The quality of your medical education begins with the advice you receive prior to attending a Caribbean medical school. Is your premed advisor well versed in the pros and cons of attending medical school in the Caribbean?
- If interviews are required, by whom are they conducted – alumni, administrative staff, faculty and/or current students?
- What are the mean overall and BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics and math) GPAs and MCATS of accepted students? Are MCATs required to submit an application?
- Does the school have more than one matriculating class annually and are admissions rolling? Unlike most US schools, Caribbean medical schools typically have two to three first year classes that begin at different times during the academic year.
- What is the average size of each entering class? Does the size vary depending on the start date?
- How many students enroll in each first year class? What percentage of students who enter as first year students start third year rotations as scheduled? What percentage of first year students match into categorical residencies in the United States during their fourth year? What percentage of first year students graduate? (Understand that graduating does not necessarily mean matching, so both of these questions must be answered.)
Financial Concerns and Living Conditions
- Do most students fund their education using outside loans or scholarships? Are these loans backed by the US government or are they private loans? Does the school offer financial guidance to help students choose the best loans and make responsible financial decisions?
- Where do students live and what are the housing conditions? Does the school provide housing?
Clinical Studies
- Where do students do their clinical training? Can students choose where they do core rotations? Are the rotations ACGME accredited? Do students work alongside US medical students?
- Are students allowed to do elective rotations? How many? Can students do away electives at nonaffiliated hospitals? Does the administration or faculty help students obtain away electives?
Residency Match and Professional Guidance
- Does the school provide guidance to help with the match process? Do students have an assigned advisor to help them?
- Where and in what specialties did students in the most recent graduating classes match for residency, and what percentage of fourth year students matched into categorical residencies?
- What percentage of students do not match annually? What percentage of students must enter the “scramble”? For students who enter the scramble, does the school provide assistance to find an unfilled residency spot?
Alumni and Student Support
- Where do alumni practice geographically, in what specialty and in what type of practice (community or academic)?
- Will the school provide contact information for alumni and current students with whom to speak?
Medical School in the Caribbean
Going to medical school in the Caribbean can be a good option as long as you do your research and make an educated choice. The medical education you will receive in the Caribbean varies tremendously, and the success you will have after graduation depends on many factors. Attending a top Caribbean medical school is a great option for some students but, just as for US medical students, once in school you must “do the right thing” to secure an excellent residency, (See my article Getting Into Residency Part 1 and Part 2.) I have had several Caribbean medical student clients earn residencies in competitive specialties, including anesthesia, emergency medicine, and internal medicine so, yes, it can be done!
Jessica Freedman, MD, a former medical admissions officer, is president of MedEdits (www.MedEdits.com), a medical school, residency and fellowship admissions consulting firm. She is also the author of the MedEdits blog, a useful resource for applicants: (www.MedEdits.blogspot.com).
The author would like to thank Marta van Zanten for clarifying parts of this article.
References
1) van Zanten M, Boulet J R. Medical education in the Caribbean: variability in medical school programs and performance of students. Academic Medicine. 2008;83: s33-s36.
2) van Zanen M, Parkins LM, Karle H, et al. Accreditation of undergraduate medical education in the Caribbean: report on the Caribbean accreditation authority for education in medicine and other health professions. Academic Medicine. 2009;84: 771-775.
Loading ...
