how easy to get an EM residency out of SABA?

[levator palpebrae]

how easy would it be to get an emergency medicine residency (in the US) if you graduate from saba?

do ALL clinical rotations happen in the US?

[tpw2k]

SABA University - www.saba.edu - international medical university college (http://www.saba.edu)

check their residency placement history.

Saba does a good job of securing good residencies.

[wolfvgang22]

how easy would it be to get an emergency medicine residency (in the US) if you graduate from saba?

do ALL clinical rotations happen in the US?
EM requires a fairly high USMLE Step 1 score as it's one of the more competitive residencies in recent years, as I am sure you probably know. This is the main factor:
Can you get a competitive USMLE score by attending Saba?

The answer is yes.
Several posts on this forum and reports on the Saba.edu website show that you can get a superior step 1 score after attending basic sciences on Saba. It's not easy to get a high step 1 score, no matter which school you attend, but Saba University will not hinder you in any way in achieving a high score.
In fact, I felt that it was an excellent choice in my situation, as Saba is very organized and helpful to students who desire to push their limits and seek excellence on the step 1.
Your next questions would be "does Saba offer good clinical rotations" and "do Saba students ever match in EM?". The answer is yes to both.

So far, anything I didn't like about going to Saba in the caribbean had to do with being far from the U.S.A. on a tiny hot, humid, expensive tropical island where I was only a guest, and nothing to do with the school itself whatsoever. Didn't let that stuff slow me down, though.

Having earned multiple degrees at other universities, I can tell you that is a rarity to see such a helpful and well organized institution as Saba.
Hope that helps,
~W

[GeorgeMD2B]

EM is one of the most difficult residencies to get as an IMG, its even harder for Caribbean graduates.

[rokshana]

EM is one of the most difficult residencies to get as an IMG, its even harder for Caribbean graduates.


while competitive, it is not ONE of the most difficult residencies to get as an IMG- there have been a number from sgu, ross, auc, and saba that have gotten it.

And that helps the ones tht follow- there are a number of programs that now have heard of these schools and are willing to look at competitive candidates from the off shore schools.

realize that if EM is what you want- you will need very good Step score- above the national average i would imagine, but check out the various websites- look to see where other students have gotten residencies and plan some away electives at those place if at all possible.

[Saba23]

1. Board Scores
2. Board Scores
3. Board Scores
4. LORs from docs in the specific field you want to match

And don't be discouraged by admin telling you it's impossible to get EM or any other specialty.

[DSMMD]

As people said, it can be done. But, EM is a fairly competitive residency, and the fact is that you will always be judged separately from the US grads.

Some programs will even have separate ranking lists. For instance, they may really like a bunch of IMGs, but it may look negatively on the program if they take a lot. So, let's say that they interview 10 IMGs, and they really like them all. They will divide those IMGs in with the US grads. So, even though they may like an IMG better, the US grad may be ranked higher because there are more IMGs above that particular IMG..if that makes sense.

To secure an EM residency, as someone alluded to...board scores.
Take Step 1 and do very well. Then, take step II and have scores back before applying to EM and do very well on that as well. Make sure you do well in your rotations and basic science classes. Any negative or neutral comment can really hurt you on your letters of rec.

With the introduction of California and NY, there are more EM residency slots open than when I applied. However, my guess is that California is very difficult. I know there are several NYC programs that are IMG friendly. Also, many of the Michigan programs are IMG friendly.

Also, helps to get a rotation in EM at a residency program (but not mandatory).

As for me, I was able to secure an EM residency, secured EM fellowship, and have worked in academics essentially since finishing the fellowship with the exception as a stint doing locums while in job transition.

[playarf]

I really dislike these 'how easy is this' type of questions. Nothing is easy, you have to work for it. So be a bit humble. I dont know if you are even at SABA. Before even applying for residency there are upteen million hurdles that you have to clear - upteen million and a half if you are a Canadian. :roll:
So, please be a bit sensitive to all that - SABA is not a paradise island, people come here to basically get their ***t knocked in everyday for 15 weeks, and then go home for 2 weeks to recharge, and then start again.

