I will remain focused and keep my questions to the point. It seems like new prospective students like me ask questions which are mostly irrelevent to their future.

i) What is a typical time (in years) for a Saba student from starting Medical School to completing the residency ?

ii) What happens to students who go beyond maximum alloted(7 semesters in case of Saba University )? Specially with huge student loans and not being able to graduate.

iii) How do you rate Saba faculty compare to other faculty in Carribean schools/US Medical Schools/Canadian Medical Schools?

iii) What is the quality of teaching material at Saba University? I have heard most faculty uses power point to present the teaching material. what is the quality of that teaching material? How do we make sure that the faculty just do not download those power points and throw that at students at 30 slides/minute.

iii) If classes are back to back with 10 minute break in between, then how do the office hours are kept? Do faculty stick around after 4 PM to wait for tired and beat-up students to utilize office hours?

iv) Does Saba elaborate to incoming students that in case a failinga subject(s), sutdent are allowed to a maximum two attempts (semester) else they will spend rest of their life paying close to $US 50,000 in student loans? I would like someone to respond to this question.

v) What is a typical class culture? Do students study in a group of 2,3,4 or is it a more like RAT RACE environment? Do student like to spend time on the Island or is it more like let's finish 5 semester and get the hell out of here. More like a nightmare or "the worst mistake of my life" kind of experience.

vi) How do Saba address the student grievances and other issues.

v) How is Saba's Managment? Do they have a good track record of making timely and just decisions?

vi) How many student transfer out of Saba after 1,2,3,4,5 Semester? 10% 20 % or higher?

vii) What is the typical faculty turn over at Saba?


viii) What is the support and guidance standard of Saba Management?/Deans Office/administration? Are they helpful? Responsive?

ix) What is the overall morale of students on Campus? Do they feel happy in 2nd semester, 3rd semester and so on?

x) What are the biggest problems on this Island? excessive drinking? partying, loneliness? etc.

xi) How do you rate the library facilities? Is it easy to find books?


More to come.....

Mark

4 years or a bit more

If you fail, you still owe the money - however, you won't owe anywhere near 100K, since you will have failed out in basic sciences. Does Saba tell anyone that? Why should they: Saba doesn't loan the money in the first place, and the students should be able to figure it out for themselves.

Very few people can compare faculty between schools - the very few who have attended more than one school usually leave the first school because of some incompatibility that at best renders their assessments objectivity questionable. The faculty is (usually) capable of teaching you what you need to know, the qualification is due to professor turn-over.

If you want to speak to a professor, schedule a time with them. In my limited expereince, almost all of them are willing to meet with students at any time (including having the students over to their house, if necessary). There's one exception, but this is her last semester (hooray!).

The powerpoints and word documents used are fine. The comfort that the professors have using it is variable.

Students almost always are helpful to each other. There are a few anus's in each class but few.

I don't know how they address greivances, I've generally been satisfied with the office and faculty.

It seems that most students are satisfied (I am, most of the time). Some are not...they are having second thoughts about medicine, or families are having trouble adjusting to island life (it's not downtown Hometown, USA, but it's fine).

the biggest problem is inadquate time for studying. Thats not unique to Saba.

OBTW, none of your questions have much to do with 'clinicals'.

Did I post my questions in a wrong forum?

I need more specific answers not just "feel good", "kind of okay to me" vague reply. Thank you for your reply though.

The powerpoints and word documents used are fine.

CAN YOU DEFINE FINE? I AM TALKING ABOUT QUALITY AND FINE IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD TO DESCRIBE QUALITY. I HAVE I AM NOT GETTING THE OFFICIAL BLURB HERE. HAVE YOU EVER READ THE POWER POINT PRESENTATION FROM OTHER SCHOOLS? OR THIS IS YOUR GUT FEELING? The comfort that the professors have using it is variable. NOT CLEAR ON THIS EITHER. DO YOU THINK THAT SOME PROFESSORS JUST REGURGITATE WHATEVER IS THROWN ON THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SUBJECT SO PLEASE DO NOT UNDERMINE IT BY USING WORDS LIKE "FINE". YOU ARE A SENIOR MEMEMBER SO BE SPECIFIC AND PASS ON MORE OBJECTIVE INFO.

Students almost always are helpful to each other. There are a few anus's in each class but few. VAGUE AGAIN.

I don't know how they address greivances, I've generally been satisfied with the office and faculty. CAN YOU QUOTE AN EXAMPLE OR THIS IS AGAIN AN OFFICIAL LINE. CAN YOU QUOTE AN INCIDENT WHEN STUDENT(s) WERE NOT HAPPY WITH OFFICIAL RESPONSE.


I WILL START FOCUSING ON CLINICALS TOO ONCE I GATHER MORE INFORMATION. I WANT TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WHO ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION THAT I POSTED EARLIER.

Mark

Man Mark
Way to be ungrateful for a reply from a Med School student who is already strapped for time. If you are looking for someone to tell you that everything you could have ever imagined is going to be perfectly fine then you let us all know when you find that place in the world and we will all move there. Maybe you haven't noticed but as far as in my life nothing has ever gone picture perfect. Saba has its flaws just as every other place in the world but just relax and take things as they come. I understand your concerns but if you over analyze everything I don't think you will be satisfied with anywhere.

hey dude, don't be a ----.

pull your head from your ---- for a minute. the answers you got are what you can expect for the most part. you should be grateful redecastro replied to any of your questions at all. if you're not happy with what you got, then get off your butt and find your own information.

i can tell you right now that saba not the place for someone like yourself. consider ross, auc, or helen keller's medical school for the deaf, dumb, and blind.

__________________
The Last Bus Driver

Well, sorry my answers didn't satisfy you. Since you seem to think I'm some official spokesperson, a clarification: I'm a student.

And good luck with your medical career, whereever it may take you.

Post deleted

RedCastro:

I appreciate your time. Thank you.

Best Regards,
Mark

Question:

When it is claimed that SABA students are currently achieving >90% scores on average at USMLE step 1.

Does it mean that after failing once or twice they get >90% following a Kaplan course?

Please direct me to the site that says Saba students are getting > 90% average on USMLE Step I (or any of the steps).

Best of Luck!