mexico vs caribbean

[claudinha]

I am confused and am in need of your advice.
I applied to: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Ross University, and American University of the Caribbean.
It seems to me (or at least that is what I have read) that the best foreign school is St. George's University, however, I find it a bit too expensive.
Out of the schools I have applied to, which do you think is the best for a student who plans to return to the US?
Why is UAG longer than Caribbean schools, does that make it better? I speak Spanish, so that is not a problem for me, but is it because of the 2 yrs in spanish that not as many Americans attend there?
Why is it that Caribbean schools are so much shorter?
Is there another foreign school that is better than these three that you recommend applying to (saba or any others)?
I would like to start in Jan and I am just trying to make the right choice.
Thanks for all of your help...it's much appreciated!!!!

[MikeM]

Hi, I will try to answer your question as clearly as I can. The schools in the Carribean (AUC, SGU, ROSS) are all 4 years in duration like the US medical schools. Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico is 5 years or 6 years depending on the route you take. Most students wishing to practice medicine in the US will elect the 5 year program for a couple of reasons. One it is shorter, and two the fifth year is geared to prepare students for the US system of medicine. The fifth year is called the Fifth Pathway Route and involves a year of supervised clinical training at New York Medical College's affliliated hospitals. I believe there is Fifth Pathway program in Puerto Rico as well, however there are some additional requirements. After the completing the Fifth Pathway Program, you can apply for the Match. The 6 year route is less traveled and is called the ECFMG route. Traditionally, medical students attending medical school in Mexico must complete a 1 year internship or internado after their 4th year. Then after completing the internado, you must do 1 year of social service in Mexico, all amounting to 6 years. If you do the 6 year route, you must obtain ECFMG certification before applying to the Match. This is why this is called the ECFMG route. The Fifth Pathway in NYMC will serve as your internado if you choose this route. You can visit http://www.uag.edu/medicine/med7.htm and www.fifthpathway.com. These sites do a good job of explaining the routes to licensure. Overall, the reason the Big Three are 4 years in duration and not 5 or 6 like UAG is the fact that you do not do internado and social service in the Big Three. There are many reasons why one would choose going to school in Mexico vs. the Carribean vice versa. When choosing a foreign med school, most would agree to go to the one that has licensing eligibility in all 50 States, good records of board (Step I and II) scores, and good match statistics. The big 3 (AUC, SGU, and ROSS) and UAG demonstrates these qualities. I will be attending UAG in August 2005 and chose UAG since I want to become fluent in Spanish. This will be helpful later in clinical practice. If you already have some degree of fluency in Spanish, you are in good shape if you choose to attend UAG. Hope this helps.

[claudinha]

A friend who went to UAG told me that with UAG there are more options involved, since they have hospital training of their own. He also told me that when you pass Step 1 of the USMLE at a Caribbean school you have to arrange your last two years of training yourself, which makes things real complicated. Additionally, if you don't pass STEP 1 the first time around, or the second, or the third... You just sit around for months studying for that exam. On the contrary to this, with school like UAG, if God forbid you don't pass the first time around, you can continue to finish med school (since they have their own hospital) and study for Step 1 at the same time. Basically he said that with a caribbean school, you have no other options and just mainly rely on passing step 1 in order to get ahead. On the other hand a different person told me that if you attend a Caribbean School you are better off, since you spend more time in the US and less time in the Caribbean. He also said that caribbean schools are for-profit schools that are patterned after US schools, so they therefore gear you better for coming back. Wouldn't it better for someone to spend more time in the US as opposed to spending more time outside of the US?
I thank you for you info....so I guess the big 3 and UAG are all good selections. It's crazy because I still am not sure what's best for me. I speak spanish fluently, since my family is from Chile, so that wouldn't be my reason to go. As for living I would rather go to Mexico, since there is a bit more culture there, but that's not my main interest either. I also like the idea of spending 2 yrs in the Caribbean and then spending the rest of the time in the US. I don't know...I have heard so many things and feel really confused. I want the best education with the best possibilities (like everyone else)!!!!
Well thanks again for the info....
Congrats on getting into UAG....who knows maybe we will see each other there!!!

[levator]

I am confused and am in need of your advice.
I applied to: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Ross University, and American University of the Caribbean.
It seems to me (or at least that is what I have read) that the best foreign school is St. George's University, however, I find it a bit too expensive.
Out of the schools I have applied to, which do you think is the best for a student who plans to return to the US?
Why is UAG longer than Caribbean schools, does that make it better? I speak Spanish, so that is not a problem for me, but is it because of the 2 yrs in spanish that not as many Americans attend there?
Why is it that Caribbean schools are so much shorter?
Is there another foreign school that is better than these three that you recommend applying to (saba or any others)?
I would like to start in Jan and I am just trying to make the right choice.
Thanks for all of your help...it's much appreciated!!!!

hello, this might be a biased opinion but AUC is a good school in my opinion.

i am a 5th semester student about to leave the island of st. maarten. my time here has been great. the basic sciences are 20 months (5 semesters) and the clinical rotations are 20 months as well. this does not include any time taken off to study for the USMLE step I. I dont know anything about the other schools you mentioned so i cannot offer any signigicant differences btw the schools. AUC has licensed physicians in every state in the US and has clinical sites both in the states, england and ireland. to ensure that AUC students are prepared for the boards, they are all enroled in the Kaplan review course during the 5th semester and the students' progress is checked by taking the shelf exams for each subject.

hope this helps. if you have any q's, let me know

later,

[wolfvgang22]

Is there another foreign school that is better than these three that you recommend applying to (saba or any others)?
I would like to start in Jan and I am just trying to make the right choice.
Thanks for all of your help...it's much appreciated!!!!

