I completely agree. This is one of the reasons why it is very difficult to compare the match statistics between schools. Even if you assume the match data are complete and accurate (which they aren't) you have to compare the rate at which people applied (and their stats) in order to make meaningful comparisons. But, if you take all the carib schools together, I think it is reasonable to assume that the proportion of people who would like to enter rads is not too different from LCME schools. Thus, it is probably reasonable to make a broad comparison of LCME match rates vs aggregate carib match rates. Such a comparison will suffer from the criticisms you mention but at least it would give a rough estimate of the difference.

If you wanna save money buy your underwear at the salvation army.

Don't scrimp on Med School.

__________________
Bookite, MD, DC
AUC SOM

Emergency Medicine Resident
PGY1 UTCOM

There is no evidence of a school effect on USMLE scores. That is, there is no evidence that, after adjusting for other predictors (gpa, MCAT), that the choice of school has an effect on USMLE scores. If you believe the data (which is often questionable), there are differences in pass rates; however, it is not clear whether the differences in pass rate are due to differences in quality of education or to differences in the quality of students. For example, SGU has a higher pass rate than the other schools; however, it is also the most selective so you would expect SGU to have the highest pass rate. Thus, it is hard to say whether the difference is due to nature (quality of students), nuture (quality of education) or both.

Statistically, one would test the existence of a school effect with the following model:

USMLE = b0 + b1*MCAT + b2*GPA + b3*school + e

and test whether the regression coefficient, b3, is statistically significant. The variable, school, would be an indicator variable that takes a value of zero or 1 depending on whether one attends one school (say, SGU) vs. all the others. The value of b3 would give you the increment in USMLE score that would be obtained by attending SGU after adjustment for the known predictors, MCAT and gpa. Because MCAT and gpa are known predictors that vary by school, it is meaningless to make school by school comparisons of USMLE stats without accounting for these factors.

Still, in the absense of data, it is interesting to speculate whether there is any reason why a school effect might exist. In my opinion, there is little reason to think a school effect exists because the educational programs at all the carib schools are very similar. They all have a discipline based curriculum that is delivered by lecture. They all use the same standard texts. Thus, I find it hard to believe that the minor differences in educational experience would account for significant differences in USMLE scores between schools. On the other hand, we know that the school vary in selectivity which we know has an impact on USMLE scores irrespective of school.

That said, I would not go as far to say that all schools are alike. Thus, I would say that is probably worth the extra money to go to a CA approved school if you have the opportunity. For one, you will have a wider range of options for residency and practice that may prove quite valuable. Also, there is risk associated with smaller schools. You can avoid this by going to a proven school with an established history of placing students in residency. The established schools have much better networks of clinical sites that can save you time, money and headaches. Thus, it may be penny wise and pound foolish to attend a fledgling school.

Wow, biostats should be easy for you.

__________________
M.D. on April 5,2008
PGY-I Psychiatry at LSU on July 1,2008

i wish i had that kind of spare time.....only enough for one liners of spam

__________________
AUC Post-5th Semester
Undergrad: UC Riverside

well I'm keeping my fingers crossed & inshahallah AUC will accept me but I definitely agree with one of the posters - a degree from St James is better than no degree - I just wanted to do a quick cost-benefit analysis of how much I'd give up if I choose St James instead of reapplying

does St. James even have loans?

In my honest opinion, there are positives and negatives associated with both schools. You should figure out what suits you best in terms of quality of education, tuition, loan programs, residency placements, state licensures and quality of life on the Island where you will choose to study medicine.
St.Maarten is a GREAT island. Lots to do which can be both good in terms of mental sanity and bad if you dont balance between study and pleasure.
The fact that FAFSA is available at AUC makes it a more viable choice, however tuition is excessive for the quality of education that you recieve. I dont know about now but when I attended AUC, some profs were just terrible and only a handful were really worth listening to. Most of us just "hit the scribes" to get that pass in a lot of classes. Sure some were outstanding profs..but still I felt we were paying way too much (at8500/semester) for the education we were recieving. I am not sure if the calibre of profs has gotten better now..but $12000 + tuition is still extremely high.
I can say this with great assurance that AUC has stable clinical rotations for 3rd and 4rth year students in the US. Good hospitals, great teaching. Ofcourse to get to that..you have to pass the boards and at my time half my class failed step 1 the first try. Never the less.. I dont know of a single friend of mine that graduated from AUC that did not match into a residency position. Surely there were some that took an extra year or 2 to match but they did finally match. I cant comment on St.James..but I know that if that school is legit and allows you to pass your boards...in terms of getting a residency..it matters very little where you graduated from and matters a crap load in terms of what your board scores are. Meaning that if someone from AUC with a 200 competes for a spot with a st.james graduate with a 210, keeping all other credentials equal..the spot will nmost likely go to the st.James grad. so Board scores matter the most! At least it did in my experience.
Make sure that before you choose a school you do your own research on it. the bottom line is YOU have to put in time, effort and money to be successful and if you do that..there is not doubt in my mind that you will make it to a Pgy1 residency spot even if you studied out of a hut(granted it was a who/imed school!. good luck!

The ONLY positive to St. James is that it's cheaper. However, you get what you pay for, and you are NOT getting the ability to practice anywhere in the US.
This is a stupid thing to say and just something people say to justify their choice (or lack of choice) to go to a lesser school. There are a lot more distractions in the US, but if you get into a US school, you go to a US school!
Are you kidding me? Medical school is expensive! But, AUC is still half the price of most US schools without an in-state discount.
If someone from St. James gets a 250 on the USMLE and someone from AUC gets a 195, the AUC student may get the spot since the St. James student will be automatically disqualified from CA, any state the uses the CA list, or any state that requires all greenbook rotations, which not all of St. James' are. At AUC, SGU, or Ross, all of your cores will be accepted anywhere you want to go. At other schools, they may not be.

As I have said before...if anyone tells you that it would be a good idea to go to St. James after getting into one of the big 3, you are getting VERY bad advice. This is like choosing to go to the caribbean after getting into a US school. Some people say they've done it (although i'm pretty sure they're lying), but they WILL regret it. I only know of one person who definitely got into a US school, and she is now regretting it big time! Comparing AUC and St. James is like comparing apples to....rotten apples.

Can we please end this now...the question has been answered. All things being equal, step scores matter most. But, with AUC and St. James, all things are NOT equal and your school could automatically disqualify you from many states.
US >>>AUC, SGU, Ross, Saba >>>all other caribbean schools

__________________
AUC 4th Semester
http://slevit1.blogspot.com

well gee, slevit1, you sure left yourself ambiguous about how you feel

I did talk to several residents who graduated from SJSM - they all managed multiple interviews with USMLE 2-digit in the high 80s... so if SJSM is someone's only choice, I doubt it'll be impossibly painful - CA I can worry about when I get to it

Thanks everyone for you opinion - please pray for me 'cus my AUC decision will be made today @ NOON!!!