Thread: 5 years to finish?

Just wondering whether it's common (or if at least there have been a few people) to take 5 years between starting AUC and beginning their residency. I'm hoping to get an H1B visa and am considering taking the extra year to get all the paperwork in order (I'll keep the immigration stuff to a minimum so please don't move this thread), but my main concern is whether taking 5 years will be frowned upon when I apply for the Match. I'll be starting in Fall '09 and then will likely get my degree around June '13, then apply for the March '14 Match. Thanks!

there are definitely people who are on the 5 year plan, but not by choice. if you fail multiple classes on the island and take 1 or 2 extra semesters you might end up in that boat. i dont think its very common however nor something one generally aspires to.

why would you want to take 5 years anyways?

Yes it is common. It can be from several different things such as failing classes, or some students do choose to slow things down from the beginning, also, some people take a long time off to study for Step 1 or Step 2. Lastly, depending on when you start (esp with the January classes) if you do not pass Step 1 and finish your clinicals within a certain amount of time, then you will miss the match and have to sit out a year. It is definately frowned upon by residency programs so I wouldn't do it if you can handle your classes. Now if you see yourself on the verge of failing, it's better to take the extra time than to have F's/failed Step 1 or 2 on your transcript.

I don't know about how common taking 5 years is...

In order to stay in school, you are required to finish your basic sciences in 7 semesters.

I have heard that only about 30% of students are able to make it through the whole basic sciences without failing at least one class. It is much more common to graduate on the 6 semester plan instead of the 5 semester plan.

5 year plan is very common..even in our school. (SMU)

AUC is one of the few Caribbean med schools thats 4 years.... but people are usually here for 5 years

Yeah it usually winds up being 5 years, but people are done around December, which is 6 months before residency starts to chill out or pass Step3. It works out better this way imo then trying to rush it.

Originally Posted by 11

Yeah it usually winds up being 5 years, but people are done around December, which is 6 months before residency starts to chill out or pass Step3. It works out better this way imo then trying to rush it.

Yeah, that would be my plan. For the visa I need, I will have to pass Step 3 and get the scores before residency, and I need to graduate before taking Step 3, and it would be nearly impossible to do all this in 4 years.

Originally Posted by andrewjsl

Yeah, that would be my plan. For the visa I need, I will have to pass Step 3 and get the scores before residency, and I need to graduate before taking Step 3, and it would be nearly impossible to do all this in 4 years.

Could probably do it in 4 years if you start in a May class.

Edit: Actually, the class isn't really that relavant. You could probably still do that in 4.