Hi everyone!

I know Saba has a good reputation for finding residencies and one of the lowest attrition rates. I am convinced Saba offers good quality education and especially appealing is its recognition in all 50 states.

I am still a little concerned looking at the residency match list on the website. comparing the numbers over the last five years.

Year 2007 - 84 matches
Year 2006 - 113 matches
Year 2005 - 101 matches
Year 2004 - 66 matches
and so on...

But, my understanding is every term at least 75 students are enrolled into Saba each term. thats 75 x 3 = 225 for the entire year. Yet, out of those 225 enrolled, only a maximum of 113 (during 2007) made it to residency.

What happens to the rest???
In case, these people wait and reapply for the next term, how come the number for the next year remains almost same???
In fact, it would be beneficial, if the Admin posts a list of ALL graduates and their outcome after couple years from graduation.

Ive been sitting on my *** for the next match!!

Don't worry so much. I'm no genius, and I frankly stink at memorizing stuff. I constantly forget clinical stuff I'm supposed to know, even now, to my dismay - something I have to work at every day (I think maybe this isn't so uncommon though). I averaged an 88% all through Saba basic sciences, studied my butt off for Step 1 and got a 98, studied two weeks for step 2 and got a 91. Now my "problem" is wondering whether to accept a prematch offer or not in psychiatry, and have lots of good interview offers at major programs. If you work hard, study dillegently, and don't party or sleep all the time you won't have a problem rising to the challenges. If Saba accepts you, you are smart enough to make it in my opinion.

What happens is that a lot of us drop off the internet as we get very busy as the Match approaches, because we have so many challenging or exciting things to do with exams, interviewing, doing electives in neat places. Reporting to the school where we go and where we match is voluntary right now as far as I can tell. I think maybe Saba should make it a requirement to get the diploma to report if you match or not, and where you match for quality control purposes.

__________________
PGY-1 Psychiatry

That's not a bad idea - making it a requirement. I think it's important to know the data surrounding this!

When you're in clinicals, it's easier to get wrapped up in life. We're in the states, it's easier to go "home" if something is going on with friends, family, etc. I some people end up having to take some time off for various reasons. Depending on the semester you enter Saba, you will have tons of times to do rotations, or limited time. You might have to do your rotations back to back in order to make a certain match, or you may have several months off before a match. I think we lose people to other matches because of this reason.

There is the chance, too, that once you're in clinicals, you may realize that medicine isn't for you or it's not what you thought it would be. Also some people have to take time off for financial reasons - especially considering our financial aid situation over the last year. This does seem to be improving, and hopefully with the change of government we might have more options soon!

Also, there are a handful of students who don't make it the first time they take Step 1 and have to spend extra time studying. Again depending on when you enter on Saba, you may or may not make the match intended for your class!

I am speculating all of the above based on things I've seen over the last few years - some of which I have seen through my classmates or students above me! I think there are a variety of reasons why the numbers go down, but I can tell you this: It's not because us Saba students can't handle it! I've only been in clinicals since September, but I am loving it! I feel Saba has given me a solid framework on which to build my clinical education. There's still so much to learn - but honestly, what's left are things to learn you can't and won't learn in a classroom no matter where you went to school.

While Gardner doesn't alwasy give you straight forward answers, if you called and asked someone about it, they _might_ be able to give you a better idea.

This is just my 2 cents. :P

__________________
-------------------
Saba bound Fall 06'

-------------------