honestly, is this one for me?

[goldfish85]

i was looking through SGU, Ross, and AUC residency match list. when i looked at surgery, it seemed that SGU had a lot but im not sure if it was prelim or not. also i dont know what % of class went into surgery (i dont know total class size).

I know all three can get a surgery residency... but

which of these three obtains surgery residencies most easily? how about california surgery residencies? how competitive are they?


i know these questions are way ahead of me but i just want to pick a med school thats best for my needs/wants.

thank and please respond!

[stateofequilibrium]

Surgeries are competitive in general. California, I guess it all depends on where.

Just because SGU has maybe a few more placements than the others by no means means you will just because you go there. You have to factor in all the other aspects of going into a Caribbean school and what will help YOU do well in school and on the boards.

Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc

[stephew]

Surgeries are competitive in general. California, I guess it all depends on where.

Just because SGU has maybe a few more placements than the others by no means means you will just because you go there. You have to factor in all the other aspects of going into a Caribbean school and what will help YOU do well in school and on the boards.

Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc
re:Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc

I would put all of these behind 1) pass rates, 2)% who jmake it to the boards w/their class (ie dont drop back) 3)licensure issues 4) residencies; do pople get the kind youre interesteed. only if a school meets your needs for these long term conditions should you then worry about the short term issues of Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc

[goldfish85]

thanks for the responses. really helpful.


for admissions in sgu, does URM status help? just curious

[stateofequilibrium]

re:Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc

I would put all of these behind 1) pass rates, 2)% who jmake it to the boards w/their class (ie dont drop back) 3)licensure issues 4) residencies; do pople get the kind youre interesteed. only if a school meets your needs for these long term conditions should you then worry about the short term issues of Such as living conditions, amenities, class size, class schedules, etc

Well, if you're talking outside of the Big 3+Saba.. otherwise I think AUC and SGU are similar in terms (while Ross, well, Ross is Ross).

But when it comes down to it, the small considerations actually can make a huge difference for some people. For instance, some people thrive with individualized attention instead of being lost in a sea of 3-400 people with like tens of people per cadaver.

Or some people need more outlets for stress. Or are bringing a family, etc etc.

[MD0002]

i was looking through SGU, Ross, and AUC residency match list. when i looked at surgery, it seemed that SGU had a lot but im not sure if it was prelim or not. also i dont know what % of class went into surgery (i dont know total class size).

I know all three can get a surgery residency... but

which of these three obtains surgery residencies most easily? how about california surgery residencies? how competitive are they?


i know these questions are way ahead of me but i just want to pick a med school thats best for my needs/wants.

thank and please respond!

Actually I applied to SGU and AUC for (Jan and May) class in addition to US MD schools this year. I want to do General surgery for residency too. I looked at AUC and SGU match results to see how many matched to Categorial general surgery. For 2005, 8 students matched to cat gen surg from AUC which is very good. Yes SGU lists categorial and preliminary positions together, which sucks. But I believe at least half of those are preliminary positions. so I think in terms of # people that matched to categorial general surgery, I think they are very very very similar. Almost 99 % the same.

I emailed Dr MD http://www.cuttingedgesurgery.com/

Assistant Clinical Professor Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

A graduate of AUC, He wrote this to me.

I am absolutely positive a general surg residency is attainable.
It does require considerable hard work and above average USMLE scores(above 200), specially if you are interested in matching for university affiliated programs. If gen surg is exactly what you want, don't let anything stand in your way.

[jaywalk81]

please be aware of the names and such, its against TOS

[daguru]

Hey MD0002, you applied to SGU and AUC? Surprising, considering what you have said in the past about caribbean schools. Did we forget? Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

MD0002:
"I am happy to tell you guys that residency program directors will dump your applications :lolup: just because you will be SGU graduates :smile:"

MD0002:
"I think in order to come to Greneda your GPA has to be below 3.5 :neutral: otherwise they deport you back. Body Unfortunatelly SGU sucks and you will always be dumped by US MD graduates. Now just sit down and study for the boards. Maybe if you are lucky, you can get a family practice residency, (Ortho, derm, opth, radiology, neurosurgery, ENT, surgery) in your dreams :lolup:"

MD0002:
"You mean we should talk about Granada :smile: I do not know what is left there after last year's hurricane."

MD0002:
"I am all after names and titles.
A b
Medical school: Cornell University (Do they really ask you Cornell NY or Cornell qatar) They are the same.
Residency: Neurosurgery, Mayo clinic

A b
Medical school: St, George's University
Residency: Family Practice, North Dakota School of Medicine

Which one looks better?"

