Ross or Saba

[howardhoavan]

Hi,
I am in a dilemma Ross or SABA. Logically speaking, I believe SABA is my first choice in term of basic science. It seems like SABA want to teach the student rather than help them get the board exam. Ross, on other hand 16 months in the Rock, that is scare me the most. 4 month difference won't be a factor for me since I want to be sharp and competent doctor instead of legitimate one.
Here is my research so far
SABA
1 Small Class Size, low tuition
2 High chance of USMLE pass rate
3 USMLE Kaplan 5th semester
4 Small Island and Less Distract.

Ross
1. Been around for long time, so may be easier to get residency ??
2. California approval ( It is not big factor for me ).
3. Miami 5th term with mini clinical to get you setup for "real" clinical Rotation. I think this might help me alot since I don't have a lot of clinical experience.

After Basic Science, I can't find a solid data on how to compare these schools. I hope some senior students out there, either from SABA or ROSS to give me your input from you. Remember I want the logic answer but not the answer that we might have to start a little quarrels on "ross vs saba" , "saba vs AUC". It won't help me at all. Thanks a lot Bros and I hope you all doing well. Thanks

[KDog]

I think those are all pretty valid arguements, add AUC in there and it is even more difficult.

From what I have been hearing SABA is really proving itself in establishing good residencies too.

It sounds to me that SABA is your first pick.

It is for me, however I just can't rule out AUC yet even though I have already bought all the textbooks for SABA.

[ActionPotential]

If you don't care about California approval (and even if you do, Saba in my opinion is highly likely to get it next month) then go with Saba. It's better than Ross in all respects. Ross has been around longer, but Saba has a great track record for its single decade in operation, has cheap tuition, a nice albeit spartan island, and small classes instead of huge ones, and consequently very little attrition compared to Ross's huge attrition, which is also a function of Saba actually having admission standards unlike Ross.

[howardhoavan]

Hi,
Tell me what you like about AUC. Honestly, my GPA and MCAT can get me into AUC. At this point, only two schools SABA and Ross are actively follow up on my application. I got admitted to SABA on thursday, and Ross will be next. AUC is no where to be near I call them every week try to see what the status of my application. The lady told me that they are working on it. The initative alone would give me a failed grade on AUC unless there are some mistakes. Also, I have been active research on all carribean schools except SGU( it is outrageous tuition ) I come across some negative aspects about AUC. Again, I am here to take any comments and weight my options please share your info AUC with me. Man, sometime I just want to be a simple-minded person, at least I am happy with SABA in my heart but as a good scientist you need to weight you best option. Also leaving 120K job and 2 kids for medical school, my responsibility even more intense. Thanks for sharing your thought.

[microphage]

Hi,
Tell me what you like about AUC. Honestly, my GPA and MCAT can get me into AUC. At this point, only two schools SABA and Ross are actively follow up on my application. I got admitted to SABA on thursday, and Ross will be next. AUC is no where to be near I call them every week try to see what the status of my application. The lady told me that they are working on it. The initative alone would give me a failed grade on AUC unless there are some mistakes. Also, I have been active research on all carribean schools except SGU( it is outrageous tuition ) I come across some negative aspects about AUC. Again, I am here to take any comments and weight my options please share your info AUC with me. Man, sometime I just want to be a simple-minded person, at least I am happy with SABA in my heart but as a good scientist you need to weight you best option. Also leaving 120K job and 2 kids for medical school, my responsibility even more intense. Thanks for sharing your thought.

It would seem like you already have your heart set on SABA. I would just go with that. Look at it this way, if you went to SABA, you would still be able to fly to St. Maarten to enjoy what the island has to offer for a 60 dollar plane ticket and be home later that night(it only takes 20 or so mins by plane...).

SABA was just didn't have Cali and was too remote for my taste although it would have been very peaceful(read: I would have gone nuts! Not that it would be been much of a change...). AUC has research opportunities that some schools don't yet offer which was a plus for me since what I wanted to do was a bit more on the academic side. My biggest concern was my wife who supports me through it all, wanted some of the amenities of the US which narrowed it down to AUC. My decision started with 1) SGU, 2) Ross 3) AUC 4) Ross then it just became after I researched it all through 1) AUC 2)SGU 3) Ross (Saba didn't have Cali so it was out). Again, this was just my opinion so there! :lol:

[anencephalic]

I want to be sharp and competent doctor instead of legitimate one.

