WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO STOP ACCEPTING FOR FALL 2004 SEMESTER

[gebbils]

First of all, I dont want to bash any applying students, but I just want you guys to understand how I feel, well Im sure there's more people who think the same way.

Alright, as the days go by and the fall semester start date is coming up, i cannot believe that i still see people getting accepted, a week before the classes start. I dont think its fair to other students who applied much earlier, were rushing not to miss the deadline and now it turns out that there's no such thing as a deadline.
As I heard the class is already over a hundred students and I know from current students that the school is going to have a problem accomodating everyone into the schedule ( not even talking about RH). I think that there has to be an application deadline for each semester.
I understand that I sound very very hypocritical, thinking only about myself, but Im sorry to say but this really screws up school's reputation about small classes ( what they say on the website), this was one of the reasons I went to SMU, and this really makes it look shady that the school would take someone a week prior to the beginning of the classes, like it would take anyone at anytime.
But then again, I might be wrong...
Anyone thinks the same way?

[dallasdoll]

I understand the school has rolling admissions, but it seems a bit shady to interview people for the fall semester a week before it is to begin....

I am concerned about the school accepting failures from other schools, and having lower admission standards.

SMU is in a beautiful place, has the best residence hall of any carib school, and allows you to leave the island sooner than any other as well. And the price is GREAT! These are GREAT assets... now, if the school would start being choosy about its admissions, USMLE scores will go up due to the caliber of students and resident matches will be better.

I have faith in this school that it will only get better. It is already making great strides.. but things like this remind me that the dollar sounds like the bottom line here. Why must SMU take everybody?

[charlottenian]

I agree Gebbils.... How can you be prepared in less than 2 weeks to attend med school.... I applied and got in around February and it has taken me a while to get prepared.... I just think this is an insult to all those who took the deadlines and process seriously

[gebbils]

thats what I am talking about, Im not trying to insult anyone who is so eager to start in the Fall, but deadline has to be a deadline, otherwise something like this will compromise other more important factors.
Even the students who are applying for the Fall 2004 now? Wouldn't you be thinking twice about the reputation of the school, if it'll accept you a week prior to the start?
I would be concerned, I was accepted back in January and was so stressed to make sure everything is done and is on time, and this is totally unfair to us.
Just look at the situation of RH, now that "requirement" to stay one semester is not a requirement anymore, noone will take it seriously from now on.
so what will be the next thing that will lose its sense of importance?
Residence placement? Clinicals?
I am just concerned, the school has a good reputation, I just dont want it to go down, its all for our best guys, if we strive towards improvement.

[charlottenian]

thats what I am talking about, Im not trying to insult anyone who is so eager to start in the Fall, but deadline has to be a deadline, otherwise something like this will compromise other more important factors.
Even the students who are applying for the Fall 2004 now? Wouldn't you be thinking twice about the reputation of the school, if it'll accept you a week prior to the start?
I would be concerned, I was accepted back in January and was so stressed to make sure everything is done and is on time, and this is totally unfair to us.
Just look at the situation of RH, now that "requirement" to stay one semester is not a requirement anymore, noone will take it seriously from now on.
so what will be the next thing that will lose its sense of importance?
Residence placement? Clinicals?
I am just concerned, the school has a good reputation, I just dont want it to go down, its all for our best guys, if we strive towards improvement.

I concur.... if the RH rule was like that I would have just waited till last month and applied then get my own place.... Not being a nag but I think this is the type of stuff that slings mud towards Carrib schools

[gebbils]

thats what Im talking about, I know that the curriculum and professors are good, but the administrative stuff brings the whole picture down, so they should rethink a few things, but then again we all know its a new school, so lets hope for the best

[mdMDmd]

guys we all have to get over ourselves


all these carib med schools are just that . . .carib med schools....we cant forget that...

[dallasdoll]

yes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect any standards.

[qnguyen]

guys we all have to get over ourselves


all these carib med schools are just that . . .carib med schools....we cant forget that...

but does that mean they can ignore the deadlines that they set themselves?