Just out of curiosity, what made you change your mind from bashing SGU, Grenada, and pretty much all caribbean schools, to now applying to them and wondering what your chances of getting a surg residency? Actually, according to one of your quotes, apparently it's impossible, because we will all be working family practice in north dakota...sooo...what's going on there, man?

[GonnaBaMD7]

Hey MD0002, you applied to SGU and AUC? Surprising, considering what you have said in the past about caribbean schools. Did we forget? Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

MD0002:
"I am happy to tell you guys that residency program directors will dump your applications :lolup: just because you will be SGU graduates :smile:"

MD0002:
"I think in order to come to Greneda your GPA has to be below 3.5 :neutral: otherwise they deport you back. Body Unfortunatelly SGU sucks and you will always be dumped by US MD graduates. Now just sit down and study for the boards. Maybe if you are lucky, you can get a family practice residency, (Ortho, derm, opth, radiology, neurosurgery, ENT, surgery) in your dreams :lolup:"

MD0002:
"You mean we should talk about Granada :smile: I do not know what is left there after last year's hurricane."

MD0002:
"I am all after names and titles.
A b
Medical school: Cornell University (Do they really ask you Cornell NY or Cornell qatar) They are the same.
Residency: Neurosurgery, Mayo clinic

A b
Medical school: St, George's University
Residency: Family Practice, North Dakota School of Medicine

Which one looks better?"

Just out of curiosity, what made you change your mind from bashing SGU, Grenada, and pretty much all caribbean schools, to now applying to them and wondering what your chances of getting a surg residency? Actually, according to one of your quotes, apparently it's impossible, because we will all be working family practice in north dakota...sooo...what's going on there, man?



Ahhhh Daguru....Couldn't you let that die? I know it feels good to be able to say "I told you so" but you're better than that.

[onlyinthemorning]

Bloody hell Kojak's on the case

[goldfish85]

Actually I applied to SGU and AUC for (Jan and May) class in addition to US MD schools this year. I want to do General surgery for residency too. I looked at AUC and SGU match results to see how many matched to Categorial general surgery. For 2005, 8 students matched to cat gen surg from AUC which is very good. Yes SGU lists categorial and preliminary positions together, which sucks. But I believe at least half of those are preliminary positions. so I think in terms of # people that matched to categorial general surgery, I think they are very very very similar. Almost 99 % the same.

I emailed Dr MD http://www.cuttingedgesurgery.com/

Assistant Clinical Professor Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

A graduate of AUC, He wrote this to me.

I am absolutely positive a general surg residency is attainable.
It does require considerable hard work and above average USMLE scores(above 200), specially if you are interested in matching for university affiliated programs. If gen surg is exactly what you want, don't let anything stand in your way.

thanks!

yea i have kept auc/sgu at the top of my list.

but just curious, which one would you pick and why?

that advice is something that i will keep in mind. thanks

[daguru]

Ahhhh Daguru....Couldn't you let that die? I know it feels good to be able to say "I told you so" but you're better than that.


alright, alright...you are right...sorry, no more "i told you so's" coming from me, and that was certainly a good thing to post on here, no doubt...it's nice that a doc from the caribbean has gone so far...it's motivation baby!

[jaywalk81]

Hey MD0002, you applied to SGU and AUC? Surprising, considering what you have said in the past about caribbean schools. Did we forget? Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

MD0002:
"I am happy to tell you guys that residency program directors will dump your applications :lolup: just because you will be SGU graduates :smile:"

MD0002:
"I think in order to come to Greneda your GPA has to be below 3.5 :neutral: otherwise they deport you back. Body Unfortunatelly SGU sucks and you will always be dumped by US MD graduates. Now just sit down and study for the boards. Maybe if you are lucky, you can get a family practice residency, (Ortho, derm, opth, radiology, neurosurgery, ENT, surgery) in your dreams :lolup:"

MD0002:
"You mean we should talk about Granada :smile: I do not know what is left there after last year's hurricane."

MD0002:
"I am all after names and titles.
A b
Medical school: Cornell University (Do they really ask you Cornell NY or Cornell qatar) They are the same.
Residency: Neurosurgery, Mayo clinic

A b
Medical school: St, George's University
Residency: Family Practice, North Dakota School of Medicine

Which one looks better?"

