IN at AUC, IN at SABA... Going nuts trying to decide!

[WantMD]

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my phone call from MEIO. I'm in at AUC for May, I've also been accepted to Saba for May.

My dream come true... TWICE!!! :-) Now what?

I've been thinking of this for the past 6 months, I've read everything written on both schools. I know both schools will take me to my goal. I know the pro's and con's of both schools.

Despite all of these, I'm still having a hard time deciding... Does anyone have a few more words of advice for me?

I like the fact that SABA has a lower cost of education (tuition & housing) however, I want to move to a small town anyways, what are the chances I'll find something with a debt forgiveness program?

CA is not an issue, but it sure would be nice to know that I could come back here.

My wife telecommutes to work. St. Maarten has DSL, that will make a difference for her.

How hard is it to concentrate on your studies on St. Maarten? All of the pictures on the AUC website show students frolicking in the water, drinking at the marina..etc.. :-) ... Saba sounds like a quiet haven...

Anyone know where to find a housing list for St. Maarten, I've found a 3 bedroom house on Saba for $1200. I'm not sure how much more I need to dish out on St. Maarten. I could take 2 bed instead.

I want to do all of my clinical rotations in U.S. green book hospitals. Saba guarantees this, what about AUC? I can travel a bit, my wife doesn't mind.

Guys, I'm down to the finish line, I would appreciate any words of advice.

Thanks so much!!!!

WantMD :-)

[KDog]

All I can say is I am just in the early phases right now hoping to have the same dilemma that you have. All I can say is I can't wait to hear your decision because both SABA and AUC are my 2 choices. Good luck.
KDog

[TooOld?]

I received a medical directory in the mail Sunday. It listed doctors in our surrounding area, and their specialties. Most of the doctors listed have where they graduated medical school. There were quite a few from AUC. If it were my decision I would choose AUC mainly because of the living conditions. Fast food and the internet would be worth the extra money. Just my humble opinion.

[NaturalMD7]

Pretty cool dilemma to have. Sounds like two good situations. I am dealing with something similar, but totally different scenarios.

I dont know if you believe in praying....but many times if you stop trying to tackle it yourself...and slow down & pray....you get your answer. Once you KNOW your purpose, then you are capable of tackling the future rather than ending up complaining about it.

You'll probably get more responses on this thread to help your decision.

Let us know what you decide.

[dr_dre]

Even though SABA is great, but I will go AUC:

1. STAFFORD.

2. CA APPROVED.

These should be enough deciding factors (I am not in any way affiliated with AUC).


Best of luck, and welcome to the difficult (but fascinating & rewarding) world of medicine!

[stephew]

note to self: the gov't has reneged on some of the debt forgiveness thingies in the past; it would probably work out, but dont count on it.

[Japhethi]

First of all, congrats for a sweet dilemma here. Both schools are very successfull, to say it the least. I wil just try to give you opinion;

I will rate them on 10 criterias and give every one 0-2 points:
0-Needs HUGE improvement
1-Adequate and good standard for a Caribbean school.
2-Top Caribbean standard and US like in many ways.

I hold AUC as a favourite in this contest and give them home field advantage.


1) Licensure, you mention that you do not require CA right now, but would like to see it as an option. Well, here is my view.

1)If you want to be certain in life, you HAVE to go to AUC..

2) HOWEVER, assuming you will be graduating 4 years from now, (and assuming Saba evolves the same), I consider it very surprising if Saba will not be CA approved by then.

3) This issue you have to figure yourself. I suggest you check out the states where Saba grads can practice and see if there are any there you deerly visit. I think Saba will keep getting more and more states, but it is unlikely, although possible (if CA and NY gives Saba a "Bandwagon-effect") they could be licensed anywhere by 2010, absolutely..


CONCLUSION, Whether you need California or not, AUC is still a beter choice..
2-0

2) Track record: AUC has been around since -78. Saba since 89. That is 11 years, or double the experience. More attending phsyicians in the US knows the name of AUC than the name of Saba, although Saba is rising up..
**Still, I consider the Track record of Saba as a foreign school as adequate.** 2-1 (total 4-1)


3) Island. Are you a city person or a nature lover? Then the choices are easier, but if you are a hybrid, like the rest of us, here is my take on this:
*Saba has awesome nature, is VERY wild and not the least gives one alot of melancholic solitiude (kinda like Napoleon and St. Helena).
*AUC have soem of the coolest places I have ever been out at in the night. They have casinos everywhere and if you have SOME skills there, you might even finance something. (I did).. It is a heaven for party people, and beachgoers The beaches at Saba are not the best. The only casinos there are the Black Mondays, hehe.
*People on Saba don't lock their doors (although students do), but students at AUC have the same security issues as if they live 10 blocks south of University of Chicago., to say it like that.. IF you are from a smaller place AUC might be a bit rough..
*You can get hold of most stuff in St. Maarten quite easily. Try doing that at Saba..
*The tourists going to Saba are divers, authors that need to reflect, honeymooners and some families. AUC tourists range from high-school cheerleader team on spring break (!!), to Ross Perot's buddies .
2-1 (total 6-2)

4) Loans: AUC is approved for Stafford loans. That means you can go there with a federal subsidiced loan and do not need cosigning or things like that. Saba also offers loans, but nothing like the Stafford loan.