[hope2bdoc]

i don't know, i personally feel it's a mixed bag. while i definitely relate to and empathize with the sentiments expressed here, i think that a school has to pretty much take whoever they can get in their early years. two reasons, the first being financial obviously but the second and equally important reason being that each student has a network of family and friends who are made aware of this school and the growth is facilitated that way.

think about it, if you are part of the administration you will accept anyone and everyone who meets the minimum requirements and can pay or qualify for key/teri. the school hopefully will use that money to expand and acquire more and better facilities and that benefits us all in the long run. also, this is the one fall term following ny approval but with cali pending. should cali be denied, no doubt there would be a good deal fewer apps next year, both due to the number of students coming from there, wishing to return and the fact that cali has second highest number of residencies. the school may or may not experience another bonanza of apps and students as they have this year with at least the hope of cali approval.

all things considered, it would be nice if they would stick to deadlines and keep the class small. it would also be nice to keep life intact and just go to a u.s. med school. it does suck to be told back in the spring to get on the ball and get everything in when it's obvious there was no rush, but i do believe the more students the better, at least in THIS phase of the school's development.

and this raises an interesting question: does anyone EVER get rejected from smu? i have never read or heard of such a thing and i know a LOT of people who go to and aspire to carib med schools.

[gebbils]

i agree with you somewhat hope2bdoc
i understand that its for school's benefit to grow more when it accepts more students. but i still think that the deadline must be a deadline, there's a ton of people already applying for the next semester, why still keep on accepting people for the fall, when the facilities already cannot handle it, not talking about accomodating students.
i understand if they had huge labs and lecture halls, like SGU, but as far I know, they have smaller rooms ( this was the key reason i applied to this school, because of the class sizes and Cayman Islands of course), so u cant really get all the money in one shot, otherwise what do they expect, that more people will be going to SMU? I dont want other people thinking that SMU is only about money and it will take anyone.

I would also like to know if anyone ever got rejected

[thirteenthstep]

What happened basically was that once SMU got NY approval, they skyrocketed up to be on par with the big 3. I predict that from now on their applicant pool will be huge, they will initially let most people in, even those that don't deserve to be. Eventually, just like Ross and AUC, they will require the MCAT... then they will eventually require a higher MCAT score and so on. The wheels are in motion guys.

[SMU_Information]

There are a few things that are pertininent to this conversation.

The acceptance rate for SMU before this semester was about 3:5. Now it is about 1:2.

"Accepted" does not mean you have a seat in the class. While people can apply for the class after the Immigration deadline, there is a real chance that Cayman won't give them their student visa. Now, it's up to Immigration how to handle late applicants, and we let them know that. Also, without a seat deposit or financial aid, you are still in limbo.

Traditionally, about 80% of those who complete their files actually show on Orientation day.

Anyone that calls me after the deadline I reccommend for the next semester, but it's up to the individual to take that chance.

On a side note, I think quite a few of the incoming students on this forum are very prepared, and definitely went about things the right way. You have saved yourselves a lot of stress and headaches.

[AmericanIMG]

you all made some great points about SMU and that they are accepting people late. but i think you forget that its impossible for them to attend for the fall after the deadline is imposed, because their immigration paperwork wont get in. so the deadline is a deadline. acceptances for people that applied for fall may roll in, but for other classes. also, i dont know if anyone else has experienced this, but in my applications to Ross and AUC i was told by Ross a WEEK before the first day of classes i was in and to come to the island ; AUC gave me a little over a week. totally ridiculous.

i am noticing alot of students are making comments as to SMU accepting many Ross failures. in SMU there is a unit rule for failing. you fail (i believe) 18 units, automatic expulsion. this is true for transfers too. if you fail 18units prior to coming to SMU they will not take you. if you fail 17units, then fail 1 at SMU, expulsion. if SMU was taking so many ross transfers then obviously this rule wouldnt be enforced (which it is).

