CAHSU (Belize med school) and St Mary's school of medicine

[Sandra]

Hi Guys....Just wondering if anyone has any info on these schools. What about reputation,living conditions and quality of the education? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks so much. Sandra

[dt]

St. Mary used to be in the Cook Islands. Take a look at:
http://imed.ecfmg.org/details.asp?sc...1&mcode=117010

They up and moved to St. Lucia last year (2003) I believe. Same owner(s). Dont know why their charter on the Cook Islands is still active. Dont know why they moved.

I dont think it is a very good or stable school.

[wcb22]

the sept 04 entering class has about 30-35 students. there are over 100 graduates in U.S. residencies, such as surgery, neonatology, FP, IM, pediatrics, etc. i've talked to people in these residencies, most the ones i've talked to are in PGY3. it's been around since 1996. you need 70% of the premed classes to get accepted (1 year gen chem (and lab), 1 year o chem (and lab), one year physics (and lab), one year biology (and lab), one year of english and one year of mathematics. at least 90 hrs of college credit required, and preference given to those with a bachelors degree. it does not have approval in CA, only SGU, Ross, and AUC have that at the present. those are the basics; if you have any specific q's, ask away 8)

[cahsustudent]

Since I am still enrolled at cahsu I need to be careful what I say here so as to not bring down the wrath of certain people on my own head. But, whoever wrote the response about the 30-35 students starting in September, the 100 people in residencies, and especially the premed requirements is full of fecal matter, and I strongly suspect someone from the school who monitors this site and puts in nonsense like that response.

I know for a fact that they have high school students with NO college whatsoever admitted there as well as other students who have no pre-med or even basic science courses admitted there. I know that because I know the students who are about 18 and 19 years old and who just got out high school last year.

Anybody that can write a check will be accepted. If you are a transfer student and won't be able to get your transcript from your old school, you will be told to not worry and that your classes will be honored anyway. All I can say is, get it in writing or you will be taking those classes over again.

Having said that however, I think I am getting a decent education but I have no way to compare. I can say the classes are very difficult for whatever that is worth and some of the professors are very experienced, pro-student and very helpful which means they are generally harraassed by administration. I can also say the rules do not apply to everybody equally. If you are from India the attendance rules sure don't apply because an Indian is the HMFIC in Belize. Anything that guy says to you, be sure you record the conversation or get it in writing signed in his blood. . . and he'll still deny he said it.

I wouldn't say don't go, but I would say get all representations in writing. Take it from a transfer student who knows.

Oh one more thing. If they have you talk to a student named Tony, just realize that he is one of those students to whom the rules do not apply and he is their main recruiter for transfer students. Once again . . . get it in writing.

Good luck.

[cahsustudent]

I can't compare with other places. The main complaint about living conditions is that you get so ripped off on "student housing". The houses are livable, but you will pay $675 U.S. for house that costs about $35,000 bze ($17,500 U.S.) which means you are making the owners rich. The school will not tell you of any other housing options, and frankly there aren't really many other options. The houses are the most livable you will find, but just know that the school directs you to houses owned by friends of the HMFIC of the Belize campus so they can all get your money. Also, be advised that there are no land line phones in the houses or internet access. They will tell you that all that is just weeks away . . .and it was just weeks away several terms ago when I was down there.

[DoctorJ]

I have friends who graduated from St. Mary's and are doing IM at UK (IM), Emory (PM&R, transitional U of Maryland), U of Mi (surgery), Toledo (IM), and Atlanta (FP). These bunch of guys left UNIBE back in 99 and transferred and are doing well, all US IMGs. What they've told me is that no one really wants to go to Cook Is (too far from mainland) so the school finally found a charter in the Carib and now new students are coming. St.Mary's existed since 98' and with graduates in various residency programs. That's all I know. My friends are happy w/o much debt. Use your own judgement.

[DoctorJ]

I have friends who graduated from St. Mary's and are doing IM at U of Ky (IM), Emory (PM&R, transitional U of Maryland), U of Mi (surgery), Toledo (IM), and Atlanta (FP). These bunch of guys left UNIBE back in 99 and transferred and are doing well, all US IMGs. What they've told me is that no one really wants to go to Cook Is (too far from mainland) so the school finally found a charter in the Carib and now new students are coming. St.Mary's existed since 98' and with graduates in various residency programs. That's all I know. My friends are happy w/o much debt. Use your own judgement.

[wcb22]

sounds like you have more problems than i do...
you assume way too much
i am not a representative of CAHSU; i will be attending in sept 04. i have talked to a lot of people, MOSTLY graduates. sounds like your experience has not been what you were expecting...
about students with only a high school degree doing med school there; it's probably pre-med. anyone with half a brain knowns they will not get licensure in ANY state with only a high school degree, and skip the pre-meds and go straight to med school.
another ambiguous comment... you said you have nothing to compare CAHSU to... you also said you are a transfer student???? go figure.
and blast the bloody school for having a recruiter(s), who doesn't?

"Anything that guy says to you, be sure you record the conversation or get it in writing signed in his blood. . . and he'll still deny he said it. "

Wow, that's all i got to say about that.

[cahsustudent]

You seem to have overlooked the part where I said I thought we were getting a decent education but that I just couldn't compare it to others. I think that implies that I am satisfied with the education, I just can't compare it to what others are receiving. I also said that I would not say to not go. But I assure you, I personally know students who graduated from high school LAST YEAR and have literally no college. I personally know students who have not had a single pre-med course in their lives. You can say what you want, but I know what I know.

I am glad you have talked to graduates who are doing well. If you talked to Tony or John, they are not graduates. If you have talked to real graduates then you're a step ahead of the current students who when they ask for the contact information of graduates/residents, don't get it. Or when they ask for states who for sure will accept a degree from Cahsu, don't get that either. That doesn't mean there aren't any, because clearly they exist. I'm just saying a little more official information from administration would be encouraging.

So my friend, I am glad you are excited about going to Belize. I will be curious to see what you are saying a week or two (and a month or two) into your new experience. The Belize you see on the internet is NOT where you will be living.

I will assure you that you will love certain professors who are truly very very very good teachers and good people. You'll be amazed at how much they will teach you. But if they don't change other professors, I hope you will have the nuts to post about that here since you clearly do not think I know what I'm talking about.

Finally, please post when you get telephones and internet in Los Lagos. That has been 2-3 weeks away for several terms now. I know from people who finished in Belize last week that there still are no phones in the houses.

Finally finally, you can be as scornful toward me as you want. I've been there. You haven't. But if you are a transfer student and will not have transcripts, then when they tell you to not worry about it, your failure to get a written assurance that you will not have to retake classes will be at your own risk . .. and don't say you weren't warned.

Good luck my friend.

[HiShirlee]

With all the initials I am sometimes confused...what is the name of the school you are attending.

What is tuition? housing? WHO affiliated?

Thanks for any info. Shirlee