A question that all prospective Saba students should ask...

[bartleby]

I'm not sure what Saba's latest sales pitch is, but if you are a recent admit and still sitting on the fence about your decision, my advice to you is to ask the clinical department one question before sending in your first check. That is, now that Saba has doubled its student body per semester, how does the school plan on handling clinical placement for all these students come third year? As it is, in my three years at Saba, the school has lost about a dozen clinical sites while adding ZERO, all the while touting the numerous clinical projects they've been "working on" for years. They cannot handle clinical placement as it is. So some friendly advice: before you sign the check be sure you get a straight answer from them regarding not only where you will be next semester, but where you will be two years from then.

[MrChem]

A lot of people are saying that Saba has 'recently' doubled it's intake per semester.
I know that the current 1st semesters have 78, and the 2nd semesters have even less than that, so when is this recent time you are referring to that they only took in 40 students?

[cattyjane]

well, as far as I know for 2008 Sept semester, they surely will have 2 hillside dorms running in addition to Mattew. So the school will at least admist 24 more people if not doubling the student intake.

No comment on the clinical spots because I don't know about this issue.

[Experienced]

I'm not sure what Saba's latest sales pitch is, but if you are a recent admit and still sitting on the fence about your decision, my advice to you is to ask the clinical department one question before sending in your first check. That is, now that Saba has doubled its student body per semester, how does the school plan on handling clinical placement for all these students come third year? As it is, in my three years at Saba, the school has lost about a dozen clinical sites while adding ZERO, all the while touting the numerous clinical projects they've been "working on" for years. They cannot handle clinical placement as it is. So some friendly advice: before you sign the check be sure you get a straight answer from them regarding not only where you will be next semester, but where you will be two years from then.

Gee, Tellingit, how many new accounts do you plan to open so you can slam SUSM some more?

E.

-

[MrChem]

Not quite.
The majority of students in the new hillside dorm are not 1st semesters.
The new hillside dorm is open to returning students who want to stay really close to campus

well, as far as I know for 2008 Sept semester, they surely will have 2 hillside dorms running in addition to Mattew. So the school will at least admist 24 more people if not doubling the student intake.

No comment on the clinical spots because I don't know about this issue.

[ducman]

Actually - I would have to agree with this disgruntled "clinical student"

I would recommend that every student do their due diligence when researching schools. Unlike Ross - I have not heard of any clinical placements amongst my friends at Saba.

The school is always in the process of acquiring new sites. For example, we acquired a new Psych rotation in both North Carolina and Louisiana.
Others are always in the works.

There shall always be disgruntled students who love posting duplicate negative remarks against other students and the school.

Remember, follow and seek advice from the successful students - not the ones who have an axe to grind.

[cattyjane]

Not quite.
The majority of students in the new hillside dorm are not 1st semesters.
The new hillside dorm is open to returning students who want to stay really close to campus

interesting to know this. Is it competitive for returning students to get into the hillside dorm? Considering its rent is probably on the lower end relative to other single rooms.

So, is doubling student intake just a rumour, since Saba is well know for its small class sizes?

[bartleby]

Let me first say that my experience down on Saba was great. The school on the island is a tightly run ship, and the professors are awesome. They love to teach, and they genuinely care about the students. Let me also say that my clinical experiences thus far have also been great. I have had the good fortune to hook up with some wonderful attendings, fellows, and residents. And that is the key to a successful rotation. Rotations are definitely what you make of them. If you show an attending or fellow that you are genuinely interested in what they do, they will take an interest in you. That said, the axe I'm grinding is with the clinical department in Gardner. I doubt anyone who has dealt with her would dispute that the department is woefully disorganized. There is no actual system in place. There is no computerized database that tracks student progress and rotation availability. There is no means of access to clinical evaluations. There are no updates or timeframes for Step 2 procedures or ERAS applications. Right now the system consists of the student making repeated telephone calls and emails in hopes of slipping into an available "slot" at any particular moment. I don't see that it is asking too much that every student, before leaving the island, should expect to have his or her core rotations all set up, contingent upon successful completion of Step 1. A lottery system would be the fairest way. Students should also have access to their clinical evaluations, in order to track their own progress. They should also receive timely information on registration procedures for Step 2 CS and CK, and also for ERAS. The school has obviously expanded, updated, and modernized down on the island. It is also time that they modernized their clinical resources. Believe it or not I have in fact been one of the lucky ones. My frustration stems from the problems I have seen many of my classmates face.