2-1 (total 8-3)


5) Faculty: Saba faculty is known to be notoriously unstable, although students overall seem to be content. The quality of AUC faculty is actually confirmed by itself as some students actually attend an otherwise voluntary thing (Would you)??

2-1 (total 10-4)

6) Diversity. Both schools have a good balance of their students, whether it is gender, race or age. The faculty is often from the US, but not necceessarily. There seem to be no problem recruiting a teacher to St. Maarten (What a surprise), while not every person in the world wants to experience the Napoleon at Helena lifestyle at Saba. Still, both schools seem to manage diversity and political correctness in a way most US schols would envy..

2-1 (total 12-5)

7) Curriculum>
Both are vary analogous to US standards. Everything is geared towards USMLE from day one. Both schools have successes on students board scores. Both schools are are better preparing their students than many US schools. Very helpful, as everyone knows how important USMLE is for foregin grads.

2-2 (total 14-7)

8) Housing. Food is cheaper at AUC (St. Maarten), but living costs more. Saba have an active support program for the spouses of students, I will say both places are expensive, but not by most Caribbean standards.

Both have a decent pricing although much more expensive than home. (Don't take Taxis at night in SxM)....Clubbing in SxM is expensive..

1-2 (total 15-9)

9) Tuiton fee:
I will just compare the tuiton for the 1st 5 semesters , as everything cvhanges once the clinicals are there (and that is another issue).

Saba Slightly around 32K/AUC: about 45K


My opinion here... DO NOT LET Money make a difference here. Once you are done with B.S. your financial light in the tunnel will look differently as you see the M.D. sign (although you will be fooled, hehe).

AUC will require about 50% more every semester in tuiton. But the extra money might be worth it if you have one of these four reasons:
*Are you confortable with the possibility of doing rotations outside the US?
*Do you need to know ahead of time regarding CA, TX and such issues. THen you GOT TO choose AUC.

*AUC is equal to any other school in the Caribbean, even St. Georges (my opinion). 9K for basic sciences is worth it.
*Do you hate class? Saba has a strict attendance policy as long as their California approval is pending. At AUC, life is more like the medical schools at home, much freer attendance in lectures required.

BOTH schools are fair deal, but Saba is Cheaper, sure..
1-2 (total 16-11)



10) Academic pressure: Both schools do a good job making students succeed with USMLE, and this breaks "a few eggs" in the process. Less students fail at Saba than at AUC. Is the school harder on the students or do they screen less well..
Saba is very good for students with families and spouses. Very safe, and family-friendly. It is hard to do to much else than studying, but that is well provided Also, knowing you are set to do clinicals all in the US is huge psychological boost for many students. Saba sends all students that want it to US clinicals.

0-2 (total 16-13)

Conclusion:
Both schools seem to be very good and a comparison is close all the way. If you can live without a guarantee of California later on and without Stafford loans, then Saba might be better for you. If you hate class, go to AUC, (just remember to study a bit then)..

Note that Saba would be VERY close to AUC if htey had Stafforod loans and CA approval, both not an unlikely event on the future.

Still, if I were to make the choice today, I would have picked AUC. However, had CA not meant anything to me, I would have picked Saba unless I depended on Stafford loans.


No matter what choice you make, be sure your road to M.D. is certain if you keep up the god work so far


Good luck...

[WantMD]

Thanks SonsofJafeth!

That was an awesome post!

This brings up one question: I wantto do ALL of my rotations in the U.S. Saba guarantees this, AUC doesn't. I've heard from many AUC grads who say it's not a problem, if you want U.S. you can get U.S. Is that your experience?

Thanks!

[AUCMD2006]

thus far no one that i know in 3 semesters has been forced to go to uk or ireland there are actually slots left open in the US. i think we get exposed to faculty that come for guest lectures both from the states and england and most of us are fairly taken back by the brits then you add in the reviews of practicing docs who did their 3rd year in uk and how they thought it greatly incresed diagnosing skills and they were allowed to do more.

in the last 3 years there has only been one person that i know of on the forum or otherwise that would not have gone. this soap note crap should not be an issue how long does it take to learn that.....one morning with a hangover and a partial lobotomy? tell you the truth i was dead set on US rotations from the get go now i've talked to my wife about selling our house and heading to waterford for a year. she was reluctant at first until she saw pictures of the place and looked at the private school our kids would attend....just to add the point that your opinion of uk clinicals may change.

[WantMD]

Thanks rrod,

Actually, I am not opposed to UK rotations. I think it would be a great experience. I've read many posts in the archives about the pro's and con's. I just want to make sure I don't hinder my chances of licensing in a state of my choice.

What about Waterford? Never heard of it, only heard of Luton. You said you had some pics, website? I'd be interested in looking at that.

Thanks!

WantMD :-)