Hi,

I wanted to know a few things about getting a residency in the US if one is a Canadian. Primarily, after completing my studies at Saba would I be in the same boat as I am currently in applying to Medical Schools after University. I mean the stress level, the anxiety, frustration, competitiveness (1/7) in getting into a canadian med school, would I face all these emotions to the same degree again with the same competitiveness while applying to residencies[an average(I don't know what is average, I am assuming you do) residency nothing too competitive]?

1) Have any canadians from Saba matched into the US, with an H1B visa and the residency of their liking, if yes how many(per session)?
a) If yes, how long after your graduation did you wait?
b) Did you write Step 2 CS and Step 3 before applying for residency with an H1B visa?
c) Was there any other special qualifications or actions that you in particular believe or took that helped you match a residency of your choice with an H1B visa?

2) Have any canadians from Saba matched into the US, with an J1 visa and the residency of their liking, if yes how many(per session)?
a) If yes, how long after your graduation did you wait?
b) Did you write Step 2 CS and Step 3 before applying for residency ?
c) Was there any other special qualifications or actions that you in particular believe or took that helped you match a residency of your choice?
d) Have you recieved a J1 waiver? Any pointers for getting this!
e) If no J1 waiver, what are you doing in the two year period that you must reside in Canada?

3) Have any fortunate canadians from Saba matched into Canada with a residency of their liking, if yes how many(per session)?
a) Please share your experience, and the competitive nature of your placement?

5) Any Canadians that have approaced a residency of their liking from a completely different approach, please share, for instance going to UK?

6) This is for any Saba student completing their residency, have you paid back your debt(assuming you had a hefty amount) how long did it take?
a) How much do residency positions pay, what factors determine the differences in salary?
b) How long after getting your degree did you wait to get your residency?

Thank you for reading this post, if you know someone that would be qualified to answer these questions, please request them to post their replies. I am interested in greater number of individual replies, to ***** the average conditions that IMG face. I understand that majority of the students that read this board are current students, it would be great if students in their higher years could ask their seniors to come and provide answers. Thanks again for your time and efforts.

VEry good questions. BUMPED

Excellent questions. In addition to asking them here, call Saba's office in Gardner, Massachusetts and ask them some of these questions. They are very nice people. Also, ask them if they can tell you if there are any alumni from Canada you can email. There is a list of Saba alumni in residency on the Saba University website, and I've had really good luck corresponding with them. I don't know which might be Canadian, though. Maybe some Canadian students will start posting more here...but don't expect it right now as we have exams here in a couple of days. On an encouraging note, I do know that Saba has enabled some students to obtain residencies in Canada and that this is ongoing. However, we've been asked not to disclose too much about that, so as not to rock the boat.

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Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

Check MUA Nevis Forum, in particular, look for StudentMD's experience (MUA Nevis moderator). She is a Canadian and just matched 2005 under H1B visa in antheisology (not sure how to spell it). I recalled she finished in Dec. 2004 and wrote her step 3 in 2005. And she was able to match before completing step 3 and got a H1B visa in time to start residecy in July 2005. So look her up and also you can PM her, she is very very helpful.

My husband is also a Canadian, and he started school in Sept 2002 and he is applying for 2006 match, and will only take H1b visa. Hopefully next year in July, we can share our successful story regarding how to complete the whole thing within the 4 years time-frame.

Regarding stress and emotion, for sure there will be, because of the uncertainty involved; and we are going thru some of it now.

totally bogus

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I went to an information seminar for Saba in Canada and it was mentioned that the USMLE step 3 may replace the equivalent Canadian exams. I am not sure if it has already taken effect, but there are some graduates of SABA who are currently practicing in Canada. If you are interested in practicing in Canada, you should check with your province's medical board about the new standards.

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Taking the road less travelled...

To the already-in-Saba Canadian students,

Do you know anything about if it is harder for Canadians get matched in the US for residency? What is the success rate? Also, what kind of visa do we need to practice in the US? And I heard that most hospitals don't sponsor you as a residency if you are non-US citizen?

Thanks,

*bump*
i would like an answer to the above questions too.

thanks

Do Canadians get the worst residency spots or does it all depends on your USMLE scores?

*bump*

any comments on the above questions....
please share as theyre probably the most imp. questions for Canadians when making decision...

Thanks