Ok to be honest I am a very frequent reader to the forum. I try to read most of the posts to get a better sense of the school since I was accepted to the May 2008 class. However lately the posts have been all leaning towards the negative, from students getting attacked on the island, to the incompetence of the new dean, and lack of honestly among students, and poor professors. I applied to MUA thinking that it was a good school because of its relationship to SABA and its NY approval...residency matches etc. But seem like everything Ive been reading is bad...

so all in all...is this school still worth a shot? or should i not bother with the tuition money due in a week?? (ive also been accepted to AUA for Sept 2008).

i would like to add that the intention of starting this post is not to add controversy or draw debate but I am seriously worried and need to know more from the students.

I have to focus on my exams, so I will no longer be posting. It is very unfortunate a few students have taken it upon themselves to upset MUA, but now I have to focus on my exams..this is taking too much time away from my studies.

The new dean is trying his best to make rapid improvement in the school from top to bottom but things were fairly good even before his arrival. People don't necessarily like change hence the negative posts. This school is moving in a great direction and any new classes entering will be well served. The professors are excellent and have been gearing their teaching to shelf exams and the USMLE. The dean is one committed dude, no sugar coating, but compassionate and forthright and a great teacher himself. Coming here will not disappoint you. The new building will be ready with state of the art audio visual stuff and be a great place to learn. You can see the 3=4 names of the "negative posters" nuff said good luck and make the right choice come to MUA!

I agree, I'm very happy with MUA.

It is sad to see a very small number of students going out of their way to bash the school. Even when someone responds to their claims they will attack the person rather than the claims.

Also, there may be 1-2 people starting new accounts bashing the school trying to make their views seem more representative of the students.

If you take a look at my posts you will notice that I seem to question everysingle thing. But the truth of the matter is that everything being posted here is really hear say. I know a couple of people who tell me that they write stuff here just to mess with the people reading these things. I would suggest that you call the school and speak with the dean or assistant dean, they are very approachable people and would answer any questions you might have. Better yet, you can ask if they can put you in contact with the SGA (Student Government Association)president, he will really tell you what is real and what is not. That's why he is the president, very outspoken and will not tell you anything that's not true. I'm not sure if he can be reached through the SGA website. Good luck.

Its a real judgment call,
The sad truth is MUA is going through some transition process ever since the previous Dean and faculty left, and was taken over this new company which now owns both MUA and SMU. If you want my honest OPINION and i stress the word OPINION to you jackals who jump all over anyone that expresses a negative opinion about MUA. Don't come here, regardless of wether or not these negative comments are true or false, do you really want to go to a school where so many students seem so disenfranchised with the institution? or one that seems to be struggling in its efforts to make the school better. My advice to you is either spend another year in the states and due post-bacc program and try and get in to an American MD or DO school. If your really hell bent on coming to the Carribbean the only schools i can honestly recomend are St. Georges and Ross, while they too have there own ** they are more established schools, as well ad more stable learning environments then MUA. The only other school i might add to that list is St. Eustatius, they are a small up and coming school, and while they are young and somewhat unknown, i have heard many positive things about there faculty and administrations. The decision us ultimately yours to make, and it is an important one. If you have anymore questions PM regarding MUA or Carribe schools do not hesitate to contact me. Hope this helps

user can't play nice.

OK, you people who have bashed anything and everything you can think of from the previous Dean (who hasn't been her for over six months), to the library staff, to other students, to the unfortunate current Dean (who is just trying to clean up messes left for many different reasons), to the faculty, to the owners, to the locals, to the food, and many more, did you get the result you wanted?

I hope you sleep better at night.

Fact 1: Something goes wrong backhome - No Emotional support??? You are in medical school, if there is a problem, the school allows you to go back home, fix things up and come back. Who's shoulder are you looking to cry on? By the way, if you are referring to tuition, I don't know one North American school which will refund you 100% tuition on those basis. They all have tiers for refunds just as MUA does for withdrawing from courses.

Fact 2: Its amazing how, the 2nd most imp. fact is "DON1" is not a student...Really, i don't care!

Fact 3: You don't have a way to prove that but its ok...Again, stick to the point...Don't really care!

Fact 4: Lost clinical sites - Ok List all of them!

Fact 5: We have more students - Yes: because school will have a new building this year = better facilities to accomodate the # of students accepted. I do agree though, admin should have better prepration in terms of admitting students knowing when exactly building will be ready.

Fact 6: Staff here is rude??? You talked about one librarian whom maybe a student or a couple had problems with. Back in my undergrad, I had a problem with Parking officer...am I going to blame the whole university?

Fact 7: Dean lies to us??? Ok - give examples

Fact 8: Student are being mugged and robbed in town?? --> One student got robbed in town who has been here for over a year. Its definitely unfortunate for her and a sorry situation but this incidence has happened with one student not everyone. The dean and asst. dean did take action as discussed before. I guess, it can happen in any school/any country...I have lived here for over a year, this is the only one major thing I have heard about involving a student.

Fact 9: Students houses being repeatedly broken into?? I only hear you say that. Haven't heard from another student.

Fact 10: Majority classes do not reflect USMLE type questions in their testing? --> Which class are you referring to because all the ones I have been have had a clinical component and also now there are shelf exams @ the end of semester. Which school are you in?

Fact 11: MUA is more business and less school...Your opinion solely but yes, I do agree its a business. Which caribbean school isn't? I see it as a place which has given me an opportunity to become a doctor.

Fact 12: Mr. T looks at valuemd. So??? Actually, I am happy he does and thats why students feel he is taking positive actions

Fact 13: Teachers look here...So???

Fact 14: Owner has a signin name!! --> What is his sign in name?? Although i highly doubt it but would love to know.

Fact 15: Although you didn't # it - but Local people will not like you and like your money???
--> You get a service, you pay...I am sure you ask how much before agreeing. Its called business my friend. The island has its own economy and yes its expensive in some things and that is because its an island...Things have to be imported.
I have done my premed here + now been here over a year. Have dealt with many locals and the ones I didn't like I didn't deal with. Its very simple.

Mr. 3.4 GPA - Your last sentence about dealing with faculty and students and being as fake as possible gives a sense of the type of person you are...NOW THIS IS MY OPINION!!!

Good luck with your studying and By the way, i like those quotes from Abraham Lincoln - thats the only positive thing you said in your whole post.

All of these FACTs apply to any Caribbean medical school, just name it. Locals hate any student coming from US, no mater how polite you are. Everyone looks at you like an ATM machine. You will not find same quality of service in the Caribbean. Except for few professors (no school is exception) you will have to study on your own. Bottom line is if you really want to pay this price to become a doctor ? Then about any caribbean school will do