Advantages of Each trimester.

[africanchild]

Hey all, could someone please tell me the advantages of attending a Caribbean medical school in January vs. May vs. September? Thanks very much. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[Salama]

Starting in January gives you a few more months to study for the USMLE Step 1 after the 2 years of basic sciences, so you get a vaca, study time, take the test. Starting in August, you dont get much time to study so you have to (you should be doing this as a Jan beginner as well) study while in school. Not sure of the advantages of a May start...

Also, Jan and May are usually less competitive compared to Aug.

[africanchild]

Thank you very much for your help. Which school did you go to?

[Ubuntu]

Aug Start:
Pro: This is when your counterparts in the US start...so comparable time table
Con: No extra time....if you need to retake a sem or need more time to pass step 1 then you may miss your original match year. Most competitive to get accepted...largest class size

Jan Start:
Pro: Less competitive, opportunity to match with the Aug class before you or the aug class after...althought it is really tough to match with the one before
Con: Very little time for any errors/scheduling issues if you want to match with the aug class before you...but an excess of time if you are matching with the aug class after you...so long that you may run out of your 6month grace period on fed loans

May start:
Pro: less competitive, much like the jan class. Enough time in case you faulter to still match your original match year. You can take some extra time to study for step 1, 2ck, 2cs compared to the aug class...usually a smaller class depending on schools.
Cons:...can't think of any? but i'm a little biased since I'll be starting in may

[citizenimg]

Aug Start:
Pro: This is when your counterparts in the US start...so comparable time table
Con: No extra time....if you need to retake a sem or need more time to pass step 1 then you may miss your original match year. Most competitive to get accepted...largest class size

Jan Start:
Pro: Less competitive, opportunity to match with the Aug class before you or the aug class after...althought it is really tough to match with the one before
Con: Very little time for any errors/scheduling issues if you want to match with the aug class before you...but an excess of time if you are matching with the aug class after you...so long that you may run out of your 6month grace period on fed loans

May start:
Pro: less competitive, much like the jan class. Enough time in case you faulter to still match your original match year. You can take some extra time to study for step 1, 2ck, 2cs compared to the aug class...usually a smaller class depending on schools.
Cons:...can't think of any? but i'm a little biased since I'll be starting in may

Dude I'm always so impressed by how much you already know going in to med school, given how much time and effort you appear to have put into this I am positive you will do really well and make an excellent physician one day. Keep it up!

[Ubuntu]

Dude I'm always so impressed by how much you already know going in to med school, given how much time and effort you appear to have put into this I am positive you will do really well and make an excellent physician one day. Keep it up!

ha, thanks man! I'm a big fan of knowing what i'm getting myself into...which I also think should be a pre req for going to the carib....or outside the US/CDN for an MD, period. I think it's helped alot having a job where I have a lot of downtime at the computer...plus wanting to know EVERYTHING before I get myself into massive debt!

[citizenimg]

ha, thanks man! I'm a big fan of knowing what i'm getting myself into...which I also think should be a pre req for going to the carib....or outside the US/CDN for an MD, period. I think it's helped alot having a job where I have a lot of downtime at the computer...plus wanting to know EVERYTHING before I get myself into massive debt!

I totally agree, I kinda went in blind and wish I had known more. I decided last minute to apply, got in and flew out a month later. Given how much you know you will be leaps and bounds ahead of others who don't do the research.
Stay on top of things and you will be okay. Sure at times you will feel a little like you're swimming against the tide, but don't let the negativity get you down! I'm interested to see how things go for you, jut hope I can find the time to get on here every once in a while once intern year starts! (that's if intern year starts for me )

Ha, okay, back to topic!

[Ubuntu]

Yeah for sure....I think i'm going to pull a slevit and blog it up through the process! If I get it up and running here i'll shoot you a PM with the link or link it through my profile.

I totally agree, I kinda went in blind and wish I had known more. I decided last minute to apply, got in and flew out a month later. Given how much you know you will be leaps and bounds ahead of others who don't do the research.
Stay on top of things and you will be okay. Sure at times you will feel a little like you're swimming against the tide, but don't let the negativity get you down! I'm interested to see how things go for you, jut hope I can find the time to get on here every once in a while once intern year starts! (that's if intern year starts for me )

Ha, okay, back to topic!