please help....saba or MERP

[ruffryder]

I just got into saba but was admitted to the MERP program at Ross as well. I know there are some other links on MERP as well....but I was wondering if anybody has a good idea of what would be better between these two options. Thanks for the help.

[link626]

http://www.valuemd.com/search.php

search and you'll find a lot of answers.

Is saba accredited where do you want to practice? that's what you should ask yourself.
and merp sounds like a waste of time.

[ruffryder]

Yes, saba just got accredited in california. However, I'm still not too sure if i should go there since Ross has a seemingly better reputation. Are there any current MERP students who I can talk?

[djinbh]

I suppose I am the best qualified to answer your question.I plan to practice in California. I attended and successfully completed MERP Sept. 04. MERP is not a waste for anyone intersted in becoming an M.D. It is actually a great program. In Nov. of that year, weeks before my finals, Saba was accredited in Cali. I chose Saba for the following reasons:
1. Safe, clean, friendly island
2. Considerably less expensive than Ross,even though tution went up 1000 to $7000 per semester this week!
3. Very high overall scores on USMLE consisently(158 and 168's last month).
4. Small classes 50 to 70
5. Mentors- upper termers assigned to help you adjust
6. Helpful available staff
And now that I am here, I can add:
7. Excellent anat and histology prof. (thus far)
8. Affordable housing. I can see across the water to the lights of San Maarten from my desk here at home as I write this .I have cable tv, DSL, washer dryer A/C for 500 per month(I pay dsl)
9.Beautiful island
10. The feeling that I'm gonna be a great Dr. thanks to Saba
Feel free to PM me.

[razorback831]

you do know that both a 158 and a 168 are failing scores on the USMLE????

[FoxTrot]

Maybe those scores were considered "high" for that particular class? :lol: you do know that both a 158 and a 168 are failing scores on the USMLE????

[djinbh]

Woops! :oops: Thoses are the type of scores I'm headed for! The actual ones were 258(99) and 269(99). I've heard back from some of my MERP friends and all agree that MERP has really helped both academically and socially in terms of getting settled, knowing what to expect, and having been exposed to the intense study requirements of medical school. They all agree that the island isn't so bad at all. PM me if you'd like.

[Potatooo]

I am a Ross student and has been rotating with SABA students at the same clinical sites. I am impressed with them and they seem to know they materials.

[akikomi]

HI, i am new to the forum. I am considering applying to Ross and Saba. My only concern with Saba is that it has not been in existence as long as Ross. Does this make any difference? I would really like to know. I have heard a lot of bad things about Ross, which surprises me. Any insights please please let me know








I suppose I am the best qualified to answer your question.I plan to practice in California. I attended and successfully completed MERP Sept. 04. MERP is not a waste for anyone intersted in becoming an M.D. It is actually a great program. In Nov. of that year, weeks before my finals, Saba was accredited in Cali. I chose Saba for the following reasons:
1. Safe, clean, friendly island
2. Considerably less expensive than Ross,even though tution went up 1000 to $7000 per semester this week!
3. Very high overall scores on USMLE consisently(158 and 168's last month).
4. Small classes 50 to 70
5. Mentors- upper termers assigned to help you adjust
6. Helpful available staff
And now that I am here, I can add:
7. Excellent anat and histology prof. (thus far)
8. Affordable housing. I can see across the water to the lights of San Maarten from my desk here at home as I write this .I have cable tv, DSL, washer dryer A/C for 500 per month(I pay dsl)
9.Beautiful island
10. The feeling that I'm gonna be a great Dr. thanks to Saba
Feel free to PM me.

[wolfvgang22]

HI, i am new to the forum. I am considering applying to Ross and Saba. My only concern with Saba is that it has not been in existence as long as Ross. Does this make any difference? I would really like to know. I have heard a lot of bad things about Ross, which surprises me. Any insights please please let me know
Not really any difference now that Saba has CA approval. Some residency program directors may be more familiar with Ross because of it's age, and maybe if you are trying for dermatology Ross might be better because of that.

On the other hand, that wouldn't help you much should you fail out of Ross due to hating Dominica or something.

Another thing you might do is see what locations each school offers clinicals, if that makes a difference to you. Both schools have good quality clinical sites, but I think each school has a few in some areas of the country the other school doesn't have.
Good luck!

