Violating TOS in the CMU forum

[teratos]

Originally Posted by DocRon

Remember if it were not for "Guinea pigs" there may not be a Dr. Stephew or Dr. Teratos (or Dr. Ron) today. SGU, AUC, Ross, SJSM all started with such "guinea pigs" and for them I think we should be thankful, because they paved the way for you and me.

I understand the spirit of what you are saying. AUC was established in 1978, there were thousands of practicing docs out there when I applied. I started in 1996. I can't say that going to a school that has been producing successful grads for 18 years felt much like an experiment.

You also made an analogy that going to a new school was like a clinical trial for a new wonder drug. I would liken a new medical school to a drug that a company is testing that promises to do the same thing as motrin. Not anything wonderful, by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, since it hasn't been tested, we don't know if it will kill you, or make you grow a finger out of your forehead. Why not just take a motrin? It may cost a little more than the new drug, but you can avoid any unknown side effects.

Also, in terms of clinical trials, they wait a while before they test on humans.....so the people who go first are truly guinea pigs. G

[stephew]

yes but here's the thing; you dont need to be a guinea pig nowadays unless you fail to get into another school. ive said 3 times that its not the 1970's anymore. the field has changed. the arguement that well established schools once were new too and so its just as good to for a prospective with other choices to "guinea pig" themselves to new schools today doesnt come close to getting of the ground to fly.

[AUCMD2006]

Originally Posted by teratos

I understand the spirit of what you are saying. AUC was established in 1978, there were thousands of practicing docs out there when I applied. I started in 1996. I can't say that going to a school that has been producing successful grads for 18 years felt much like an experiment.

You also made an analogy that going to a new school was like a clinical trial for a new wonder drug. I would liken a new medical school to a drug that a company is testing that promises to do the same thing as motrin. Not anything wonderful, by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, since it hasn't been tested, we don't know if it will kill you, or make you grow a finger out of your forehead. Why not just take a motrin? It may cost a little more than the new drug, but you can avoid any unknown side effects.

Also, in terms of clinical trials, they wait a while before they test on humans.....so the people who go first are truly guinea pigs. G

great analogy and a few real life examples to boot. i can't remember the name for the life of me but in the late 90's there actually was a new 'motrin' that was prescription only, non narcotic, with the same pain treatment profile as percocet. turns out that a ton of people went into liver failure and some died from the new 'motrin'.

i guess the pharm companies failed to realize that many pain pts lie about how much vicodin with tylenol they take and their livers are on the way out to begin with

there was also a diabetes one i can't remember. but either way good analogy.

[DocRon]

Originally Posted by teratos

I understand the spirit of what you are saying. AUC was established in 1978, there were thousands of practicing docs out there when I applied. I started in 1996. I can't say that going to a school that has been producing successful grads for 18 years felt much like an experiment.

You also made an analogy that going to a new school was like a clinical trial for a new wonder drug. I would liken a new medical school to a drug that a company is testing that promises to do the same thing as motrin. Not anything wonderful, by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, since it hasn't been tested, we don't know if it will kill you, or make you grow a finger out of your forehead. Why not just take a motrin? It may cost a little more than the new drug, but you can avoid any unknown side effects.

Also, in terms of clinical trials, they wait a while before they test on humans.....so the people who go first are truly guinea pigs. G

Good deal... I think our posts are food-for-thought for prospective students considering Caribbean medical education.

[jtu]

HI
Friends!!!
Here is a report from Ex-Students’ Association, send after e-mail voting from the past and present students of four non-Big-B Caribbean schools:
You do NOT go offshore because its "too expensive" in the us. You only go if you fail to get into the us. and you try for a well established school that is most likely going to let you pratice in state of your choice in the residency of your choice.


-------84% students reported that they joined Caribbean schools because US schools are “too expensive”.
67% of those students never applied for US schools, therefore, fail /pass was not a question.
--------52% of those students never made an attempt to join Big-B’ in Caribbean schools, because they wanted to join a school where teacher student ratio is less than 1:200.
-------42% of students were not interested to practice in states like California, Texus, Florida where job opportunity are very less.
2)you dont choose a school for lower competition. you apply to the best one you can and go to the best one that takes you. some poeple may not have a choice but to go to some schools. in those cases you need to do some soul seaching to see if youre really likely to pass medschool and the qualifying boards.

