hope this helps

[Kirst]

i emailed st. matthew's, st. eustatius, st. james, saba, and windsor with just about all the questions that needed be addressed but poorly defined on their individual websites. i personally had no interest in the big-3s (SGU, AUC, Ross) as their matriculation size of 200 or more students each semester was enough of a turn-off for me, despite their solid track records and stability.

for the prospect IMGs puzzled about any of the above five schools, i hope the below information i obtained helps your research. somehow i feel at home here, knowing that there are others like myself just as lost and in need of assurance. it'd be wonderful to be of assistance for eachother along the same path to medicine.

please keep in mind that all the answers were provided by the school officials over email, and are completely unmodified at my end. i am unsure myself how authentic the information is, but let's hope that the schools were honest. i would appreciate your feedback if there are answers contrary or in par with the reality (please keep the rumors to minimum).

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questions emailed

1. How many students matriculate each semester (class size)?
2. A list of ACGME/LCME approved or "green book" teaching hospitals in USA affiliated with your school for core clinical rotations?
3. Are the 4th year electives/selectives done only in teaching hospitals in USA, or in general hospitals?
4. Is there opportunities to complete clinical rotations in UK or Canada? If so, which teaching hospitals?
5. Is there a medical school library?
6. Are the graduation ceremonies be held in USA?
7. Which states in USA approved your graduates for clinical rotation, residency, and licensure?
8. What do the tuition & fees cover?
9. Are there any student support organizations within the school?
10. What were the USMLE I, II, III, and CSA pass rates?
11. Are cadavers used for study? If so, what is the student-to-cadaver ratio?
12. Is your school approved for TERI's CanHELP program for financial assistance?
13. Is there any board examination review program offered in the basic sciences curriculum?
14. Would I be able to consult a current or former medical student(s) at your school?
15. What are the general statistics (average GPA, MCAT scores, age, sex, nationality, etc.) of amission?
16. Do the 1st/2nd year students receive any on-hands pre-clinical experience at the local hospitals?
17. Can the medical program be completed continuously? Or do students experience delay inbetween the curriculum transition, board exams, or clinical rotations? If so, what is the average time taken for graduation?

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answers received

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st. matthew's
(email replied the next day by dr. , vice-president.)

"Average class size September 75, January 50, May 35.

We have twenty eight affiliated teaching hospitals. The ones where the majority of students are located are Southwest in Atlanta, Harbour, St. Agnes, and Sheppart Pratt in Baltimore, Jackson Park, St. Anthony, and Michael Reese in Chicago, Florida Hospital in Orlando, Stepping Hill, Brighton General, and Whipps Cross in England.

Yes, we have clinical rotations now in Canada. Canadians get first choice however.

While you can complete up to 12 weeks of electives in non teaching hospitals we recommend even fewer. We have electives in over 34 state throughout the US.

All states but California, Kansas. New York does not permit a residency but does a licensure. We care currently in the late stage of approval in California.

The transcript grades are H/HP/P/F but we also keep a GPA for class rank.

SMU is approved for Canadian Federal loans in many Provinces and in Alberta for Provincial loans. We are also approved for CanHelp loans through TERI.

A board review is not incorporated into the Basic Science portion of the classes. California forbids this and thus we have eliminated this as part of the basic sciences. We are working on offering a review following basic sciences at the campus.

It is actually a 39 month program, however, their are some down times. For example, taking a board review, taking the boards, awaiting the board scores. You can normally expect to finish in 42-45 months realistically.

GPA of average admitted class 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. MCAT average 23, age 29, sex 60% male, nationality 90% US citizen or permanent resident, 10% Canadian or UK.

Second year in hospitals in Grand Cayman or in Maine if you take your second year there."

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st. eustatius
(email replied the same day by mr. , enrollment director.)

"60 students per term.

Graduation Ceremony is held once a year in the US (location varies).

Average GPA 3.0, MCAT scores not required, age range 21-58, 85-90% students from US & Canada.

all books during basic sciences and internet access in the school library are included in tuition and fees."


(email replied the next day by mr. ******, associate dean.)