[Shah_Patel_PT]

I suppose I am the best qualified to answer your question.I plan to practice in California. I attended and successfully completed MERP Sept. 04. MERP is not a waste for anyone intersted in becoming an M.D. It is actually a great program. In Nov. of that year, weeks before my finals, Saba was accredited in Cali. I chose Saba for the following reasons:
1. Safe, clean, friendly island
2. Considerably less expensive than Ross,even though tution went up 1000 to $7000 per semester this week!
3. Very high overall scores on USMLE consisently(158 and 168's last month).
.

Both those 3-digit scores are failing scores! 182 is required to pass.

[wolfvgang22]

Those were typing errors, see the correction above in the thread. :p

[TheeeGod]

I just got into saba but was admitted to the MERP program at Ross as well. I know there are some other links on MERP as well....but I was wondering if anybody has a good idea of what would be better between these two options. Thanks for the help.


IMO, saba is a better choice. MERP is like high school, from what i hear. They teach you physics and some other ish. SABA is accredited around tri-state area so it wouldn't matter to me. But that may be different depending on where you from. Sit back for a minute and think it over. Becuase picking the right school means a lot to your future.

[Suzzallo]

IMO, saba is a better choice. MERP is like high school, from what i hear. They teach you physics and some other ish. SABA is accredited around tri-state area so it wouldn't matter to me. But that may be different depending on where you from. Sit back for a minute and think it over. Becuase picking the right school means a lot to your future.

You don't know crap about the new MERP program. Do some research before saying something.

[djinbh]

MERP was not like high school at all. It was very challenging and has really helped me in my first semester at Saba. The professor were also very available and knowledgable. The classes are all ones that you will take in medical school.
Saba is really great. We eat, sleep, and dream anatomy and histology, as there is not much else to do here. The upper classman are really helpful. The island safe and beautiful. 94% first time pass rate in 2003, as reported by California Board during there accreditation report, makes you feel like if you put the effort into studying, it will pay off.
Had I not be aware of Valuemd, I would have never heard of Saba. They don't have a recruitment department.Not being as big or well known as Ross is not necessarily a bad thing.Most students here have carefully reviewed all med school options and decided on Saba. You might say we are careful shoppers. No one in my class has any regrets about the school and their decision to come.We have had about 4 or 5 people drop out for personal or academic reasons since the start however.
Review some older posts. Saba has a very good reputation with programs they are affiliated with. And according to the admin.,Saba is getting more and more prematches. ( that means you don't have to enter the residency match program.)

[LqdPls]

djinbh. I was curious about the 4 or 5 who already dropped out. Did they start with you in January 2005 or September 2004? If January then one month is awfully fast time to actually fail out of school for those who actually left for academic reasons

[TheeeGod]

IMO, saba is a better choice. MERP is like high school, from what i hear. They teach you physics and some other ish. SABA is accredited around tri-state area so it wouldn't matter to me. But that may be different depending on where you from. Sit back for a minute and think it over. Becuase picking the right school means a lot to your future.

You don't know crap about the new MERP program. Do some research before saying something.

i dont need to do research b/c i know people who took it and they said its garbage

[LqdPls]

TheeeGod. Hopefully your study of medicine is a lot more meticulous than your ability to gather information

[TheeeGod]

TheeeGod. Hopefully your study of medicine is a lot more meticulous than your ability to gather information

again, i wasn't out to gather info. i just wrote what i was told. and plz dont act like i dont know what i am talking abou. cuz im sure i know more than you and, for that fact, a lot of people who just come on here and type some **.

[wolfvgang22]

Ahhh...this is the Ross forum we all know and love.

[djinbh]

There have been actually 3 drops from my Jan class(of 68) thus far.Family issues for two and one guy just "changed his mind"!

[zedpol]

if faced with MERP or saba; my choice would definantly be Saba. You aren't me though, maybe you have been out of school or a while or maybe you want a brush up on your sciences before you get started, then MERP might be a decent deal. I hear consistently good things about saba from people who have the ability to judge the things. I don't know what i would decide if i was applying to carib school again. I didn't even consider saba my first time around because at that point they didn't have california.
Good luck,