I also have a feeling that SABA is getting tougher, or maybe my class has it bad. My friend and I were counting and 10 people in our class either left or didnt pass first semester completely (out of 67). Also, the averages for block 1 in second semester were lower than what the prof expected.
So all im saying that one should be relieved to pass all his courses from SABA FIRST, and THEN worry about USMLE 1, 3rd yr, 4th yr, USMLE 2, and EVENTUALLY residency. Its useless to even talk about and lose focus over the type of residency before finishing basic sciences. Besides things change, and little experiences may change your mind about a certain specialty.

[rokshana]

So all im saying that one should be relieved to pass all his courses from SABA FIRST, and THEN worry about USMLE 1, 3rd yr, 4th yr, USMLE 2, and EVENTUALLY residency.

i have to disagree- you need need look at the big picture- USMLE is the end all be all of your focus- because with passed (and good) scores, the uphill battle of getting a residency in the US (and therefore practice) is considerably easier(that goes double for Canadians). If you study for the material presented to you at Saba as if you are studying for step I, (know it, not just cram fro the exams administered at Saba), with a little extra effort for the Saba specific things, you will do well on any test administered in med school. Good grades will follow.

it is important that as IMGs that you DO look ahead- there are hoops that need to be jumped and it is easier if you know what to expect.

yes minds will change as one goes alng through school- most do not end up doing what they thought they would do coming into med school- but better to be as prepared as possible. EM and other competitive residencies may require you to do other things (such as research, and EM experience) that make you a competitive candidate when your time comes. You don't want to find out at the end of 3rd year, that you should have done some research DURING 3rd year, or that you need a certain letter or what not.

(BTW, usually you need to worry about step 2 before 4th year- since IMGs are required to have all step scores reported before their rank order lists are due- wait til after 4th year and you wait out a year because you won't be able to participate in the match).

[playarf]

bchm prof told us straight up tday that bchm is NOT a usmle prep course...
anyhow, i would rather focus on wats being taught at saba...pass all those classes, because thats a challenge in itself...god forbid, if i fail a class...i'd have to be stuck here for 4 more months...
as for usmle prep...saba's curriculum is mostly in tune with that...and then there is the kapln course...so as of right now im not taking any extra steps to prepare for usmle 1 because naturally, what we are being taught is useful for usmle in some shape or form...when the time comes for usmle, i will deal with it then..
and ooh, i was talking abt saba exclusively, not all imgs...imgs from diff schools may have to study a lot more by themselves.

[Experienced]

how easy to get an EM residency out of SABA?


Okay, I'll be the heavy. What you can GET out of Saba?? You, a person who cannot get into an American or Canadian medical school, should fall on your knees and kiss the parking lot of Saba University if they deign to accept you. You are in no condition to be acting as if you are doing this medical school a favour by coming here. *If* you are accepted here or anywhere else, leave your narcissism at home and study, study, study to prove to the admissions committee and the professors who teach you at a fraction of the pay they could get elsewhere that you are WORTHY to have knocked someone else out of a place.

E.

[rokshana]

bchm prof told us straight up tday that bchm is NOT a usmle prep course...
anyhow, i would rather focus on wats being taught at saba...pass all those classes, because thats a challenge in itself...god forbid, if i fail a class...i'd have to be stuck here for 4 more months...
as for usmle prep...saba's curriculum is mostly in tune with that...and then there is the kapln course...so as of right now im not taking any extra steps to prepare for usmle 1 because naturally, what we are being taught is useful for usmle in some shape or form...when the time comes for usmle, i will deal with it then..
and ooh, i was talking abt saba exclusively, not all imgs...imgs from diff schools may have to study a lot more by themselves.

i'm just saying that you shouldn't cram to study for just your exams - that is fine for undergrad, but it is the wrong mindset for medical school and in the end you do yourself a disservice if that is the focus you take. Step I study after basics is really review. After all you cannot learn or re-learn 2 years of medical school in 6-12 weeks. You are jogging your memory and starting to think about how to think like the USMLEs want you to think. You don't have to take extra steps per se- in fact i don't think you should- but realize that every hour you study and how you study is all going toward step study- not just getting a passing grade in a class.