The problem with these schools is they prey on the hopes and desires of desparate applicants. You hear of success stories, of those that successfully matched, but they don’t tell you about the more than 50% that don’t match anywhere. The fact that the top school has an 84% step 1 pass rate (and who knows what percentage of students that start there end up even making it to the step 1… if it is as high as 75%, then the pass rate is actually only 63% of those that start will pass first try) and that some are below 20% is astonishing, when the worse US schools are probably in the upper 80%. And while the caribbean schools do get clinical training in the US, they are all at community hospitals because large academic hospitals all have US medical schools and refuse these students. And the training difference is astonishing between the two places. I would feel much less prepared for residency if I only rotated at community hospitals. I am a US Senior and applying for General Surgery at only academic places, have not seen a single Caribbean student on an interview yet, and its not cause I didn’t look, it is because PD’s state: We got 1200 applicants, 200 from US seniors, and of those, invited 75… you get passed over for academic residencies 99 times out of 100. Ask most caribbean students how many places they applied to for residency: Most do 60+ for 10 interviews. I did 15 places for 13 interviews (interestingly enough, it was 2 community places that didn’t offer me interviews). So, yes, for those highly motivated, lucky few, you can go into neurosurgery from one of these schools… it hasn’t happened in a few years… and you can get a US residency in something (like was stated, something like 40-50% of those who graduate, which might be something like 50% or so who start, so really 20-25% of those who start at these schools will get a residency), but they are in no way ideal.
well. You need to know one thing. If you do goto caribbean medical school. Be sure following
No gaps during school
dont screw around: need to be top 25% of class rank ( or better)
No fails in any classes
No failures in ANY steps with min over 210 (for even good chance)1sst try.
Know your self. dont be a fool trying to apply to Surg if with low grade etc.( this is a key)
MOST important: DO NOT listen again DO NOT repeat any class, or failures, including STEPS!.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE STEP 3 before you apply.right after med graduation.
You are competing with your classmates for that same spot. there are hundreds of repeat applicants from your school alone.
Dont think everyone from your class gets residency. Over 40+ % wont get a spot, ore more( dont believe everthing your school tell you)
AGAIN: NO FAILURES. NO GAPS. Know how much you owe to bank.
Think about money before you apply, not after. have Precise plan( this is very very important) if you screw up you will have debt over your eyeballs. Good luck
Hello!
I can tell yall are experienced in this field and i thought i should ask a question. My husband is a medical student in the caribbean it’s our last semester here on the island. He’s going to Ross med school. his 1st, 2nd and 3rd semester GPA has been 4.0 and hopefully 4th will also stay 4.0 …i was wondering if he keeps his GPA at 4.0 and he does well on USMLE 1 and 2…will he have a chance to be a Surgeon in the states… we’re originally from California but its very hard to get into med schools in the states as you can tell. So i was just wondering does anybody know a doctor that graduated from a caribbean school and is a surgeon now? My husband really wants to specialize into that but his hopes arent that high just because hes going to a carib school. And he graduated from UCLA with a 3.8 GPA and still didnt have luck anywhere in US
SO please if you have some information can you provide? Thank you very much!
Hi my name is Shay and I after reading most comments here, I am in need of postive/negative feedback. I graduated Cornell University with a BS in Engineering, but with a GPA of 2.87. I have worked for two major corporations since then (Intel and Samsung) and even got promoted with the first 2 years. However, I am not satisfied, and want to go to med school. I know I can do better than 2.87 this time around, as I have a goal. I have several options but my undergrad GPA scares me. I have currently started to get a Master in Engineering to take me vengeance out on engineering and prove it to myself that I can handle it. But I’ll come back to the main point here. My goal is to go to med school, and there are so many options. I am not even considering US med schools, because I know I have a tremendously low GPA. Considering Caribbean schools, there are too many options too. I looked at Antigua and they have a 6 year program. I am not sure if it required MCAT or not. Also, I am not sure if I should finish my pre-med sequnece (BIO 1 and 2, Chem 1 and 2, Organic 1 and 2, Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Microbiology, abd Biochemistry) while in US to prove it to the schools that I still have it within me. Any criticism will be appreciated.
Dr. Freedman,
Thank you for this article and the important information.
Two reasons I’d consider a good school, Like St. George:
First, I’d do this to save a year on my road to medicine–seriously. I’m a nontraditional and shaving off even a year is helpful. Not so much to me, b/c I see the age factor as highly relative; but b/c others, whether they admit it or not, are fixated with numbers and age.
