Does every Student get a chance to go to Miami for 5th Sem?

[SMU_Basic]

Does every Student get a chance to go to Miami for 5th Semester? Thanks for your help please.

[jim]

yup. pass the classes of course, and everyone goes.

[justdoit]

After reading all the post about fifth semester I'm a little confused now. I thought fifth in miami was mandatory? So if you don't want to go you don't actually have to?? Or is this incorrect?

I read a post on here that mentioned if you had a lot of hospital experience prior you don't have to go? So does that exclude me since I've worked with patients for the past thirteen years?

Some one please clear this up for me.....thanks! :)

[singer]

Justdoit:

I believe the only people that don't go to Miami for fifth semester are the handful that do 5th semester in Dominica.

[alpathmd]

After reading all the post about fifth semester I'm a little confused now. I thought fifth in miami was mandatory? So if you don't want to go you don't actually have to?? Or is this incorrect?

I read a post on here that mentioned if you had a lot of hospital experience prior you don't have to go? So does that exclude me since I've worked with patients for the past thirteen years?

Some one please clear this up for me.....thanks! :)

The post you read was wrong. No matter how much hospital experience/patient contact that you have, you still need to pass 5th. It is mandatory, except for those who do 5th in dominica (is that still possible?). It's written on your transcript as AICM for the 9/12 weeks. [Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine].

A.

[justdoit]

I understand that there is a fifth semester and yes you have to pass it, but do you have the choice to stay and do it in Dominica?

It is mandatory, except for those who do 5th in dominica (is that still possible?).???

I gather from the above quote that you can stay and do 5th in Dominica.
The information I gathered in Miami after meeting a couple of the students at Larkin.....I fear I would be completely bored there. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a great advantage and necessity for some.....anyway that's why I was wondering if I could just do fifth semester in Dominica?
What would be the difference educationally verses doing fifth in Miami or Dominica??

[singer]

Justdoit:

I think the cream of the crop stay in Dominica. To stay there you have to have the BLS ACLS certification which is part of 5th in Miami. I believe you also need certain other prior experience in a medical setting but maybe someone else can answer that more definitively.

[FoxTrot]

Since you're not even on the island yet starting 1st semester ( or maybe you are), it's easy to say that you're just going to stay in Dominica for your 5th semester. But when that time finally comes, you'll probably be begging to get off this island once you've been there for 16 months.

I couldn't wait to get off the island and I can't imagine having to stay there to work in the hospital for 5th semester wearing slacks, shirt and tie w/ labcoat everyday in that non airconditioned hospital. Just doing it for two days in 4th was enough torture so I can't imagine 9 weeks of it will be like. I really don't care for Miami right now but it's a whole lot better than Dominica ever was.



I understand that there is a fifth semester and yes you have to pass it, but do you have the choice to stay and do it in Dominica?

It is mandatory, except for those who do 5th in dominica (is that still possible?).???

I gather from the above quote that you can stay and do 5th in Dominica.
The information I gathered in Miami after meeting a couple of the students at Larkin.....I fear I would be completely bored there. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a great advantage and necessity for some.....anyway that's why I was wondering if I could just do fifth semester in Dominica?
What would be the difference educationally verses doing fifth in Miami or Dominica??

[homerbrave]

Justdoit:

I think the cream of the crop stay in Dominica. To stay there you have to have the BLS ACLS certification which is part of 5th in Miami. I believe you also need certain other prior experience in a medical setting but maybe someone else can answer that more definitively.

Approval to stay in Dominica for the 5th semester requires special circumstances (visa/immigration problems, family issues, financial issues) and is based on a case by case selection.

The 9 credit hours done in 5th semester is part of the RUSM 90 hour clinical rotation. Personally, doing 5th semester in Miami listed as University of Miami Greater Area Health and Training Center looks better on my transcript and Dean's Letter than having Princess Margaret Hospital, Dominica as part of my clinical training.

[justdoit]

No I'm not there yet and yes I could possibly change my mind once I live in Dominica for a while. But from where I'm standing now and after going to Miami with what I understand about the 5th semester I would just assume stay in Dominica. So if all I need is ACLS and BLS aside from requesting to stay let me know......so the cream of the crop get priority in getting to stay in Dominica 5th semester.

I could care less about the fact that staying in Dominica during my 5th semester would be on my transcript. Heck that's where you've just finished studying for the past four semester's. It's not like it's your clinical rotations. It just doesn't seem worth it to me to up and move for nine weeks just to up and move again. That's of course just my feelings on the subject.

