Why Caribbean Medical Schools can be an option

[romanLyz]

More and more students from the United States and Canada are choosing Caribbean medical schools. These island institutions offer four to six year medical programs awarding doctoral degrees in various fields of medicine including medical research as well as general practice. The most obvious reason for choosing a medical school in the Caribbean is cost, and perhaps lower GPA and MCAT scores requirements.

 

Schools in the Caribbean are less expensive even when travel and travel student health insurance costs are included, so they continue to be popular choices for many applicants. Some also tend to have more relaxed entry requirements than medical schools in the United States, and as a result, a student with a lower GPA (Grade Point Average) from his/her undergraduate studies and a lower MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) score may be accepted at Caribbean medical schools.

[thehumanmacbook]

This is in the wrong sub-form....

 

You need to post this in International schools forum or general premed

 

Preclin is med 1 and med 2

[Mithril]

So your reasons as to why Caribbean schools should be an option:

 

More people go there (ad populum fallacy)

Lower cost of tuition

Less stringest entry requirements

 

These aren't reasons as to why Caribbean schools are an option. They are snake oil tactics that don't address the lack of accreditation and recognition, the high attrition rate, the hidden fees, the quality of life, and the difficulty of coming back to North America as a resident. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents out there. In order to convince people Caribbean schools are a good option, it would be a good idea to start with numbers first; how many people apply, how many are accepted, how many actually graduate, USMLE and LMCC scores, etc. I don't want anyone to be misled by Caribbean admissions committees.

[rmorelan]

More and more students from the United States and Canada are choosing Caribbean medical schools. These island institutions offer four to six year medical programs awarding doctoral degrees in various fields of medicine including medical research as well as general practice. The most obvious reason for choosing a medical school in the Caribbean is cost, and perhaps lower GPA and MCAT scores requirements.

 

Schools in the Caribbean are less expensive even when travel and travel student health insurance costs are included, so they continue to be popular choices for many applicants. Some also tend to have more relaxed entry requirements than medical schools in the United States, and as a result, a student with a lower GPA (Grade Point Average) from his/her undergraduate studies and a lower MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) score may be accepted at Caribbean medical schools.

 

doubt we will get a debate here but it would be interesting to get some official response from a Caribbean school.

 

Seems odd for a VP from a medical school to use a in their message by the way.

[bpatient]

So your reasons as to why Caribbean schools should be an option:

 

More people go there (ad populum fallacy)

Lower cost of tuition

Less stringest entry requirements

 

These aren't reasons as to why Caribbean schools are an option. They are snake oil tactics that don't address the lack of accreditation and recognition, the high attrition rate, the hidden fees, the quality of life, and the difficulty of coming back to North America as a resident. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents out there. In order to convince people Caribbean schools are a good option, it would be a good idea to start with numbers first; how many people apply, how many are accepted, how many actually graduate, USMLE and LMCC scores, etc. I don't want anyone to be misled by Caribbean admissions committees.

 

Haha I found that amusing

[preppy038]

Canadian schools have lower cost of tuition than the Caribbeans no? :S

[rmorelan]

Canadian schools have lower cost of tuition than the Caribbeans no? :S

 

Yes but the OP is probably referring to US tuition - nothing we would have access to conveniently would have as low a cost as a Canadian school.

[vanillabear]

So your reasons as to why Caribbean schools should be an option:

 

More people go there (ad populum fallacy)

Lower cost of tuition

Less stringest entry requirements

 

These aren't reasons as to why Caribbean schools are an option. They are snake oil tactics that don't address the lack of accreditation and recognition, the high attrition rate, the hidden fees, the quality of life, and the difficulty of coming back to North America as a resident. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents out there. In order to convince people Caribbean schools are a good option, it would be a good idea to start with numbers first; how many people apply, how many are accepted, how many actually graduate, USMLE and LMCC scores, etc. I don't want anyone to be misled by Caribbean admissions committees.

 

+2

 

(ps. this is why we should have a "thanks" feature )

[Mashmetoo]

I love how she started 3 similar threads like this since March 2010, then offered no followup explanation/rebuttals to the responses

 

It seems that not only does Antigua School of Medicine have lower requirements for students, they have lower requirements for Vice President Institutional Advancement & International Affairs too! (I think you missed an "of" in your signature there)

 

At least australearn bothered to come back for responses to comments

[Robin Hood]

Yes but the OP is probably referring to US tuition - nothing we would have access to conveniently would have as low a cost as a Canadian school.

 

Especially in Quebec.

[Robin Hood]

More and more students from the United States and Canada are choosing Caribbean medical schools. These island institutions offer four to six year medical programs awarding doctoral degrees in various fields of medicine including medical research as well as general practice. The most obvious reason for choosing a medical school in the Caribbean is cost, and perhaps lower GPA and MCAT scores requirements.

 

Schools in the Caribbean are less expensive even when travel and travel student health insurance costs are included, so they continue to be popular choices for many applicants. Some also tend to have more relaxed entry requirements than medical schools in the United States, and as a result, a student with a lower GPA (Grade Point Average) from his/her undergraduate studies and a lower MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) score may be accepted at Caribbean medical schools.

