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  • Ross University School of Medicine (Dominica, Caribbean)
  • Allopathic Medical School
  • Iselin, NJ
Individual Feedback 5 2 Responses
General Info

What graduating class are you in?

Response # Responders
2007 0
2008 0
2009 0
2010 0
2011 0
2012 1
2013 0
2014 0
2015 1
2016 0
2017 0
2018 0
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Are you pursuing any joint degrees (MD/PhD, MD/MPH, etc.)?

Response # Responders
No 2
BA/DO 0
BS/DO 0
DO/JD 0
DO/MA 0
DO/MBA 0
DO/MPH 0
DO/MS 0
DO/PhD 0
MD/JD 0
MD/MBA 0
MD/MPH 0
MD/MS 0
MD/PhD 0

Are you considered in-state or out-of-state for tuition purposes?

Response # Responders
in-state 0
out-of-state 0
international 0
Not applicable 2

What is your race/ethnic background?

Response # Responders
Caucasian 2
African American 0
Hispanic 0
Asian or Pacific Islander 0
Native American/ Native Alaskan 0
Other/Multiracial 0

Overall, how would you rate this medical program?

Response Avg # Responders
4.00 2

0 = terrible, 10 = world class

What is the reputation of the school in the medical community?

Response Avg # Responders
3.00 2

0 = really bad, 10 = top tier

What is the reputation of the research that goes on at this school?

Response Avg # Responders
0.00 2

0 = really bad, 10 = top tier

What was your MCAT score?

Response Average # Responders
503 2

What was your undergrad GPA?

Response Average # Responders
3.25 2

What was your undergrad science GPA?

Response Average # Responders
3.20 2

What was the zip code of your residence in high school?

45356

13104

What do you like most about this school?

"Looking back, I enjoyed a few things while on the island: the isolation from typical hometown/university town distractions, and the close knit student community. I felt bad for those around me that didn't have the courage to leave their comfort zone and interact with new people or join clubs/organizations (I was one of them for a while, though I did get more studying done at the time). Off the island, during my clinical blocks, it was beneficial to experience many different hospital systems and clinical styles in varying locales. Some of the students around me couldn't handle the lack of omnipotent control over their schedules, though I found that the students who had connections (not me) or those few students with all of their t's crossed and i's dotted (again, not me) were pretty much able to go where they wanted. I tended to go with the flow." | Report Response

"freedom to create your own 4th year curriculum, living in the Caribbean" | Report Response

What do you like least about this school?

"It's important to know that a handful of states have additional requirements that need to be met before they accept international students for a residency spot. California being one... Near the end of my clinicals there was a weird situation that occurred with a hospital that I rotated through where it may or may not have been acceptable for California residencies. This whole thing was pretty confusing for me and even though the administration did everything they could to try and fix the situation, I chose not to pursue obtaining residency in California as a result. Not a huge deal, I still interviewed for several very selective residency spots and got my second choice. I've since settled down in the state where I completed my residency, and looking back as a licensed/certified MD, I sometimes wonder "what if" I had pursued the residency in Cali (where I initially wanted to be). The other thing, getting acceptable clinical rotations to meet those state requirements are often difficult to obtain. From what I understood at the time, those spots were prioritized for locals of that state and/or students with merit. It was likely in my control (using the merit argument), but the whole situation was a bit convoluted for me until actually going through it, and therefore was the aspect I liked least of Ross U. If you go international, and you want to train in a state with an exception, make sure your ducks are in a row from the get go." | Report Response

"zero professional guidance, exceptionally poor exposure to good medicine and good mentors throughout 3rd year cores, exceptionally poor teaching preclinically for the vast majority of 1-2 year, dealing with administration is very difficult and takes a very long time" | Report Response

Please provide any other general comments on your school

"Having read the other review here about Ross University SOM, I was compelled to provide students considering this route with another perspective. I studied hard and passed all my exams/boards with good/great scores on the first try. I secured an excellent residency spot with my second choice. After completing my residency, I got my license and board certification and now I'm living the dream as a clinical assistant professor for a major university. In addition, my close network of friends all obtained equally good residency spots - many FP and IM but also EM, OBGYN, surgery, etc... I personally didn't know anyone who went into rads/ortho/anesthesia/derm and the like, but my friends didn't apply for those spots. Friends of friends did get in though. FYI, a match list is posted on the Ross website for all to see going back to 2005... So, it's really not a mystery. Ross grads do match into good residencies and the ones that are determined and put in the work are well respected by their peers. Having worked in a faculty position at a US medical school now for several years I will attest, the education does not differ between schools. Medical school is medical school, they all teach the same thing... It's the students that differ. I do feel bad for those who did not make it, but it's for the best because being a physician is not an easy path to take. It only gets more difficult and the responsibility only increases as you progress through school into residency. At Ross, just like any other medical school, you will be tested. But at Ross, factor in that you will likely be away from family, friends, familiar comfortable places and foods. It's not for everyone. It's an opportunity. If you want it bad enough, and if your determined and driven, you will succeed!" | Report Response

"Going to Ross ensures your exposure to medicine will be terrible, you will do no research, and you will not have much of a chance at anything except the lowest tier residencies unless you have prior ties to those schools. You will have more red tape to go through after graduation. You will have a 50-50 chance of matching even if you get through the preclinical years, which less than half of students do. If this is the only choice you have to get a medical degree in the US and that is the only thing that will make you happy then take it, otherwise stay far away." | Report Response

Curriculum

How is the curriculum structured?

No responses

How many courses are taken at a given time?

No responses

How long are you typically in class per day?

