More Help! :)

[courtney_canada]

Hey guys..I visited here a few months ago, and have a few more questions...

I really want to go into med school, and I've visited Saba and fell in love with the island. I would really love to study there, and plus my marks are high enough for Saba(i think), but not competitive enough to get into a canadian or american school.

Do you think I should apply after 3rd year, just for the helluvit? I wouldn't write my MCATs. I know my chancse would be pretty slim, but I think I would apply just to get a feel for the process, and then reapply the following year, after I have my BSc.



Some questions about the school, though:

1) I really want to end up working in an infertility clinic, or maybe a pediatrician. Is it possible to speicalize if you go to Saba? I know that may be a stupid question, but I read once that if you went to a caribbean medical school, you pretty much had to be a family doctor.

2) Is it possible to end up working in Canada? I talked to a representative for the med. licensing dept. in my province, and he said they DO have people from Saba, and my province is one of hte only ones that accepts US training. But is it harder to get back into Canada?


Sorry for all the questions guys...just mainly want advice on if I should apply at the end of my 3rd year or not! Thanks :)

[dr.holbs]

If it were me and I were to apply again, I would try after my third year. I enjoyed college a ton, but if you could be one year closer to being done with my goal of being a physician then I would jump at it. The worst thing that could happen is that Gardner would tell you that they want you to take some classes or the mcat and then reapply. Just go for it.

In regards to being able to practice in Canada, I have no clue, but if you use the search I am sure you would be able to find some more info. Plus with half the students in some semesters being from canada I would be pretty confident that there are at least some places in canada where you could practice being an IMG.

[Conway]

I have read numerous times that it is very difficult for foreign medical graduates to be able to return to Canada to practice, and this is the first time I've heard of Canadian residencies, but I just (right now) checked on the Saba website, and saw some residencies listed in Winnepeg, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Manitoba, with more in Dalhousie, which is in NB, I think.

Speaking of which, that is a pretty impressive list for Canada. You said that your province is easier to get residencies for FMGs. Which province is that? I am an American citizen, but I have always had the thought of eventually settling in Canada in the back of my mind.

[courtney_canada]

I'm from New Brunswick. It's nice here; I'd really like to end up practicing in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia eventually.

If I do my residency in the states, and complete everything..can I then come back over to Canada to practice? I think that's what the guy I was talking to was telling me about..he said New Brunswick and Manitoba(? I think?) were the only two provinces that accepted USA residencies. Or I may have that completely wrong.

I could live in the states for a few years, but I know that I couldn't settle down and live there for the rest of my life; I love Canada too much.

[Conway]

Wow, I really like being a US citizen, but I would like to live somewhere in Canada even more...I've been to New Brunswick a few times (it's right over the border from Maine) on our vacations out in Gaspe and Newfoundland. It's really nice!

However, I know Canadians are protective of...well, Canadians, and the chances for a US citizen trying to get in...well, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

[scoobz1981]

You should definitly apply during 3rd year to get in after you are done 3rd. Also, if you plan on going back to Canada, I think you will end up in Family practice. You MIGHT be able to specialize, but I wouldn't hold my breath for a residency in anything but Family practice cause of the way the Canadian match is set up.

Sorry!

Val

[petenwe]

i will take the mcat first.