SABA or Charles University First Faculty???

[elementalsix]

I've sent my application and materials to SABA yesterday, and will send my application/materials to Charles University today. I am not sure exactly which school I will go to if I am accepted to both.

I am from CA, and might want to stay here. I am very confused because I have a B.S. Biology with a 3.14 GPA, but have lived in several different countries , ...so I'm used to different cultures.

I like the cost/location of Charles, but not the length.

I like the time (4 year program) on SABA, but not the island.

Any advice on which program is better for an Anesthesiology residency placement???? HELP!!

[xypathos]

I've sent my application and materials to SABA yesterday, and will send my application/materials to Charles University today. I am not sure exactly which school I will go to if I am accepted to both.

I am from CA, and might want to stay here. I am very confused because I have a B.S. Biology with a 3.14 GPA, but have lived in several different countries , ...so I'm used to different cultures.

I like the cost/location of Charles, but not the length.

I like the time (4 year program) on SABA, but not the island.

Any advice on which program is better for an Anesthesiology residency placement???? HELP!!


Personally, I would choose Charles University. I've been to Prague many of times and love it and Charles has hundreds, if not thousands of its graduates practicing in the US. Both schools will help you get into a US residency, provided you score very well on USMLE I/II.

Charles is 6 years, yes but from personal discussions with students, those 6 years fly by and you will have a wonderful time in Prague and traveling around if you want to.

I've gotten mixed answers from past students and those claiming to be involved in the school --- the only way to know for sure is to contact the school directly. But I have been told that if you have a degree or score exceptionally well in some courses that they will let you pass over the introduction courses in BCP.

Ultimately it's up to you, but I wish you luck.

[Miklos]

I've sent my application and materials to SABA yesterday, and will send my application/materials to Charles University today. I am not sure exactly which school I will go to if I am accepted to both.

I am from CA, and might want to stay here. I am very confused because I have a B.S. Biology with a 3.14 GPA, but have lived in several different countries , ...so I'm used to different cultures.

I like the cost/location of Charles, but not the length.

I like the time (4 year program) on SABA, but not the island.

Any advice on which program is better for an Anesthesiology residency placement???? HELP!!

I don't wish to put down Charles, however, I believe that Saba may be a much better route to an anesthesiology residency in the US.

Why?
It is shorter. Every year lost, is income lost. Lost income means you'll be getting your dream house much later, etc... You may not appreciate this now, but believe me, you will later. Especially when your friends who didn't go to med school are doing very well in their professional careers and working a whole lot less. Don't be fooled by the money 'saved' at Charles. Those two years are huge.
Everyone at Saba is studying for the USMLE and the whole curriculum is built around it. Charles is a fine school, but like all Central European programs it does not teach to the USMLE. A high score on Step 1 (and 2) is a must in order to get past the ERAS program filters, simply to get an interview.
Getting US core clinicals and electives in anesthesiology is a synch from Saba. Not entirely the case from Charles. Double-check, but your tuition to Saba should also cover your malpractice insurance for electives. Charles, to my knowledge, like most Central European schools does not. Getting US electives in anesthesiology is much easier from Saba for both those reasons. These are key, as one needs to network and get LoRs in recognition of one's work.This said, that does not mean that one cannot get an anesthesiology residency from Charles or other Central European programs. However, my opinion (as a CE grad) is that schools like Saba make it much easier. (And yes, there is no comparison in living conditions).

Either way, it is still an uphill battle to get high USMLE scores and strong LoRs that support your application.

Good luck.

[xypathos]

I don't wish to put down Charles, however, I believe that Saba may be a much better route to an anesthesiology residency in the US.

Why?
It is shorter. Every year lost, is income lost. Lost income means you'll be getting your dream house much later, etc... You may not appreciate this now, but believe me, you will later. Especially when your friends who didn't go to med school are doing very well in their professional careers and working a whole lot less. Don't be fooled by the money 'saved' at Charles. Those two years are huge.
Everyone at Saba is studying for the USMLE and the whole curriculum is built around it. Charles is a fine school, but like all Central European programs it does not teach to the USMLE. A high score on Step 1 (and 2) is a must in order to get past the ERAS program filters, simply to get an interview.
Getting US core clinicals and electives in anesthesiology is a synch from Saba. Not entirely the case from Charles. Double-check, but your tuition to Saba should also cover your malpractice insurance for electives. Charles, to my knowledge, like most Central European schools does not. Getting US electives in anesthesiology is much easier from Saba for both those reasons. These are key, as one needs to network and get LoRs in recognition of one's work.This said, that does not mean that one cannot get an anesthesiology residency from Charles or other Central European programs. However, my opinion (as a CE grad) is that schools like Saba make it much easier. (And yes, there is no comparison in living conditions).

Either way, it is still an uphill battle to get high USMLE scores and strong LoRs that support your application.

Good luck.


You graduated from a central european school, correct Miklos? Out of curiousity, are you in residency now or doing other things? If you are in residency, which speciality? (You don't have to tell me where, as I understand you may want to protect your privacy)