Wouldn't you want to be a legitimate physician as well? :o

ALoha,

[howardhoavan]

It is my wording, but I think I would rather have them all :)

[howardhoavan]

microphage
What kind research would you like to do at AUC ?. Honestly, I have a honour degree in Biology but I am my living by doing computer programming for many years. Why do you think it is important to you?. Thanks for many questions. I think you have been really helpful and I like to read your post. Thanks
/Howard

[howardhoavan]

microphage
What kind research would you like to do at AUC ?. Honestly, I have a honour degree in Biology but I am my living by doing computer programming for many years. Why do you think it is important to you?. Thanks for many questions. I think you have been really helpful and I like to read your post. Thanks
/Howard

[anencephalic]

It is my wording, but I think I would rather have them all :)

Just giving you grief... :lol:

As far as research opportunities at AUC, the following exist:

Anatomy
Microbiology
Histology

Microphage is doing....you guessed it...microbiology.

Aloha,

[gasdr]

Howard,
I have already graduated from Saba and am currently in residency.
I did a lot of clinical rotations with Ross and AUC students and have 2 Ross grads in my intern class.

The Ross people almost unamamously have told me that their experience on the island was terrible. The class sizes are huge and very cutthroat and competitive. You are basically a number. The natives treat the students poorly and the island itself is not that nice. I am just telling you what I have heard from Ross Students.
I am sure there will be students telling you that they did not like Saba either but most of them are young and spoiled and like lots of night life.

It is also bad when you get to clinicals at Ross. You submit paperwork to the home office and it gets lost often and other things like that.

On the other hand I have heard that the 5th semester in FL is pretty good and really helps with History and Physical taking as well as Physical exam skills.

Saba is awesome about that kind of stuff. The clinical office is great.

AUC on the other hand is supposed to be pretty nice. Most students love the island and all it has to offer. Most do not go to class much.
I think you are also mostly a number there due to the huge classes.
The drawback in most peoples eyes is going overseas to the UK for clinicals. Personally I would think that would be great if you were single and I hear it is a good experience. The cost of AUC is quite high too.

That is my imput for you. Do with it what you will. Good luck. BTW, what are you doing for a living now? Sacrificing 120K will be tough.
Good luck with whatever decision you make. Let me know if I can be of more help.

[howardhoavan]

Hi gasdr
I just went though a horrible experience and that change my life my perspective about how to live my life. I just want to go out there and help. To be honest, It took me a lot for time to realize what I want to do with my life and am totally glad I found out what I want for my life. I am still with the job and doing WELL. I will quit the job next april and going into the ROCK for MD program. I thought about US medical schools but Honestly as long I be able to practice medicine I don't really care where will that be. I definately need a lot of help from you, especially you are done with SABA. Would you mind to let me have your email. Please let me know. Thanks again

[microphage]

microphage
What kind research would you like to do at AUC ?. Honestly, I have a honour degree in Biology but I am my living by doing computer programming for many years. Why do you think it is important to you?. Thanks for many questions. I think you have been really helpful and I like to read your post. Thanks
/Howard

Yeah, It's micro.... micro doing micro....(that didn't sound right).
:?

As for helpful, I think you've got me mixed up with the wrong person.

I've done a bit of research here and there back before med school so I thought I'd continue that since I did enjoy it a bit. It's not exactly basic sciences research but I don't have time for that nor does our school provide the necessary facility/funding. I've got a few residencies fields that I'm looking into and most of these are more research oriented than clinical(med genetics, nuclear medicine, etc). I can discuss research things with you if you want, just pm me.

Computer programming blows, I was headed back into that field(after writing my first program was I was a little lad...) and realized that I hated it as much as before....after 2 quarters of holding a lab job and going to school at night. again, that's just my opinion. I have tons of friends in tech and they enjoy the lifestyle(play with cool toys for a living...), it just wasn't for me(although I'll still buy some of the cool toys... hehe).

As for AUC only doing UK clinicals, that's a misperception. You have the choice of doing then in the US or UK but if you want the US, you might have to wait a few months before you get it(this, I heard is true for most of the Caribbean schools though<==correct me if I'm wrong). Don't plan on doing everything according to YOUR schedule since that doesn't seem to be the way it works around here... unless you goto SGU. Don't be fooled by all the promises of the Caribbean schools. You WILL get everything done but most likely not in the schedule you'd like.

As for class sizes, I personally don't think our class size was big(we had 125 to start.. now down to 87). take that 87, subtract the 15-20 or so who never goto class and it's a good size. I hate being noticed in class so I do my own thing and leave. I like figuring stuff out on my own so I rarely go talk to teachers but all who do get the help they need.

I've never been to Saba or Ross so I can't comment on those schools unless you want "I've heard" info :P

Good luck in your search. All the schools have their pluses and minuses but they will all get you to becoming a doctor.

[wolfvgang22]

So far from what I've been able to find out, Saba encourages students to do U.S. clinicals first, and you might get a U.K. rotation if you are lucky. I've been told that the U.K. clinicals cost Saba more money to set up, and so they push U.S. clinicals more.
I think I would like to do 3rd year U.K. clinicals, since they all count as greenbook just by virtue of being in the U.K., and you don't have to worry about ACGME clinicals for cores if you go that route.

[islandFEVER]

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