SABA or US school?

[claudette737]

This may be a dumb thing to consider, but I'll ask you folks anyway: If given the choice between attending a US school that costs at least 170K for 4 years, or attending SABA for around 100K, and you wanted to go into an internal medicine fellowship, AND did not care about California, which school would you pick? Oh, and also, let's say you were well over 80K already in debt from undergrad and grad school.
This is actually a situation I may be in, so plse don't misinterpret this question as being obnoxious.

[Bamaguy(formerly RWL22)]

If I knew for sure I wanted to do IM and didn't give a rip about TEXAS(California shouldn't be a problem much longer) I would consider Saba. Otherwise, definitely go U.S.

[doctor2007]

This is my 2 cent. If I would be in your shoes I would go to the US medical school. For me, money has never been an issue. Even if my education ends up costing me hundreths of thousands of dollars, I know it's worth doing it because in the end I will be doing what I love. You'll make enough money to pay all your debts of.

US med schools have a better program than international med schools. I say that because most US med schools have US professors, have research facilities, teaching hospitals (many schools expose students to patients from 1st semester) and better reputation.

[anencephalic]

US med schools have a better program than international med schools.

Can you qualify that statement? There are students coming out of caribbean schools who are scoring 90th percentile or better in their USMLEs...better than many students attending US medical schools.

I say that because most US med schools have US professors, have research facilities, teaching hospitals (many schools expose students to patients from 1st semester) and better reputation.

Many caribbean schools (definitely AUC, Ross, & SGU) have professors from all over the continental US on faculty teachin basic sciences to medical students in offshore schools. Does that somehow diminish their expertise if it isn't taught on US soil? By the same token, many US schools have faculty who are not from the US or did not graduate from US programs. As far as research, SGU and AUC do offer clinical research, albeit not comparable to the likes of Mayo or Harvard. Teaching hospitals can be rotated through when you do your clinicals back in the USA.



Aloha,

[anencephalic]

This may be a dumb thing to consider, but I'll ask you folks anyway: If given the choice between attending a US school that costs at least 170K for 4 years, or attending SABA for around 100K, and you wanted to go into an internal medicine fellowship, AND did not care about California, which school would you pick? Oh, and also, let's say you were well over 80K already in debt from undergrad and grad school.
This is actually a situation I may be in, so plse don't misinterpret this question as being obnoxious.

Claudette,

I was waitlisted at US schools for 2 years prior to matriculation at AUC. Knowing what I know now, if I were in the same position I was in two years ago with a choice between the accetance at US schools I was waitlisted at and AUC, I would choose AUC in a heartbeat. My education here in SXM is every bit as comparable to my friends back in the US schools...we take the same courses, use the same books, take the same shelf examinations and will ultimately take the same boards. In my opinion, there are over 106 medical schools in the continental US and these run the gamut from excellent to poor and the entire spectrum in between. The top caribbean medical schools consistently place their students in residencies competitive even by US standards (Radiology, ER, Orthopedics, etc.).
Unless you have a chance at a Harvard, Hopkins, or Yale, (or another school of the same caliber) you won't regret your decision to go offshore. You have done your research and evaluated your personal situation (financial and otherwise) and selected SABA as the best match for you. SABA has a 10 year history of producing competent physicians who are eligible for licensure in many states. Since you know that California is not an issue for you (you may want to throw Texas in here as well!), you have an outstanding opportunity to practice medicine at a significant financial savings while attending a school that has demonstrated the ability to provide their students with the necessary tools and education to succeed in basic sciences, the boards, and beyond. Best of luck in your decision!

Aloha,

[GucciMD]

Go for the US school. Saba basic science was terrible a few years ago and I doubt there is much improvement.

[stephew]

If I knew for sure I wanted to do IM and didn't give a rip about TEXAS(California shouldn't be a problem much longer) I would consider Saba. Otherwise, definitely go U.S.absolutely disagree; usa no matter WHAT. You will get better options for residency, less hassle for licensure no matter what state. The 70K? A drop in the bucket. And consider state schools. It is a horrible decision to choose a carib school over a US school if you have the option. Period.

[anencephalic]

It is a horrible decision to choose a carib school over a US school if you have the option. Period.

Would choosing a US medical school (say, institutions who are in danger of losing LCME Accreditation or found deficient in some other aspect) be a better choice than more established Caribbean schools?

Aloha,

[Bamaguy(formerly RWL22)]

competative residency isn't an issue for her. You can get IM just about anywhere. I don't know what your financial status is but 70K is a little more than "a drop in the bucket" to me.

[ttwl]

Definitely go to US school!
More options for you in residency and less problems....makes life a bit easier... no need to think about banking issue... travelling ... food... living conditions... so on so for. Money issue shouldn't be a problem... Congratulations

[jguru2]

I believe that you will find that most, if given a chance, would have chosen the U.S.

[wolfvgang22]

I'm in a similar situation to you, claudette737.
I'm going to go to Saba.....but if you can go to a U.S. school, I think it's worth the extra 70k.

So to recap so far:
Go USA: 6 votes
Go Saba: 1 vote
Go to Saba if you don't care about specializing and want to save $$: 1

I think you have all the info you need, you've been around this forum a while.....you just have to make your decision that will make you happy, whether anyone agrees with it or not!

Good luck to you! 8)

[petenwe]

us school 70k is not much