Saba's USMLE pass rates

[jbuzz]

As I've been telling some of my peers and co-workers about my decision to attend medical school at Saba, I frequently get asked about their performance on the USMLE exams. I tell them that according to Saba's website, the average pass rate on step 1 and 2 since 1999 has been over 90%. More often than not this is the reply I get, "That's not possible at a Caribbean medical school!!" I certainly hope that Saba is not publishing incorrect information, and I doubt they would. I know several Saba grads that scored extremely well on the USMLE's. Could any current students or graduates give their opinion on this matter?

[DermGirlMD]

I know what you mean. :roll: When I mention my decision to attend a foreign medical school, I get the same response, which is "What is their pass rate?" Then I respond to the best of my knowledge (based on the research I have done) and the most common reply is "They (the schools) do not tell you how many attempts it takes someone to actually pass the boards" or "the statistics can be manipulated." So, it seems everyone is an expert :idea:

[JV]

Work hard. Forget about what others before you have or have not done. I promise they won't be there to take the test with you. Their performance is irrelevant to yours.

[stephew]

More often than not this is the reply I get, "That's not possible at a Caribbean medical school!!"


It most certainly is. I dont know Saba, Ross and AUC's pass rates off hand but historically they are quite good. At SGU the pass rates have been as high as 94%. In fact was right in the middle of US school rankings (i.e. half higher than sgu, half lower.) People can do very well from carefully selected carib schools. I wouldnt expect anyone not considering a carib school to ncessarily know the pass rates, but making commentary in ignorance is bad form.

[stephew]

They (the schools) do not tell you how many attempts it takes someone to actually pass the boards" or "the statistics can be manipulated."

Point one may be true but upfront schools will say 1) pass rates on the first go 2) the rates of people being held back/deceling

AS for point two: certainly if you dont know points one...and btw, that goes quite well with us schools too. If you only knew the fail rates in some school you'd be amazed.

[Pageantnurse]

No offense but, who cares what the overall rates are ? Your main concern should be your own pass/fail rate. I know that we are pushed into the numbers and comparison game very early on in our education but this is different. YOU ARE GOING ABROAD FOR YOUR EDUCATION (I just like it better than offshore) That has its own hurdles and you need to focus on busting them down from day one. I think of every negative stereotype tacked to IMGs and I make them eat it for dinner. Just do your best and put your heart into it and you will rise to the top. (Corny but true) :-angel

[stephew]

No offense but, who cares what the overall rates are ? Your main concern should be your own pass/fail rate. I know that we are pushed into the numbers and comparison game very early on in our education but this is different. YOU ARE GOING ABROAD FOR YOUR EDUCATION (I just like it better than offshore) That has its own hurdles and you need to focus on busting them down from day one. I think of every negative stereotype tacked to IMGs and I make them eat it for dinner. Just do your best and put your heart into it and you will rise to the top. (Corny but true) :-angel

Its merely a matter of odds: all other things being equal, do i feel more comfortable about a school with a pass rate of 100% or a poass rate of 50%? No brainer. We use stats in the same way for patients: durvival for prostate cancer is a heck of a lot better than for lung cancer. You're right: populations stats mean nothing to someone who is on the short end of the survival list, but with the information given, if you had to choose, which would you choose?

[etomidate]

As to the question originally posed: The USMLE step I pass first time rate at Saba has always been in the 80-85% range. I heard rumors that one class last year had a lower rate, yet I have met many students from that class who did very well.

The most recent class had four scores over 240, with one being 267. Of course that guy was a veterinarian! But I know one of the people had the barest pre-med backround, yet studied hard and did the Kaplan Qbank , so it really is a matter of how much you sweat. Saba will certainly give you the preparation you need, but a some type of review course is necessary. Gads, when I took a review course (a short one) 98% of the people there were from US schools including RWJ!

Good luck. :lol:

[stephew]

of note, everyone last year did more poorly on the step 1- the us pass rate was 88% I beleive.