I wouldn't say that Saba is any better, or any worse than the "Big 3". Just different.
It's probably the most well-known and respected of the newer caribbean schools, based on it's track record of solid USMLE step 1 scores (>90%) and the fact that many grads have been licensed throughout the U.S. Saba has approval in NY, and is in the process of gaining CA approval. This last step will make Saba students just as widely licensable as AUC, SGU, and Ross students, but bear in mind it hasn't happened quite yet.

Outside of CA approval, IMHO the main difference between Saba and the so-called "Big 3" is that Saba is a small school, and there is no perception that Saba "weeds out" students. That perception exists with some of the larger schools. There is also no perception that availablity of U.S. clinicals is limited at Saba, unlike elsewhere. The island of Saba is reportedly nicer than Dominica (Ross) and Grenada (SGU), but not as nice as St. Martin (AUC).
I'll may get flamed for saying that stuff, but, again, it's just my opinion. Take what you like, ignore the rest.
Good luck!

[MikeM]

Hi claudinha:

In regards to your last post regarding being able to finish med school at UAG without passing the USMLE I, this is no longer true. I think that UAG changed their policy regarding promotion into the clinical phase of the program. If you are a student in UAG's international program and you do not pass the USMLE I after the basic sciences, you will not be allowed to progress into the clinical phase of the program. So passing Step I is definitely a requirement not only for graduation, but also for promotion into the clinical phase. Hope this clarifies.

[claudinha]

Thanks for the info about UAG, so basically it's pretty the same when comparing it to the big 3 Caribbean schools. If so, that pretty much clarify's it all...
I have a option of completing the program in 4 yrs or going to Mexico and completing in 5/6 yrs.
So then my next question is...why do people choose Mexico over the Caribbean, which has a shorter program? Is it to learn the language? It's great to know and actually very much needed, but is there anything else that separates these schools?

[jiveturkey]

i was deciding between uag and saba. Your decision needs to really come down to... what do YOU want.

Do you want to have the ability to get through school quicker.(i'm not asking your age, but my age played a role in my decision). Saba's curriculm is a 40 month program, not 4 years. literally a 3 year 4 month program, which is the same as a 4 year program, just done all year round.

How big of a class do you want to be in? the big 3 usually has well over 100 students/semester(sgu and ross has close to 300/semester)
saba only excepts between50-60 students/semester.

How much money do you want to spend?
uag, sgu, auc, ross are well over 150000 to attend. Saba is around 130000 (if you have a family).

What kind of education do you want? I think class size has a lot to do with this decision. Also, how much hands on training do you get during basics. I leaned toward saba because from my research it focused more on academics and passing the step I of the boards than mexico. Let's face it. If you don't pass, you cant play. But i did hear uag recently revised their prep for the boards.

What kind of environment do you want to do your basics in?
uag is in a large metro city with many distractions for the less disciplined student. Saba has nothing but studying... and the occassional scuba lesson and/or sailing.

It comes down to, again, what do YOOOUUUU want.
late
jives

[MikeM]

Hi again:

It's great to see that you are doing alot of research into picking the best medical school for you. I agree with jiveturkey. That is the key, picking the school that best suits you. Since the Big Three and UAG all are credible foreign schools (good records of board passing rates, licensure capabilities in all 50 States, and residency placements) and since these schools can amount to you getting your MD degree, the final decision as to what school you pick rests upon your personal preferences and needs. I have not applied to any schools in the Big Three so I am not qualified to comment on those schools and their application processes. However there are some obvious similarities and differences. One similarity between all of these schools is the privilage to take out Federal Loans.

Here are "some" differences between UAG and the Big Three...

UAG
1. Learning Spanish
2. Good Tuition Rates (I think around $ 17,500 yearly, excluding living, but living expenses can be reasonable I heard)
3. Living in a Big City with alot of conveniences similar to the US (eg Wal Mart, KFC, Mc Donalds, Etc.)
4. Early exposure to patients in the hospital/clinic setting via the Program of Medicine in the Community

Big Three

1. Shorter Time to earn MD Degree (4 yrs vs. 5 or 6 at UAG)
2. All clinical rotations completed in US or UK
3. Nice environment (beaches, etc) for relaxing when not studying
4. Newer classrooms and technologies

I'll leave the rest of the research up to you. Another piece of advise is to talk to grads and students from each of the schools you wish to attend (Call the admissions offices of these schools and they should be able to hook you up with grads or students from their school). Good Luck

[claudinha]

Thanks everyone for all the help...great info. Actually I have just one last question:
Isn't it true that in some states it is required for a student to complete their 3rd yr of clinical training in the parent instition, in order to get licensing? UAG Medical School has it’s own clinics as well as its’ own teaching hospital, so they don't have this problem. However, what about students who attend med school in the Caribbean...how do they do it? Does anyone know which states do or do not require this?