I will be attending Saba in Sept. 2005 and just returned from my visit last Friday. The flight from St. Maarten to Saba is about 20 minutes in a twin engine plane. I am not afraid of flying, but on our arrival to Saba with the wind coming over the mountain pushing us around and the short runway, it was a little scary. Don't worry about getting a ride because there are plenty of taxes at the airport. If you car sick or have get motion sickness, you may want to take a dramamine or something before you take the drive to Saba because it is alot of ups and downs and turns. I ended up with a headache, but it dissipated when I arrived at the school. Upon arrival at the school, I was happy to see the school looks exactly the same as it does on the website. My dad and I then went up the stairs to administration to take the tour. Although I set the tour up a week in advance, the person who normally gives tours took the day off. But Tara asked a student if she would give us a tour and she did. She was a 3rd semester student and gave a very good tour. I apologize to her because I forgot her name. I am horrible with names. After the tour, we met with the dean for about 5 minutes and he told me a little about Saba. After our meeting, we ate at Family Deli and Bakery which had really good food. I recommend the Lasagna. We visited "My Store" and took a short walking tour of the island. We then walked back to the school to wait for our cab driver who gave us a tour of the island. While waiting for the cab driver, we watched television at the student cafeteria. Some students were on break and they were watching and discussing the Michael Jackson case. Once our cab driver picked us up, he drove us around the island and eventually back to the airport. The airport was interesting because between plane arrivals, everyone working at the airport played cars and drank beer. When the planes arrive, everyone goes to their work station and takes care of business. When it's over, back to the bar. I just found that interesting.

This is for those who are not at Saba nor have visited Saba.
The school is 3 stories with 1st semester classroom on the 1st floor and the anatomy and neurology labs. Through the window it looked like 2 students per brain in the neuro lab but I may be wrong. It looked like 10-12 bodies in the anatomy lab (didn't count). Each semester has a classroom which all the classes are taught and the teachers change. In the 1st semester classroom each student gets their own locker to keep personal items ( I don't know about the other classrooms). All other classrooms are on the 2nd floor. It looks like students get about 20 minutes for break during class ( not sure, just a guess). The hyperbaric chamber, testing, and library are in a seperate building. As far as testing goes, it is all done in the computer lab on the computers (just like the USMLE). This is it for now. If I remember anything really important I will post it but I hope this is informative. Take care.

Andrew

Thank you for that, I hope to start in september as well. Did you have a tour of the dorms, how where they like. Your description was very reserved and factual, how did you feel after visiting the school?

No, I did not visit the dorms. They new ones are high on the hill and I was feeling pretty lazy so I took the students description of the new ones as fact. She said the per section, there are 4 single person bedrooms with a common living area and kitchen. There is a refrigerator, microwave, and I believe a tv but I may be wrong. There is also satellite tv. The only downside is that the only place to do laundry is the old dorms. She also said the the new dorms have hot water, but the old ones you were lucky to get a lukewarm shower (this was her statement after living in the old dorms).

I felt very confident in the school after I left. After speaking with the student tour guide and the dean, seeing the classrooms and labs, and seeing that the school looks exactly in person as it does on the website, I am very excited about getting down there. I will be happy to answer any more questions you might have.

Andrew

The new dorms should have quarter operated washers and dryers...at least that's the idea.
The water situation in Matthew Dorm is that the water heaters are only turned on in the morning and evening, to conserve electricity. First semester students vote on when they get hot water hours. If you are the last to get up in the morning, you get a lukewarm shower. Like Ben Franklin said:
Early to bed, early to rise....

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Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
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