IAUstudent06

[mljackson19]

Hey why are you transferring from IAU?

[Skipper]

according to his post in the AUC form he stated the following:

"They make you go back and take 5th semester because that will put you over the >50% requirement. Basically, you can't just take the last two years... you have to do that, plus one basic science semester. Therefore, you have done more than 2 of the 4 years of medical education with them.

I'm am trying to transfer to obtain greenbook rotations. I realize that I still would have licensing issues in states like Texas and I still would not be able to work in states like California. At this point, I am not willing to gamble with IAU anymore, I think that's more of a problem in the future not having greenbook rotations -- when you compare it with having to show transfer history to a licensing board.

I'm sure someone else will ask why didn't I go to a better school/plan ahead/ etc. The answer is I just didn't know. I hope posts like this will help others. I'm just glad I have a good back-up with nursing. It's not the best, but I make twice my resident's salary while working only 3 days a week."

this post can be found here:
http://www.valuemd.com/american-university-caribbean-auc/155299-looking-transfer.html

skipper

[iaustudent06]

The choice for me was simple, I want to keep NY and TX open for possible licensure. I would like to attend a school with greenbook options to increase my chances for licensure and residency. For residency, you never know where you'll end up and with the majority of positions available on the east coast, it would be better decision to attend a school with at least NY approval. For Texas, you need greenbook for cores (and electives if under the 130 minimum of medical curriculum.) I've been notified from other VMD members that having board certification after you are all done could bypass the greenbook rule in Texas, not sure though.

IAU does not have:
approval from any state.
all the greenbook (ACGME) clinical rotations.So far, IAU has only Internal Medicine and Family Practice available for rotations that qualify as ACGME. We are missing pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, and obstetrics / gynecology. Many states require at least the cores to be greenbook. These 48 weeks of "cores" make up the 3rd year of medical school (ideally) and are what is needed to take Step Two (greenbook or not.) The last 36 or so weeks make up the 4th and final year while you are busy interviewing to match into residency.

It's already hard to get residency as a foreign graduate, imagine trying to do it coming from a lower-tier school without any state's approval. Several people think that passing USMLE will make everything all better. I've broke into the 90's for step one and haven't been able to successfully transfer anywhere. Here's a list of programs I've contacted and got denied for various reasons including "not taking credits from IAU/carribean schools, must have MCATS/prereqs, no spots available this year, or not taking advanced standing transfer students:"


U.S. Schools

Drexel (PA)
New York Medical College
Tulane (LA)
Marshall (WV)
George Washington (DC)
Northeastern Ohio (has a crazy $600 3 day interview with videotaped doctor-patient set up)
Indiana (IN residents only)
Brown (RI residents only)
Chicago Medical School
Mercer (GA residents only)
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin
East Carolina University (NC residents only)
University of Wisconsin (WI residents only)
Columbia University (2nd year only)
Mount Sinai
All 5th Pathway programs

Carribean Schools


Ross
St. George (SGU)
Saba
MUA
St. Mathews (SMU)

The last option I have is AUC (which has already told me that if given admissions, I would still have to repeat 5th semester on the island) which I still have pending paperwork to turn in for completion of the application. I also have an interview with AUA next week. With either choice, I'll still have to file additional paperwork (~30 forms) for Texas and there's 99.9% chance of no licensure in California since I completed some of my medical education and at non-approved school. I didn't care about California anyways.

Not that there's anything really wrong with IAU, they have been trying to improve all the years. They have added Baton Rouge as a ACGME clinical option and have invited NY for state approval last year. I am not aware of another school that has attempted NY approval recently in the Carribean. But IMO, I think students should not use short cuts and try SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, AUA, MUA (probably in that order) if you wanted to go the Caribbean route and maintain open options for licensure in the U.S. (SGU, Ross and AUC are 50-state approved). Or go California approved school like Saddam University Saddam College of Medicine in Iraq :p

[iaustudent06]

according to his post in the AUC form he stated the following:

"They make you go back and take 5th semester because that will put you over the >50% requirement. Basically, you can't just take the last two years... you have to do that, plus one basic science semester. Therefore, you have done more than 2 of the 4 years of medical education with them.

I'm am trying to transfer to obtain greenbook rotations. I realize that I still would have licensing issues in states like Texas and I still would not be able to work in states like California. At this point, I am not willing to gamble with IAU anymore, I think that's more of a problem in the future not having greenbook rotations -- when you compare it with having to show transfer history to a licensing board.

I'm sure someone else will ask why didn't I go to a better school/plan ahead/ etc. The answer is I just didn't know. I hope posts like this will help others. I'm just glad I have a good back-up with nursing. It's not the best, but I make twice my resident's salary while working only 3 days a week."

this post can be found here:
http://www.valuemd.com/american-university-caribbean-auc/155299-looking-transfer.html

skipper

Copy/paste might have been easier...

