Thread: What are my chances for admission to Saba University School

This is certainly not meant to provide the definitive answer to the question:

"Can I get in with these stats?"


I know from experience though that the question weighs heavily on some folks' minds, so I thought it might be good to place this thread at the top.

I always encourage potential applicants to give the folks at Gardner a call for the best advice about admissions, but I also encourage current students and potential students to chime in with their own stories and their own information about applying and being admitted to Saba.

Give it a shot 8)


Best of Luck to Us All!

@wamc,

I agree with the current student posts on the their advise to your original query. You are well aware that the 2.30 GPA is suboptimal for even Caribbean programs. Having said that one aspect that I would focus on at this point is to narrow your search to reputable Caribbean programs (SGU, Saba, AUC, and Ross). These schools in short have a long history of establishment and a proven track record.

Another aspect that I would strongly advise you think thru is your ability to take multiple science course simultaneously and the ability to perform well across the board. This is a critical aspect of these Caribbean programs and especially so at Saba. You must be able to take multiple intensive science courses simulataneously and keep up with the material in a cummulative fashion as you progress thru your academic studies. This is the single highest failure causal factor that I have identified over the years in student deficiencies with results in dismissal everytime. The ability to receive a 30 on the MCAT is commendable although you did not provide the subscores on each section; especially the Biological Sciences, which is closely aligned (in some aspects, not all) with medical school multiple choice type exams. From what I can tell, you clearly demonstrated on the MCAT the ability to synthesize vast amounts of information over a wide subject spectrum and the ability to read scientific passages and infer conclusions not requiring necessarily memorized facts. This ability is crucial as you advance in medical subjects and is once again tested on the Step exams. So good for you.

No one on this forum as you know are on the admissions committee (including myself), but we are collectively, hopefully giving you correct advice based on our respective experiences on the island - and then it is your choice. In terms of admission, last I spoke with SGU - they do focus on around 3.20+ (although they say preferably 3.40+). The MCAT score is enough to get into SGU (actually all top island schools). As everyone stated above, the science GPA is going to be a hurdle to a large degree, so if an interview is granted during initial screening, then be prepared to give reasons how you have changed.

i am just trying to keep my head up in a positive direction any kind of help or support in terms of MCAT or applying to school which schools etc. appreciated.

i have a 2.4 gpa due to my full time work schedule throughout my undergraduate period. i need to take the MCAT ASAP i am just starting the studying process for it. i have close to 300 hrs of volunteer work at two different hospitals one at a radiology center. i know the damage has been done because of my gpa but i still want to make sure i make all the right moves in the future. i am dedicated now and am taking my work seriously and have stopped working to knock the MCAT out due to previous support and suggestions by other users.

what are my chances with that low gpa and which schools should i look at, when should i apply if jan 2013 is my first choice and also would like to go to a place where they have alot of New YOrk or east coast rotations and residencies.

thank you

Hi I was wondering what my chances are for January 2013 Admissions. I have a Science GPA of 2.8 if I count the two classes I did No Credits for. If I don't count those (Not sure if Caribbean schools count them) then my science GPA is 3.1. My overall GPA is about a 3.5. I have taken all my pre reqs. I've been volunteering at a local hospital for the past year. I also did a thesis paper for my Honor's psychology class and have a good recommendation from my professor. I also have recommendations from my Organic chemistry professor, my anatomy & physiology Lab TA and from the hospital I volunteer at. I was also a member of my school's Global Medical Brigades and got a chance to go to Honduras to set up clinics and help treat the locals. I just recently took the MCAT's and I expect my score to be between 25-30. Should I apply? Or is there something I can do to further improve my application?

Hey Guys, My Major was in physical sciences so I didn't get to take many Bio courses over my undergrad besides courses in genetics, Micro, Cell Bio, Anatomy 1, and Physiology. I started off nicely with a B- and an A in Biology for engineers class and lab respectively and got a B+ in genetics but then I have been receiving C+s in the rest of my bio classes. I want to take some more bio courses but my schedule is loaded with upper level math, chemistry, and atmospheric science courses which I have been doing well in. Do you think lack of solid grades in bio courses as of late will hamper my chances. My overall and science GPAs are around 2.8 and my MCAT is 31.
Thanks

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@Shah - volunteering means absolutely nothing (and that goes for the rest of you, too). As long as you've done SOMETHING, and stuck with it long enough to show that you're even remotely dedicated (~40-50h), you're good. For that GPA, you're going to need a respectable MCAT score, and you already know that. So focus focus focus on that MCAT.

@Terp13 - Low GPA, but the MCAT's ok, so it should at least get you looked at, and I'd say it's likely you'll get an interview for Jan/May. That said, it seems like the bio courses are your lowest marks. And there's an awful lot of bio-based courses here. It might not be a red flag for the adcom, but it should be a red flag for you. Are you simply not devoting enough time to them due to the workload?

Originally Posted by Weddell

@Terp13 - Low GPA, but the MCAT's ok, so it should at least get you looked at, and I'd say it's likely you'll get an interview for Jan/May. That said, it seems like the bio courses are your lowest marks. And there's an awful lot of bio-based courses here. It might not be a red flag for the adcom, but it should be a red flag for you. Are you simply not devoting enough time to them due to the workload?

