Hi all, heres the complete chat session! its loooong but packed with important information!!



Saira> Hi!
<fallon> I finished college here in Canada and am now in university. If
I transfer my non prereq courses from college to university will
these credits still count toward the 90 credits I need to apply?
<fallon> hi Saira
<Elizabeth-Admissions> yes, as long as the university counts the
credits we will accept them towards the 90
<Saira> I am in my third year and want to apply to Saba, but my
average is not the best.
<Saira> I would like to know approximately the range of GPA's you
accept
<fallon> great! we are semestered so a regular course would be 3
credits?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Do your grades improve over time?
<Saira> yes
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The average student overall GPA that we
accept is a 3.2/4.0, however this is not a cutoff score.
<Saira> thanks!
<fallon> What`s the average MCAT for admittance? At what GPA are
you required to take the MCAT?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> yes, one semester is typically 3 credits
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We require the MCAT from applicants with
community college science coursework, required science
coursework older than 5 years, or with low grades (Cs) in science
courses.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Since we do not require the MCAT from
everyone, it could be misleading you give an average MCAT
score. We look for scores of 8 or better in the physical and
biological science MCAT subtests. However, these are not cutoff
scores.
<fallon> bear with me lol i have been reading the value md site for
ages and found a bunch of questions there i found interesting... i
hope i don't over do it
<Elizabeth-Admissions> okay, as long as the questions stay
general and regard admissions, go ahead!
<fallon> thanks!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> By general, I mean they dont pertain to an
indivual/unique situation
<fallon> Are there standardized patients? How much clinical
experience do we get before we finish our 5 semesters?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We dont use standardized patients, our
students get clinical experience on the island at the local hospital
<Elizabeth-Admissions> they host community health fairs and
screening activities for the island residents
<Saira> Is there financial aid offered? If so, how much is the max
<fallon> i'll do my best would it be ok to share the info with other
perspective students? theres just a lot of misinformation out
there and some real answers would be great
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We currently offer credit based loans, the
maximum more than covers tuition and living expenses but the
exact number depends on your credit
<Reactant> Hello
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Feel free to share the information with
other, its always good to straighten out rumors!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> questions?
<fallon> i know!! lol and there soo much info you don't know what to
think
<Reactant> I was wondering how many people would be in a class
<fallon> What is the best loan plan for Canadian students? Bank
loans?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> we accept approximately 75-80/semester
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Canadians should apply first to their
provincial loan programs (OSAP, etc.) because they have an
excellent interest rate
<Nman85> Hello everyone
<fallon> hi!
<Reactant> I'm confused, your brouchure states that Saba has a "small class size"
<Reactant> hi Nman85
<fallon> then canlearn and bank loans?
<fallon> the other schools have MUCH larger class sizes... 80 is
pretty small
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Dont be confused, 75-80 is incrediable
small for an international medical school. Some other big name
Caribeen med schools take in over 450/semester
<Reactant> wow, okay thank u.
<Saira> how many applications (approximately) do you get per entry
semester?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Depends on the semester, we get over
1500 applicants every year
<Elizabeth-Admissions> and we only have about 240 seats
<fallon> How are the latest pass rates for step 1 and 2?What is the
current attrition rate?
<Nman85> How is life on the island of SABA?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Our attrition rate has been under 5% for
the last 10 years. Our first time step 1 pass rate is over 90% with
an overall pass rate of 98%. Step II is over 85%.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Those are competitive with US schools
<Saira> So is there a semester where you get less applicants than
others?
<Reactant> I heard a there are now two hillside residences. Is there any difference between the two?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> September is the most popular followed by Jan and May
<Reactant> sorry for the bombardment of questions
<fallon> lol i am worse then u ractant lol
<Reactant> =)
<Elizabeth-Admissions> No problem! There are two Hillside dorms one is slightly newer than the other. Hillside two also has full stoves vs. the cooktops in Hillside I.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Other questions?
<Reactant> oh wonderful. and both have a full fridge? i love cooking.
<Nman85> As far are dorms are considered, are there any insects or bug problems within the dorms?
<fallon> i hope you are there the same time i am reactant lol
<Nman85> when are all you entering into SABA?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Yes, both have a kitchen combined living room with TVs and full fridges
<fallon> how is the current housing situation on SABA? i know first semester is in rez...
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Saba has very few bugs compared to other tropical islands and the US
<Elizabeth-Admissions> No bug problems