 

What a piece of trash:

1. Not being able to achieve a high GPA means you can't become a good doctor. I won't comment on the MCAT because I never took it. But it seems a lot of people can handle it.

2. Tutitions fees in the Caribbeans can be lower than in the US, but not than in Canada.

3. You can't guarantee to get a residency when you get back to Canada. So going to a Caribbean school could be useless.

[hking03]

What a piece of trash:

1. Not being able to achieve a high GPA means you can't become a good doctor. I won't comment on the MCAT because I never took it. But it seems a lot of people can handle it.

2. Tutitions fees in the Caribbeans can be lower than in the US, but not than in Canada.

3. You can't guarantee to get a residency when you get back to Canada. So going to a Caribbean school could be useless.

 

Let's not jump to conclusions there hood.

 

Gpa has little to do with becoming a good doctor.

 

Back when my family doctor was in med school gpa didn't matter and the mcat was a joke.

 

It's largely due to intense competition and regulation that gpa is even considered a part of the selection process.

 

A lot of people with high gpas would make terrible doctors... Likewise, a lot of people with lower gpas would make great doctors but may never get the chance.

 

I do agree that the stuff the op Is saying doesn't make a lot

Of sense, but whatever.

[DocT7]

Let's not jump to conclusions there hood.

 

Gpa has little to do with becoming a good doctor.

 

Back when my family doctor was in med school gpa didn't matter and the mcat was a joke.

 

It's largely due to intense competition and regulation that gpa is even considered a part of the selection process.

 

A lot of people with high gpas would make terrible doctors... Likewise, a lot of people with lower gpas would make great doctors but may never get the chance.

 

I do agree that the stuff the op Is saying doesn't make a lot

Of sense, but whatever.

 

I agree that gpa may not signify how good/bad of a doctor you may be, but it could be an indicator of other attributes like hard working, scholarly, focus, intelligence (to a point), determined, ability to handle the workload etc etc.

 

These qualities (I think) are necessary in not only being a good doctor, but for being successful in medical school.

 

I will refrain from other comments on the subject because this has been discussed multiple times, but gpa could be a indication of other necessary qualities.

[notmeadoc]

there's a new doc at one of the Lower Mainland Hospitals - I will refrain from saying which one.

 

He went to school in the Carib. He managed to find his way back to Canada - in a convoluted fashion but he still made it back.

 

He's a terrible doctor and the laughing stock amongst all the docs. A lot of the docs are saying that he acts like an "information gatherer" which is apparently characteristic of a 3rd year medical student. He spouts off all kinds of enzyme and biochem talk trying to seem smart, which is not how docs speak. His clinical judgement is lacking in all ways and he just orders massive amounts of tests and imaging instead of taking a history and being a real doctor.

 

Most of the specialists are scared of his judgement and when he's covering call they all come running whenever he calls because they don't believe anything he says he either under or overcalls everything.

 

Don't go down there. Stay in Canada.

[Clever]

What a piece of trash:

1. Not being able to achieve a high GPA means you can't become a good doctor. I won't comment on the MCAT because I never took it. But it seems a lot of people can handle it.

2. Tutitions fees in the Caribbeans can be lower than in the US, but not than in Canada.

3. You can't guarantee to get a residency when you get back to Canada. So going to a Caribbean school could be useless.

 

That is not true at all. I heard of a 3.0 being the top of her med class (at least in first year)

[rmorelan]

That is not true at all. I heard of a 3.0 being the top of her med class (at least in first year)

 

medical school? Because a 3.0 is quite low in med application terms and any UG that gives grades like that to their best student is being stupid - so many external awards/grants are based on average and those students would be seriously disadvantaged.

[thehumanmacbook]

medical school? Because a 3.0 is quite low in med application terms and any UG that gives grades like that to their best student is being stupid - so many external awards/grants are based on average and those students would be seriously disadvantaged.

 

No I think Clev means that her UG GPA was 3.0...and she's the top of her med class now.

[Wayward son]

Don't go down there. Stay in Canada.

 

While I agree for the most part with this statement and will not be leaving the country for medical school (I will either get in here or do something else), we can hardly judge medical training based on a single person. I am sure that every medical school graduates incompetent doctors from time to time.

[zxcv]

Some of the Carribbean schools are a joke, just like this thread. The only thing you will get out of those schools is false hope.

[rmorelan]

No I think Clev means that her UG GPA was 3.0...and she's the top of her med class now.

 

ahhh that makes more sense

[rmorelan]

Some of the Carribbean schools are a joke, just like this thread. The only thing you will get out of those schools is false hope.

 

At this point do any have actually a reasonable chance of getting a suitable residency?

[Robin Hood]

No I think Clev means that her UG GPA was 3.0...and she's the top of her med class now.

 

She's studying medicine in Canada? 3.0 is too low for a med school application.

[Clever]

She's studying medicine in Canada? 3.0 is too low for a med school application.

 

/facepalm...

[Mithril]

She's studying medicine in Canada? 3.0 is too low for a med school application.

It's rare, but sub-3.0 undergrad GPA students do make it in.

[tothestars]

I worked at a hospital for two summers in Toronto. I have met many residents who studied at SABA. It's definitely not impossible.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to fulfill your goal. Besides some people don't want to come back to Canada. The world isn't limited to just the North American continent.