Are classes in English? Is the coursework really hard? What

[ok90]

What would happen if you fail more than 1 class a semester or failed classes in more than 1 semester? Do you get kicked out or can you repeat a class as many times as needed? Also, I have a friend from New Jersey that went to UNIBE after high school, passed the USMLE but is still having a hard time getting a residency. Does UNIBE not have a good reputation at least in NJ? Is it hard to get a residency if you go to UNIBE? Please help.

[ojmdc]

First off, don't plan on failing any classes! Certainly not in various semesters. In the extremely unlikely instance that you should fail a class they don't force you to repeat the semester or the eyar as they might in an american medical school. Depending on the particular "reglamentos" of the university you can fail a class various times and simply repeat it the following semester if it is offered. In order to fit that course into the next semester you'll have to drop a class normally part of that semester and you'll therefore likely find yourself doing extra time in the DR. This is why most student, dominican and american alike don't finish the program in the allotted time. They fail a class here or there and are forced to stick around a few extra semesters to finish up the coursework. There are other reasons of course, USMLE prep, closed sections, but I observe the main reason for people adding semesters to their time in the Dr is because they failed a class here or there or had to drop a course, etc. In any case, the bottom line is that you can fail a course or several courses in your time at a DR medical school, how many courses and how many times is particular to each school, I don't know how it is at UNIBE but at INTEC you can fail a course 4 times and repeat it. If on the fourth try you don't pass it you're booted for two years. Unibe probably has some similar rule. If you've failed a class 4 times you seriously need to reasses your study skills and/or priorities.
The answer to that question partially goes to answer your question about residencies. I don't know the particular case of your friend. Whether he has many blemishes on his transcript or not. But I can assure you that a program director who sees a foreign grad having failed biochem 3 times consecutively isn't gonna wanna hold a spot for him on his team. Barring something like that on your record your landing a residency also has a lot to do with which specialty you choose. As a foreign grad youv'e gotta weigh your chances. As an american graduate with solid USMLE scores you can afford to explore more competitive residencies. A lackluster american grad is infinitely more likely to land a spot in a surgical residency or neurology residency than is a lackluster foriegn grad. I'm not saying that there aren't foreign grads practicing in virtually all specialties and sub-specialties. What I'm saying is that we have to carefully weight our options. If you've got barely passing USMLE scores,an average med school transcript and you've dropped applications for neurosurgery programs then you're in for a long wait. If, however, this student had applications in at pediatric programs in montana and idaho and wyoming, then he should probably dust off his boots and shine his spurs, he's likely headed west. UNIBE has tons of graduates in american training programs, I don't know why your friend has had a hard time, perhaps it has to do with some of the things I mentioned here. But if you have solid grades in your time at UNIBE, don't fail any classes, have decent USMLE scores AND carefully choose which program you want to enter into then you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a program that will take you SOMEWHERE in the states. If you've had your heart set on being a cardio-thoracic surgeon then you should plan on ROCKING the USMLEs, that is your only hope of getting into such a competitive program., but that's another post altogether.
As to the UNIBE being well regarded in NJ, I would have to say yes based on the number of people in these posts who have freinds or know DR grads in training programs in the tristate area. Not all of these people are from UNIBE, lots are from UCE, but the important thing is that they are familiar with dominican grads, and as UNIBE is well-respected school in the DR, program directors should look as kindly upon UNIBE grads as they do on all other DR grads. Hope this answers some of your questions. Take care and God Bless.

Ozzie.

[ok90]

Thank you for your thorough response. You have really helped me a lot. Most likely I want to go the Internal Medicine or Family Practice route. I am not looking to get a very specialized residency at all. I didn't know that UNIBE has tons of students practicing in the US, (I thought it was maybe just NJ) but that is great to hear.

[arbncdt1]

I want to attend UNIBE, or another Dominican Republic medical school. Is the course work difficult? I am trying to complete my Physics, Math, Chemistry, and Biology. I am hoping to attend a medical school, in January 2006 .

I believe if I have my pre-medical studies completed successfully, I should be successful, with discipline, determinination, and a positive attitude.

What the attrition rate, at UNIBE.

[dksamp]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree 100% with that. PEACE!!

-Derek


First off, don't plan on failing any classes! Certainly not in various semesters. In the extremely unlikely instance that you should fail a class they don't force you to repeat the semester or the eyar as they might in an american medical school. Depending on the particular "reglamentos" of the university you can fail a class various times and simply repeat it the following semester if it is offered. In order to fit that course into the next semester you'll have to drop a class normally part of that semester and you'll therefore likely find yourself doing extra time in the DR. This is why most student, dominican and american alike don't finish the program in the allotted time. They fail a class here or there and are forced to stick around a few extra semesters to finish up the coursework. There are other reasons of course, USMLE prep, closed sections, but I observe the main reason for people adding semesters to their time in the Dr is because they failed a class here or there or had to drop a course, etc. In any case, the bottom line is that you can fail a course or several courses in your time at a DR medical school, how many courses and how many times is particular to each school, I don't know how it is at UNIBE but at INTEC you can fail a course 4 times and repeat it. If on the fourth try you don't pass it you're booted for two years. Unibe probably has some similar rule. If you've failed a class 4 times you seriously need to reasses your study skills and/or priorities.
The answer to that question partially goes to answer your question about residencies. I don't know the particular case of your friend. Whether he has many blemishes on his transcript or not. But I can assure you that a program director who sees a foreign grad having failed biochem 3 times consecutively isn't gonna wanna hold a spot for him on his team. Barring something like that on your record your landing a residency also has a lot to do with which specialty you choose. As a foreign grad youv'e gotta weigh your chances. As an american graduate with solid USMLE scores you can afford to explore more competitive residencies. A lackluster american grad is infinitely more likely to land a spot in a surgical residency or neurology residency than is a lackluster foriegn grad. I'm not saying that there aren't foreign grads practicing in virtually all specialties and sub-specialties. What I'm saying is that we have to carefully weight our options. If you've got barely passing USMLE scores,an average med school transcript and you've dropped applications for neurosurgery programs then you're in for a long wait. If, however, this student had applications in at pediatric programs in montana and idaho and wyoming, then he should probably dust off his boots and shine his spurs, he's likely headed west. UNIBE has tons of graduates in american training programs, I don't know why your friend has had a hard time, perhaps it has to do with some of the things I mentioned here. But if you have solid grades in your time at UNIBE, don't fail any classes, have decent USMLE scores AND carefully choose which program you want to enter into then you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a program that will take you SOMEWHERE in the states. If you've had your heart set on being a cardio-thoracic surgeon then you should plan on ROCKING the USMLEs, that is your only hope of getting into such a competitive program., but that's another post altogether.
As to the UNIBE being well regarded in NJ, I would have to say yes based on the number of people in these posts who have freinds or know DR grads in training programs in the tristate area. Not all of these people are from UNIBE, lots are from UCE, but the important thing is that they are familiar with dominican grads, and as UNIBE is well-respected school in the DR, program directors should look as kindly upon UNIBE grads as they do on all other DR grads. Hope this answers some of your questions. Take care and God Bless.

Ozzie.