<Reactant> yes i had read in the boards that matthews has cockroachs and hillside has ants. Dont know the vailitdy of those statements.
<DN> Hi Elizabeth. Do you have an approximation of how many positions are still open for September 2008? I'm sorry if i'm repeating any questions. I've just arrived
<fallon> and its a GORGIOUS safe island
<Saira> do you provide/look for residencies for us? or do we have to look for it ourselves?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Students live in the dorm the 1st semester. After that our housing coordinator will help you arrange housing. Accomdations range from one bedroom studios to full houses.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> I have never heard an actual complain for a real student about the bugs, but I dont live on Saba.
<Reactant> i was wondering if students have the option of staying in the dorm after 2nd semester.
<Nman85> yeah i heard SABA is a beautiful island..
<Reactant> *2nd
<Nman85> but i guess people don't have too much time to enjoy it
<fallon> check out youtube for a ton of great vids on SABA
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Residency happens after graduation, its a completely seperate issue. You decide where you want to apply for residency and we provide the paperwork and help you through the process.
<Reactant> from what i heard, there isnt much to do on the island other than hiking, scuba diving, eating at the restaurants, gym and the occasional soccer game
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Students are not permitted to stay in the dorm after the 1st semester
<Nman85> Are clinical rotations ( 3rd and 4th year) available in the UK?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> If you want to practice in the US and be eligible for licensure in all 50 states, we recommend doing all rotations in the US.
<Reactant> I had heard that hillside provides bath robes and towels, is that true?
<DN> Can electives be done in Canada?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> They do provide some linen's (sheets, etc.) but I'm not sure about towels, sorry!
<DN> Is it a maximum of 12 weeks a year?
<fallon> but SABA had a lot of close ties to Canada right? if i wanted to do my rotations in Canada after i finish there it won't be too difficult?
<Nman85> What semester is everyone here entering?
<fallon> oops dn copied lol
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Elective rotations are recommended for student who want to practice in Canada, the maximum time depends on the province and the hospital
<Reactant> that okay, are pillows included? i was just wondering incase i need to pack it.
<DN> Are there many positions left for September 2008?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We are approved the association of Physicians and Surgeons in NS, so that contibutes to our high sucess rate getting student back into Canada
<Reactant> hurray!
<fallon> i know not quite admissions but... What is the best, most reliable way to get things shipped to the island?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> I'm not sure about pillows, call the office on Monday Reactant and I will find out for you.
<Reactant> okay i will, thanks Elizabeth
<fallon>a friend who was interning there from the UK said there was a SABA grad also interning there
<Elizabeth-Admissions> there are a few different shipping services, depends on the item. Accepted students get an informational sheet with their packet that provides lots of shipping information.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We have lots of students doing rotations in Canada, they are not a problem.
<DN> Do you have any tips about the interview for admissions?
<fallon> you mentioned college students applying needing an MCAT, I did a chemical lab tech 2 year program here in Canada, would credits from that degree count towards application? for example would i need to still do 3 years at university in order to apply?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We read everything, so be prepared to answer Qs about your personal statement, transcripts, etc. Make sure you know about the island and the school.
<fallon> theres a great thread on valuemd about interviews... a ton of great info DN
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Depends were you did the program and were it's accrediated, I'd be happy to check into it for you on Monday Fallon, just send me an email at saba@valuemd.com *
<DN> Thank you
<DN> Just trying to be as prepared as i can be
<Reactant> should i bring a rain coat? i hear it rains a lot in Saba.
<fallon> great, thanks! i am in my first year at uni and liking it, GPA 3.88 , college marks were in the b range... would my college marks impact my university GPA when i apply if i did the full 90 crdits at Ryerson University??
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Understandable, getting into med school is a big deal!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> It does rain a lot, so bring a rain coat and sweatshirts to the anatomy lab
<Reactant> should i bring scrubs as well?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> to answer your question we will look at both your college and Ryerson marks
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Yes, you need scrubs
<fallon> btw great job dealing with alll these questions Elizabeth! soo helpful!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> thank you, your very welcome
<Elizabeth-Admissions> other questions?
<fallon> i hear the admin staff at SABA are very helpful, true? I have heard horror stories about other schools...
<DN> It seems SABA has a very large proportion of Canadians compared to other Carribbean schools. Do you know why and what % of the class are Canadians?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Absolutely true! We make a real point to make the applicants and students priority one.
<Reactant> we appreciate that
