I responded to a topic in the SGU forum and wanted to also post it here because 1. it took me a long time to type it all and 2. I think it's good advice for all seniors, I decided to post it in the main forum.

I hate to be the one to rain on anyones parade so I'll try not to make this too negative.
1. In my opinion, and it's just my opinion, that you need to live a little before you can fully dedicate yourself to medicine. I believe that 90% of what you learn in college does not come from the classroom. It comes from your experiences during college. Work all sorts of jobs (for me it was Rich's sales associate, GNC sales associate, Barback, Bartender, construction worker, ER Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer, Lab Technician just to name a few). I also joined a fraternity and partied my **** off. Took trips to Destin and PC all the time. Saw Jimmy Buffett 9 times, Motley crue twice, Dave Mathews, Kenny Chesney, George Carlin, Ron White just to name a few. I lived life to the fullest during college and now that the partying is out of my system, I have forged many friends and made many contacts for a lifetime and I'm tired of working two jobs, I am now fully ready to dive into medical school and settle down and get on with the rest of my life with no regrets at all. I have the memories from college that I will never forget or regret. I can't possibly envision my life without these experiences and friends.

2. It seems like the people coming straight out from high school to pre-med and med school at a foreign school are definately driven and believe in what they want. This is fabulous. I think it is just awesome and I'm being serious and not sarcastic. Some people never find out what they want to do for the rest of their lives and for we few who do I commend you. But you seriously miss out on the college maturing process and having all that fun and being able to be irresponsible and get away with it (usually). if you go straight to the carib and straight through school the upside is that you will be a doctor at 23-24 and practicing at 27-30. The inherent downside is that you have just wasted your youth (again, my opinion only). You aren't young anymore and can't do the wild things youngins do.

3. Carib is great. I am going there and am perfectly happy with it. But during off time in Undergrad what are you going to do. As stated earlier there are little if none at all US students in pre-med at Carib schools. So you forge freindships with island premed people who are more likely than not staying in the carib. Unless you are planning on practicing in the carib (which is very rare for a US citizen) you will probably never see these people again. Plus no crazy road trips, and road trips with friends are crucial.

4. with no US degree, I feel you will have a doubly hard time at getting a good US residency.

5. why would you give up your chance at going to a US medical school if you want to eventually end up practicing in the US. Most, and I mean high 90%, of all carib students failed to gain admittance to a US school. This is our second chance at becoming a doctor. Why would you give up your first chance?

In conclusion, by all means follow your dreams. I believe that all foreign med students are more driven to become doctors because they had to take extra steps and take a big chance and risk on coming to the carib. But it can be done. It has been done. But live your youth to the fullest in undergrad before you wake up and your 30 with nothing to look back at or remember and smile about. You can go to a bar or any social gathering and mingle with people and have a good time. But what stories will you have to tell everyone. What old friends will you be able to visit and talk about the good old days. Because when you are a doctor, your life is dedicated to medicine and there is really no time to catch up on the debachery (sp?) of your youth.

Note: this advice does not apply to you if you do not want to end up a doctor in the US. if your goal was to be a doctor in the carib from the get go then by all means go for it and I salute you.

a little about myself. I am currently 24. I went to college for 4 years and graduated in 2003. I took a year off to have some more fun and work 2 jobs to save some money. I will start school at AUC in Aug '05. Good luck to everyone wether you choose to follow my advice or not. Just trying to help out

__________________
I just hate stupid people. They should have to wear signs that say I'm stupid. That way, you wouldn't rely on them would you. You wouldn't ask them anything. It'd be like, "excuse me...oops, nevermind, I didn't see your sign."