Just out of curiosity, what made you change your mind from bashing SGU, Grenada, and pretty much all caribbean schools, to now applying to them and wondering what your chances of getting a surg residency? Actually, according to one of your quotes, apparently it's impossible, because we will all be working family practice in north dakota...sooo...what's going on there, man?


hahaha. wouldnt it be now ironic if he/she gets into a carib med school and went intp FP...

arrogance and ignorance are two things that wont get u far and respect.

[nrai2001]

Actually I applied to SGU and AUC for (Jan and May) class in addition to US MD schools this year. I want to do General surgery for residency too. I looked at AUC and SGU match results to see how many matched to Categorial general surgery. For 2005, 8 students matched to cat gen surg from AUC which is very good. Yes SGU lists categorial and preliminary positions together, which sucks. But I believe at least half of those are preliminary positions. so I think in terms of # people that matched to categorial general surgery, I think they are very very very similar. Almost 99 % the same.

I emailed Dr MD http://www.cuttingedgesurgery.com/

Assistant Clinical Professor Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

A graduate of AUC, He wrote this to me.

I am absolutely positive a general surg residency is attainable.
It does require considerable hard work and above average USMLE scores(above 200), specially if you are interested in matching for university affiliated programs. If gen surg is exactly what you want, don't let anything stand in your way.

Sounds like a very PC reply to me???

[stephew]

surgery is very do-able if someone has a usmle that's about the us national median. as for catagorical or prelim surgery, remember some prelim surgery are there not because they COULDNT get catagorical srugery but becuase they have to do it to go onto their speciality. I for isntance did medicine for prelim (didnt have to do surgery) for radonc at johns hopkins

[goldfish85]

so how do prelims work? are they all 1 year long?

i like that sgu provides their step 1 pass rate :) i think i may apply there.

[The Republic]

MD0002

According to the residency lists posted by AUC and SGU, both will get you a surgery residency.

According to the lists posted by AUC and SGU, AUC had 8 graduates in categorical general surgery this year (July 2005). SGU had 7. SGU also has twice the class size, so make of it what you will.

Categorical surgury is a five year program that is competitive to get. Prelim surg is a one year internship which is easy to get. Many people do prelim surg for a year and are unable to convert that into a categorical position and have to start over in another field entirely. You really want to get the categorical surgery right out of medical school.

[stephew]

MD0002

According to the residency lists posted by AUC and SGU, both will get you a surgery residency.

According to the lists posted by AUC and SGU, AUC had 8 graduates in categorical general surgery this year (July 2005). SGU had 7. SGU also has twice the class size, so make of it what you will.

Categorical surgury is a five year program that is competitive to get. Prelim surg is a one year internship which is easy to get. Many people do prelim surg for a year and are unable to convert that into a categorical position and have to start over in another field entirely. You really want to get the categorical surgery right out of medical school.i think honesty would compell one to confess that sgu students would certainly not have a more difficult time than any offshore grad in obtaining a residency; however that aside, how do you get 7 catagorical? if its because of a a space inthe list, im not quite sure thats what it means; note no such thing for IM and several folks are catagorical IM because they're going onto speciality. I will ask sgu re surgery.

[The Republic]

i think honesty would compell one to confess that sgu students would certainly not have a more difficult time than any offshore grad in obtaining a residency; however that aside, how do you get 7 catagorical? if its because of a a space inthe list, im not quite sure thats what it means; note no such thing for IM and several folks are catagorical IM because they're going onto speciality. I will ask sgu re surgery.

I was surprised too at only 7 caregorical surgeries, but that is what was posted at sgu.edu.

SGU did however have 25 preliminary surgery residencies. I do hope those graduates are able to make something of that. This scary thread shows the dangers of choosing a preliminary surgery "residency":

http://www.valuemd.com/t43423-careful.html

[stephew]

I was surprised too at only 7 caregorical surgeries, but that is what was posted at sgu.edu.

SGU did however have 25 preliminary surgery residencies. I do hope those graduates are able to make something of that. This scary thread shows the dangers of choosing a preliminary surgery "residency":

http://www.valuemd.com/t43423-careful.html

where do you see 7 catagoricals?

please be careful with clarity: prelim surgery is only a concern if you are using it as a step into catagorical surgery; its fine as a requisite internship year before a speciality.

[MD0002]

where do you see 7 catagoricals?

please be careful with clarity: prelim surgery is only a concern if you are using it as a step into catagorical surgery; its fine as a requisite internship year before a speciality.

