AUC or Ross MERP

[GuapoVato]

I got a PM with this question, and I thought I would post my response 'cause it turned out to be pretty lengthy. The specific questions were:

Why did you choose AUC over Ross MERP? Just the extra cost/hassle? I know people at each and they've all heard that sometimes, just having "Caribbean" in the name can make a bad impression even if people know that Ross is too. Plus Ross has an amazing residency match list.

My answer:

There were three main things that made me choose AUC over Ross MERP. 1) Cost - I've avoided any type of loans so far finishing my bachelors and MA, but I would need to get a loan for MERP and with the crazy expensize interest rate (I didn't want cosigner so mine was around 12%) assuming I start paying it at the end of residency it was going to come out to about $30,000 (a rough estimate). Additionally, the AUC program is only 9.5 semesters opposed to a full 10 for Ross, so that's another $7,000 (plus living expenses...). Being conservative I figured it was going to cost about $40,000 more, which for me is significant 'cause I'm the one paying the loans back. 2) By not having to do MERP and only having 9.5 instead of 10 semesters, I will finish about 11 months sooner (nearly a year!)...for me that's a big deal. 3) I did my undergrad and grad work at relatively small schools, so the idea of being in a class of 150-170 instead of 350-380 is VERY appealing. In undergrad o'chem there were 13 people in my class...I was not at all jealous of UCLA friends that had 120 people in the same class. In my mind, less students means more support and help from the school. So far, the people from AUC have been awesome...I've been impressed with all the help they have given me so far.

As far as having "Caribbean" in the name...it bothered me too. Actually, it was probably the biggest issue for me. I wrote down all the positives and negatives of both schools, and my wife said "why in the world would you want to go to Ross?" my pathetic reply "I like the name better" - her profound answer "that's a pride issue. You are going to a Caribbean school either way, what does it really matter what the diploma says!" I hated to admit it but she was right. At this point I'm going to be an FMG, does the school name really matter? Then again, when my Dad was checking out the Ross website he said aloud "they are owned by DeVry? hmmm...." so, six one way half a dozen the other I guess.

In my opinion (and it has been discussed many times before), Ross has a good match list because the school is so big...AUC's list is just as good in competitive specialties but instead of graduating 300 per year they only graduate 150. So while it will appear that Ross' list is "better" based on numbers, I think they are pretty much equal. As far as residency, I think SGU has the upper hand on both Ross and AUC...then again, SGU cost a small fortune (that's another discussion altogether).

Anyway...this is getting long. I'm 25, married, a baby is on the way and I don't want to screw around I've finished a bachelors in biological science and a masters in theology...I don't need MERP before med school - I just want to get done. Last week I got a tetanus shot and the doctor (a graduate of Johns Hopkins in '82) was telling me he got paid the same as the doctor he worked with who graduated from Mexico. Everyone says to get good grades and do well on USMLE's...that's all that matter. While the school thing was a tricky decision, I think I made the right one. I guess time will tell...

Anyone have any other thoughts/reflections/comments/pointless ramblings?

[Wet_Coma]

Hi

Just to thrown in my two cents. I graduated from SGU, my girlfriend just graduated from SABA, I have a buddy who started at AUC then started over at SGU (in order to increase his chances of getting a surgery residency), and I've rotated with many students from Ross. I would say of all those schools, AUC is the one I am least familiar with.

No matter where you go to med school, the kind of residency you get will be heavily dependent on USMLE, MSPE (i.e. deans letter / GPA ), and LOR. Yes the name of the school does play a role. I've talked to residency program directors, and SGU def. has the best reputation of all the carib. schools. But like I said, this is a minor factor compared to USMLE, LOR, and MSPE. But what you should ask yourself is, "What does USMLE and LOR depend on?"

Of course it depends on you, but it also depends on where you go to school to some extent. Not all med schools are created equal.

For USMLE, try and guage the school by their first time pass rate (although be careful because certain schools skew this number by weeding out the bad students so that they do not ruin the schools statistics.) If the school has a LOW attrition rate with a HIGH USMLE first time pass rate (and overall USMLE pass rate), that would be the ultimate stat to determine how well their students are doing on the USMLE. By the way some schools take transfers who have already passed USMLE step 1 and then include that in their stats, which SGU does not.

Do not forget about the LOR either. One of the biggest problems with carib med schools is having enough rotation spots for their students. Make sure you do your homework and find out exactly what is entailed in trying to schedule your rotations. With most carib schools you have to move around the country with different rotations, or doing 4th year electives before 3rd year cores (obviosuly backwards), or even completing the rotations in the 2 years it is supposed to take. Don't learn the hard way, do your homework first! You are going to want great LOR from the best rotations possible.

Yeah SGU is the most expensive, but you get what you pay for. SGU spent $100 million on HHC hospitals, meaning more rotations for more students (essentially less spots for other carib schools). Also DES (Dept. of educational services), which is intended to make sure every student does well at SGU...hence no weeding out process like other schools. There are also scholarships that SGU offers.

But remember with all that said, it will be heavily dependent on how well you do. I wish you well on your journey to becoming an M.D.