Which Caribbean School is the BEST? (cant decide even with research)

[GoodAdvice]

Ok...so I know choosing is subjective and requires research but i've done the research for a couple of months now and I STILL can't choose where to go. This being the BIG 4 medical schools (SGU, AUC, ROSS, SABA). Can anyone please tell me which medical school you went to and why you chose that school?

It will definitely help me narrow it down if I can get some feedback from current students...and there also might be something that I failed to take into consideration

Thanks in advance

[argazul]

SABA is not recognized directly in all states, like Texas, although it might be possible to get licensed there on an individual basis. I would chose SGU first. Between Ross and AUC (which i consider equal second), I choose Ross because they have some clinical sites that I like, ( but given the current situation I don't know how it will pan out). Another reason is I will be going to Ross with two of my friends and that kind of support early will help me get settled on the island.

In terms of academics (basic science) the quality of education is great at all three schools.

[Scott1981]

ultimetely.....auc, ross, and sgu will all get you were you want to be as long as you perform well. the same doors can be opened from all three.

[argazul]

If you have not been accepted then definitely apply to all three. If you have been accepted to all three, just choose one and forget about the other two. As Scott mentioned they all will open the same doors, just go there and be the best student you can be. In four years it won't matter which school you went to.

[GoodAdvice]

Thats good...I haven't applied yet...I'm waiting to take my MCATs in April but after I get my scores back I plan on applying this summer for Fall 2009. Hopefully all 4 decides to accept. I had one more question...How long did it take them to interview you and accept you at your particular schools?

[Scott1981]

Originally Posted by GoodAdvice

Thats good...I haven't applied yet...I'm waiting to take my MCATs in April but after I get my scores back I plan on applying this summer for Fall 2009. Hopefully all 4 decides to accept. I had one more question...How long did it take them to interview you and accept you at your particular schools?

i didnt get interviewed at auc. it took them a few weeks to accept me, but i had about a 3.6 gpa and 26 mcat. this was also back in the begining of 2004.

[argazul]

Well for ross it was really fast, maybe because I want to start this year in May. My file was complete 03/11, got a interview invite on 03/12, interviewed on 03/14 (friday), and was accepted on 03/17 (monday). So essentially one week for the whole process. I was lucky that they had an interview spot available quickly within driving distance for me (4 hrs). Also they actively pushed my application because it is so close to the start of the semester. My gpa is 3.1 and a 32 mcat.

[Slaol_121]

SGU, while the most "prestigious" (if a Caribbean school can be that), is twice as expensive as AUC and Ross. Also, Ross and SGU have much larger class sizes than AUC, so I guess it depends on how you like your instructor:student ratio to be.

Ross and AUC are not equal second choices. Ross is on a much worse island which, according to 2008 Caribbean guidebooks, has no really good beaches and is more of a nature preserve (some students who live there don't even have hot water or dependable electricity!). If you are married or have a family, I would not go to Ross.

Crime is much higher on SGU's island. There is someone I know who went to SGU a few years back and his apartment was broken into by thugs and he was robbed at gunpoint. Students at SGU on this forum will deny that this is commonplace, but it does happen. I have never heard of this happening at AUC - though car theft and the occasional mugging of a drunk student who stumbles onto the Golf course at 2am does seem to be a regular occurrence....

In Summary:

Go to SGU if you do not have a family and don't mind living on a worse island. They seem to have the most money and have their act together about clinicals.

If location is important to you (like it is to me), AUC is your school.

[Scott1981]

but in the end, it doesnt make a difference.

[Slaol_121]

Originally Posted by Scott1981

but in the end, it doesnt make a difference.

Agreed. As long as you go to a school that has a history of churning out good practitioners, I wouldn't worry about the particulars. Just go where you feel like you can do the best academically and get a shot for a decent residency.