[Skipper]

The question is if you knew all this, why did you even bother going to IAU in the first place?

Skipper

[iaustudent06]

I already answered that in the post you copied from the AUC post, I just didn't know about individual state recognition until my first year of medical school when I signed up for VMD. I only heard of SGU because my sister went there for a year before re-starting med school in the U.S. I didn't even understand ACGME clinicals until 5th semester. I was misled in thinking that all I had to do was pass USMLE to obtain licensure in any state, except California. I figured a school with their office in Texas would know Texas's law. Even then, I was told after a few years of practice and/or doing the bluebook/umbrella clinical method, I could obtain licensure in any state. But now I, along with any misinformed IAU representative, knows better.

I also thought IAU would get their approval from NY last year during their visit when I was there, I made up my mind back then if they didn't get the approval I would try to transfer to a school with at least NY approval. I should add my fiance is a pediatrician in NYC and my RN license (which is also under Office of Professions, New York Education Department which licenses MD's) is in NY, so I have multiple reasons for trying to stay in NYC.

People always have different reasons, I'm not the first to transfer out, probably won't be the last. I just want to make it clear I don't regret going to IAU (some faculty were great, library was adequate, hours were good, etc) I do regret not researching Carribean medical schools like I was advised to do from friends and family. I kinda based decisions off it being a family-owned school (can't screw over on children right?), friends at IAU, costs, duration of time on the island, admissions, and wishful thinking.

[iaustudent06]

I think I should add if IAU had greenbook cores and at least NY approval, me and several others would not attempt to transfer out.

[mljackson19]

Thanks for posting IAUStudent06

[iaustudent06]

Thanks for posting IAUStudent06

No problem, and good luck.

[mljackson19]

Now I was trying to follow the things in ur siggy about the rotations, but get lost a bit. So even though you have finished ur Step 1 and stuff ur not going into clinical rotations with IAU by choice or because they don't have any?

[Skipper]

they have some but they are not Greenbook.

skipper

[squad41]

For someone who was rejected by AUC, Ross and SGU, would you still recommend IAU? Could you clarify what is meant by "IAU is not licensed in any state?" Overall, did you feel IAU prepped you adequately for step 1?

[Skipper]

For someone who was rejected by AUC, Ross and SGU, would you still recommend IAU? Could you clarify what is meant by "IAU is not licensed in any state?" Overall, did you feel IAU prepped you adequately for step 1?


this most likely means it does not have any grads that have completed residency and have their full license in any state.


As of now, you will not be licensed in Cali, Kansas, NM, Texas, NY, and possibly Penn.

The rest is unknown until they have grads who try to be licensed.

skipper

[iaustudent06]

Now I was trying to follow the things in ur siggy about the rotations, but get lost a bit. So even though you have finished ur Step 1 and stuff ur not going into clinical rotations with IAU by choice or because they don't have any?

I'm going to assume "siggy" represents situation? But either way, yes - even though I have completed the 2 years of basic science and successfully completed Step one, I made the choice to attempt transfer for a school with at least one state approval and greenbook rotations because IAU has neither. There are only around 5 students from IAU and maybe another 5 more who transferred in from other schools ahead of me that I am aware of still doing clinicals. And as far as I know, those students only have the options to do clinicals at the three hospitals we do have (Jackson Park, Baton Rouge, and Harbor Hospital.) From what I understand you could do rotations at any hospital willing to take you. Unfortunately, only 2 out of the 6 core rotations (Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Surgery, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Ob/Gyn) would be actually ACGME certified (Internal Medicine at Harbor Hospital and Baton Rouge) and Family Practice (Jackson Park Hospital). So IAU does have options to finish, but not with ACGME clinicals which is required/recommended in some states.

[iaustudent06]

For someone who was rejected by AUC, Ross and SGU, would you still recommend IAU? Could you clarify what is meant by "IAU is not licensed in any state?" Overall, did you feel IAU prepped you adequately for step 1?

Hey Squad41,


Just to clarify, AUC has not rejected me, I am waiting an a letter of recommendation to reach them.
I would recommend IAU under a few conditions:
You absolutely don't care where you practice
Understand there will be a reduction in choices for residency types and locations.
Were not accepted to SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, AUA, MUA
Over some other 3rd tier schools who don't care about their students, because IAU does try to accommodate their student's needs.
"IAU not being licensed in any state" I'm sorry, I meant IAU not being on any state's approved list for licensure or clinical rotations.
Overall, I felt the actually lecture by some teachers were good, some were bad - nothing new with that. But our case studies (problem-based learning) and ICM did not help with Step One and I feel as if that wasted an enormous waste of time. I am glad that Kaplan was mandatory in the 5th semester because it helped to fill in a few gaps where IAU did a poor job. But 6-7 weeks of Kaplan was definitely not enough for Step one. That stuff should have been throughly studied during the 2 years of basic science. I don't know how you want me to grade IAU on it's performance, but on a A-B-C scale I'll give it a "B-" on how it prepared me for Step one and an overall "C+" for the basic science portion because of the ICM program, lack of better labs (other than anatomy), a few poor teachers, and improper schedules of classes because a shortage of teachers.

