need info

[Asiddi22]

i know people in a bunch of carribbean schools except xavier, so i don't know much about it, anyone who has been or is a student there can you basically just tell me if you would recommend it over the other non big 4 med schools.. like aua and st matthews and st james? why or why not

[kingdoc]

If you want to take the carribean route to become a doctor, don't fall to xavier directly. Instead apply to the big 4 schools 1st and see what happens. If you are denied admission in all of them, then you should go for xavier !

Good luck !

[davidMD]

Its much riskier to go offshore for your MD...this was seen from this yr's match...the increase of US med students from increased enrollment + new MD & DO schools are killers for IMGs...
US-IMGs had a match rate of 48% (excluding pre-match & scramble)
US students match at a rate of 93%....even more importantly, probably 95% of US med students that enter graduate...we'll never truly know how many students enter the caribb and never make it out..

If you can't get into the big 4, I'd seriously re-consider medicine. Actually, even if you get into the big 4, I'd still seriously re-consider and know what you're getting in to.

[Yashi]

hmmmmm..thz true.

[vyaspn86]

thanks for all the info.

[punster32]

davidMD, I'm surprised you're a doctor. That is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Reconsider medicine because you can't get into a US school? Really?

[TorontoMD]

Carrib. Schools are a lifeline for people who dont have funds to be a Dr. in the US or dont care to jump threw hoops like MCATS, and who are looking for a career change.
Get in get out! Its MED SCHOOL made easy!
If it were bad, so many people wouldnt be leaving their cushy lives in the US and moving to dump islands, like BONAIRE where St. James and XUSOM,Bonaire are located. Have anyone checked the tuition rates for the top 4 schoos, REDICULOUS!!!!!!! Ross is like $15,000 /semester,
Might as well go to Med School in the States! St.James, Aruba, XUSOMBONAIRE average about $5,000 a semester. Thats like going to a State University back home.
MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO GO TO OFF SCHORE MED SCHOOL, EVEN NON TOP 4!!!!!!!

Stay in school, Dont do drugs!

[Prospero]

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[TorontoMD]

It's a great attitude towards MCATS! Why take tests you dont have to. Half the students in carribean school are pot heads and alcaholics anyway. And the other half are actual students who give a dam about their future. Have you noticed how many indian students go to carribean "vacation" MED Schools on "daddys" money? They graduate high school and come straight into pre-med programs. If that isnt Med School made easy, I dont know what is. lol

I know I sound sinical, but thats reality and no one talks about it.
And unfortunetle, my attitude is similar to most of the carribean student body. And I am one of those "daddy" funded students, but I actually give a dam. Who cares about where you graduate from! If your school gets spots for clinicals/residency and you get matched, thats all you need.
Make that money!!
I can only speak for myself, and what im saying is ,
I ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get through as fast as I can to MAKE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!
Im jus sayin.....lol

Prospero, im not attacking you or anything. Just speaking my mind.
I went to U.S. 4 year University, what a waste of time that was. You cant get a job even with a 4 year degree. So I say skip the hurdels and just come to the Carribean Med Schools and never worry about not having a job. AND I REPEAT < MAKE THAT MONEYYYY!!!!!!>

[MedMan87]

It's a great attitude towards MCATS! Why take tests you dont have to. Half the students in carribean school are pot heads and alcaholics anyway. And the other half are actual students who give a dam about their future. Have you noticed how many indian students go to carribean "vacation" MED Schools on "daddys" money? They graduate high school and come straight into pre-med programs. If that isnt Med School made easy, I dont know what is. lol

I know I sound sinical, but thats reality and no one talks about it.
And unfortunetle, my attitude is similar to most of the carribean student body. And I am one of those "daddy" funded students, but I actually give a dam. Who cares about where you graduate from! If your school gets spots for clinicals/residency and you get matched, thats all you need.
Make that money!!
I can only speak for myself, and what im saying is ,
I ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get through as fast as I can to MAKE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!
Im jus sayin.....lol

Prospero, im not attacking you or anything. Just speaking my mind.
I went to U.S. 4 year University, what a waste of time that was. You cant get a job even with a 4 year degree. So I say skip the hurdels and just come to the Carribean Med Schools and never worry about not having a job. AND I REPEAT < MAKE THAT MONEYYYY!!!!!!>

to an extent i agree, 4 year bio programs are a waste of time and money completely, if you aren't 100% sure you can get into a Canadian medical college, don't even go that route go straight into a pre-med program this is my reccomendation.

the people who are potheads druggies, alcoholics get weeded out during USMLE/med exams anyways so it's no big deal, i will also be arriving my daddies purse lol, and i too wasted 5 years at a top canadian university doing classes like botany for gods sake :doh:

[Prospero]

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[ballernation]

thanks for the info

[TorontoMD]

Botany, haha Thats a good one.

[TorontoMD]

Prospero, listen.........your entitled to your opinion and im just sayin mine.
Dont get worked up. Most people choose a career for the money, love it or hate it its not gonna change.
You are right about the western view on medicine focusing more on making the money, thats why the rest of the world tries so hard to get into the U.S. so they can make as much.

One person isnt going to change the world, So good luck to you.
:faint:

[xlntxs]

this is my inside perspective as a current fairly informed Xavier student:

being an IMG first off puts you at a disadvantage when competing with US/CAN trained grads. if your up for one spot against someone from the aforementioned with similar marks/scores/qualifications, you will most likely get overlooked.

that being said, it is not impossible, in fact it's fairly probable that you will become a doctor. just don't expect to get a residency in neurosurg @ john hopkins, u of minnesota, or any of the top tier hospitals unless you absolutely rock your USMLEs...and by rock i mean 99% and above.

even then your up against the creme de la creme of the US/CAN and you will be overlooked 9/10 times.

however, many students from caribbean med schools have done well, some incredibly well.

i'd suggest you seriously attempt one of the big 4 first (Ross, St. George U., AUC, Saba) and have Xavier/AUA/[insert lower school name here] as a second or lower option.

yes tuition is cheaper here, but there is a reason for that. the quality of education is NOT as good, some of the profs are not the most qualified, despite what ppl will say. You will have to teach yourself a lot of the material necessary to succeed at your USMLE Steps.

granted, from my perspective, Xavier is a school improving in most facets as a school, but there are still very glaring holes in the system here. Those who do come here will become aware of them very fast.

i strongly reccommend you attempt the big 4 first, especially since enrollment at all caribbean schools are down due to lack of financial support from federal loans & banks. some will even accept you without a top notch GPA or an MCAT. and generally the big 4 are the only caribbean schools left that have the support of Stafford loans in the states/Ed-invest/Major US banks or OSAP in Canada.

Xavier does NOT have loans, and will not have loans anytime in the near future. So be fully aware of that coming in.

I can't think of much else right now, but if anyone else has any other questions, feel free to post and i'll try to answer them as best as possible :)

[Dr. Cuts]

Xavier does NOT have loans, and will not have loans anytime in the near future. So be fully aware of that coming in.
:)

Another post around here said Xavier-Aruba does have Teri loans - ??? :confused:

[Prospero]

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