Got a call to apply for the GSP program

[shejeboshease]

I had my interview on march 21st. I got a call from my admission counselor today asking me whether i would like to apply for the GSP program. Does that mean I am any more likely to get in? Is getting accepted as a GSP student more competitive?

[shejeboshease]

What is the financial incentive for being a GSP student? do we get any schoarship or any grants? thanks

[RussianJoo]

I am pretty sure that the gsp program is just an alternative to med program, I don't think it's more competitive if anything it's easier to get into that program than it is straight into the medical program. I also highly doubt there are any incentives besides the fact that you'll eventually get an MD. I think this is your admission counselors way of saying if you want to go to SGU then you better apply for this program cause otherwise you won't get in.

[shejeboshease]

I am pretty sure that the gsp program is just an alternative to med program, I don't think it's more competitive if anything it's easier to get into that program than it is straight into the medical program. I also highly doubt there are any incentives besides the fact that you'll eventually get an MD. I think this is your admission counselors way of saying if you want to go to SGU then you better apply for this program cause otherwise you won't get in.

really? i have 26Q, and 3.61 GPA from an ivy league school and i thought my interview went pretty well. i really don't want to spend a year in UK as a GSP student.

[cavalletti]

I am pretty sure that the gsp program is just an alternative to med program, I don't think it's more competitive if anything it's easier to get into that program than it is straight into the medical program. I also highly doubt there are any incentives besides the fact that you'll eventually get an MD. I think this is your admission counselors way of saying if you want to go to SGU then you better apply for this program cause otherwise you won't get in.

The GSP (Global Scholars Program) is not an alternative to the md program. GSP is the name of the UK program. It is the first year of basic science held in the UK and then you would go to Grenada for year 2. This program mirrors the Grenada program. Some of the Grenada profs are in the UK teaching. They take tests at exactly the same time ect. If you do a search you will find lots of info.

[cavalletti]

really? i have 26Q, and 3.61 GPA from an ivy league school and i thought my interview went pretty well. i really don't want to spend a year in UK as a GSP student.

I would agree that your stats are strong (average stats are 3.4gpa and 26 mcat) They are probably looking for strong candidates for this program. I would think that you would be accepted to Grenada if you declined UK/GSP. That is if there are openings for the start date you are interested in. I would check with the office to confirm availability of seats.

[cavalletti]

What is the financial incentive for being a GSP student? do we get any schoarship or any grants? thanks

My understanding is that there are no financial incentives for this program as it is on par with the Grenada md program. I believe private loans are available. Here's a link for GSP (lots of photos) http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/127523-hows-everyone-uk-doing-3.html

[stephew]

there is no difference between the programs. one is in the uk, the other isn't that's about it.

[CANeh]

I would go to the UK

I guess if you are US citizen you don't qualify for Staford loan.. than that is one reason not to. but since I don't qualify anyway.. why not

[ScubaVa]

I think if its been a month since your interview, you should seriously consider the GSP. They're probably really close to running out of space for the Aug 07 Grenada class, and are looking to shunt other qualified applicants to available spots in England.

[rokshana]

I think if its been a month since your interview, you should seriously consider the GSP. They're probably really close to running out of space for the Aug 07 Grenada class, and are looking to shunt other qualified applicants to available spots in England.


i agree...Dr. M. said on sgutalk that the aug class was already on wait listing, so it may be a way to allow you to start in aug and not wait til jan (though i would imagine that if you upped that MCAT, you could get into a US school).

[shejeboshease]

i'm a little confused..looking at their UK campus, it seems that the UK option should be the first preference for most of the students. if everything else is the same...don't you think the UK class should fill up before the granada campus?

[rokshana]

i'm a little confused..looking at their UK campus, it seems that the UK option should be the first preference for most of the students. if everything else is the same...don't you think the UK class should fill up before the granada campus?

no the GSP is new- jan's class was the 1st- so there are probably still some bugs to be worked through. The campus in GND is established so it is the 1st preference (in a few years that may change, but who knows?)

[timisdaman]

GSP was definitely my first choice.

[shejeboshease]

GSP was definitely my first choice.

wouldn't it be more expensive to live in teh UK as opposed to living in granada? are you leaning towards the UK campus just b/c of the location?

[rokshana]

wouldn't it be more expensive to live in teh UK as opposed to living in granada? are you leaning towards the UK campus just b/c of the location?


i have friends who have done clincal rotations in the UK and they said it is definitely more expensive to live there! (and that's saying alot- gnd isn't exactly cheap!).

[timisdaman]

wouldn't it be more expensive to live in teh UK as opposed to living in granada? are you leaning towards the UK campus just b/c of the location?


I think it's a great opportunity. Studying in Europe and then in Grenada will be an amazing experience. Plus, "Global Scholars" sounds cool.

[McGillGrad]

wouldn't it be more expensive to live in teh UK as opposed to living in granada? are you leaning towards the UK campus just b/c of the location?


The campus is in/around Northumberland county, which is close to Scotland.

That is the boonies when it comes to England, so it should not be too expensive when compared to Southern and West-Central England.

