Frustrated with AUC admissions

[stacy_de_lin]

Hey guys. Thought you could answer a question for me.... I have become interested in applying to AUC after conversing with others on this forum, but have been unable thus far to get AUC to contact me. I send a request on their website for a brochure and information about 4 months ago and didn't receive anything. Then I sent another request about a month ago and still nothing. I also called to find out when there are open houses in my area in 2004 and was told they didn't know and would contact me soon but.... again, no response.

I'm beginning to feel like if they don't care much about my business, then maybe I should scrap my plans for checking out the school, but then I don't want to miss an opportunity to attend a school I might enjoy. I get something in the mail just about every other day from SGU, and I would appreciate some contact from AUC. It's not a plea for attention or anything, but I'm beginning to feel like if this is how they handle basic admissions, maybe they lack in taking care of their students in the same ways and this is a big warning sign.

Any comments from AUC students or potential students who might want to give me some insight??

Thanks--
Stac'

[ML]

I feel really sorry for you. It seems like u r one of those who got a bad treatment from MEIO (AUC's admissions office). I don't know why it happens, but while one student gets the attention he/she requires, some other student gets bad treatment by the admissions office. It is all random. My suggestion is to call MEIO and ask them to send the brochure. About the open houses, they post the information on their website and they update it regularly. I have applied and never had any problem with the MEIO. I should say I'm one of those lucky ones. Don't try to connect the MEIO's inability to handle the students properly with the administration back on the island. I have been researching about this school for the past 8 months or so and have not heard anything bad about AUC so far except for the MEIO.

Cheers.....
ML

[wifeofDr2b]

Basically all you really need to know is on their website. I remember we filled out a request for one of their brochures......and I think maybe 4 months later we got something back that they were changing some info in it and we would eventually get one. My hubby was accepted, are now down in the island, and we never got that brochure we requested. We never missed it either.

I also remember waiting and waiting for those darn open houses to be updated on their website. They eventually were, but pretty late in the game as I remember. There wasn't any in our area so we never went, but it did take a while for that info to be posted. I had called once asking about the open houses and they said they didn't have anything finalized yet. But we did get something in the mail about it once they had the dates scheduled.

But honestly, their website has a lot of info on it and so does this website. Between the two of them, I am sure you will find the answers to the majority of your questions. I wouldn't take is as them not caring about your business.

We have never had any problems with MEIO and the application process, but other people have had some issues. I would just read up on AUC's website, read up on this one and do a search for any specific questions you may have. It won't hurt to apply and I doubt there is anything in that brochure that will convince you if you are already not sure if you should apply. Also, from what I have heard about those open houses, this site covers most of the Q&A that goes on there anyways and some of those students say they really didn't need to go b/c not much new info was talked about. Good luck!

[stacy_de_lin]

Well, I have been asking questions via Value MD, such as whether or not you can schedule most of your clinicals in the NY area (no one knows for sure) and about the 5th semester and the lack of clinical training before you start your third and fourth year clinicals (no real answers on this either). I also don't find the site very helpful at all-- no listing of their students' residency appointments (I think this is a BIG omission), nor info about the individual classes and electives, etc. These are serious questions for me that I don't know how to get answers to.

Unfortunately, I am very drawn to AUC due to its accelerated first two years (Ross has this, SGU does not) and its comfortable living arrangements (while Ross may be accelerated, Dominica is supposed to be an awful place to live). But again, with such a lack of info I feel uncomfortable about it. For those of you who did decide to attend there (or you, wifeofDr2b), maybe you can give me some thoughts on what did sell you on it.

Thanks!

Stac'

[options]

I had been on AUC's website about 50 times before I figured out how to use it correctly. (Now feel stupid) I didn't realize that there were certain options I could click on and just ignored them, so maybe that is the problem you are having.

Here is a direct link to the recent residencies (2003 I think)

http://www.aucmed.edu/05_rr.php

Hopefully that will help you make your decision. I know when I was in your position, I also thought AUC's marketing was very sketchy, and I still do. But, also like you, the information I got on this site was what has convinced me that AUC is the best choice for me. I hope this post is helpful to you.

[stacy_de_lin]

Where in heavens did you find that? I seriously looked all over the site for that... sigh... thanks!

Stac'

[dar2drm]

If you click on the "pictures" button you will be able to see the student apartments. I did not look at the inside of the rooms when I went down to visit, but they are new and from the outside they looked nice. They are located right next to the school.

A far as clinicals goes, I believe that you can do all of your rotations in the NYC area...don't know exactly where. If you use the "search" button within the valuemd auc site, I know this has been covered several times. Maybe search just under "clinicals" and you will be able to find it.

As for MEIO, I too got the brochure routine. They did end up sending the open house paperwork...never went. If you call MEIO again ask to speak to Travis. He has been the most help so far.

I agree with the others, if you search the AUC website further and search this forum further, all your questions will likely be answered.

[Diegodoc]

If I remember correctly, if you click on the faculty link, and then click on clinical faculty, you will get a list of all hospitals to do clincals in. I am at Ross now, but I do remember this when I applied to AUC. Incidentally, Dominica is not all that bad and I am adjusting well. Good LUCK!

[stacy_de_lin]

For an update with AUC, I finally placed another phone call and got through to somone who was very helpful. He put a brochure in the mail, which I got yesterday, and apologized for problems with the site. Will be waiting on an open house now!

Stac'