No responses

Are courses recorded for medical students?

No responses

How many days per week is anatomy lab?

No responses

How many students per cadaver?

No responses

How long (in months) do you have anatomy?

No responses

Is the curriculum lecture-centric or small-group centric?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = 100% lecture, 10 = 100% small group

Are standardized patients used?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

How much patient interaction is there in the pre-clinical years?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = none, 10 = extensive

Are syllabi provided for the student?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

How frequently do pre-clinical medical school activities have mandatory attendance?

No responses

What books are necessary?

No responses

What books are unnecessary?

No responses

Is the curriculum designed to promote a specialty? If so, which specialty?

No responses

Location & Housing

How do you feel about the location of the school?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = Uncomfortable, 10 = Desirable

Do you feel safe on campus?

Response Avg # Responders
10.00 1

0 = Not safe, 10 = Very safe

How available and convenient is public transportation?

Response Avg # Responders
7.00 1

0 = Non-existent, 10 = Extensive & convenient

Is a car necessary at any point during your education here?

No responses

If a car is required for education, how available and convenient is the parking provided to students?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = Almost impossible, 10 = Available & convenient

Is on-campus housing available?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

What is the quality of available on-campus housing?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = terrible, 10 = great

What percentage of your medical school classmates would you estimate live on campus, if on-campus housing is available?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = 0%, 10 = 100%

Is couples housing available?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

Is nearby off-campus housing available?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

How expensive is nearby off-campus housing?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = exorbitant, 10 = reasonable

Please describe the on-campus housing if available (i.e., cost, type - studios, 1-br, 2-br, etc.)?

No responses

Cost/Financial Aid

Are fees/tuition expensive?

Response Avg # Responders
7.00 1

0 = exorbitant, 10 = reasonable

How is the cost of living (rent, food, bills, etc.)?

Response Avg # Responders
4.00 1

0 = exorbitant, 10 = reasonable

Are many institutional scholarships/grants available?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = none, 10 = many

Is institutional aid need-based or merit-based?

No responses

Faculty/Grades

Are faculty members very open to students during office hours?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = Not at all, 10 = Very open

Are faculty members very available to students via email/message board?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = Not at all, 10 = Very available

Are there many opportunities to shadow/work with clinical faculty?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = none, 10 = lots

Are the faculty willing to mentor students in regards to career guidance?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

Is the class ranked?

Response # Responders
yes 0
no 0

How is the instructional faculty during pre-clinical years?

No responses

How is the instructional faculty during clinical years?

No responses

What is the grading scale used during pre-clinical years?

No responses

What is the grading scale used during clinical years?

No responses

Clinical Rotations

Are the desired rotation sites easy to obtain?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = difficult, 10 = easy

Is desired rotation order easy to obtain?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = difficult, 10 = easy

Are the elective rotations easy to obtain?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = difficult, 10 = easy

Is there substantial hands-on experience for medical students?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = none, 10 = substantial

Are the rotation sites conveniently accessible for medical students?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = difficult, 10 = accessible

How far are the clinical sites from the main campus?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = far away, 10 = close

How are clinical rotations scheduled? What are the required rotations?

No responses

What responsibility do med students have on the wards?

No responses

What is the status/condition of the affiliated hospital(s)?

No responses

What is the typical patient population medical students work with?

No responses

Social Environment

Do students do a lot of activities outside of school together?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = none, 10 = lots

How would you rank student involvement in extracurricular clubs?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = none, 10 = lots

What is the range of extracurricular clubs available?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = almost none, 10 = wide range

Is the student body cooperative or competitive?

Response Avg # Responders
7.00 1

0 = competitive, 10 = cooperative

Is the environment supportive for underrepresented minorities?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

Is the environment supportive for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual students?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

Is the environment supportive for students with disabilities?

Response Avg # Responders
5.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

Is the environment supportive for married students?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

Is the environment supportive for older/non-traditional students?

Response Avg # Responders
8.00 1

0 = no, 10 = very

What do the students typically like to do in the area?

No responses

Post Graduation

How do graduates from this school fare in residency and clinical practice?

"Match stats are posted to the Ross University SOM website to review back to 2005." | Report Response

What do you believe residency directors think about graduates from this program?

"In my opinion, it depends on the graduate and their particular situation. Residency is difficult and it's important to know the track record of an applicant and how they will manage the impending stress and responsibilities of the residency program and beyond. Many students go to offshore schools because they did not get an acceptance from a US school. That is a red flag and I would assume some residency programs don't want to take that risk. For many US residency programs, I would also assume that there is pressure to not accept offshore candidates for fear that it will make the residency program look weak or poor in quality. That probably isn't good for the bottom line. It's also important to know how the graduate managed their time and coursework while in the medical school program. Other issues that come up are: Was leave taken? If so, for how long? What for? Any failures (blocks/boards)? Why? These things all add up with plenty of other factors to make a graduate competitive. I would have to say that residency directors that aren't under pressure to avoid offshore grads, likely review those applications carefully to select the graduates who demonstrate the commitment and determination to be successful in their program and beyond." | Report Response

Is this school known for producing physicians strong in a certain area? If so, which area?

"Since Ross graduates (and most offshore schools) are filtered out of many residency spots, particularly the selective specialties, I would say primary care residencies are the strong suit. They are the most common and arguably the easiest group of residencies to get into. From my experience, students are also aware of this before matriculation and it probably reduces the potential applicants who prefer the more selective specialties. In addition, I think students may take on (or happen to match into) primary care spots if they determine they lack the competitive edge for the more selective specialties as they work their way through the medical school program." | Report Response

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