Why go to Asian med school (5 yrs) when there is the Caribbean option (3 yrs)?

[apple_sidra]

I know an Asian medical school would be good if someone is just graduating from high school, because after 5 years, the student would be eligible for residency (done at age 23). With the Caribbean, at least 90 credits are required so the student would spend 3 years in undergrad+3.5 years in med school (done at age 24.5-25).

However if one has already graduated from university, is there any advantage to going to medical school abroad vs. the Caribbean?

[eastern2western]

Price is probably the major reason. A lot of Asian Countries such as China can offer u a complete medical education for the price of a undergrad education in the states. The second reason is stability because a lot of these carribbean schools are mom and pop shops that are running out of garages and rented building. In comparison, a lot of asian schools are well established and they have their own campuses, affiliated hospitals, experience falculty and research facilities. Another benefit is that asian schools have a much better chance of getting license in the states than the carribbean shools. Even the oldest and most respected carribbean schools only have about a 30 year history, there are plenty of universities in asia have been serving their home since the beginning of the centure and they are accepted in 50 states.

[trauma]

If expense is not a problem as you can get loans, I'd rather go to a Caribbean school. However, if you can't go to a Carib school that can be licensed in 50 states (SGU, AUC, Saba, Ross) then some Asian schools are acceptable as they are well- established IF California licensure is very important to you.

[eastern2western]

If expense is not a problem as you can get loans, I'd rather go to a Caribbean school. However, if you can't go to a Carib school that can be licensed in 50 states (SGU, AUC, Saba, Ross) then some Asian schools are acceptable as they are well- established IF California licensure is very important to you.
Sure, you can say that expense is not a problem when you are not losing 2-3 thousand dollars every month to sallie mae for loan repayment. If it ever started to take money away from u for 20 to 30 years, you would wish that u should have gone to a cheaper school Personally, if I can not get into a school that is accepted into 50 states, I would just go back to work on my MCAT scores and try to get into an American school.

[Future Dr.Dewar]

An Asian school, by Asian i mean a school in India is much better than the caribbean. You can study your basic sciences at a relaxed pace(Compare 8 months of anatomy in the caribbean to 1 and a half years of anatomy in India) and u get more depth of knowledge rather than cramming it all in 3 month semesters. The infrastructure, facilities, number of patients, affliated hospitals,teaching standardds are much better in India. I am not sure about the chinese schools though. I guess the negatives would be culture shock, food, Methods of testing. But if i was given another chance i would rather do it in India.