Second, OK, well honestly, the climate, atmosphere etc. Sure it’s not party time. But if you have to keep your head in the books, you still have to periodically come up for air. Grenada looks like some nice air to come up for! And it’s only two years at SG, and then you’re off to one of their approved sites in the US.
Third, I know a person that went this route and completed clerkships and residency at NBI–pretty busy place, and he learned a lot.
If you are focused on going to med school later in the game (not say a 21 or 22 y.o.), a place like SGU is not necessarily a bad deal at all. I think the worst part of it is the overall expenses. When I do the calculations, I am coming out over $50,000 more compared with most US med schools. And in retrospect, I think that may be a little lower than reality, when you consider airfare and other living and moving expenses.
Fourth, I also think it would be cool to go to school with an even more diverse group of people–a good number of students that are not from the US.
Thanks again for the article.
Dr. Freedman,
Thank you for this article and the important information.
Some reasons I’d consider a good school, Like St. George:
First, I’d do this to save a year on my road to medicine–seriously. I’m a nontraditional and shaving off even a year is helpful. Not so much to me, b/c I see the age factor as highly relative; but b/c others, whether they admit it or not, are fixated with numbers and age.
Second, OK, well honestly, the climate, atmosphere etc. Sure it’s not party time. But if you have to keep your head in the books, you still have to periodically come up for air. Grenada looks like some nice air to come up for! And it’s only two years at SG, and then you’re off to one of their approved sites in the US.
Third, I know a person that went this route and completed clerkships and residency at NBI–pretty busy place, and he learned a lot.
If you are focused on going to med school later in the game (not say a 21 or 22 y.o.), a place like SGU is not necessarily a bad deal at all. I think the worst part of it is the overall expenses. When I do the calculations, I am coming out over $50,000 more compared with most US med schools. And in retrospect, I think that may be a little lower than reality, when you consider airfare and other living and moving expenses.
Fourth, I also think it would be cool to go to school with an even more diverse group of people–a good number of students that are not from the US.
Thanks again for the article.
Caribbean med schools are much better at making money than they are at churning out future high paid doctors. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author was paid for her article by one of the large schools and I also wouldn’t be surprised if 80% of the positive posts are being made by people who work in the marketing depts. of large Caribbean schools as well. Try to find some high paid surgeons who went to school in the Caribbean; Try real hard. You’re not going to find many because it just doesn’t happen. Most of what you hear is just hype. You’re never going to be considered for a top position in this field if you went to school down there. The only exception is if your Father has his own practice and he gives you a top position. I have seen that work before, but that’s the only way. Don’t believe anything you hear and don’t worry about where people do their training programs; Find real surgeons who went down there for school. If you find a good number of those then you can consider going down there. You won’t though.
Wow Morgan… thanks for the insight. I’ll take your advice about ‘not believing anything I hear’, starting with your post.
Shay
I wouldn’t even worry about getting a masters in engineering. It will help you very little when time comes for applying to med school, but it will help you if you decide to stay in engineering. Take classes in biology/chemistry that are required prehealth and do well in those and prepare well for the MCAT. That is the best you can do now and best of luck to you.
hi,
First i’ll start with saying these are just my two cents.. i’m not even comin back on this forum to argue or follow up any comments, so plz just take the info for what it is, and ignore it if u dont like it. =) Excuse the grammar errors and internet short hands. im just typing as i think and not giving a hoot how it looks as long as its legible.
I’m a 4th yr student at Ross, just providing some insight from experience, and trust me- im not biased – i used to hate ross with a bigger passion than most ppl even though i never failed a semester and did well on my USMLES (>90)
if I had to choose carribean again, i’d have chosen SGU first, Ross, then AUC. Only bc SGU schedules rotations for their students b4 they even pass the step (like the US med schools), and its not such a hassle for them and finally they have bought out the better clinical sites from ross and auc- money talks….
i’d pick ross before auc bc my best friend goes there (I told her to go there after 3 sem’s at ross thinking it sucks–i was wrong.) Because if you fail one class at ross…and recieved A’s in all the rest, u must redo the entire semester no matter what…at AUC.. u can repeat the same class over n over..and not be afraid of being kicked out as it is in Ross and u can move forward per semester. Granted, ross is full of sharks…but thats the only way to make it. Also there is an exam called NBME COMP exam administered at Ross and AUC before the usmle step 1 can be taken. Ross requires a pass equivalent to that of passing the usmle, in order to even sit for the USMLE (they obviously want their pass rates to be high), AUC has a lower requirement , granted its only a few points… it just bothers me to know its less.
