May vs. August entrance, and other questions

beemteam · #1 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 01:39 PM

Hello,

I really appreciate this forum, it has helped me out in so many ways. I apologize if my questions are redundant. I searched as best I could before asking these questions!

1) Is there any benefit starting in May vs. August? From what I understand, if you start in May 2005, you will finish the 5 sem basic science curriculum by Dec 2006. Does this allow you to have 3 - 5 additional months to prepare for the USMLE step 1 (i understand you take Kaplan during the 5th sem?), and then enter clinical rotations in June like all other US schools? I suppose if you start in August 2005, you finish 5th sem by April of 2007, giving you around 1 additional month to study for the Step 1. Is this correct? I suppose if you take the Step 1 in Jan, then you could have a few months of vacation before clinicals start?

2) Does anyone have ANY newer photos of the school at AUC? I googled for an hour trying to find photos of the school, apartments, classrooms, labs, etc. but came up slim. I found a few scattered images but thats it. I would REALLY appreciate if someone could provide me with a website, or send me some photos. My email address is bgandhi@ucla.edu (thanks so much in advance!)

3) I am from California, so attempting to return here for residency is on my priority list. I understand this is difficult, and I will most likely be open to any residency that falls my way. What is the best combination of things one can do to boost their potential to match in Cali? I understand people have differing thoughts on this, however, multiple opinions are really helpful.

I recently was accepted to Ross, and I am still waiting to hear from St. Georges. What I have read regarding St. Maarten is night/day compared to Dominica. Yes, I have read some negative posts about St. Maarten, but opinions are opinions. St. Georges is so freakin' expensive, AUC was a more plausible choice for myself. I'm almost done with my application, but I would like to know before I make a choice, if applying for May or August is the more prudent choice.

Thanks a million.

FOID · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemteam

Hello,

I really appreciate this forum, it has helped me out in so many ways. I apologize if my questions are redundant. I searched as best I could before asking these questions!

1) Is there any benefit starting in May vs. August? From what I understand, if you start in May 2005, you will finish the 5 sem basic science curriculum by Dec 2006. Does this allow you to have 3 - 5 additional months to prepare for the USMLE step 1 (i understand you take <a target=new href=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=c97WUMRO5hY&offerid=47491.10002441&am p;type=3&subid=0 >Kaplan</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src=http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=c97WUMRO5hY&bids=47491.10002441&ty pe=3&subid=0 > during the 5th sem?), and then enter clinical rotations in June like all other US schools? I suppose if you start in August 2005, you finish 5th sem by April of 2007, giving you around 1 additional month to study for the Step 1. Is this correct? I suppose if you take the Step 1 in Jan, then you could have a few months of vacation before clinicals start?

2) Does anyone have ANY newer photos of the school at AUC? I googled for an hour trying to find photos of the school, apartments, classrooms, labs, etc. but came up slim. I found a few scattered images but thats it. I would REALLY appreciate if someone could provide me with a website, or send me some photos. My email address is bgandhi@ucla.edu (thanks so much in advance!)

3) I am from California, so attempting to return here for residency is on my priority list. I understand this is difficult, and I will most likely be open to any residency that falls my way. What is the best combination of things one can do to boost their potential to match in Cali? I understand people have differing thoughts on this, however, multiple opinions are really helpful.

I recently was accepted to Ross, and I am still waiting to hear from St. Georges. What I have read regarding St. Maarten is night/day compared to Dominica. Yes, I have read some negative posts about St. Maarten, but opinions are opinions. St. Georges is so freakin' expensive, AUC was a more plausible choice for myself. I'm almost done with my application, but I would like to know before I make a choice, if applying for May or August is the more prudent choice.

Thanks a million.

living here is like living in vegas. there are casinos around. you can gamble and drink a lot. haha. there is a casino right down the street from the school. you can gamble away your loan checks there.

although it is 3rd world country, there are still amenities similar to the US such as supermarkets, mcdonalds, subway, etc. it's much more modern compared to dominica and granada.

hope that helped a little

Sakuger · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemteam

Hello,

I really appreciate this forum, it has helped me out in so many ways. I apologize if my questions are redundant. I searched as best I could before asking these questions!

1) Is there any benefit starting in May vs. August? From what I understand, if you start in May 2005, you will finish the 5 sem basic science curriculum by Dec 2006. Does this allow you to have 3 - 5 additional months to prepare for the USMLE step 1 (i understand you take <a target=new href=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=c97WUMRO5hY&offerid=47491.10002441&am p;type=3&subid=0 >Kaplan</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src=http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=c97WUMRO5hY&bids=47491.10002441&ty pe=3&subid=0 > during the 5th sem?), and then enter clinical rotations in June like all other US schools? I suppose if you start in August 2005, you finish 5th sem by April of 2007, giving you around 1 additional month to study for the Step 1. Is this correct? I suppose if you take the Step 1 in Jan, then you could have a few months of vacation before clinicals start?

2) Does anyone have ANY newer photos of the school at AUC? I googled for an hour trying to find photos of the school, apartments, classrooms, labs, etc. but came up slim. I found a few scattered images but thats it. I would REALLY appreciate if someone could provide me with a website, or send me some photos. My email address is bgandhi@ucla.edu (thanks so much in advance!)