Wow only 7 categorial out of 350 Students, that sucks. I thought SGU is the Harvard of the Carribeans ;) it seems AUC is the Harvard of the Carribeans :confused:

[stephew]

Wow only 7 categorial out of 350 Students, that sucks. I thought SGU is the Harvard of the Carribeans ;) it seems AUC is the Harvard of the Carribeans :confused:noooo i was saying that this is baseless. there is nothing that says 7 catagoricals.

al;so, even if a school has only a few match you are to be very very careful in making the assumption that mor epeople tried for cat surgery. its on the wane in popularity the last few years. more people interested in "surgical like" fields will be taking only a surgical prelim for internship to be followed by a speciality in, for instance, anesthesia.

having said all that, there is no data that say there were any number of catagorical or prelims from sgu. its one big group called surgery. and that's it.

[daguru]

Wow only 7 categorial out of 350 Students, that sucks. I thought SGU is the Harvard of the Carribeans ;) it seems AUC is the Harvard of the Carribeans :confused:


yeah, i guess you are right. I think you should apply there and not to SGU, it seems like you will have a much better chance of becoming everything you want from that school....you know, speaking purely based on numbers.

[stateofequilibrium]

Well, regardless of who is the Harvard, at least neither of us are the Community College (guaranteed admission as long as you pay)

[rokshana]

Wow only 7 categorial out of 350 Students, that sucks. I thought SGU is the Harvard of the Carribeans ;) it seems AUC is the Harvard of the Carribeans :confused:

you are assuming that 350 people applied to a cat surg spot(though its more like 700 people). Hate to burst your bubble, but not everyone here wants to do surgery. You need to ask how many actually applied to a surg spot and how many of THOSE people got one. For example if (and thats a big if) only 7 people applied for surgery and 7 people got it, then I would say that's pretty good...
Like Steph said, cat surg is on the wane(lifestyle and all) and the surgical subs are more attractive- those people usually have to do a prelim surgical year before they start the sub speciality(and some of the surg subs are far more competitive than gen surg).

[MD0002]

you are assuming that 350 people applied to a cat surg spot(though its more like 700 people). Hate to burst your bubble, but not everyone here wants to do surgery. You need to ask how many actually applied to a surg spot and how many of THOSE people got one. For example if (and thats a big if) only 7 people applied for surgery and 7 people got it, then I would say that's pretty good...
Like Steph said, cat surg is on the wane(lifestyle and all) and the surgical subs are more attractive- those people usually have to do a prelim surgical year before they start the sub speciality(and some of the surg subs are far more competitive than gen surg).

After general surgery you can do a fellowship. (Cardiothoracic, plastic, vascular, pediatrics, transplant, ...).

If you want to have a good lifestyle I think you should stay home and watch TV instead of going to med school :)

[onlyinthemorning]

Maybe you should offer advice to 6th termers after you've actually started med school.

[stateofequilibrium]

Maybe you should offer advice to 6th termers after you've actually started med school.

Zing!! :lolup:

[daguru]

Maybe you should offer advice to 6th termers after you've actually started med school.


hey, watch what you say. This person not only seems to be level-headed, mature and intelligent, but is also someone who is polite to others and has well formed and well thought out, articulate arguments.


Just because they make brash decisions based on the bare minimum of facts and seems to think that they are better than everyone else, and that they are in fact God-on-Earth, doesn't mean that we shouldn't respect that. I mean, what if they really ARE God-on-Earth? What if they really know so much more than the rest of us who have been in medical school for two years? Just because they made fun of SGU and AUC, and are now counting on them as their future school, and just because they say things that are so stupid that it makes you want to gouge your own eyes out in frustration, doesn't mean we should speak sharply to them.

[MD0002]

Maybe you should offer advice to 6th termers after you've actually started med school.

Trust Me, I am a Doctor :)

[stateofequilibrium]

Oh! I wish I were in Dixie, Hurrah! Hurrah!

[daguru]

Trust Me, I am a Doctor :)


What's that old saying? "Don't count your MD's until you find a med school desperate enough to take you"? idunno...it's something like that...

[scoutness]

Oh! I wish I were in Dixie, Hurrah! Hurrah!

That's awesome! :lolup:

[orthonut]

What's that old saying? "Don't count your MD's until you find a med school desperate enough to take you"? idunno...it's something like that...yeah...except isn't there something about not counting your MDs until you have that diploma in your hot little hands?

Bottom line, you can get pretty much any residency/internship regardless of where you go. It's performance that counts.