I have worked alongside students from AUC and many other Caribbean schools as well as D.O schools, and even students from american schools of the University of California system…. this is what i noticed…
Students from AUC, SGU, were not any different than at Ross..except personality wise- at ross.. u get trained to be a shark…theres always much more at stake if ur at ross, and therefore they tend to be the over zealous students who will do what it takes to push others out and be successful….i’m not sure if thats a good thing, or bad thing..thats left to interpretation. The island is the worst at ross,the curriculum is harder than the rest, in terms of having to do what u can on ur own and not being allowed many 2nd chances…. knowledge wise, when being pimped— people varied…just like ppl vary in personality. However—- i definately noticed people from other caribb schools…. although many my friends (and nice people)….lacked the confidence we from the top 3 have…They did not appear as competent on the wards, even though they passed their USMLE’s as well… Just something we all noticed… in the end confidence takes over……….. now on the other hand, the UC students from US med schools… did not welcome me…
Its true i’d have gone to a US school if i could have, so with them- its simple. instead of being angry…just earn the respect…discuss the medical issues..be knowledgable….and they automatically recognize a good doc. I’ve been told, although apprehensive towards me at first, later they said “youre going to make a great doctor”… you make urself stand out in the end..
The stigma will always remain, the debate will continue…there won’t be an end …..but in the end of the day ….the purpose of this difficult and long path was for medicine and helping society. I have personally met an arrogant resident from the UCalifornia medical system who was wrong on a diagnosis and arrogant enough to not accept my 2cents bc hes an “AMG”….lo behold, i was right. It happens……. I have also met students from my school who were complete morons and i have thought to myself over and over “how did they pass the step?”….. I wouldnt want any of those two ppl to be my doctors.. whether the wrong diagnosis is made out of being arrogant…or just a great memorizer and not being able to apply medicine to real life…. I don’t want any of those doc’s near me or my family. So it doesnt matter where u are from in the end when the patient is in front of you and their health is in your hands……
I also worked with many DO students…theyre on the same page as well -they didn’t appear any more or less knowledgable at all. One thing that stood out– i have seen them do OMM on patients, and at times found it fascinating, and other times useless IMHO.. so it varies…but I have to agree with earlier posts… DO is NOT MD..they spend extra time learning things we don’t, but if they arent willing to apply it, they are essentially no different than FMGs who took the 2ndary route.
There are options to do fellowships training in OMM if u are an allopathic doctor, so you can learn what they did. But in reality out of about 40 DO’s I worked with, 4 actually implemented OMM on their patients…2 of them just amazed me so much with it. I personally witnessed the patient’s gratitude…. but the rest- didn’t even care for it.
I personally rotated at a hospital, where if you were a DO resident, you were promised into opthamology or dermatology, after completing a full 3 year residency in family practice….ended up putting you in the ‘6′ year plan..but hey if its worth it for you it is….. Now — FMG’s sure don’t have that option.–if we could do FP then Derm…it would be easy! unfortunately its not possible.
However the DO student i worked with closely said to me himself, there were many programs that did not accept D.O ’s into their allopathic program that he was interested in, and that technically means an FMG can apply (although rarely will get in) … So if there are programs that like D.O’s over FMGs……. there are certainly those who will not even accept D.O’s as well bc allopathic medicine is all they allow… It all balances out.
