Thread: Decisions

I'm trying to decide between St. Georges and AUC and have been gathering information to base my decision on. I was wondering if someone could tell me the current board passage rates. I tried the website, but 2000 seemed to be the last year recorded. Also, have any of you or someone you know been to both schools and can comment on the differences between both the schools (academically as well as the islands). Is St. George more lecture-based? More or less board prep courses? Ease of travel? Thank you to anyone able to help me in this difficult decision-making process.

Also, am I too late for Aug?

I can't comment on the SJU vs AUC, but i can say for sure that you're not too late for Aug. I know well "someone" that applied and was accepted in mid-July to our Aug2003 class. Won't say any names, but he lives directly above me and never does the dishes!

All I can say in regards to AUC is I am so far very pleased with the school and island and am very happy i decided to come down.

... Oh yeah, and if you decide to apply, be prepared to wait awhile for MEIO, they're slow with there determinations. That is one thing that really sucks about this school - but, the campus administration is pretty good ... in my opinion.

Good luck!


"Tin Cup"

Originally Posted by Goon1

I'm trying to decide between St. Georges and AUC and have been gathering information to base my decision on. I was wondering if someone could tell me the current board passage rates. I tried the website, but 2000 seemed to be the last year recorded.

I haven't seen the most recent stats, but any MD on this forum will tell you that if you want a highly competitive specialty field (derm, optho, rads, ortho), you'd be better off with St. Georges. If your goal is to pracitce medicine, then any of the other schools (Ross, AUC, Saba in no particular order) will allow you to accomplish that.


Also, have any of you or someone you know been to both schools and can comment on the differences between both the schools (academically as well as the islands). Is St. George more lecture-based? More or less board prep courses? Ease of travel? Thank you to anyone able to help me in this difficult decision-making process.

Anyone who responds to your questions without having attended both schools' programs is relying on heresay and not fact. There is a person who just transferred here (AUC) from SGU, so I'll try and ask them their opinion and post it here...

Also, am I too late for Aug?

Who knows? Apply and find out.

Aloha,

Do you know why he transfered?

I am assuming that AUC also has graduates who match into competative residencies, maybe just not as many?

look at the school website most of the 2004 match list is there. there were matchs in surgery, emergency medicine, ob/gyn, anesth, and rehab med but not a ton of people....i said before maybe it has to do with the class make up and the fact that a large portion is older and wants IM or FP. i don't know the make up of SGU but i am making the assumption since it is more competitive to get in people maybe younger and are still in gun ho mode. i also can only speak for my class and the small sample of people i know from other semetsers here so it may not be scientific but we all gotta hold on to something right?

Thank you all for your thoughts, and I look forward to hearing from you anencephalic!

Here is the Email address of a friend of mine that transferred from AUC to SGU, I think he would have some answers your looking for and would not mind hearing from you. Tell him Big Jerry from Texas sent you. His name is Chirag and can be found at ragimehta@hotmail.com . Hope this helps

Jerry

Thank you! I'll email him.

I spoke with the individual who transferred from SGU. Here are the opinions as told to me:

• 1) SGU is more expensive, but not by much.
  2) The island is not as nice as SXM.
  3) AUC's classes are not as "organized"
  4) Cost of living on SGU is cheaper (dorms are $600/month).
  5) Tensions exist between the locals and the med students.
  6) Med students tend to stay on campus because of #5 above.
  7) Much more to do recreationally on SXM.
  8 ) Smaller class sizes at AUC (Sept ~ 120+, Jan ~80, May ~60+) versus SGU (370 per term)
  9)Both insititutions (AUC & SGU) will get you what you ultimately want...an MD.

Bear in mind that this is one person's opinion. The situations and reasons for transfer are not known to me. Look back in this thread and you'll find an e-mail for Chirag (who was in my 1st semester at AUC) but transferred to SGU. Solicit his opinion if possible.

Hope this helps, and good luck wherever your path may take you!

Aloha,