[JLea]

Okay, I'll be the heavy. What you can GET out of Saba?? You, a person who cannot get into an American or Canadian medical school, should fall on your knees and kiss the parking lot of Saba University if they deign to accept you. You are in no condition to be acting as if you are doing this medical school a favour by coming here. *If* you are accepted here or anywhere else, leave your narcissism at home and study, study, study to prove to the admissions committee and the professors who teach you at a fraction of the pay they could get elsewhere that you are WORTHY to have knocked someone else out of a place.

E.


Umm, I was looking at this post and trying to figure out what kind of defense mechanism "How easy to get an EM residency out of Saba" would be... Then Mr. Experienced narrowed it down for me:

Narcissism -- Narcisitic Defenses

Projection?
Denial?
Splitting?
None of the Above?

Now, if I could just figure it out and get the right answer...

Just had to do it. Psych exam still fresh on the mind, don't you know.

Really, how easy is it to get an EM residency out of (INSERT NAME OF ANY MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE)? It's been said so many times... work hard, do well on the Step and impress your preceptors so you get great LOR's.


:point: Oh yeah, and attend Saba since it's the most highly respected medical school within at least a 20 mile radius!

[nevisbutterfly]

You can get a EM residency from Saba, MUA, Ross, SGU, AUC etc...and they all have the websites and people to prove it. The bottom line is: You have to be at the right place at the right time, have good USMLE scores, good LOR's and dog gonit those "people interviewing just have to like you!" quote from an old SNL show.

Nobody can predict what will happen to you because it is up to you, your efforts, your luck etc... and if we could predict the future - we certainly would not be busting our A*&& in medicine. Even US students going for EM get rejected over FMG's for this residency. Who knows......???????

Go for it.... you can back your plan up by going into FM and do all the ED you want to... but at a lesser hourly rate.

p.s. the advise you have been given in the previous post are very sound.... it will become a reality to you once you apply and interview for residency...... EM programs also look at your age, your background. your previous occupation and degrees. So if you do all your pre-med in the Carib, don't expect to get a EM residency etc....

Dude, we don't know you and cannot predict anything about you.....we know of people that have done it - so it is doable. We are not challegened with any sort of PDO(personality disorder).

If you are not out of basic sciences yet, then focus on your current courses and you will do fine.

You can always apply to an IM/ER program..........that is a new animal on the block.

[playarf]

i'm just saying that you shouldn't cram to study for just your exams - that is fine for undergrad, but it is the wrong mindset for medical school and in the end you do yourself a disservice if that is the focus you take. Step I study after basics is really review. After all you cannot learn or re-learn 2 years of medical school in 6-12 weeks. You are jogging your memory and starting to think about how to think like the USMLEs want you to think. You don't have to take extra steps per se- in fact i don't think you should- but realize that every hour you study and how you study is all going toward step study- not just getting a passing grade in a class.
ofcourse...you CANT cram here...otherwise you would fail...
but its not like you're studying for something new when you do exams on saba...its all the same material...

[rokshana]

ofcourse...you CANT cram here...otherwise you would fail...
but its not like you're studying for something new when you do exams on saba...its all the same material...

you would be surprised at how many people i have seen that think they can do exactly that!! Good to know Saba students tend to take it more seriously!

[bigkap87]

ofcourse...you CANT cram here...otherwise you would fail...
but its not like you're studying for something new when you do exams on saba...its all the same material...

haha, it seems many of the students in my class crammed for exams and got A's... but I think the equalizer is prep for the USMLE, there is no way you can cram for the USMLE and do well.