dont singleout spartan

[ahsan]

hi everybody,
I have been researching the entire foreign medical school industry for long time now.I think everyone outside of the US are the same in terms of course offering and facilities.
You would not get the kind of facilities like US schools.But these foreign med schools,atleast giving you a realistic oppurtunity to become a doctor in US.don't you think.
At present I believe the demand for physicians would grow in the next 5 years due to obvious reasons.So is the right time to explore the possibilities. in the same context spartan has caught everybody's eye due to his flexible curriculam and low tution. ithink if somebody gets accepted at spartan they should go for it.
A lot of caribean graduates feel that almost all of the schools has similar offerings and their placement rate in clinicals are also the same.
It is totally up to the student who has a dream to fulfill not the school.
School will offer what they have they cannot change overnight or customize their courses for a group or individual.but it is with the individual that how he approach to accomplish his tasks.
dont singleout spartan do your homework create a project plan and work accordingly.

With best regards,
ahsan

[etomidate]

I am an FMG who passed all three USMLE steps on the first try and obtained a prestigious university residency. What follows is just my opinion, but since I have been in the IMG community now for six years, it's based on experience, and not just supposition. I strongly disagree with your assesment that all offshore schools are equal.

First let me say that Spartan certainly has some positive points: It does have graduates that have obtained full licensure, and the tuition is cheap. But having rotated with several students from there, I can tell you it also has many disadvantages. The fact is that their USMLE pass rate is very low. They will never get approval in California as they failed the site inspection which also means NM is off limits, will probably never get full approval in NY, and their clinical rotations in the US are far more limited than the big 4 (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba).

This is not 1969, and the potential FMG has many choices. Research everthing carefully before you choose. My own recs are SGU first, if you have the grades and MCAT to get in. Ross, AUC and Saba are second, and all have their advantages and problems but are none the less solid choices. If those are not an option, then MUA, or St. Eustacius are reasonable choices along with Spartan.

[atraktm]

based on my 18 years experience after graduating from Spartan and obtaining 6 licensures in US,2licensures overseas,15 hospital privileges,4 board certifications..etc I can share my openion with you:except for California[and may be one other state] and the stafford loans program advantage,I can tell you in honest way that in the eyes of the medical directors all carribean schools are the same,the program director does not care if an indian doctor graduated from bombay or new delhi,or an asian physician came from china or tiawan,,or a carribean graduate of AUC or Spartan,I know because I been there,all you need is a good scores and get license/board certifications then no one can stop you.
I personally started with Ross for one semester and transfered to spartan for lack of funds at that time and I saw a tropical campus with no university hospitals in both schools,I was in the same hospital in cleveland with Ross students,I matched like everyone else and I did not see any difference at that time,today I agree with the California/stafford advantage but I believe all the other issues are the same.I interviewed in 10 residency and five fellowship programs and the progran directors were asking about scores and future goals and not what carribean school I attended.
Personal experience
Good luck

[currentstudent]

i must say u have not done proper research!.....i personally know four spartan grads practicing in NM......one of them is chief resident of his hospital.......Spartan grads actually can work in California but only once they have completed a residency in another state!.....otherwise all the caribbean schools have their advantages and disadvatages but more or less they are all the same......i know this because i was at st.georges two weeks ago.....the only difference in my eyes was a BEAUTIFUL school, higher tution and tons of students......it is a very good school, but the education at spartan will be more or less the same!

[atraktm]

I have no doubt that Spartan is as good as any other carribean school,I can also tell you that Spartan alumni list on the web site is a fraction of the actual figure,most of my classmates not listed and all leaders in their fields,obviously in the other schools have hundreds of students and charge $10.000-15000/semester then you will generate millions and hire PR and full time lawyers to shine your image.
If Spartan has the same revenues like the others then they will be better.
regarding California I hope you are right but I never had any interest in practicing in that state because of the competition and my Palm Beach home will cost 4 times more in California,many of my good friends from Ross actually left that state and moved to Florida because of the high cost of living,tough competetions,and no state tax in Fl.,do not focus on one state,go where its best for you and your family and the good opportunity that advance you well.
have a nice day

[ahsan]

hi everybody,
This is ahsan again. I am glad the thread I started going in right direction and people are coming with some positive attitudes.
I hate to say however the way somebody post that 15 reasons bla bla bla.I really dont want to argue with, that kind of a mind set. But I certainly would like to applaud these two gentleman, futurestudent and atraktm, who have expressed their experiences and gave a little respect to this forum,Gentleman keep it up.always be objective and concentrate on your goals.
All you need is a ticket to get in to your boards and I am sure spartan like any other WHO approved school can give you that.

Keep up the good work spartan.
always researching,
ahsan

[atraktm]

I am little surprised by the previous message placing Saba "rating" with Ross and AUC,I am not very familiar Saba but I reviewed their website and track records and found that Spartan had more graduates in practice,both listed as not approved in California and as per Kansas rule Saba graduates will be eligible for licensure in 2007,I believe that rating is not a realistic one .

[ahsan]

Hi,
I also agree with you on the saba situation.
It won't make any difference at this point of time in your career if a school is approved or not approved in a couple of states.
atraktm,. I have a question?
Realistically what kind of a difference it will make to any graduate if he does'nt get a residency in california and get one in New Mexico or Montana or any other low profile state. And what difference it will make to a resident if he does'nt get a license in cal and get in NM or MONT.
I think not really at the starting point of your career may be later on But who knows?

There have been a lot of Rumors about TEXAS also, But i have seen a lot of IMG'S and that too Spartan graduates in the top of the line Texas Hospitals.

regards,
Ahsan

[atraktm]

I can share some experience with you that I encountered in my career,I did discuss jobs in California with hospital directors and visited few[before I even looked into licensures issues 1990],I felt that California job market is very competetive,my speciality salary was around $200.000,the jobs in California/LA area offered $160.000,no chane for partnership, reasonable 3000SF home cost 1 million in the nice areas and competetion is very bad,I closed California interest for good,As I said before since I recieved my board certification no one cares about what I did ten years ago and I did practice in MI,IL,FL,SAUDI ARABIA,LEBANON,NEW YORK,MISSOURI,TOOK CARE OF VIP'S and the royal family physician and never at any time people cared or asked about medical school,they asked "what program you trained at?"residency/fellowship training.
my recommendation is not to go to a place where IMG's given hard time and road blocks,out of 50 states 2 ? out so what,you know you are good and have passed your exams and boards and you will succeed if you good doctor if you go to harvard or any foreign school.
stop focusing on pass rates or med school ratings and concentrate on youself and the future.

[wizard17]

i must say u have not done proper research!.....i personally know four spartan grads practicing in NM......one of them is chief resident of his hospital.......Spartan grads actually can work in California but only once they have completed a residency in another state!.....otherwise all the caribbean schools have their advantages and disadvatages but more or less they are all the same......i know this because i was at st.georges two weeks ago.....the only difference in my eyes was a BEAUTIFUL school, higher tution and tons of students......it is a very good school, but the education at spartan will be more or less the same!

i dont think even with licensure in other states you can get into cali... can you??...

[Scott1981]

i dont think even with licensure in other states you can get into cali... can you??...


you cant. that poster reported incorrect info.