[Nephron123]

i've actually heard that living costs in and around Newcastle are cheaper than in GND...this is from a person at SGU

[rokshana]

The campus is in/around Northumberland county, which is close to Scotland.

That is the boonies when it comes to England, so it should not be too expensive when compared to Southern and West-Central England.

and my friends were in Poole, so...but with the pound over the 2 dollar mark- any place is gonna be expensive in England.

[envivany1]

Not necessarily, am in england now, and I am paying considerably less than I was in Grenada. Housing was expensive, from on campus to off campus housing all costly, it was hard to find a nice room for less than $500, then there were utilities, and if it wasn't on the bus route, then car, petrol etc. Buying groceries was also very costly, that is especially if you wanted to continue buying brands that you liked. I found living in grenada more expensive than my experiences of living in the US. The main issue with living in the UK is housing, which is considerably cheap in this part of the country. Transportation can be expensive, but as a student, you dont really have time to go anywhere. Food is not expensive, slightly more expensive than the US, but still cheap. At the end, I think it all comes down to your everday choices as to how much you end up spending if you plan to be in the UK.

[McGillGrad]

and my friends were in Poole, so...but with the pound over the 2 dollar mark- any place is gonna be expensive in England.

The point is that anything close to the Scottish border is dirt-cheap because it is like living in Montana in America or living is Saskatchewan in Canada. It is the boonies and it is much much cheaper than living in places like Manchester or Miami or Vancouver.

[CANeh]

Does the UK program start on the same dates??? What are the dates?

[rokshana]

The point is that anything close to the Scottish border is dirt-cheap because it is like living in Montana in America or living is Saskatchewan in Canada. It is the boonies and it is much much cheaper than living in places like Manchester or Miami or Vancouver.

well i would certainly see housing cost being different, but are things like groceries, cable, internet, gas, etc that much different? I mean its actually CHEAPER(note not cheap, just cheaper!!lol) for internet here in NJ than it is at home (which IS in the boonies in the US:D )- i mean i can get cable internet for 29.95/month in NJ, but back home, cable internet isn't an option(too far from the cable line) and have to get dsl(which only becam available in the last 3 month- told you i live in the boonies) and that is some thing like $40/month.

My friends sid that the number values were the same- say a drink would be priced at say 7, but since its pounds, its really over 14 dollars for the drink. They probably ate out more, which i guess would be why it was a bit more expensive for them.

[McGillGrad]

well i would certainly see housing cost being different, but are things like groceries, cable, internet, gas, etc that much different? I mean its actually CHEAPER(note not cheap, just cheaper!!lol) for internet here in NJ than it is at home (which IS in the boonies in the US:D )- i mean i can get cable internet for 29.95/month in NJ, but back home, cable internet isn't an option(too far from the cable line) and have to get dsl(which only becam available in the last 3 month- told you i live in the boonies) and that is some thing like $40/month.

My friends sid that the number values were the same- say a drink would be priced at say 7, but since its pounds, its really over 14 dollars for the drink. They probably ate out more, which i guess would be why it was a bit more expensive for them.

Good point about the internet and simple luxuries like soda/alcohol. But sundries would be cheaper than on an island because of its proximity to mainland Europe.

Anyhow, we are both right:)

[envivany1]

I dont agree with items matching pound to dollar, but with say buying a drink and most things, be ready to pay 25% more. Things that are say 10 dollars in the states tend to be more like 7 pounds, here, granted it is more expensive, but it doesnt match up number for number.
My comparison was to grenada where a lot of items were 3 times the american price. My point is that, it is still much likely to be cheaper than grenada. does anyone remember how much tropicana juice was down there? I remember those things being quite expensive, utilities were unbelievable down there. It is still considerably cheaper to maintain the same lifestyle here in the UK than it was in grenada

[callahmr]

The point is that anything close to the Scottish border is dirt-cheap because it is like living in Montana in America or living is Saskatchewan in Canada. It is the boonies and it is much much cheaper than living in places like Manchester or Miami or Vancouver.

there are parts of northern england that fit many definitions of the boonies, however, newcastle proper has a population of about 300,000, and the metropolitan area has a population over 800,000. newcastle is a medium sized city, and has a city feel to it. i would not classify newcastle as the boonies. it is in a different part of england than is london, and the northeast of england is much less populated, so i'd bet too that areas in and around london are more expensive than it is here in newcastle, but in no way do i classify things here are as much cheaper than a large city in the US.... your typical subway 6-inch sandwhich costs 2.69 pounds (about 4 pounds if you want chips and a drink), and a venti americano at starbucks is 2 pounds, a bottle of brand name facial cleanser costs 3 pounds, a 2 bedroom condo is in the ballpark of 200,000 pounds, (if that helps?). my impression is that compared to the US, my daily expenses here are about the same (maybe a little more expensive here). right now though, if you are coming from the US, and if you make your money in US dollars, then things to you are much more expensive here, since the US dollar has been weakening as compared to the british pound. so that venti americano actually costs me 4 dollars (since right now 1.9913 US dollars converts to 1 pound).