"Our program currently works with over 100 hopsital in the US and we have ample clinicals in the UK (London, Hatfield, Bedford and others). We can also help with rotations in Canada as well. One of our graduataes was from Vancouver and did a majority of her work there in St. John's There would be opportunities for some students in the future there.

Residency can be had in all states except New York, Oklahoma and California. Licensure post residency can happen in all states except California. These things can change as we make our way through approval processes and in fact hope to add NY to the places for residency in the near future.

The campus has a very strong student gov. chapter and they are very active with the administration for the benefit of the sutdnets and campus curriculum.

We are approved by CanHelp and IEFC so you can obtain loans under our umbrella

It is always the goal to set up as many rotations in one geographic area and there are spots to do that both in the US, Canada and the UK. On average a student might transition three times during the program as it is designed.

We would be able to arrange eligibility for both the US and Canadian system. There would be some specific time lines to pay attention to but it would be very likely that you could take a residency in Canada or the US. The student from Vancouver matched this year in Saskatchwan University.

You will begin to incorporate clincal training in your third semester of the basic sciences and will work as part of the treatment team at the local hopsital. You will have advanced clinical skills compared to other programs like ours.

The average student completes the program in about 42 months especially when considering the preparation time for USMLE Step I and II

The student who matched in canada this year did the majority of clerkships in Canada with some electives in the US

The match in the US occures each March and positions begin the last week of June first week of July each year.

If you have no intent of studying in the US system of becoming qualified for the US system you would not be required to sit for the USMLE Exams. If you wish to do any part of your training here even as little as one week of clinicals you will be required to sit for Step I first. This process of eligibility will be determined with each individual and the process and timelines will be discusses depending on those determinations.

I would be pleased to provide any other information that might make you comfortable in applying to ur program.

Make it a great day!"

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st. james
(email replied the next day by dr. , president.)

"Though some of your questions are quite reasonable Please be advised that we do not have the time to write the kind of detailed answers required.
You may call (and some one will be happy to discuss your questions and concerns."

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saba
(email replied 8 days after by ms. , registrar.)

"We have 100% placement for core rotations at affiliated hospitals in the US, Canada and abroad. However, electives are left up to the student to find their own, since they are in the process of seeking their specialty for a residency position.

SABA University is approved for residency and licensure in all states with the exception of California. However, some states have restrictions for clinicals. Generally, we encourage students to contact state licensure boards to find their requirements for a state they are interested in obtaining a license.

The Kaplan review is part of the 5th semester curriculum and the pass rate for Step I is 84% and closer to 90% for Step II. The pass rate for the CSA is 95%.

Students spend 20 months on the island with 2 weeks of break in between semesters. Once they finish their basic sciences, generally they take a 3 months LOA to prepare for the USMLE and will be scheduled for clerkships upon taking the board. Students generally complete their entire MD program within a 40 period.

Students are required to be flexible during their clinicals and may travel 2 or 3 times to complete their clerkships. During your fifth semester, the clinical coordinator will interview each student and will try to accommodate students in their geographic preference. We do not guarantee clinical placement in the area of your choice, however, we will certainly try to place you in your preference. Over the past two years, we have had several students match in Canada.

During the 4th & 5th semesters on the island, students will be assigned a patient and will be on call at the local hospital. This will certainly give them some clinical experience prior to clinical
rotations.

The average GPA of accepted students is 3.0 and somewhat stronger in the sciences. The average MCAT ranges from 23-25. September is the most competitive semester, therefore it is more difficult to obtain acceptance to the fall semester. "

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windsor
(email replied 2 days after by

"10-25 STUDENTS COME OUT OF EACH BASIC AND CLINICAL SCIENCE SEMESTER. WE DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 35 STUDENTS PER SEMESTER STUDENT FACULTY RATIO IS 4 TO 1 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 25-35

WE ARE SORRY BUT WE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE HOSPITALS AS STUDENTS IN THE PAST STARTED CALLING THE HOSPITALS AND BOTHERING THE ADMIN. SO WE DO NOT RELEASE THE NAMES. WE HAVE ENOUGH HOSPITALS AND ROTATIONS IF THAT IS YOUR CONCERN. HOW EVER YOU CAN SPEAK TO ANY OF OUR CLINICAL STUDENTS ON APPOINTMENT