[ducman]

I completely agree. Each student's core rotations should be completely scheduled by the time they are ready to begin.

This is the American model - guess what else is unique to the American model. You won't have 3 months to study for Step 1.

I am all for it -> each student follows a school established timeframe (just like American schools) having 3-4 weeks after Basic Sciences grad to complete their Step 1, and then scheduled Cores begin contingent upon a passing score.

Always remember, every school - American or Caribbean has a finite number of rotations spots. One cannot have their cake and eat it too... if you take Step 1 on your own delayed time frame (not speaking to any particular user), then it definitely shall impact when cores can be scheduled.

In my current rotation, my fellow American med students talk about how their classmates didn't finish required school milestones and their cores/electives were delayed or they had to do it in a different city... more importantly, they are also affected by logistical mishaps.

Perfect example -> last year NBME decided that they shall take longer to evaluate the scores on the Step 2 CS taken in early 2007; my intern told me this resulted in 4 people in his medical school in Georgia not graduating on time as they had taken the CS during the latter part of the window and their scores did not come back in time! It was a required component for grad. Blame it on the NBME... but what can you do?!?

[covarubious]

interesting to know this. Is it competitive for returning students to get into the hillside dorm? Considering its rent is probably on the lower end relative to other single rooms.

So, is doubling student intake just a rumour, since Saba is well know for its small class sizes?


I took part in the live chat on friday and got a lot of useful information. one of the things i asked about was class sizes. Elizabeth, the person from admissions said class intake size would increase to a wopping.... 80 people. I think its 70-75 now so not exactly doubling. ;)

[Tellingitlikeitis]

There can be only one who tells it like it is!

[summerwind]

I'm not sure what Saba's latest sales pitch is, but if you are a recent admit and still sitting on the fence about your decision, my advice to you is to ask the clinical department one question before sending in your first check. That is, now that Saba has doubled its student body per semester, how does the school plan on handling clinical placement for all these students come third year? As it is, in my three years at Saba, the school has lost about a dozen clinical sites while adding ZERO, all the while touting the numerous clinical projects they've been "working on" for years. They cannot handle clinical placement as it is. So some friendly advice: before you sign the check be sure you get a straight answer from them regarding not only where you will be next semester, but where you will be two years from then.


Does SABA have any hospitals in the New York HHC system? SGU's exclusive agreement with these hospitals takes effect in 2008.

[Gigi25]

Let me first say that my experience down on Saba was great. The school on the island is a tightly run ship, and the professors are awesome. They love to teach, and they genuinely care about the students. Let me also say that my clinical experiences thus far have also been great. I have had the good fortune to hook up with some wonderful attendings, fellows, and residents. And that is the key to a successful rotation. Rotations are definitely what you make of them. If you show an attending or fellow that you are genuinely interested in what they do, they will take an interest in you. That said, the axe I'm grinding is with the clinical department in Gardner. I doubt anyone who has dealt with her would dispute that the department is woefully disorganized. There is no actual system in place. There is no computerized database that tracks student progress and rotation availability. There is no means of access to clinical evaluations. There are no updates or timeframes for Step 2 procedures or ERAS applications. Right now the system consists of the student making repeated telephone calls and emails in hopes of slipping into an available "slot" at any particular moment. I don't see that it is asking too much that every student, before leaving the island, should expect to have his or her core rotations all set up, contingent upon successful completion of Step 1. A lottery system would be the fairest way. Students should also have access to their clinical evaluations, in order to track their own progress. They should also receive timely information on registration procedures for Step 2 CS and CK, and also for ERAS. The school has obviously expanded, updated, and modernized down on the island. It is also time that they modernized their clinical resources. Believe it or not I have in fact been one of the lucky ones. My frustration stems from the problems I have seen many of my classmates face.

I have to agree 100%!! I just wish someone would bring these suggestions up to the clinical dept.