[iaustudent06]

this most likely means it does not have any grads that have completed residency and have their full license in any state.


As of now, you will not be licensed in Cali, Kansas, NM, Texas, NY, and possibly Penn.

The rest is unknown until they have grads who try to be licensed.

skipper


You are correct, the school just had it's first resident this year in Kansas for psychiatry.

I believe we can not get licensed in Penn because of the lack in greenbook electives that they require.

[Scott1981]

You are correct, the school just had it's first resident this year in Kansas for psychiatry.

I believe we can not get licensed in Penn because of the lack in greenbook electives that they require.

however, i dont think that psych resident will be able to get fully licensed in kansas until the school has been around for 15 years.

[mellsworth21]

Could someone elaborate on the schools facilities? IUA student, did you take the MCAT?
Also IUA student, thanks for your insightful posts.

[iaustudent06]

however, i dont think that psych resident will be able to get fully licensed in kansas until the school has been around for 15 years.

Yeah that is true, I'm sure in a few years he'll post where he gets his license. We're both from Dallas so we'll see how this all plays out.

[iaustudent06]

Could someone elaborate on the schools facilities? IUA student, did you take the MCAT?
Also IUA student, thanks for your insightful posts.

Haha, first it's IAU.

Second, no I didn't take MCATS. With that said, almost every program I talked to in order to transfer either stated that it would not be needed since I have passing USMLE scores (mostly Carribean schools said this despite what their website claimed) or they would not take me coming from a Carribean school or IAU (mostly U.S. schools.) Only the 5th pathway programs required it, but almost all of them are ending this year except for Mt. Sinai.

As for school's facilities, it had 3 classrooms which could hold about 50 students each and 3 small case study rooms which could hold about 6 or 7 students comfortably. The anatomy lab was sufficient with models and 2 cadavers (when I was there) but the labs for physiology, pathology, and microbiology kinda sucked. I had a few micro questions in relation to specific testing steps on Step One which could of been made easier with real labs instead of a power point presentation on it.

[mljackson19]

I'm going to assume "siggy" represents situation? But either way, yes - even though I have completed the 2 years of basic science and successfully completed Step one, I made the choice to attempt transfer for a school with at least one state approval and greenbook rotations because IAU has neither. There are only around 5 students from IAU and maybe another 5 more who transferred in from other schools ahead of me that I am aware of still doing clinicals. And as far as I know, those students only have the options to do clinicals at the three hospitals we do have (Jackson Park, Baton Rouge, and Harbor Hospital.) From what I understand you could do rotations at any hospital willing to take you. Unfortunately, only 2 out of the 6 core rotations (Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Surgery, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Ob/Gyn) would be actually ACGME certified (Internal Medicine at Harbor Hospital and Baton Rouge) and Family Practice (Jackson Park Hospital). So IAU does have options to finish, but not with ACGME clinicals which is required/recommended in some states.

Oh ok cool, thanks for the information, your "siggy" is like ur signature talking about the things that always appear under your post. :D I'm actually from Baton Rouge so going there I don't think would be a big problem. Are you doing clinicals? Do you have the option to put them on hold until you get an acceptance from somewhere else.

BTW I hope that your attempts to transfer are successful.

[Skipper]

Oh ok cool, thanks for the information, your "siggy" is like ur signature talking about the things that always appear under your post. :D I'm actually from Baton Rouge so going there I don't think would be a big problem. Are you doing clinicals? Do you have the option to put them on hold until you get an acceptance from somewhere else.

BTW I hope that your attempts to transfer are successful.


putting clinicals on hold is not a good idea in general, since you will have to explain the break in your medical education to licensing depts and residency programs.

some state require to explain every month you were away from medical school in detail in regards to what you were doing it and why

it may affect the ability for you to get licensed and to get a residency

keep this in mind if you planning on taking a break

skipper

[iaustudent06]

Oh ok cool, thanks for the information, your "siggy" is like ur signature talking about the things that always appear under your post. :D I'm actually from Baton Rouge so going there I don't think would be a big problem. Are you doing clinicals? Do you have the option to put them on hold until you get an acceptance from somewhere else.

BTW I hope that your attempts to transfer are successful.

Thanks... The Baton Rouge Hospital has only Internal Medicine as ACGME certified. I'm not too familiar with what details Louisiana requires concerning greenbook rotations.

I decided not to do clinicals, because I would not receive credits for them anyways if I were to transfer.

I still stand by my earlier post stating that I would rather explain working full time while waiting for transfer than explaining why I don't have all of my required greenbook rotations.