Problems with Saba???????????

[dreamdoc]

I did not realize that Saba was having problems with their students not makingt it hrough Basic Sciences. I dont understand why that would possibly be unless it were for personal reasons, so will someone please shed some light on this for me.

Why would Saba count on their students failing? I dont get it!

I also did not realize that people were having to wait a year to get clinical rotation spots at greenbook hospitals? WHATS UP WITH THAT?? :? Is saba not being able to accomodate their students with clinical rotations in the last two years as they state that they will? I think this is something that we all need to know.

[Spm97]

I'm "off the island", so I can't address the current rumors about the state of classes on Saba. However, I can speak from personal experience about the last 20 months on the island. At NO time was I aware of any difficulties students were having "en masse" in passing courses. As with any school, some students find certain courses more difficult than others. Most of the students who started in May 2003 finished in December 2004.

As for the rotation rumor... My classmates and I can relate that we are most definitely NOT having difficulties getting green book rotations. I am in close contact with many of my classmates and none have related any problems to me. I know of at least one classmate who has already taken step 1 and is currently in his first green book rotation, 6 weeks after leaving Saba. I'm sure you can all agree that 6 weeks is a far cry from a year.

Enough said.

Hi to all of you back on The Rock...

Steve-O

[dreamdoc]

Thank you Steve-O! Its good to actually hear from a student thats "been there and done that". THATS AWESOME and you made my night. That sounds more realistic. Best of luck with your rotations!! God bless!

[wolfvgang22]

What Spm97 stated above is generally what I've gathered from talking to a lot of current Saba students and alumni friends who are now in residency.
I've only heard complaints from one or two mal-contents, who would probably have problems wherever they are. Every place has 'em.

[dreamdoc]

Thanks, I appreciate that post! I got worried for nothing as usual!

[swinginislanddoc]

Hey Steve!
In case you're wondering our home health pt is MUCH MUCH better. :-D

How's life stateside?

[IMDoc]

I'm "off the island", so I can't address the current rumors about the state of classes on Saba. However, I can speak from personal experience about the last 20 months on the island. At NO time was I aware of any difficulties students were having "en masse" in passing courses. As with any school, some students find certain courses more difficult than others. Most of the students who started in May 2003 finished in December 2004.

As for the rotation rumor... My classmates and I can relate that we are most definitely NOT having difficulties getting green book rotations. I am in close contact with many of my classmates and none have related any problems to me. I know of at least one classmate who has already taken step 1 and is currently in his first green book rotation, 6 weeks after leaving Saba. I'm sure you can all agree that 6 weeks is a far cry from a year.

Enough said.

Hi to all of you back on The Rock...

Steve-O


I am assuming that this new subject is in response to something that I wrote previously. I have been there and done that and am now finished with rotations. I waited 9 months for a greenbook peds rotation and most people from my class waited just as long. Some in fact were forced to do non-greenbook peds just to graduate this year and some were told they would have to wait until the 2006 match because they couldn't have a peds spot. Also from the time I started at Saba, 6 people failed classes from our original class and 12 people joined our class because they had failed from semesters above us. Maybe things have changed, but it sounds like only about 60% of the most recent class finished with their original class after 5 semesters. I am just being honest, there are a lot of good things about Saba as well, but the problems should also be brought to light as well. I worked hard, did well and got through, but I didn't realize what I was getting into when I started. I am happy that Saba gave me the opportunity to be a doctor, but I now recognize the problems associated with the school.

[dreamdoc]

Hey guys: Im the same person as miami girl. I had to switch my user id the other day, because of problems with my email. I dont use the miami girl ID anymore. This was brought to my attention so I wanted to let everyone know.....

As for the problems with Saba, IM doc I did start this post, because of one of your postings that worried me. Im sorry you have had such a bad experience. I can see how that would be extremely frustrating having to wait for your green book peds rotation. I would have been upset as well. Im glad that you brought this to our attention, it is something that we should know about. As for the students failing. When I was in PA school, we started with 30 students and only 22 graduated, so I honestly think that is everywhere. This is medical school and its not easy stuff and its not supposed to be. If you look at the people in US schools, alot of people fail out there too and alot of them dont pass the USMLE's either. Its all relative. The bottom line is that Saba works, it may not be easy, but youre getting your MD arent you? You may not get the best residency, but you know that when you chose a foreign medical school. We are going to become doctors and we will and thats what matters to me. I did not come this far to be one of the people that fail out so Im not even worried about that.

Wolf.... I need ya here!

[ed gee]

the attrition rate in US schools is ~1.5%/year and the USMLE step 1 fail rate is typically ~6%.

[wolfvgang22]

I think I've said pretty much all I have to say about this and the other thread here:
http://www.valuemd.com/medicine-153223.html#153223

I'm open minded about IMDoc's warnings, but the majority of Saba grads I've talked to give a somewhat differing perspecitve. I'm certain that Saba is no bed of roses, there's bound to be some thorns.

What's the solution, if the problems are real? What is the alternative?

[scoobz1981]

I know that I posted the results of how many people failed from our class on this message board. But I wouldnt say that they failed from poor teaching (and even in classes where there was poor teaching, the lecture material was still sufficient for an 80% in the class at least). So, if you ask me is the teaching bad... I would say it is in one or two classes as it would be back in the US or Canada. Do people fail out because of the teaching..... rarely... more often than not, they fail because of family/financial/other problems that they can not deal with... but I suggest this, if you cant deal with issues at home where you are comfortable, then I dont suggest going to medical school with them where you will be uncomfortable and under a lot of stress on a day to day basis.


Val