<fallon> this forum obviously being proof of that! thanks!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The incoming classes are over 45% Canadian, the highest of the "Big 4" Caribeen schools. This is mainly b/c we have the best track record getting students back into Canada.
<fallon> so I assume the majority of students go on to family med?
<fallon> ye, i hear that everywhere... p.s. also the lowest tuition
<Elizabeth-Admissions> About 70% go into Family Med, but for a
variety of reasons. Many of them want to work with Docs without Borders, etc. so Family Med makes sense.
<Reactant> is that because in Canada the residency for Family med is 2 years while US residency is 3 years, so if Canadian come back to practice in Canada, the residency will seem equivalent?
<DN> My brother is working with a PGY resident in Anesthesiology who graduated from SABA..so it's possible!
<fallon> its 3 years in US? wow
<Reactant> whereas other residencies programs in US are shorter length span than Canadians?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Yup, residency is 3 years in the US
<fallon> my goal actually is family med but who knows what will strike my fancy when i actually am in rotations...
<Nman85> I'm thinking internal medicine currently
<Elizabeth-Admissions> that’s the whole point of mandatory core rotations, so you can sample the different areas and see what you like.
<Reactant> ya, i think at this point its too premature to have our heart set on a specific residency
<DN> When you are doing your rotations..is it possible to do it at the same location? or will we be moving around a lot?
<Nman85> good question DN
<fallon> so if i do my rotations in Canada what happens if i one day want to practice in the US?
<DN> I don't think you can do all your rotations is Canada..i think in Ontario you can do a maximum of 12 weeks of electives
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We require that students be willing to move about 2-3 times during core rotations. You can do them all in one place but you're more likely to have to wait between rotations.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> As long as you pass the USMLE step 3 you should have no problem practicing in the US
<fallon> i guess i should ask that then lol can i do all my rotations in Canada? if not how will that affect my ability to practice in Canada?
<DN> Are you familiar with which exams one will eventually have to write if they would like to return to Canada, particularly Ontario? e.g. MCCE, MCCQE 1 and 2..i've read USMLE Steps 1 and 2 are now recognized in Ontario
<Elizabeth-Admissions> You cannot do all your rotations in Canada, right now we only promote students doing elective rotations in Canada.
<Reactant> its probably very difficult to be able to do all your rotations in Ontario
<fallon> yeah... i hear that restrictions on IMG's are loosening in Canada... that there was a few exams we had to take but now its down to 1 and maybe not even that?
<Reactant> electives are much easier to get in Ontario, but doing the rotations is another story
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Ontario said last year that they would accept the USMLE in place of the MCCE exams, but that may have changed. Check with the Ontario medical licensing board
<Elizabeth-Admissions> other questions?
<DN> Are September positions still open? I guess i'm just nervous before my interview
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We still have some seats available for the September 2008 semester, so don’t worry!
<fallon> how much down time is there between semesters? is the first few weeks a gradual easing into the work or is it full force right away?
<Reactant> I had read that May students get more time to do their USLME exam, can u please elaborate more on that?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Full force right away! This isn't high school, you'll have your first block exam two weeks in.
<Saira> you mentioned 4 Big carribean med schools...what are they (besides SABA)
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Time between semesters is typically 2-3 weeks
<DN> What is a student's typical schedule? E.g. 9-5 in classes? Weekends no classes? etc
<fallon> great! can't wait so how early should you come to get settled into rez and everything?
<Reactant> they call it "dorms" in Saba
<fallon> lol thank you reactant
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Your right Reactant. We build time for students to study for exams into the schedule. The September class has the least extra time because residencies all start July 1st. So if you fall behind for any reason you may miss the July start date and have to wait a whole year!
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The Big 4 are Saba, Ross, SGU, and AUC. The four CA approved schools
<Saira> thanks!
<drB> Then May is the best semester to start
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Classes run from 8AM-3/4PM then students are studying until about 9PM. Weekends are typically off unless you do extra activities like the Hyperbaric program.
<fallon> from my research and unbiased lol the three best options right now are Saba, Ross and AUC each with their own particular good and bad qualities...
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Yes, May has the most extra time
<Nman85> Thank you Elizabeth and everyone for your help
<fallon> from what I read SABA sounds like by far the best fit for me
<Nman85> I will be leaving now
<Nman85> I wish you all good luck in your med school apps
though
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Other questions? 15 min warning!
<drB> Why is Saba the best choice
<DN> I'd say personally, the tuition, safety, canadian track record
<Reactant> lol, that’s something they ask u in the interview
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Depends on what you're looking for. If you want small class size, low tuition, good residencies, a safe island, etc. then Saba is the best choice for you!