:wink:

[MedSter]

AmericanIMG I wasnt aware that if you fail credits from another institution that they remain on your records at SMU. As far as SMU having low standards and accepting failures from other schools... SMU is a Caribbean medical school. It is ranked in my opinion up there with SGU, ROSS AND AUC. I think SMU will be in the top 2 within the next few years. SMU seems to be improving at a rapid pace and I believe prepares the student well for Step 1. I've noticed for the most part from other students that at Ross and AUC, you're not being tested against USMLE Relevant material, you're being tested against the Professor's ego. At SMU I can confidently say that most of the exams that you will take will be board type questions. You're gonna have your occasional professor who likes ask non board type questions here and there, but in general if you do well on your exams you should perform well on your USMLE. Just stay ahead in your courses and keep working hard. There's no shortcuts.
Medical students are very competitive so be prepared to have a lot of competition. Its like that at most Carib Medical schools.
If you do your work and dont mess around (till after exams lol) then you should be fine. Dont give up and seek help when you need it, NOT when its too late.

[gebbils]

in SMU there is a unit rule for failing. you fail (i believe) 18 units, automatic expulsion. this is true for transfers too. if you fail 18units prior to coming to SMU they will not take you. if you fail 17units, then fail 1 at SMU, expulsion. if SMU was taking so many ross transfers then obviously this rule wouldnt be enforced (which it is).

:wink:

Can you clear that up? Those units are credits for the courses?

Thanks

[ockhamsRzr]

Thanks for the insights MedSter.

I too feel that SMU is on a rapid trajectory having lurked on ValueMD for many months (this is my first post after reading literally thousands).

Basically I'm working my pre-reqs at Harvard's HCP program now and am hoping to be accepted into an MD or DO program in the states (family and real estate in Boston), but I'm actively prepared to pursue my med school path even if it takes me to the Caribbean. To that end, after exhaustive research (still ongoing), SMU is far and away my first choice. It seems that the overall professionalism of Cayman in general has clearly influenced St. Matt's...and that's a very good thing.

I love that JP Yates is *always" active and professional in this forum, I love that they now have NY approval, and I've been very impressed with the overall feedback of students there now.

In fact (fingers crossed) my wife is interviewing for a job with the Cayman Governement very soon. If that works out I'll likely bypass my plans to attend a US school, pack up the two kids and happily attend SMU. The only reason I wouldn't otherwise is that with two babies, I just don't think I could leave them behind (believe me I really tried to convince myself I could do it).

It is even more encouraging that the test formats are more in-line with USMLE formats...it just seems like SMU is determined to ascend to the top of the Carib Med School crop. While I thought for sure (before really diving into these fora) that I'd like to attend St. George's because my wife and I have been to Grenada 5 times and were married on Carriacou, the more I understand about SMU and Cayman as a place to live and study, the more it becomes my first choice.

Any and all feedback from active SMU students is immensely helpful and welcomed. Best of luck to everyone out there and talk soon!

-Ock

[wowmd]

Glad you wouldn't have to live in RH because of your family, so that you wont have to deal with this RH mess including Sebastien being an imaginative person.

[pselwyn7]

A SIMPLE QUESTION:

How would you have felt if you wanted to get into medical school and you got a word from the school that even if there is a deadline "we will accept you" Would you say no don't accept me because it is not fair? That's a question just for you to answer from the heart.

Good luck!

[jguru2]

only reason one applied is to be "accepted"...they will accept the "acceptance" the soonest they can. only way to control it is through the school's side of the equation, and not the students.

[AmericanIMG]

i think that in all schools there are great applicants. some will be stronger in certain areas then others, and that may cause for a tough decision to be made with regards to choosing which student will be allowed to matriculate. i am not saying that this is the case with SMU, i am just saying that i can understand being given a late acceptance...especially with medical school. when you are dealing with the top students in a particular country, every acceptance and denial is tough. that being said, if i was given an oportunity to attend a school that i wanted (be it medical, law or any other) and i was given an opportunity to apply after a deadline, then was given acceptance i would take it in a minute. it doesnt cheapen anything to be admitted earlier or later...just think of all the students that are accepted into medical schools in the US after being waitlisted...is their seat worth any less to them or to the school???

:wink:

[stephenbheller]

excuse me......"don't forget this is a carib med school".....excuse me??