Thread: Considering AUA

I am considering AUA as an option for med school. I have looked over the website, but I still have a couple of questions for the students attending or that have attended the university. How well do you think AUA fares amongst other Caribbean med schools? Are classes taught well and material covered sufficiently enough to get a good result on the USMLE? Do you actually feel like you are learning something, or are you teaching yourself most of the material? Also, how likely is it to become an OBGYN through AUA and what course plan do you have to take for this option? Would you recommend AUA?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to be well informed on details before I apply and hear first-hand how it is be to a student at AUA.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by star01

I am considering AUA as an option for med school. I have looked over the website, but I still have a couple of questions for the students attending or that have attended the university. How well do you think AUA fares amongst other Caribbean med schools? Are classes taught well and material covered sufficiently enough to get a good result on the USMLE? Do you actually feel like you are learning something, or are you teaching yourself most of the material? Also, how likely is it to become an OBGYN through AUA and what course plan do you have to take for this option? Would you recommend AUA?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to be well informed on details before I apply and hear first-hand how it is be to a student at AUA.

Thank you!

I just wanted to say that you are doing the right thing by getting feedback from current Basic Science and Clinical students. Don't be afraid to ask every possible question, especially in regards to the administration, testing policies, pass rates, and how often students transfer in and out. As for becoming an OB/gyn, your basic science classes are general and will cover all of medicine. When you go into clinicals, you will do a rotation in Ob/gyn. There are no specific classes a school gives in ob/gyn, its up to you and what you do with your rotation.

As for how AUA measures up, they recently got California approval, which is a huge deal. But they don't yet have loans, so look closely into how you will pay for school.

Originally Posted by star01

I am considering AUA as an option for med school. I have looked over the website, but I still have a couple of questions for the students attending or that have attended the university. How well do you think AUA fares amongst other Caribbean med schools? Are classes taught well and material covered sufficiently enough to get a good result on the USMLE? Do you actually feel like you are learning something, or are you teaching yourself most of the material? Also, how likely is it to become an OBGYN through AUA and what course plan do you have to take for this option? Would you recommend AUA?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to be well informed on details before I apply and hear first-hand how it is be to a student at AUA.

Thank you!

Again, good job with the questions. In order to see how AUA fares with other schools you would have to get their residency rates and USMLE rates (of which I'm not quite sure how to do). Also, I know AUA is molded as a 2-semester curriculum (similar to US med schools) vs ross, st.george's and others who are 3-semester year. The time spent on the other school's first 2 years is more like 16-18 months but your having to know a lot more information in a shorter amount of time. AUA also uses old shelf-exams for their students (meaning that the questions are former USMLE questions) and that's how they prepare you for step 1.

You should check out this link for their graduate success...
"WWW".auamed.org/graduate-success

you don't want to do ob/gyn

Originally Posted by rahulb

you don't want to do ob/gyn

With hard wrok and consistency there is absolutely nothing you can't do or be .
AUA is a great school.

Drop me an e-mail and I'll send along our Step 1 Pass rates. Also, I believe there's a thread somewhere with the contact information from our AUA Ambassadors who you may reach out to for additional student perspectives if you wish. Let me know if you can't find the thread and I'll send over their email.

There are no specific classes a school gives in ob/gyn, its up to you and what you do with your rotation.

"Pass rate" can is kind of ambiguous.

Just wanted to add, it appears that AUA and SGU are the two Caribbean programs to offer a semester calendar that is quite similar to American MD and DO programs. For future reference, our two class intakes are offered in February and August.

On a side note, check out the "graduate success" link below within the next few weeks. Since Match Day is this Friday, we will begin putting together the residency placement details for the June 2012 graduates. This will certainly be useful for the OP to review.

Originally Posted by amkakar

Again, good job with the questions. In order to see how AUA fares with other schools you would have to get their residency rates and USMLE rates (of which I'm not quite sure how to do). Also, I know AUA is molded as a 2-semester curriculum (similar to US med schools) vs ross, st.george's and others who are 3-semester year. The time spent on the other school's first 2 years is more like 16-18 months but your having to know a lot more information in a shorter amount of time. AUA also uses old shelf-exams for their students (meaning that the questions are former USMLE questions) and that's how they prepare you for step 1.

You should check out this link for their graduate success...
"WWW".auamed.org/graduate-success

Let me know if you can't find the thread and I'll send over their email.