<DN> school's like SGU are like 44G's a term
<DN> or a year
<fallon> hmmm small island, peaceful, safe, no distractions, great admin staff right elizabeth small class sizes, cheapest, 3 intakes per year, amazing pass rates and attrition rates, great matching...
<Reactant> dont forget that there isnt much to do in the island, so one can focus on the real task at hand, studying
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Yeah, the students do keep themselves amused but there are no casinos, etc.
<fallon> there is scuba diving, rock climbing.. from what i see its sooo beautiful!
<Reactant> Fallon, u sure your not working for admin?
<DN> haha
<Elizabeth-Admissions> I promise, Fallon does not work for us!
<fallon> lol no but wouldn't mind another job lol
<fallon> no, if i worked there i think Elizabeth would smack me in the head for asking too many questions
<fallon> but no, Canadian uni student here...
<Reactant> i am curious, so i have to ask, in my dorm we have a cleaning lady come over every other week, i dont suppose hillside has that?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> There's nothing wrong with asking intelligent questions
<Saira> if we don't get in the fist try, and apply again, will our chances of getting in be higher?
<DN> Are the class sizes increasing and if so will there be enough positions to match when we do rotations in the US?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> No, you'll have to clean up after yourself
<fallon> darn lol
<Reactant> i knew there was a catch
<fallon> oh, i heard there was an issue with a loan no longer being available and another being set up? any progress?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The Admissions Committee evaluates you for all semesters. However, if you are reapplying with additional coursework, etc. it can certainly improve your chances.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Our classes have increased slightly over the last few years (60/semester to 80/semester) but we activeling increasing clinicals to avoid any issues.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> We are still working on finalizing some details with the new lender, but I hope to have more info for you in the near future.
<Reactant> whats the bed size in hillside? and what kind of meal plans are offered near the campus?
<DN> Hurricanes ? any issues with that?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The beds are twins, typical dorm accommodations. Hillside has a full kitchen, why do you want a meal plan?
<drB> Why do so many Canadian students choose to attend Saba
<fallon> i know your not on the island but housing, i assume its not to far a trek to get to class every day if you are off campus?
<Reactant> i had read in the past, that meal plans were offered, but it didnt go into any detail.
<fallon> they have a great affiliation with Canada due to connections with nova scotia
<Saira> Cumulative GPA is looked at right?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Hurricanes are not an issue on Saba. The school was built to withstand a Cat. 4 hurricane and no one lives at sea level so there is no danger of flooding which is what typically causes the most damage.
<fallon> oh, i will be posting this session on valuemd , hopefully dispel a few rumors. that’s cool elizabth?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> you can get an apartment within walking distance or rent across the island and take public transportation.
<fallon> i have never experienced a hurricane... is there allot of hurricane activity?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> That's fine Fallon, just please leave ppls personal information out of it!
<deepthought> Is the Hyperbaric med Masters program accredited by anyone? UHMS...?
<Reactant> hurricane season usually aug/sept
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The area of the Caribbean where Saba is located doesn’t usually get allot of hurricane activity.
<fallon> thanks soo much for all your help elizabeth!
<DN> Indeed, thank you very much. It was very insightful.
<Elizabeth-Admissions> You're very welcome drB, I can handle some new england snow.
<Reactant> thanks for all your help
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Deepthought, I'd be happy to check into that for you, send me an email
<Reactant> is there enough time for one more question
<Elizabeth-Admissions> one more
<Reactant> can u please elaborate on the science degree offered on saba?
<Elizabeth-Admissions> Sure, the ** Science program is for students who didn’t earn a **/BA degree before attending Saba. They earn the degree once they complete basic sciences
<Elizabeth-Admissions> The curriculum is the same
<Reactant> oh wonderful. thank u Elizabeth.

I see lots of people have been looking at the post. Thoughts? Too long? Any questions that we missed?

I think this is one of those situations where you really dont have a clue the amount of positive influence your deed has created for others. Haha, kinda reminds me the philosophies public health.

Anyway, thanks for the posting.

__________________
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
-Mohandas Gandhi

hmmmm reactant, your name looks oddly familiar

Chemistry 101

__________________
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
-Mohandas Gandhi

lol I just finnished my organic chem midterm

Anyone have the Admissions Chat from March 7th?

I have mine on the coming Friday

__________________
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
-Mohandas Gandhi

No, sorry, I was writting an exam at that time so wasn't able to get on... I'll check out the next one though... If you have any questions you want asked let me know...

Good luck on the exam! I'm sure you'll ace it!

Thanks. I hope you did well on yours.

__________________
An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
-Mohandas Gandhi