I respect them and their different approach to medicine – but IMHO, if you chose DO school you should practice medicine and apply the OMM, instead of forget it, and pretend DO school was just a vessel, and end up in Allopathic residencies. It just doesnt make any sense to me at all??? I personally declined DO due to the international problem bc I like the option of being abroad…but if u never leave the states….who cares. BTW, the OMM i saw being implemented were on inpatient wards on Pulmonary patients, as well as OB/GYN (not ur simple primary care — so they have no excuse, they dont have to be a typical primary care doc to do OMM) If ur a DO..be proud of it.. n be a DO…I dont understand the route to allopathic residencies?
AMG’s definately must have done something right here n there, besides working their butts off to get into school ,and they do deserve the right to scrutizine us….I can sympathize with their frustration toward carib grads or DO’s who to them took the “easier” route…… BUT it is also true, its harder for us to get where they end up….and BC of that…most of us end up as excellent physicians..not just book smart but street smart.
Finally ….. to the person who stated they (AMGs) have better rotations that are academic, vs our community hospital ones… YES.. it is true……. BUT……… look at me as a prime example.. if your scores are stellar enough…. you have the option to apply into some of the same places and rotate along side them.. It comes down to ur scores and motivation to get the ‘better’ clinical training sites.. OR…at the community ones… you have to ASK the attendings to do more procedures, ask tons of questions…basically its all in your hands how much you want to learn……
If i could go to a US med school, i would have… but i also wouldnt deny that living on an island has taught me much much more than I would have ever dreamed of.
EVERYONE GET OVER YOU EGOS! MEDICINE IS MEDICINE! THE EQUALIZER IS THE BOARDS! DO’S ARE GIVEN THE SAME EDUCATION AS MD’S, WITH THE ADDITION OF OMM! PPL REALLY NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE B4 THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS! FIRST INSTINCT IS TO SEE THE NAME “DO” AND SAY “HAY THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM MD” THEN NATURALLY ONE SIDES WITH MD OR DO. THEY BOTH PRACTICE IN THE SAME FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE!!
NOT EVERYONE HAS THE GPA AND MCAT TO GET INTO US ALLO SCHOOLS. THAT DOESNT MEAN THE DO ROUTE IS SECONDARY TO THE “ALL RIGHTEOUS US MD PATH” WHAT MATTERS IS HOW YOU PERFORM IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND TREAT PATIENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SRY
should i consider applying to Medical University of Americas? im currently a 3rd year student in pakistan at Dow International.
Can anyone please give me some info on American University of Antigua ? I have been accepted to their Pre Med program but I am not sure how it is. Also does anyone know if the 4 better schools have pre med programs for high school graduates ?
John; i gave the most practical advice on the entire thread. certianly i don’t want you to take my word for it. I challenge you to find many different surgeons who went to school down there. Prove me wrong. I’m telling you it’s nearly impossible to become a high paid doc if you go down there, but do yourself a favor and try to prove me wrong. If you don’t then you’re letting wishful thinking dictate the terms of your life and that’s going to be a problem for you. If you do plenty of research and find that many people who go down there become surgeons, then you’re all set! Again though, you’re NOT GOING TO FIND THAT
Would somebody, with FIRST HAND experience/knowledge, please advise me on applying to a Caribbean Medical School. I graduated from Ohio State, I have both an undergraduate and graduate degree (Marshall University Huntington, WVA). I had planned originally planned on medical school but used the Navy ROTC program to pay for my education. I took the Marine Corps option and flew jets and helicopters until an IED attack in Iraq ended my career of 15 years. I’ve always regretted not going to medical school and feel now is perfect timing. I love the challenge of medicine. I’ve been a Paramedic for 19 years and I’m very skilled and competent. I feel I’d serve my community better as a physician. I don’t care if it’s an M.D., D.O. or B.S! As long as it says “doctor” and it allows me to be licensed in the U.S.A it will work for me. After all, many of my closest friends now are very accomplished physicians. Many of them say the same thing I have heard on here a lot. The residency makes the doctor, not the school. It’s been too long (personal opinion) for me to try the standard ways of applying to the US medical schools. I doubt I’d fare well on the MCAT and I am ready for immediate patient interaction. BUT, I have medical needs myself. I now have to take many medicines secondary to my injuries which unfortunately include controlled medicines. Will this be an obstacle for me should I go to a Caribbean School? Not that I’m worried about being trusted around controlled substances, but can I find a physician on the island while there? Thank you for your time and attention.
