Thread: Advice, Please!!!

Heres the deal... I've already been accepted to AUA and I have an interview for ROSS on the 17th. I'm actually really hoping I get into ROSS, considering its one of the top 4 schools of the Caribb. But reading through these forums, man I've never seen students of their own university talking so much **** about how unhappy they are of their school (ROSS). Do you guys think I should accept ROSS's offer if I get in, or go to AUA??

What would you all do?

Thanks!

go to ross

Originally Posted by LGstudent

Heres the deal... I've already been accepted to AUA and I have an interview for ROSS on the 17th. I'm actually really hoping I get into ROSS, considering its one of the top 4 schools of the Caribb. But reading through these forums, man I've never seen students of their own university talking so much **** about how unhappy they are of their school (ROSS). Do you guys think I should accept ROSS's offer if I get in, or go to AUA??

What would you all do?

Thanks!

Definately ROSS!

Ross does have approval in all states. Does AUA?

I would make sure that Ross' clinical shortages are being addressed before going to Ross.

I have not attended any other medical school other than Ross, so I have nothing else with which to compare my experience. So far, however, I have endured many frustrations and I think they go beyond the simple difficulty inherent in studying medicine. Academic stress is one thing, and there is no doubt that the medical school curriculum is a challenge, but when you add to that the stresses of being involved with a dysfunctional organization staffed by a bunch of folks who could really give crap about you and whether you succeed or fail, and being situated in a third world country that makes the most inbred, rural, hick-infested corner of the US seem like bastion of urbane sophistication and cosmopolitanism, the effect is that of running a marathon with 20 pound weights strapped to your ankles.

Keep in mind also that the curriculum at Ross is presented on a more compressed schedule than other medical schools. It has become clear to me that the primary purpose of this feature of the Ross experience is to cram more opportunities to collect tuition payments from the students into the year, not necessarily to get you through the program in a more timely fashion. A significant number of capable students are forced to repeat a semester because one of their course grades was under the minimum passing score. These folks are not just screwing around either. They are dedicated students who were not given the opportunity to succeed the first time through a semester because the shortcomings of the program set up a situation where it was much more difficult to succeed than need be. This hasn't happened to me yet, but the feeling that one might have to repeat a semester is a common anxiety, and I don't place it beyond the realm of possibility for myself. So it might be wise to question the notion that one will get through Ross more quickly than through other medical programs.

Your fellow inmates... errr... classmates don't exactly help matters because they are subject to the same stresses and often respond by letting their more self serving and petty tendencies run amok. This leads to an inhospitable campus climate, where unless you suspend your integrity and start behaving poorly yourself, it is hard to get your day to day affairs accomplished. Now I am just in the preclinical years, but I can only imagine the sort of frustration these institutional tendencies would engender when their effects are extended into the vagaries of navigating the clinical years and beyond.

So ask yourself just how important your day-to-day happiness for the next four years is.

I am here, I am in debt, so I have little choice but to stick it through to the end, but I do wish I had taken a look at the other Caribbean options out there and had tried more diligently to be admitted to a US school. I was warned the same way I am warning you. Did I listen? well, you can see for yourself the answer to that question.


In summary, three important factors to consider:
1) Dominica is an unpleasant place to live
2) the pace of the curriculum makes an already difficult course of study even more difficult.
3) Ross is not run efficiently, and that leads to significant frustration and unhappiness among the students

Originally Posted by cavalletti

Ross does have approval in all states. Does AUA?

I would make sure that Ross' clinical shortages are being addressed before going to Ross.

Yes, Ross has approval in all 50 states. I hear AUA lost their sites, is this true that they are trying to build back up?

I know some people that left here to go there, one in particular just because and not because of failling. Because of this, one inparticular person upon hearing the news, contacted Dr. L to get back into Ross but she said she would not re-accept the student because of leaving beforehand. That sucks.

But yes, Ross has all 50 states. People just like to whine on here because it's a good vent. I'd do it but that's why I have my blog lol. Overall, I'm happy here although I can't wait till December when I say "adios!".

Goto the school you feel will help you as a student the most.

If you are a good student, it doesnt matter where you go.

If you need help, goto a school with better educators

From what I know of , AUA hasn't loss their clinical sites and they are trying to add on a new site at the rate of 1 per semester, I think. Anyway, you should do your research on both schools and see which one fits you best. Also, ask questions to students from both schools. Since answers will more than likely be one-sided, at least you'll have more than one perspective. Do a search on both forums. From what I read not all Ross students dislike it there. I know a girl going there and she says it keeps her busy but she seems to like it. At least that's what I could tell from the facebook photos . Anyway, try to make an informed decision but you might be in a crunch to do so. AUA wants their deposit 14 days after receiving your acceptance letter.

Originally Posted by Jezzielin

Yes, Ross has approval in all 50 states. I hear AUA lost their sites, is this true that they are trying to build back up?

I know some people that left here to go there, one in particular just because and not because of failling. Because of this, one inparticular person upon hearing the news, contacted Dr. L to get back into Ross but she said she would not re-accept the student because of leaving beforehand. That sucks.

But yes, Ross has all 50 states. People just like to whine on here because it's a good vent. I'd do it but that's why I have my blog lol. Overall, I'm happy here although I can't wait till December when I say "adios!".

Originally Posted by tno77

Goto the school you feel will help you as a student the most.

If you are a good student, it doesnt matter where you go.

If you need help, goto a school with better educators

Which school do you go to? Ross? In your opinion, does Ross have good educators?

I've already sent it my deposit to AUA and I've heard more good things about AUA than ROSS...but since Ross is one of the "big-4" it's making me wonder what would be wiser. Anyhoo ... thanks all for your advice, feel free to leave more if you have any, thanks!!

Antigua's Island is nicer, don't know about the school. I do know that students who fail here are accepted with open arms to AUA.
Can only speculate what that means. Go with your gut on this one.