Question for Caribbean Med students...

[royemunson111]

I am curious to know what do the Med. Students do if they cannot pass the USIMLE or any other tests needed to get into the US to practice medicine. If one was unable to pass these requirments what is there next move? Do they practice medicine in the Caribbean? and if so do they make enough money to live and pay off student loans? Do they just bite the bullet and move back to the US and work at McDonald's paying off debt for the rest of their lives:p:p? (Just kidding) Anyway I was just curious if anyone had any back up plans in case you get stuck with an MD from a foreign school and a whole lot of debt.
Thanks for any replies!

[stephew]

if you dont pass your usmle you dont practice in the us plain and simple. if youre going to med school with an expectation that you might actually not pass, don't go to med school.

[wcb22]

at least you are thinking about these things. there are people who show up to the caribbean, get over $100k in debt, and realize they cannot get over this USMLE. talk about pressure.

the other thing... that debt will never leave you, even if you go bankrupt, even if you DIE (that is actually a stipulation in the contract).

so try paying off $100k working at McDs. some people drive taxis in New York, some just have to work hard to pay it off some other way. that's why when people want to short cut it in undergrad, and skip the degree and come to the caribbean, we always advise against it. what if the M.D. doesn't work out? you always have your undergrad degree to fall back on. i am shocked by the number of people who are not making it through. it's usually the people who haven't thought enough about the consequences of their decisions. so for someone like me, with a wife, and now just a newborn little girl, i HAVE to make it, there's no option for failure.

[Compassion MD]

I am curious to know what do the Med. Students do if they cannot pass the USIMLE or any other tests needed to get into the US to practice medicine. If one was unable to pass these requirments what is there next move? Do they practice medicine in the Caribbean? and if so do they make enough money to live and pay off student loans? Do they just bite the bullet and move back to the US and work at McDonald's paying off debt for the rest of their lives:p:p? (Just kidding) Anyway I was just curious if anyone had any back up plans in case you get stuck with an MD from a foreign school and a whole lot of debt.
Thanks for any replies!

Get a **/BA degree before going to Med School... Even better., get a MS degree to be even safer...

[stateofequilibrium]

Failing the USMLE Step 1 is not uncommon coming from the Caribbean. So if that happens, don't get discouraged that you'll be stuck with a huge load of debt. But yes, there are the stories of some people who, depsite repeated attempts could never pass the Step (and the longer out the harder it is for you to pass). They will still be held accountable for their accumulating debt of course, unless they change their identity and move to a non-extradition territory.

[Blade07]

American med school grads have to pass the USMLE exams as well. For them as well as for Caribbean school grads, and MD means pretty much nothing without passing scores on the boards. Your best bet would probably be to keep trying until you finally pass. A guy I know failed his USMLE several times. But he kept at it and now, at the age of 34, he's started his residency.

[PimpDaddyB]

I am curious to know what do the Med. Students do if they cannot pass the USIMLE or any other tests needed to get into the US to practice medicine. If one was unable to pass these requirments what is there next move? Do they practice medicine in the Caribbean? and if so do they make enough money to live and pay off student loans? Do they just bite the bullet and move back to the US and work at McDonald's paying off debt for the rest of their lives:p:p? (Just kidding) Anyway I was just curious if anyone had any back up plans in case you get stuck with an MD from a foreign school and a whole lot of debt.
Thanks for any replies!

You should be ok. Just make absolutely certain that medicine is the field you want to enter. It's not going to be easy, but it will be rewarding. It may sound cliche but treat medical school as a job. You are taking out loans and watching the debt pile around you raising with each semester. This is not something to take lightly. Try to do some shadowing and sift through some of the specialties you may not like and make sure medicine is for you.

Get a **/BA degree before going to Med School... Even better., get a MS degree to be even safer...

You don't need a MS to go to med school. If you're unsure of what you want to do, then yes finish your degree, whether it be **/BA or MS or whatever. This will ensure that you have a job in another profession if you don't make it. However, if you know that this is what you want to do, then you won't let anything stop you.

[ericismyname]

I do not believe there is a limit to how many times you can take the step1 either. I imagine most people just keep taking it and taking it unwilling to give up their dream. I don't blame them.

[Compassion MD]

If you fail USMLE more than 3 times, most of the states won't let you practice in their states. If you really want to take it again, 4th time, you really need to have a valid excuse, but still, most state won't want you.

That is according to a dean at a medical school.

Let me know if what I heard is wrong. tahnk u

[stateofequilibrium]

Coming from a Caribbean school, it is your ultimate goal to pass it on the first attempt