I attended AUC a number of years ago.I did my clinicals in London and residency in North Carolina.I am now a Board Certified in Family Medicine.I now have the best job in the world.My advice is to tune out all the negativity and follow your dreams.The debt is really a trivial issue.I have a job I love and employment stability for the rest of my life.Ther are some very long days…and the hours can get intense.But AUC help me realize my dreams and I will always be grateful!
So many people who ARENT students in the caribbean talk like they know what the situation is on the islands. John: Your reply to Morgan was just amazing.
I’m gonna ship all these guys bashing the caribbean students down to the islands and give them a nice wake up call.
You can’t really blame them though, (im not being sarcastic), I would prob say the same thing if I was a student down there. I don’t think anyone lies about the schools, I just honestly think they are misinformed. But if your on as shitty of an island as I am, theres worse things to worry about on a daily basis. hahahaha I can’t wait to finish down there. I have struggled for so long and need to just be done with basic sciences!!!
hi all,
I am a caribbean student attending medical School on one of the islands. I would like to say that I have never heard of any of the medical schools mentioned thus far. The major medical schools found in The caribbean are in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. My advice would be to stick to those ones … as recommended by a caribbean student.
I keep reading that some residency programs do not accept foreign medical graduates. Does anyone know which programs these are?
I attended St. George’s University from 2003 to 2005 and was very happy with the education I was granted there. It led me to do well on my board exams (steps 1-3) and although I was able to transfer to a US medical school, I am still thankful and appreciative of the wonderful education and the amazing experiences I had in Grenada. I would have been more than happy to have graduated from St. George’s and I wish they would give me and honorary degree. I am currently midway thru a plastic/reconstructive surgery residency and no way regret my decision to go the caribbean for medical school.
I am an American born graduate of a Caribbean Medical School (Ross University) and have been in practice for over 20 years. I am board certified in Family Medicine which was my ultimate goal. I was warned that going to a foreign medical school would be a “dead end path”. I chose to ignore these warnings because my father who was an orthopaedic surgeon for over fourty years before he passed away had also been an American born graduate of a foreign medical school (The University of Lausanne in Switzerland) and had been given similar warnings prior to his study abroad. I don’t want to sugar coat my experiences. I had to work very hard, first to get through my studies and then to overcome prejudice and road blocks from a self-serving medical establishment. Along the way however there were many individual mentors and hospitals that provided me with the opportunities that I needed to complete my training. It was much harder for me to find a residency position as an FMG, but I was ultimately successful. One of my classmates even managed to get a surgery residency followed by a cardiovascular surgery fellowship and is at present a very successful cardiovascular surgeon. While he is the exception and not the rule, my point is that it was still possible for him to accomplish this with luck and hard work. In over 20 years of practice I can count on one hand the number of patients who have asked me where I went to medical school. Their main concern is whether or not I provide them with good medical care. My son was recently accepted to an American Medical School and he was very fortunate. There will be some doors opened for him that were not opened for me, but ultimately he will be judged by the physician that he becomes and the quality of care that he provides. That is true for any graduate of any medical school. At the present time it is extremely difficult to be accepted into an American Medical School and schools are turning away many very qualified applicants. This is clearly nothing new. While there are no guarantees in life, if becoming a physician is your life’s goal, then use any pathway available. Schools like Ross, AUC and Grenada are opportunities, not guarantees. Research these schools carefully before you apply and commit thousands of dollars and hours. You will have to work very hard if you attend any of these schools, but you can and will succeed if you have the desire, the will and the strength of character.