3) I am from California, so attempting to return here for residency is on my priority list. I understand this is difficult, and I will most likely be open to any residency that falls my way. What is the best combination of things one can do to boost their potential to match in Cali? I understand people have differing thoughts on this, however, multiple opinions are really helpful.

I recently was accepted to Ross, and I am still waiting to hear from St. Georges. What I have read regarding St. Maarten is night/day compared to Dominica. Yes, I have read some negative posts about St. Maarten, but opinions are opinions. St. Georges is so freakin' expensive, AUC was a more plausible choice for myself. I'm almost done with my application, but I would like to know before I make a choice, if applying for May or August is the more prudent choice.

Thanks a million.

I don't think there's any distinct difference whether you start May or August, except the people you meet will be different. Aug class will be much bigger than May. That's all I can say about this because I don't feel like there's any difference.

As for the photos of the school, you can find some in www.aucmed.edu
There are some photos of the school and dorms as well.

As for the residency issue, I'm not really sure because I'm only a second semester. As far as what I know, for us getting into good residency might be a little difficult since we are in a caribbean school, but that's just my opinion. It also depends on what field you want to pursue.

Hope that helped a little

stateofequilibrium · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 04:15 PM

Not exactly qualified to speak on the May vs. August thing. But I started in the Fall Term of last year, and I think if you stay on target you'll have enough time to prepare for the USMLE.

As for pictures. There are pictures on the net, you just have to look for them a little, try google or community.webshots.com and you'll find some pics of AUC as well. And no, just because it has an Asian guy in the pics doesn't mean it's one of us. As for lab pics, we are not allowed to take pics of the lab, since we'd be taking photos of the cadavers which would be in violation of whatever privacy agreement we signed with the company that distributes the cadavers.

The best way to boost your potential for matching in Cali is to get good board scores, LORs, grades and research

St. Maarten is gorgeous. Though after a while you start getting the island fever and need a big city and something else to do but drink, gamble, swim or watch naked boobies all day.

beemteam · #5 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 04:30 PM

okay. boobies. nice. thanks for the heads up!

I guess my question boils down to which entrance semester has more time to study for the USMLE (if any), and will everyone be on the standard June-start clinicals and May-graduate track (assuming no setbacks).

thanks for the input...almost done with the stupid personal statement (i am sick of these things).

stateofequilibrium · #6 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemteam

okay. boobies. nice. thanks for the heads up!

I guess my question boils down to which entrance semester has more time to study for the USMLE (if any), and will everyone be on the standard June-start clinicals and May-graduate track (assuming no setbacks).

thanks for the input...almost done with the stupid personal statement (i am sick of these things).

Good luck with those personal statements about how you're going to save the world and the humpback whales. Sigh.

Anyways, yeah.. so if you come here, we'll grab a beer and watch some boobies.

FOID · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stateofequilibrium

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemteam

okay. boobies. nice. thanks for the heads up!

I guess my question boils down to which entrance semester has more time to study for the USMLE (if any), and will everyone be on the standard June-start clinicals and May-graduate track (assuming no setbacks).

thanks for the input...almost done with the stupid personal statement (i am sick of these things).

Good luck with those personal statements about how you're going to save the world and the humpback whales. Sigh.

Anyways, yeah.. so if you come here, we'll grab a beer and watch some boobies.

if you wanna see a pic of soe, go the the PR's website. there are lots of pictures of him there. haha

Sakuger · #8 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemteam

okay. boobies. nice. thanks for the heads up!

I guess my question boils down to which entrance semester has more time to study for the USMLE (if any), and will everyone be on the standard June-start clinicals and May-graduate track (assuming no setbacks).

thanks for the input...almost done with the stupid personal statement (i am sick of these things).

If you want the standard school year, then you might want to start in Aug since that's the standard time for school to start. You'll finish by April 2 years later, then you can study for USMLE after that, and hopefully start clinicals later that year. I think that's how it works.

Scott1981 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-02-2005, 11:37 PM

well, starting in may or starting in august makes no difference for the match date. for instance, i started may 2004 and i will finish december 2005. if you then add the 72 weeks of clinicals, there is no way i will make the 2007 match on time. even if i started clinicals immediately like in january and had no breaks between rotation (hard to do), still no dice. so therefore if i would have started in august 2004, i would still be in the 2008 match. wouldnt have lost time.

the advantage of may is a MUCH smaller class size and no pressure for time during clinicals. i could take plenty of time to study (which im not..... im taking the usmle right when i step off the plane). my main advantage is that many rotations will not come one after the other. this is especially true for electives. i can have 1-2 week breaks between electives and still finish on time.

beemteam · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2005, 01:13 AM

Thanks scott1981.

thats exactly what i was waiting to hear. so after you take the USMLE step 1 in January next year, will you go straight into clinical rotations, or wait till June and start with everyone else? Can you even start rotations in January or February? I suppose if this is the case, then you can take a few weeks break inbetween rotations to relax, assuming your schedule permits it (just as you were mentioning).

Thanks for helping me out with this!

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