Much needed advice

[Mike77]

I have a number of questions that I think only current students or alumni of SABA could accuratly answer. I have spent a significant amount of time researching SABA and other similar schools, yet I could not get all of my questions answered.

I am a 4th year Honors Psychology student from Canada, with a cGPA of ~3.59(/4.0) and my last 60 credits are currently 3.86. If I pull off a perfect GPA this semester, it will be pulled up to a 3.91. I've got significant international experience, a good extracurricular background and I can get as many as 5 very strong reference letters (4 from PhDs, one from my boss). I will also have 2 psychology studies sent in for publication by the end of April. However, I have not written my MCAT yet.

I know that if I finished my degree (which will be 5 years) I would be a strong canditate for most Canadian, or American, medical schools -- assuming I do well on the MCAT. I also think, based on what I have read on these forums, that I should not have any major problem to getting accepted into SABA if I appy for the May semester next week.

After years of researching medical schools, it seems that as long as you come from an accredited medical school, what will generally determine your residency placements is your USMLE scores. First of all, is this assumption correct? Or even with a strong USMLE score, am I at a significant disadvantage for the extremely competitve residencies? I am considering neurosurgeory, neurology, and psychiatry -- some of the most competitive residencies. Also, how satisfied (as students) are you guys with the preperation for the USMLE?

My rational is that if I applied to the only med school in Canada that doesn't require the MCAT I would probably not get accepted immediatly, and would most likely have to graduate first before applying. Therefore I will have to pay for another year and a half of school and dig myself even further into debt.

I know that if I went to SABA I would do as much work as required to get a top USMLE score. Do you think that as long as I was dedicated enough to work my hardest, I could recieve one of these competitve residencies? Or should someone in my position just hold off and wait another year and a half to apply to a Canadian medical school? My goal is to get my career started as soon as possible, but without playing a game of roullette.

I was also wondering if anyone had any relative statistics on the admission process at SABA? I have searched long and hard but could not find anything.

Also, it seems like one of the major complaints about SABA is the lack of activities of the island. Is the island really that desolate, or is it just bad compared to living in a large city. I'm always up for roughing it, but I want to at least have some basic hobbies to fufill the small spare time that I would have.

Another thing that I cannot find good information on is the quality of the school building itself. It is clearly a beautiful building, but does it have all of the necessary facilities (in your opinion) to get a good education? I couldn't help but focus on just how small the size of the school is. Has anyone had any major complaints there?

I hope you can appreciate my situation and I would really love to hear any comments or suggestions.

[rokshana]

not from saba, so can't answer saba specific questions

but neuro and pysch are fairly IMG friendly fields. neurosurg is not. can it happen? yes, is it likely? not really. but yes, for uber competitive fields, you will be at a disadvantage...harsh, but true.

to maximize your opportunities and choices you should at least try in canada and the us...the caribbean schools will still be here a year or 2 later.

[maserati]

Hey Mike77,

Wo, you've definitely well analyzed the situation and asked some great questions. That's my Canadian boy!

Me - McGill BA&Sc. Biomed & Languages with almost the same stats as you along with many other activities/experiences that I am very proud of.
You & I are not alone in this boat : Most Canadian students who're at SABA are excellent student with *great* academic/extra-curricular achievements ... but ... we simply just couldn't get in. This is what I read/heard from my correspondence with many students who have either graduated or are currently there. We didn't want to spend years applying ... Sure, a CGPA of 3.5-3.7 ( even with last 60 or 90 credits being at 3.8's ) is great but it's just not good enough for Canadian schools.

I am not at SABA yet, but I do share the believe as you in that I'd rather just get my life started, study hard & aim to perform well on the USMLE and I will end up in the same place, just a different ( possibly a better life experience ) path.

I have friends from highschool/university who are currently there and more friends from uni who are applying for 2008. I'm going Sept08.

Furthermore, I have been told that the facilities are adequate and they're also completing this new/big building for 2008. Activities - I think the lack of activities itself is gonna be part of the life experience on this little jungle/scuba diving island in the middle of no where. Plus, from what I gather, the ridiculous amount of exams/studying will be the main activity anyway.

I hope I did not come across as pessimistic towards Canadian med. There's A LOT of us, in the same boat. I'd say apply to Canadian & SABA at the same time.



ps where in canada/uni?

cheers

[aspiringmedstudent]

Yeah, I wouldn't see any problems with Neurology or Psych. I've followed Saba students matches since before I was here, and every year there are a few who go into Psych and Neurology.

My opinion on neurosurgery? It can definitely be done, but it's up to you to make it happen. If you do very well on your boards, I think it's possible for you to get it right off. If not, you could try doing a gen surgery residency and try again afterwards? It would give you more experience and another way to prove your worth!

There are 5-10 Saba students that match in surgery every year. Not the easiest match to make. Also, we match a handful or more in Anesthesia as well. I think these results suggest it's doable. :)

If you have too many doubts and you have time to try to get into an American/Canadian school then of course you should try that. We all have reasons for coming to the Caribbean. It's probable that all the students (at least in the top 4 Caribbean medical schools) would have gotten into an American/Canadian school eventually.... For me, I just couldn't afford to take more time trying.

Good luck!

[BTH]

Salutations "Mike77":

I'm going to agree with the rest of the crew here regarding neurosurgery. Very very competitive field to get into even for someone graduating from the states, much less someone from the caribbean. Your best shot would be to befriend a neurosurgeon and get a good letter of recommendation from him/her as well as show a tremendous amount of interest. That and of course getting good grades in clinicals and in the boards. Good luck.

[Experienced]

Also, it seems like one of the major complaints about SABA is the lack of activities of the island. Is the island really that desolate, or is it just bad compared to living in a large city. I'm always up for roughing it, but I want to at least have some basic hobbies to fufill the small spare time that I would have.

Picture a 5 sq mi island with 1200 local population and 300 medical students and faculty. Depends on what your hobbies are. If they include hiking and snorkeling/diving, you're golden on Saba. If your hobbies are beach combing, discos and bar hopping in an anonymous setting, not a chance. Btw, your hobbies the first two semesters will have to include discipline, time management and self-sacrifice or you're toast.

E.

-