I know you have to move some for clinicals but I'm going to try and avoid it as much as possible to cut down on expenses. I have a feeling I'm going to be moving more than I would like since I will be needing all green core rotations. Any one else out there that's had or is doing all greenbook core rotations? Have you ran into any problems with the school accommodating all greenbook cores???

Thanks for all the valuable info.....keep it coming. 8)

[dimples]

I am doing 5th in Miami right now and I think it is totally worth it. I have already learned so much already and I feel like the experience would not be the same if I had stayed in Dominica for 5th. The lectures I have attended on Pathology has reinforced and alerted me as to what I need to work on for Step 1. We are learning a completely new way of examining patients, and the doctors have all been very knowledgeable and helpful--although a bit intimidating at times. Although it is expensive and there is a lot of running around, I think it is worthwhile. And yes, it is possible to study for Step 1. You just have to really really push yourself. That means no partying in South Beach, no 3-hour dinners. Of course I am scared that I may fail or remediate, but I guess I will just have to work hard.

Remember, these are clinical units so it is much better to do them in the U.S.

And no, the spots in Dominica do not necessarily go to the best students. Some of the students staying for 5th have circumstances like financial, lack of drivers' license, families, or because they want to avoid the difficulty of the Miami program bc/ they don't want to risk getting a C or having to remediate the program.

[justdoit]

I am doing 5th in Miami right now and I think it is totally worth it. I have already learned so much already and I feel like the experience would not be the same if I had stayed in Dominica for 5th. The lectures I have attended on Pathology has reinforced and alerted me as to what I need to work on for Step 1. We are learning a completely new way of examining patients, and the doctors have all been very knowledgeable and helpful--although a bit intimidating at times. Although it is expensive and there is a lot of running around, I think it is worthwhile. And yes, it is possible to study for Step 1. You just have to really really push yourself. That means no partying in South Beach, no 3-hour dinners. Of course I am scared that I may fail or remediate, but I guess I will just have to work hard.

Remember, these are clinical units so it is much better to do them in the U.S.

And no, the spots in Dominica do not necessarily go to the best students. Some of the students staying for 5th have circumstances like financial, lack of drivers' license, families, or because they want to avoid the difficulty of the Miami program bc/ they don't want to risk getting a C or having to remediate the program.

Thanks dimples! Your experience and opinion are much appreciated. The 5th semester seems to be an on going debatable subject. Anyone else with info especially someone who actually stayed on Dominica for 5th.....would be wonderful! :wink:

[Wajaro]

What are greenbook core rotations??

[Diegodoc]

I am in 4th now and we just got an email about staying in Dominica for 5th so i can tell you exactly what is required. You either need to have special circumstances (generally non us citizens without visas) or have had clinical experience. You DO NOT need bls/acls although i don't think it is taught here during your rotation. From talking to people doing 5th now.. they like it and get lots of experience but I have spoken to friends doing 5th in miamim who say the same thing. I think the main reason people CHOSE to do 5th here ...ie no special issues, is they have more time to study for the step. Personally....i can't wait to get the heck out of here.... it gets old after awhile. It is competitive to stay here as it is growing more atttractive financially...for example 30 people applied last semester for 13 spots.

hope that helps.

[justdoit]

I am in 4th now and we just got an email about staying in Dominica for 5th so i can tell you exactly what is required. You either need to have special circumstances (generally non us citizens without visas) or have had clinical experience. You DO NOT need bls/acls although i don't think it is taught here during your rotation. From talking to people doing 5th now.. they like it and get lots of experience but I have spoken to friends doing 5th in miamim who say the same thing. I think the main reason people CHOSE to do 5th here ...ie no special issues, is they have more time to study for the step. Personally....i can't wait to get the heck out of here.... it gets old after awhile. It is competitive to stay here as it is growing more atttractive financially...for example 30 people applied last semester for 13 spots.

hope that helps.

Thanks for responding! You mentioned in your above post that you can stay in Dominica in 5th if you have had some clinical experience.....exactly what kind of clinical experience are you speaking of.....just wondering because I've been working with patients in a hospital for about thirteen years.

[singer]

Just curious for those who are interested, since Princess Margaret Hospital is an hour from Ross, does the schoolsupply daily transportation for the 5th semester students or do they pay for their own transports?

[dimples]

You are responsible for your own transportation...or...you can always move to Roseau for a shorter commute.

[FoxTrot]

Are you sure? My friend doing 5th sem on the island says there is a transport that takes him from the school to PMH everyday. :?: You are responsible for your own transportation...or...you can always move to Roseau for a shorter commute.