Caribbean vs. Puerto Rico

[Arq22]

I am looking at all my choices and I'm confused about what school would be better in terms of US grad or IMG. I applied to both St. George's and Ross, and actually got into both of them...I was getting really excited because I'm the kind that believes that yes it would be great if i got to stay in the US, but at the end of the day...it is the same 2 letters after your name (MD); so i figured i was getting this opportunity and should take advantage of it...I looked into their programs and actually really liked them - I thought it would be cool to go away to an island and spend some time there and then do rotations in a variety of hospitals in the US. Recently I got an invitation to an interview in a school in Puerto Rico. I have made columns of pros and cons and so far the only pro that Puerto Rico has is that it is part of the US (it is accepted by the LCME). I dont really like their program because it would be Spanish-English, I believe it will probably be mostly community medicine, and I wouldnt get to do rotations in US hospitals (NY, CA, IL) like Ross or St. George's allows me - I mean I'd be trained to be a doctor in Puerto Rico. It doesnt really talk about USMLE passing rates - compared to Ross and St. George's which is like their main thing - due to the fact that THEY ARE TRAINING DOCTORS TO PRACTICE IN THE US.
I'm still waiting for some responses from schools in the US and if i get in, of course i'll take the opportunity, but i have to start making preparations if I am planning to attend Ross or St. George's.
If you have any input, please advise !!!

on a side note...which one do you guys think is better Ross or St. George's?

[buffykitty]

SGu is considered the 'Harvard of Caribbean Medical Schools' and is significantly different than Ross. SGU is VERY expensive but could be worth it b/c students do well there. Ross is on a 3rd world Island and harder to adapt to.......yet another obstacle for a US student who is used to the many 'luxuries'. I have heard many doctors from SGU say that they would have chosen the cheaper university had they been able to do it again. My thought: Education is only what you make of it....and the experiences it provides. You can always make money but you can never take back time. I, too, have to make a decision between AUC and Ross. One thing I will point out is that Ross is the only school in the caribbean to be approved by Texas...my home state!

[teratos]

Puerto Rico is LCME accredited, if I'm not mistaken. Just like US schools. G

[Skipper]

Puerto Rico is the way to go, however when i was looking into it you have to be fluent in spanish because 3rd year clinicals are done in san juan.

it is LCME accerdited

skipper

[camden]

I thought PR schools only accepted PR citizens/locals ?

[Conway]

Camden, yes. I believe that you must have some ties with PR (ie, have family there, be born there, have roots there). ...and the language factor is quite big too. I remember reading these on the websites of the respective schools.

[microphage]

Goto PR.. That's not even a decision u should have to think about. U get to learn a bit of spanish(ok, alot) and u get to attend a US medical school and there's nice beaches there It's a win-win

[Genossa maximillian]

Which school invited you to an interview? You can PM me because I really have a problem with your statement that..." I believe it will probably be mostly community medicine, and I wouldnt get to do rotations in US hospitals (NY, CA, IL) ". That is a total innacuracy and lack of information. Is it SJUBSOM? Because that school is basically for locals, that school is still in the process of getting LCME approval but that school owns its own hospitals and is definitely a better choice than ANY of the rest including the best so-called Caribbean big 3 schools. However, the other 3 P.R. schools are TOTALLY LCME approved and you need the usual, good GPA and good MCAT.

PM me for further details. Besides don't let the language thing fool you, the textbooks are in english as well as the tests you take.

Originally Posted by Arq22

I am looking at all my choices and I'm confused about what school would be better in terms of US grad or IMG. I applied to both St. George's and Ross, and actually got into both of them...I was getting really excited because I'm the kind that believes that yes it would be great if i got to stay in the US, but at the end of the day...it is the same 2 letters after your name (MD); so i figured i was getting this opportunity and should take advantage of it...I looked into their programs and actually really liked them - I thought it would be cool to go away to an island and spend some time there and then do rotations in a variety of hospitals in the US. Recently I got an invitation to an interview in a school in Puerto Rico. I have made columns of pros and cons and so far the only pro that Puerto Rico has is that it is part of the US (it is accepted by the LCME). I dont really like their program because it would be Spanish-English, I believe it will probably be mostly community medicine, and I wouldnt get to do rotations in US hospitals (NY, CA, IL) like Ross or St. George's allows me - I mean I'd be trained to be a doctor in Puerto Rico. It doesnt really talk about USMLE passing rates - compared to Ross and St. George's which is like their main thing - due to the fact that THEY ARE TRAINING DOCTORS TO PRACTICE IN THE US.
I'm still waiting for some responses from schools in the US and if i get in, of course i'll take the opportunity, but i have to start making preparations if I am planning to attend Ross or St. George's.
If you have any input, please advise !!!

on a side note...which one do you guys think is better Ross or St. George's?

[Genossa maximillian]

They give preference to locals but they do admit out of state and foreigners too. You will have to pay the out-of state tuition rate but it is still affordable compared to foreing schools.

PM for more details.

Originally Posted by camden

I thought PR schools only accepted PR citizens/locals ?

[Arq22]

Originally Posted by Genossa maximillian

They give preference to locals but they do admit out of state and foreigners too. You will have to pay the out-of state tuition rate but it is still affordable compared to foreing schools.

PM for more details.

I'm kind of new at this...so I don't really know what PM means...but what I meant was that with St. George's and Ross I get to do my last 2 years (all my rotations) in US hospitals. With Universidad Central del Caribe (which is LCME accredited) I think it would just be San Juan Hospital or something like that. I believe i would spend the 4 years in PR and I think I would probably have a more difficult transition once i go into residency or time to practice, because I would have never been in a 100% English speaking hospital- inside the US. Spanish is not a problem , i'm actually pretty fluent..some rough spots here and there but I think i'd be confortable with it. I am lacking information which is why i decided to try the forums out...but there is just so much controversy about IMGs and US grads. I mean my whole point is ...just because the PR school is approved by this LCME that should be my only reason to choose it?...I think perhaps once I go visit the campus then I'll learn more about it...and perhaps learn to like it...but as of right now, like I go to their website, and they don't even tell me what their percentage is to pass the USMLEs or what kind of residencies their students get into...so there isn't much attracting me to it right now.
I know what the stigma with foreign medical doctors is...but honestly i thought things were changing...I mean I really don't understand what the big deal is because when I reasearch what kind of residencies ppl from Ross or St. george's get into.....there are pretty competitive ones...that you prob wouldnt have seen 5 years ago....and of course it all depends on the student, grades and USMLE scores....so if they are getting competitive residencies..why is it still being put down?
Anyways, I appreciate any inputs anyone might have.