YES THE LIBRARY IS OPEN 9.00 AM TO 12.00 PM EXCEPT SUNDAY 9.00 AM TO 4.00 PM

WINDSOR DOES ITS GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN ALLENTOWN PA WHERE THE WINDSOR US CORPORATE OFFICE IS LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES

EACH STATE HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS. MOST STATES EXCEPT NEW YORK, TEXAS AND FEW MORE HAVE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS LIKE PASSING USMLE PRIOR TO CLINICAL ROTATIONS. YOU MUST CHECK ON YOUR OWN PRIOR TO APPLYING TO WINDSOR. WE ARE ATTACHING THE PHYSICIANS STATE LICENCING REQUIREMENTS KNOWN TO BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE.

NO OFFICIAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED YET BY WINDSOR. THERE ARE AMERICAN, CANADIAN, INTERNATIONAL UN OFFICIAL STUDENT BODIES

80% PASS RATE AND 100% RESIDENCY RATE. ALL OUR STUDENTS WHO APPLIED TO RESIDENCY THIS YEAR MATCHED. ( SURGERY-TENNESSE, EDIATRICS-NEVADA, INTERNAL MEDICINE-OHIO, INTERNAL MEDICINE-TEXAS, ETC ETC

YES ALL OUR CADAVERS COME FROM NEW YORK. 5-10 :1

WEEKLY AND SEMESTER EXAMS: A, B, C GRADES)

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR TERRI AND EXPECT WITHIN THIS MONTH. APPROVED BY MANITOBA PROVINCIAL LOANS

CLINICAL ROTATIONS CANNOT BE GURANTEED IN ONE LOCATION. SCHOOL TRIES TO PLACE IN ONE LOCATION. STUDENTS WHO WISH TO DO ROTATIONS IN UK ARE WELCOME BUT WITH THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF WINDSOR

APPLICATION FOR MD PROGRAM TO WINDSOR IS EVALUATED ON MANY FACTORS, THERE IS NO ONE FACTOR, MCAT IS OPTIONAL AS ST. KITTS DOES NOT MANDATE AND RECOGNIZE MCAT OF USA. ALL AGES AND NATIONALITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 70 WEEKLY TESTS DURING BASICS SCIENCES AND 5 SEMESTER ENDING EXAMS, COMPLETION OF HISTORY TAKING SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS COURSE PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO US HOSPITALS, MANDATORY USMLE ATTENDANCE OF COURSE WORK CONDUCTED BY WINDSOR AT PHILADELPHIA, SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ALL CLINICAL ROTATIONS WITH GOOD EVALUATIONS, COMPLETION OF CLINICAL SCIENCES EXAMS, COMPLETION OF WIN ASSIGNMENTS, MANDATORY 90 % ATTENDANCE IN BASIC AND 100 % ATTENDANCE IN CLINICASLS.

YES AT LOCAL JNF HOSPITAL STUDENNTS CAN GET PRECLINICAL EXPERIENCE

THIS IS A 7 YEAR OLD SCHOOL. NEVER THERE WAS A DELAY FOR GRADUATION

WINDSOR IS APPROVED BY GMC BUT STILL MUST TAKE PLAB

CANADA DOES NOT ALOW MORE THAN 12 WEEKS ROTAtions. STUDENTS WHO WISH TO PRACTICE IN CANADA MUST COMPLETE CANADIAN EXAMS

YES CABLE MODE INTERNET ACESS AND 20 HRS A DAY

AS ON NOW WITH OR WITHOUT USMLE-1 WINDSOR PLACES THEM IN CLINICALS TO UK AND IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE."

[DashingMD]

Well , Thank U Very Much For Sharing So Good Information With All Of Us. Keep Telling All About Further Information U Have Specially About St James Cause They Didnt Seem To Reply .

[Conway]

Please also note that the original post is from 2003. It is now almost 2007.

[microphage]

thats like a billion valuemd years ago