Urgent!! Need Professional Help About ROSS and SGU.

[Ari F]

Hey...yes i know the topic of ROSS vs SGU is not a new one. Ive been following these forums and know that its been spoken about several hundred times. However, i got a unique situation...and i need PRO help only.

First off...i got accepted to ROSS and im suppose to be attending this Sept. However, recently SGU accepted me, but not for August, rather Jan(They claimed they were out of room for AUGUST).

Heres the problem. I know both schools are good. But i need to know whether SGU is worth the wait especially when they want to place me in the ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. Is it really that much better then ROSS? A foriegn school is a Foriegn school? Does it really make that much of a difference. I know ROSS is more accredited and thus had TEXAS under its belt. I also know that SGU gets better residencies. Ross also has that cut off grade, in which you must repeat the whole term. If SGU would have accepted me for SEPT i would have went. But since they want me for JAN, i have to debate whether giving up another year (bc if i graduate in JAN i have to wait untill sept to get a a residency)is worth it.

If anybody can help me weigh the pros and cons, at the same time providing me with evidence of residencies for both ROSS and SGU i would greatly appreciate it. Time is running out..i need to know by TOMORROW!

Thanks

[McGillGrad]

I will come back with a more detailed post, but the difference between Ross and SGU is not significnt enough to give up a year of your studies unless you truly believe that you will gain something from an academic improvement program.

[Ari F]

Thanks for you help. Im looking foward to the more detailed message.

Ari

[McGillGrad]

I can definitely see why you are soliciting an outsider's opinion. It is a hard decision to make when you are not entirely clear on what, if any, opportunities you are foregoing by choosing one or the other.

The foremost thing to keep in mind is that your performance in medical school will overshadow any differences between medical schools (be they North American or solid Caribbean schools) but it would be naive to assume that the school has no influence on what doors are open and what doors will be closed in your future.

Seeing that you are choosing to attend either Ross or SGU means that you are on a 'relatively' even playing field in reference to 'most' residencies in the US. Now that you are assured that your talents will most likely land the residency spot that you are qualified for, time is at issue.

You are going to be paying in excess of $150,000 and it would be in your best interest to start working as early as possible to start paying back those loans. Even if you have the money to subsidize some or all of your education, accruing valuable experience is just as important as a steady paycheck. With an extra year under your belt (by choosing Ross) you will have more experience and less debt.

On the other hand, if you feel that you are young enough and eager enough to use an extra year to gain the academic skills and stamina necessary for a medical education then that extra year means nothing in the long-run. Thus, ensuring a successful medical education (i.e. high board scores) by building up solid academic skills might be worth the extra time. And one thing that is for sure is that the time will pass so quickly that you might not even notice the difference.

On to residency:

Ross 2005 List: http://www.rossmed.edu/Residency_App...pts_.html#2005

SGU 2005 List:
http://www.sgu.edu/website/sguwebsit...ySpecialty.htm

As you can see, both schools place students heavily in IM, FP and OB/GYN, but there are many 'competitive' spots taken. This means both offer opportunity as far as your skills will take you.

You will not lose anything by choosing one over the other and you will not even notice the extra year if you choose to wait but this decision will come down to two things.

First, ask yourself whether you are ready to jump into an intensive medical education where students are not coddled (as they are in US/Canada). You sink or swim on your own merits without much support.

Second, depending on your age and attitude, can you see yourself waiting one more year to achieve your goal or will one year mean nothing to you tewnty years down the line?

Depending on your honest answers (to yourself), you will choose the right school because in all honesty it is a win-win situation for you.

[Ari F]

Ok, so are you saying..that the difference between residency placements between SGU and Ross are not significant?. Another words...do they get reletively the same residencies? Bc i beleive this is the main issue. I dont want to bite myself later saying "I could have gotten a better residency at SGU"


Thanks for your help again.

Ari

[McGillGrad]

Originally Posted by Ari F

Ok, so are you saying..that the difference between residency placements between SGU and Ross are not significant?. Another words...do they get reletively the same residencies? Bc i beleive this is the main issue. I dont want to bite myself later saying "I could have gotten a better residency at SGU"


Thanks for your help again.

Ari

There is no significant advantage in residency placement between the two. These two particular schools will allow you to land the same quality of spots.

[mario]

no one will care or even ask you what school you came from...foriegn or usa! dont believe the hipe! many agents and students who work for them push that sort of thinking to create preference for their school or to damage the reputation of their competitors. just go wherever you get it.

no one cares about anything other then usmle scores. i hope it helps you!