As a Black American, not someone who has ties to Africa, but an American born citizen, my family ties date back to the 1700’s, merican slavery. I have never in my entire life had an American trained non-Black physician in my entire life. Everyone of the physicians that dared to treat the people in my community were trained in medical schools outside of the US. Not one time did I question the doc’s knowledge, he/she was a doctor, enough to earn my respect. Also, he drove a nice BMW, in my opinion he was doing quite well for himself. I say all of that to say that in the end, it is the patient who the doc should try to help, save, and please. Now with that said, we Blacks need doctors, help, train, earn a medical degree from any medical school, and please if you are given the opportunity do not turn down the opportunity to treat patients, because again in the end you learn medicine to save lives, everything else, all the praise from your peers and your family/friends is the icing on the cake! I hope this helps. Earn a MD or a DO, but train and treat the patient, many posts on this board represent classist ideas and deep fears of anything and anyone that is “different.” Get a life, become a doc!
Sorry for not editing my earlier post, but I was so bothered by the earlier posts that I just felt a need to encourage the future doctors.
If you are planning to do this, please don’t. The websites of the Caribbean schools look so fake. Go to any top schools website from the U.S and tell me if the website are like that. I rather get my bachelor’s degree, take the MCAT. Those schools are dream killers.
How do DOs usually do with emergency medicine?
To Tif: I am from Jamaica and those schools that you are talking about in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad are NOT US accredited schools. Those are excellent medical schools for practicing medicine in the islands ONLY which is probably why you haven’t heard about Ross, St. George’s etc. I will be applying to medical school this year and I will be applying to these US accredited medical schools as realistically my college GPA (University of Florida) is low due to family/personal problems. I’m just trying to reach and realize my goals and as someone said before yes Caribbean schools have a stigma attached to them but I don’t care. I believe you make the school, not the other way around so if I get accepted I will try my best to make the best grades I can by using all the resources presented to me by the school so that I can get into a good residency. I suggest everyone try to do that. Just because you went to say, for example, Harvard (because you got the grades) doesn’t mean that you are going to make a good physician. I’m just saying…
I went to Saba University. And i’m proud of it. out of a class of 40 students…38 actually graduated and all 38 completed residency and as far as i know are practicing.
All i can say is that if you stick to the program you will achieve your goal. Apply to the caribbean schools you like, attend one, study hard and learn your basic science well..take and pass step 1…complete your core rotations…take step 2…complete your electives and graduate. You WILL succeed no matter what. you may not get radiology…but you will get a residency spot if you have any talent at all.
Do not let anyone discourage you. there are lots of horror stories, but if you realize that you have to study hard, stay focused, and keep looking forward to your next goal…you will become a physician.
Hi, In my case I study veterinary in Dominican Republic my college is Universidad Autonoma of Santo Domingo our program last 4 1/2 and our degree is lic. veterinary medicine. I need to know what can we do to work in USA? and if I am a tech in USA, what can I do to become a DVM?
@Morgan: Not everyone is interested in Medicine in order to be a “high paid surgeon”…
I attended and graduated from a caribbean med school. I am now a neurosurgeon. Med school is what you make of it.
One of the cardiothoracic surgeons on ABC Bostonmed, Prasanth Shah, attended SGU.
I have a friend that went to the medical school in Caribbean and that person did not make the residency match for 2010. She is currently trying to find a job and focusing on future examinations. It’s very discouraging, but there is a lot of competition for residencies and each year there are more applying for spots. I wonder if she will get a spot for next year? There are not enough seats for medical schools in USA and certainly there are numerous students who have good or high GPA, MCAT scores, and meet other criteria for US schools, but they get rejected due to competition so they go to Caribbean. It’s definitely easier to get into Caribbean schools and I’m sure there are tons of students who are not medical material applying to these schools. I do find it disturbing how easily Caribbean schools take students, but once in the program the strong are able to become doctors. It is a profit school because it takes a lot of people, but some are able to become doctors and able to continue on with their medical career. US and Canadian schools take the most qualified and screen out people. Caribbean admissions take as many as they can and if a student struggles through the medical program and not get residencies and such you are on your own, and your money goes down the drain. I also know those people who lost their money and basically came back from the Caribbean medical schools basically they weren’t able to progress. Certainly there are some exceptional doctors from Caribbean, but the rest are questionable.
