Circus,

First, I would like to point out that my reply to redviking was not "complaining" as you indicate several times in your post. I was and I am simply stating the facts. If these facts are negative this does not constitute a "complaint".

Regarding tuition for London Medical College and IUHS, 3600 to 4000 dollars is very reasonable at first glance..especially compared to ROSS, SABA, St. Matthew's, and St. George's. However, these schools participate in student loan programs. Expecting a medical student to pay $900 to $1000 per month (in lieu of student loan funds) remains unrealistic for a "certain catagory" of medical student.

The type of student I describe may only earn between $40-$50K per year. (For discussion sake I will use national averages). If this person is single and earning $50K, after tax take home pay is approxiamtely $2850 per month. Subtract from this: any rent/mortgage, car insurance, car payment, utilities, misc bills, and groceries. The estimated national living budget for a major metropolitan area is $1350 per month ($2850-$1350 =
$1500). Now, subtract tuition from this $1500-1000= $500. Expecting a person to surivive with $500 in the bank (or less) is not realistic.

Obviously, medical school is a huge financial burden. Anyone that has embarked on this path is fully aware of the economic implication. Student loans are what help to make this education attainable for many. It appears that the type of student best suited for attending schools such as IUHS or LMC would be married/attached in a two income household or this person is from an upper economic class.

Strange that you make mention of Prometric. This is the agency that IUHS use to contract with to administer its testing. IUHS abandoned use of Prometric after the evolution/development of taskcare dot com. This is the agnecy that administers/services the online classroom AND all testing. According to several students from IUHS, they were not informed of the details pertaining to test adminstration, nor that they would incur added test expenses, prior to their enrollment at IUHS. Also, I was mistaken with the quotation of the $100. It has been brought to my attention that students at IUHS have 2 block exams within one trimester. Therefore, the cost of testing is $200 per semester in addition to tuition.

I am in agreement with your point that a monitored/proctored test setting is the only manner in which to ensure the validity of online learning/testing. I do not agree that the student should have to shoulder this added expense (especially if you are the student described in the example above) without full disclosure of this added cost prior to enrolling at the institution. The main reason I made mention of this fact in my reply to redviking was not to "complain" but provide him/her with the facts pertaining to expenses that he/she would encounter.

The chief financial officer of IUHS is one of the developers/board members of taskcare dot com. To an outside third party it might appear that IUHS may not have wanted the continued expense of a contract with prometric, and this lead to the development of taskcare dot com. Now, the responsiblity for finding an approved test site, an approved proctor, and the expense of testing lies clearly with the student. I believe that potential students should be aware of this before submitting their application and application fee to IUHS. If they have full disclosure of all possible expenses, testing proceedures, text requirements etc., in advance of submitting their application fee, application, or even their seat deposit...they will at least be able to make the best decision for themself and will at least be able to make an "informed" choice.

While researching which medical school to select, I have spoken directly to LMC. According to their rep, they are a "bonafide satellite campus" of IUHS. When a person graduates from LMC the degree will read "London Medical College under auspices of the International Univ of Health Sciences".

Medical school is unquestionably difficult. People that have chosen to pursue this course of study are well aware of the rigor/concentration/sacrafice that it entails. You erroneously assumed that my commentary pertaining to the "volumes of material" downloaded by IUHS students was unjustified. Also, IUHS student are required and expected to read ALL the same required texts as other programs IN ADDITION to ALL the power point presentations, online notes, addenda to online notes, and quizzes. Recently, an IUHS student advised me that the number of pages of material they were required/expected to download in one trimester ranges from 2000 (for a lite trimester) to 3000! AGAIN, This is in addition to the required text readings and assignments. Unfortunately, the students with whom I have spoken indicate that they must wade through ALL the material; as some professors will only take their exam questions from the text while others only from the notes. I do not find - nor do the students that I have spoken with- that 2000 to 3000 pages in addition to the required text reading to be a "concise" method of presenting material.

The problems faced by IUHS students, as expressed to me while questioning them regarding their program, are indeed challenging and difficult. While they may not seem severe (in your opinion) those students that are struggling through them would disagree. At the risk of being redundant, my reply to redviking was not a complaint. It is simply... according to my research... the reality of students attending IUHS and more than likely LMC.