confused student...

[JP83]

I was a premed student at UM, but was going to go for physician assistant. Even though my GRE was good, my gpa was average and I did not get in to the program.
A friend in Sint Eustatius told me about the program and it seems good, especailly preparing for the USMLE within the program. I don't know too much about other caribbean med schools, but have seen/heard rankings of other ones from students and Eustatius is never mentioned, even though the program seems good.
Do you have any advice, in my situation, on going to Eustatia opposed to the other carribbean schools? Thanks in advance!

[jameslynton]

Medical school is a big step - get research on all of the schools not just one. Find out the issues with each school - ask questions - read websites - call the US offices and talk to them. Know about the Step exams - licensing issues - loans etc.

Don't go to a school just because a friend is there. Find a school that works with your learning style (if you don't know what that is find out). There are many schools in the Islands - find out before you leap....

[EmmDee]

I would pick AUC only becuase I heard the best things about that school compared to other schools. Every school has their pro's and con's so you need to do your research and figure out which school fits you the best. Good luck!

[drjohnwebb]

I would advise to look at the top 5 schools. Ross, St. George, AUC, Saba and MUA. These school have the best reps and/or track records. You won't go wrong with any of these schools. St. George is the most expensive of these and MUA is the least expensive (as far as tution). I would stay away from other schools if at all possible. If you don't have really good grades or a good MCAT, then you have to look at the other schools. Out of the list above, MUA probably has the lowest admission requirements, as of now. They are getting harder to get into every term. If your grades are so-so, you might have to go to a school that isn't as good. This means, harder to get loans, more self study, less resources, less rotation locations, less of a chance of residency and a lot harder to get licensed in some states.
I would stay away from EVERY school that offers any distance learning or internet classes.

[emt036]

I would advise to look at the top 5 schools. Ross, St. George, AUC, Saba and MUA.

We're up to the "Top 5" now? I guess I am behind the times, I am still on "Top 4." :lol:

*Waits for Stephew posting robot to respond with patented post about the "Top x" schools *

[drjohnwebb]

Well, there has been the top or "big" 3. I think five is a good number to go by. With Saba and MUA being sister school, I think they can be considered as the up and coming school. It will be equal with Saba in the next year or so. Ross, AUC and St. George just have so much money and a longer record. However, they are harder to get into. They are for people who barely missed getting into US schools but didn't want to go to DO school.

[MYMD]

Well, there has been the top or "big" 3. I think five is a good number to go by. With Saba and MUA being sister school, I think they can be considered as the up and coming school. It will be equal with Saba in the next year or so. Ross, AUC and St. George just have so much money and a longer record. However, they are harder to get into. They are for people who barely missed getting into US schools but didn't want to go to DO school.
I disagree, top 4 then the rest, SMU will chime in against MUA since they have the same approvals.
Also the top four are not harder to get into by much, if you only knew the stats of some people in these schools, they never had a real chance at any school in the USA.

I think anything less than the 4 is a lower tier. Period.

I also think there are 3 tiers, big 4, then schools like SMU then the rest on the bottom.

I lastly think schools should be ranked by the states that have approved the grads from them and then length of time operating. In this way the Big 4 still beat out everyone and Spartan is the 5th, even though I have seen that Spartan has had problems .
SO there you have it.