AUA or AUC MERP program? which would be the better option?

[Meemz]

hey guys!
so i have been accepted into AUA's August Class for their Medical Program and I have also received an invitation to do the August MERP program for AUC. What do you think would be the better option? Should I go to AUA (straight to medical school) or should I do AUC's MERP program? I know AUC is a better medical school than AUA but I was confused on what I should do.
I just wanted anyone's opinion or if anyone had more information, lemme know what you guys think!

-Meemz

[Arkie, M.D.]

hey guys!
so i have been accepted into AUA's August Class for their Medical Program and I have also received an invitation to do the August MERP program for AUC. What do you think would be the better option? Should I go to AUA (straight to medical school) or should I do AUC's MERP program? I know AUC is a better medical school than AUA but I was confused on what I should do.
I just wanted anyone's opinion or if anyone had more information, lemme know what you guys think!

-Meemz

Having attended both schools (don't ask, long story), I would advise you to go with whichever program is fastest and cheapest. Both schools will provide the education you need to be a great physician if you work hard. There is ZERO difference between AUC and AUA basic science training and we all rotate at the same hospitals in the US. Obviously, the federal loans are nice, but they shouldn't be a deal-breaker. AUA has a satisfactory loan program set up (although interest rates are a little ridiculous). Financing your education won't be a problem at either school. AUA's clinical situation is improving quickly. I was able to complete the last 63 weeks of my clinical rotations back-to-back-to-back with no breaks at AUA (all greenbook BTW). This allowed me to finish earlier than many of my classmates who chose to take time off to study for Step 2. If this MERP program is going to add more than a semester to the length of your training, I'd skip it and go to AUA. Many of my friends decided to get masters degrees and reapply to US med schools when I came to the Caribbean. A lot of them still haven't been accepted to US schools and those who did are first year med students now and I'm an MD with a framed diploma on my wall and residency starting in a few weeks. Time is a terrible thing to waste.

[TAMallick]

Yes, I prefer AUA.

[HinduDoc]

No way I would choose AUA over AUC.

1. Federal Loans
2. More and better organized clinicals
3. More established
4. AUC will provide you with federal loans at a much better interest rate than AUA and AUC loans will cover ALL expenses. AUA loans will require you to not only start paying interest immediately but they will also require you to have an outside source of funding besides loans.

Arkie's rotation experience is not the rotation experience of the majority of AUA students. He got extremely lucky and I'm very happy for him that he did but there are a ridiculous amount of people waiting on rotations with very few (if any) rotation spots being added.

[Shonk]

No way I would choose AUA over AUC.
Arkie's rotation experience is not the rotation experience of the majority of AUA students. He got extremely lucky and I'm very happy for him that he did but there are a ridiculous amount of people waiting on rotations with very few (if any) rotation spots being added.

I agree, his clinical situation was a very lucky one. Only a hand full of students get that hand dealt. Honestly, if the MERP program is only adding one semester to your whole education, I'd go with AUC. On paper the two schools are pretty similar, but in reality both are very different. Also, in this economy any school that has Federal loans trumps all other schools in the Caribbean IMO.

[siheg]

AUC.

Should not even be a question.

[thxleave]

AUC based on federal loans alone. Better interest rate, repayment plan, and doesn't kill your credit if you fail medical school somehow. MERP isn't federal loan, but rest of AUC is.

Worst case situation, you go AUA you can't get a residency: Permanent loans that will affect your future, even if you get a job. You continue ludicrous payment, and have your house/car possessed by the bank for not paying enough.

With AUC: Uncle Sam only garnish 10% of your salary, and you get to keep your house/car. Credit still good.

It's a simple cost/gain analysis. If you chart it, the gains of AUA is one year/one semester salary of a doctor. While the negatives outweigh the slight gain significantly. Therefore AUC is most profitable for your career choice in your lifetime.

[ConfusedMD]

AUC without a doubt

[cardiomegaly]

Go with AUC for better loan terms, better reputation, beautiful island (saw it from the airport), great education, and the list goes on and on. By the way AUA still is a great school but the terms of the loans are crazy.

[doc_D3]

AUC. The loans at AUA are private, which means all of the disadvantages stated above but you have to be "creditworthy". If you don't qualify financing your education becomes a big headache and even if you do, it's not promised that you will for the next semester or that the loans will be available next semester. US DOE loans are a safer gamble.