Canadians getting US residencies

[Cheney]

Originally I posted this in the Canadian IMG forum, but only one individual responded so I thought it would be better to hit a larger audience.

I was hoping there would be some Alumni of Canadian origin that could dispell many of the fears of going to a Caribbean Medical school. I was just told how we are viewed as being much different, considering we are foreigners, going to a foreign school whereas Americans at a foreign school are viewed differently but not to such a great extent. Essentially I'm told you must have one of the top scores on the USMLE step 1 to even get a residency, disregarding any competitive residency completely.
Can anyone refute this.. it sounds like we're screwed and there is really no point in going to a Caribbean school unless we're okay with doing rural family medicine?

ck.

[vtrain]

SGU is very much a viable option for Canadians. Awhile back I posted a list that SGU provides listing the residencies obtained by canadians dating all the way back to the mid 80's (do a search or look at my old posts). As for competitive residencies I know of two canadians from a carib school who matched into neurosurg at buffalo and ophtho down south. The person who matched ophtho had a ~238 on step 1 and from what I was told did some good schmoozing/networking come interview day. The bottom line is if you can get into a canadian /US program do so as you will save yourself a TON of hassles down the road (exams, licensing, etc.). If not, SGU is definitely a viable option. I'm currently a second year and do not regret my decision to come down at all (though if UofT offered me a spot tomorrow.....). Provided I graduate and pass my boards, I am 99% certain that I will get a residency. The type and location of my residency will largely depend on my Step 1 score, clinicals and some luck. Your best bet is to contact SGU and ask for Canadian Alum to talk to - that's what I did to alleviate my fears. SGU is pretty good about getting you in contact. There a many canadians before us who have done this and each and every year, there continues to be more.

geoff also posts on this board and this person is on a J-1 right now - might be able to answer a few questions; that doc's awesome - spoke with me for 1+ hr on the phone and gave me the run down of what to expect during clinicals and beyond. Good luck

[Cheney]

Thanks Vtrain, appreciate it. It's kind of scary giving up on the Canadian system... lately I keep hearing how Canadian Docs are actually getting paid better than American Docs so perhaps I should just take a second crack at the MCAT and wait another year... but who really wants to give up a summer of studying and then another year anyway?

ck

[vtrain]

Take another crack but apply to SGU anyways, what do you have to lose? If you're from Alberta, you might have a better chance in province...I think UC upped their quota. There are a TON of Ontarionians here at SGU. I applied as an Alberta resident to OMSAS to all the schools with a 3.53/32R and didn't even get one frikin' interview.

[HN_MD]

There was one Canadian at the SGU open house in Toronto who was in his first year Gen. Surg. in Detroit (Wayne State). He said he got a 230 on his boards, did well on his rotations and they offered him a categorical spot outside the match. He also noted that his was not an unsual case. Sounds pretty good to me.

[miasma]

canadian docs getting paid better than american docs? somehow i doubt that, but then again, it costs more to live in the states, that's for sure.

[MD0002]

Originally I posted this in the Canadian IMG forum, but only one individual responded so I thought it would be better to hit a larger audience.

I was hoping there would be some Alumni of Canadian origin that could dispell many of the fears of going to a Caribbean Medical school. I was just told how we are viewed as being much different, considering we are foreigners, going to a foreign school whereas Americans at a foreign school are viewed differently but not to such a great extent. Essentially I'm told you must have one of the top scores on the USMLE step 1 to even get a residency, disregarding any competitive residency completely.
Can anyone refute this.. it sounds like we're screwed and there is really no point in going to a Caribbean school unless we're okay with doing rural family medicine?

ck.

ONLY US CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO RESIDENCY IN THE US. :)

[daguru]

ONLY US CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO RESIDENCY IN THE US. :)

Wow.......

[Gavanshir]

canadian docs getting paid better than american docs? somehow i doubt that, but then again, it costs more to live in the states, that's for sure.

Do you know how high taxes are in Canada?

[jaywalk81]

Wow.......

i second that wow

[mongo18]

ONLY US CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO RESIDENCY IN THE US. :)

Apparantly not all US citizens should get a spot.

[MDXRS22]

WOW, Wow wow wow#####@@@@@@!!!!!
Did you mean that?

[Cheney]

MD0002 has just helped with my school selection. I was debating over SGU, then thought Ross, then thought AUC, then thought SGU... etc...

NOW, I'm going where MD0002 is we'll reinitiate the old hazing past time.

ck

Love you buddy.:lolup:

[The Republic]

MD0002 has some weird sense of humor. The reason I took it not as serious but as a bad joke (along the lines of "End Womens Suffrage") was because he had a smiley face at the end. But the only way to know for sure is to wait for his response.

I think he is coming to AUC, but I am not sure he has decided yet...