I agree with Joey.
No matter what medical school you attend, make the BEST of it & bring a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!!! =]
I am wondering why so much focus on Caribbean Medical Schools as an alternative to US Medical Schools. There are many East European Medical Schools that are open to US and Canadian students, are much more established that Caribbean schools, have much better reputation and many graduates in prestigious fields like surgery, neurology, ortho etc.
Why are these East European schools not considered as a better alternative? Just curious.
@Rash Akh
“Why are these East European schools not considered as a better alternative? Just curious.”
This is because with the Caribbean schools, you get US clinical experience, which is needed for admission into most US residency programs.
Hi,
I just wonder what degree I would receive at the end of the 4th year if I went to St. George’s University (SGU)? Is it gonna be an MD degree from SGU or from the place where I did the clinical years?
This does not seem clear to me at all even though I have read quite a lot about SGU itself and some other Caribbean medical schools… Can someone help me with these questions? Many thanks
kent
As a graduate of Ross University I say this: Go to the Carribean if you can’t get into osteopathic school. I don’t see a difference in DO vs. MD (Carribean) other than the COMLEX and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Both pathways allow for residency in the US. With the osteopathic route, you get to stay in the US for the entire four years instead of travelling thousands of miles away to a third world country.
Kent you will receive a degree from St George’s University. The carribean schools generally have headquarters in the US. For example, Ross is located at New Brunswick, NJ.
Tired of hearing it! I am a caribbean medical student. I am so tired of hearing things about accreditations and hearing that the quality of education is less. I visited three school and I attended one school and for financial reasons transferred out into a caribbean school where I am right now.
ALL OF MY CLASSMATES are very intelligent people. Many of them have excellent credentials. Many of my current classmates are Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, there is a former Chiropractor and a Podiatrist, and three Physician Assistants in my class. I have a background in clinical research. The quality of my education at both caribbean schools was comprable to US schools. I know this because I have sat in on medical school classes at four US medical schools and I myself have taught on a college level.
Accreditations is a bunch of politics. Coming from a caribbean medical school I can get licensed almost anywhere in the world. I know several foreign doctors who were doctors in their countries who have come to the US in the last five years, took the USMLE, passed, went through residency and now practice in the US. Please tell me- it is OK for a student who recieved an education in another country to come to the US and get licensed? But I, a US caucasian citizen am not well respected by the medical community? because I attend a caribeean school. And I, a US CITIZEN, born and raised here and of nationality have to worry about a residency when by birth this is my country!!!! It appears to me after reading these blogs for years, that rather than telling people to be cautious abour caribbean school the US system is only out to defile caribbean students. I will also tell you those numbers are low- not because of US students, but the numbers are low because many of those students are sent to caribbean schools from other countries, they party, they don’t study they don’t succeed, and they don’t pass boards because they don’t want to be there and most of them don’t want to become doctors. Those stats are the result of over half of the students sent from foreign countries by their parents- the parents want their kids to be doctors, not the kids. The individual’s who are serious about making it work for it and make it.
I AM SO APPALLED at the lack of support I have recieved from my own countries educational system. HEALTH CARE IS NOT ABOUT COMPETITION! HEALTH CARE IS ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES!
@ TK: thanks very much for your response.
to anyone who knows an answer to this,
as an international student from Vietnam, where and how can I borrow loan from to cover my tuition and fees? I may have enough fund to pay for the first year of school, but then I have to get some sort of loan from the second year onward. Can someone advice me on this? Many thanks
Best,
K