Hey Wedell

Thanks for replying. I started out my career in bio-engineering and switched to physical sciences and yes I've always had semesters with at least 18 credits and they're all in solid courses. The one semester I had 13 credits, I got a 3.5 GPA and the one semester I had 16 credits, I got a 3.2 GPA.
But yes, due to my heavy course load I cannot get into the deeper level of understanding which is probably what you have to do to get As or **. All the Bio majors take 2 Bio courses and one chemistry course at most and the rest are ** GPA boosting courses while I take 4 engineering courses along with my Bio courses or 4 advance level chemistry, math, and atmospheric science courses with my Bio course. While I understand it is my choice, is that fact gonna be overlooked? I have been strong in Bio but yea due to my course load I cannot put as much time into it as I would want. Also I had a semester where I just got Ds and Fs the entire semester because I was informed my Grandmother had passed away right before finals and yea I could not focus on my finals. I did not know I could have withdrawn from those classes that semester, otherwise I would have done so. That semester my GPA went down from 3.0 to 2.3. And no, I am not lying about my Grandmother's death.

Originally Posted by Terp13

Hey Wedell

Thanks for replying. I started out my career in bio-engineering and switched to physical sciences and yes I've always had semesters with at least 18 credits and they're all in solid courses. The one semester I had 13 credits, I got a 3.5 GPA and the one semester I had 16 credits, I got a 3.2 GPA.
But yes, due to my heavy course load I cannot get into the deeper level of understanding which is probably what you have to do to get As or **. All the Bio majors take 2 Bio courses and one chemistry course at most and the rest are ** GPA boosting courses while I take 4 engineering courses along with my Bio courses or 4 advance level chemistry, math, and atmospheric science courses with my Bio course. While I understand it is my choice, is that fact gonna be overlooked? I have been strong in Bio but yea due to my course load I cannot put as much time into it as I would want. Also I had a semester where I just got Ds and Fs the entire semester because I was informed my Grandmother had passed away right before finals and yea I could not focus on my finals. I did not know I could have withdrawn from those classes that semester, otherwise I would have done so. That semester my GPA went down from 3.0 to 2.3. And no, I am not lying about my Grandmother's death.

no, but those kind of things are red flags in that you showed some poor judgment in taking more classes than you were able to manage properly...and not talking to your professors to see if you could take an incomplete and finish up given the circumstances...very few professors would have said no (was a professor...death in the family is def a legit reason to give a student an incomplete)...taking GPA boosting courses not necessarily a bad thing...give you time to be able to manage the hard more time consuming classes.

doing poorly because you took a heavier load and kept doing it, just demonstrates you don't seem to recognize when you need to change course and also shows you may not be willing to adapt to changes...important qualities to be a med student in the caribbean and to be a resident...

Originally Posted by rokshana

no, but those kind of things are red flags in that you showed some poor judgment in taking more classes than you were able to manage properly...and not talking to your professors to see if you could take an incomplete and finish up given the circumstances...very few professors would have said no (was a professor...death in the family is def a legit reason to give a student an incomplete)...taking GPA boosting courses not necessarily a bad thing...give you time to be able to manage the hard more time consuming classes.

doing poorly because you took a heavier load and kept doing it, just demonstrates you don't seem to recognize when you need to change course and also shows you may not be willing to adapt to changes...important qualities to be a med student in the caribbean and to be a resident...

I did not have a choice in what classes to take as an engineering major and I had to take that many engineering classes to be on track for graduation. And now that I just switched into physical sciences, I have to finish those courses as well to graduate on time. As for the incomplete, I did not know such a thing even existed. Otherwise I would have taken it. I am the first in my family to attend college in the US so these options were not explained to me, even in orientation when I first joined the university. I knew about withdrawing from a class but I didn't know I could withdraw from all of my classes. And honestly I was too devastated to be thinking about my options and I don't know how I did end up giving those finals under those circumstances.
Also, isn't one semester of Med School like 21 credits?
So how is taking a lighter course load to manage things going to prepare you for that 21 credit course load in med-school?
You don't have the option of trimming down on your classes there.....If anything the person who has to adapt to changes is the person who had a light schedule during undergrad.

Originally Posted by Terp13

I did not have a choice in what classes to take as an engineering major and I had to take that many engineering classes to be on track for graduation. And now that I just switched into physical sciences, I have to finish those courses as well to graduate on time. As for the incomplete, I did not know such a thing even existed. Otherwise I would have taken it. I am the first in my family to attend college in the US so these options were not explained to me, even in orientation when I first joined the university. I knew about withdrawing from a class but I didn't know I could withdraw from all of my classes. And honestly I was too devastated to be thinking about my options and I don't know how I did end up giving those finals under those circumstances.
Also, isn't one semester of Med School like 21 credits?
So how is taking a lighter course load to manage things going to prepare you for that 21 credit course load in med-school?
You don't have the option of trimming down on your classes there.....If anything the person who has to adapt to changes is the person who had a light schedule during undergrad.

i don't interview for saba so i can't tell you what the interviewer there will say...but those are questions i would put to an applicant if they were applying to the school i do interview for...and the lack of knowledge of an incomplete i would accept, but the rush you feel to graduate "on time" well...it would raise the same questions...will you be in a rush to graduate "on time" or in a rush to take your steps "on time" etc... to the detriment of your CV? my knowledge of engineering students comes from having friends at NC State...many of them took 5 yrs to graduate and didn't think it was realistic to finish "on time" so to speak...

and realize that you won't be spoon fed information about the details of clinical rotations, residency applications, licensing requirements, etc when you are a caribbean student...it will be up to YOU to keep yourself inform and up-to-date...ignorance of say licensing requirements won't appeal to the medical boards of picky states...and just because you are the 1st in your family to go to med school won't be an acceptable excuse...

but THANK YOU for telling me what makes an appropriate candidate for medical school...(and better do some research into the med schools in the caribbean...the option of trimming down is there...doesn't seem like you have done much to know what the schools down there offer).

(btw you wouldn't have done well if i was your interviewer with those answers...you may want to try to fix that)