-------62% of those students made attempts in middle class schools that were their first choice and they joined there.
-------56% of the past students passed USMLE Steps in first attempt.
3)most posters and moderators want honest answers from the school and students, not cheerleading and to address any shortcomings, particularly ones that prospectives may not be savvy enough to be aware of themselves. people can be easily mislead if they dont know what the relevant issues are.

---------72% students visited all four middle class schools personally before deciding for one.
4) the histories of "other" well established schools are not in question here. Further, since other schools are well established, prospectives have choices now. they dont necessarily need to be the guinea pigs for unestablished places. its not 1976 anymore.


--------48% students are economically underprivileged and they decided to take risk in newer schools because all established schools had the same stories regarding lower competition,lower tuition and no WHO,IMED,ECFMG but presently they are asking higher tuition fees.
---------73% students reported that Big-B schools are overcrowded and teacher: student is not less than 1:200 and students get least individual attention or help from faculty.

5)the classrooms of established schools are not too crowded. the money issue is addressed above. simply put, if you cant practice what and where you want from your school, "cheaper" is a short term consolation.
-------------66% students reported that money is the prime criterion for them.

6) weaker students taking a risk: ok fair enough you've hit upon the honest issue; some may not have a choice. I would only say to them that if you are having that much trouble getting into an offshore school, do yourself a favor and see if what has held you back is remedial or not. Because med school is a lot of time and a lot of money and you dont want to be in debt in both just to find out you cant pass your boards and practice medicine.


----------Repeat: 56% of the past students of those schools passed USMLE steps in single attempt.

These points have been made before. many have chosen to ignore them or create a straw man to support the home team. if you cared about prospective students you'd answer these points honestly. CMU may be a valid route for some. but if you are going to create a pep rally for your school you should be prepared for people to challenge propaganda.
------- 96% members from ex-students’ association reported to oppose propaganda of the representatives of Big-B’s in Caribbean and supporting the current slogan--“Long live New Caribbean schools and defeat all antagonisms.”
---------------------------------------------------------------

[RUknight]

Originally Posted by jtu

-------84% students reported that they joined Caribbean schools because US schools are “too expensive”.
67% of those students never applied for US schools, therefore, fail /pass was not a question.
--------52% of those students never made an attempt to join Big-B’ in Caribbean schools, because they wanted to join a school where teacher student ratio is less than 1:200.
-------42% of students were not interested to practice in states like California, Texus, Florida where job opportunity are very less.
---------------------------------------------------------------

wow....im speechless

[rokshana]

I agree with you RU- I too am speechless (and that takes a lot of doin'!!)

I...I....I... have no IDEA how to respond!!!! it just BOGGLES the mind....

[teratos]

I would owe a hell of a lot less than I do now if I had gone to a US school. Plus, I would have been closer to home, my wife could have worked etc. It is a lot more expensive to live in the Caribbean than in the US.

jtu.......I CALL SHENANIGANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I just polled the ex-ex-students association (it only took a minute)
- 78% preferred goat to beef upon their return
- 68% were frustrated because they couldn't find Vita-Malt in their local stores
- 56% had chosen to adopt the accent of the island where they studied

[Scott1981]

i got into harvard medical school, but i turned them down because i wanted the island experience and it was cheaper.

[slevit1]

hahahahahahahaha....lmao!!

Your posts are always good for a laugh, jtu.

I don't know that it's posibble to respond to everything you've written since, well, a lot of it isn't really english. Sure, you generally use English words, but you usually don't seem to care to much about forming sentences. But, a couple of points:
1) What's a "Big-B" school? I wanna go to one, I think
2) 72.3% of statistics are made up

“Long live New Caribbean schools and defeat all antagonisms.”
You should make that your signature! It's catchy.