Thread: An Unbiased Experience

I am a recent graduate of Spartan Health Sciences University. I finished my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Penn. prior to attending Spartan.

I started basic sciences on the island and was pleasently surprised. Prior to attending Spartan, I was a silent observer on ValueMD.com, and was scared by all the negetive comments posted on this website. Regardless of what I read, I attended. I was quite happy with the education I was receiving during the first trimester of classes. I became overwhelmed with the courseload within the first month of the first trimester. The first trimester, I was adjusting to island life and trying to do well in my courses, so I did not read any supplementary USMLE material. At the end of first trimester, I was happy with the education I had received. Second semester was much more difficult. The courseload was nearly double that of first trimester and the courses were more abstract. Although, the teaching was not as great as first trimester, it was still enough to provide me with a strong foundation on which I could build on. It was during this semester that I was supplementing course lectures with Kaplan material and practice questions. At the end of second trimester, I was so thankful to be done with it. Overall, it was a difficult semester as the courseload is very expansive and I was involved in many extra-curricular activities. I did well overall however. Third trimester was interesting. It put first and second trimester courses all together in a system based approach to teaching. Many people complained about the "Step 2" courses we were required to take, however, they proved to be very beneficial! Third trimester was difficult not because of courseload but because I was suffering from "Island fever". I wanted to get the heck off of that island as soon as possible. Fourth trimester was excellent! The previous three trimesters were all tied together in fourth trimester. Systemic Pathology with Dr. V was excellent. I was studying alot for classes as the courseload was very high, but I would also spend a lot of time reading USMLE Step 1 material!

I graduated from basis sciences in the upper 5 of my class. I felt I had gained an excellent foundation during basic sciences. I proceeded to take 3 months off. I studied hardcore for 3 months. I did Kaplan Q bank, read First Aid and did more practice questions. I passed USMLE Step 1 with a 92. I faxed my score in the the clinical coordinator at Spartan, and I was asked where I would like to start rotations and which rotation I would like to start. I had planned everything out while I was waiting for my score, so told the coodinator where and when I wanted to do every core rotation. A week later, I was in the hospital doing history and physicals! The clinical coordinator allowed to me complete whichever rotation I wanted where ever I wanted it! He set my rotations up promptly and gave me no trouble at all.

I finished third year clerkships at excellent hospitals and felt I was ready for USMLE Step 2CK. I took USMLE Step 2CK and scored a 96. I started electives at top universities throughout the US alongside US medical students. I took USMLE Step 2CS and passed. I finished the requirements for graduation and was sent my degree! I had no problems receiving my degree. It was sent to me a week after I completed the required curriculum.

I have just received my ECFMG certificate and am interviewing for residency positions throughout the country. I am applying to a very competitive specialty (which I will not mention to maintain annonymity).

My experience with spartan has been pretty good overall. If you are respectful, studious, and social, you will do great!

Some people in my class were pessimistic and complained constantly. None of those people passed USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt. Alot of people from my class did however pass. And boy did they pass. Nearly all the people in my class that passed, received scores over 85 and the majority of them were above 90! If I had to do it all over again, I would attend spartan in a heartbeat!

This is my unbiased account.

Unbiased..??? Ask the any of the current students in rotations in chicago at jackson park, how many people have reported passing step 1 last year. Wait..dont do that...coz you will come up with an excuse that everyone is reporting false information.
Oh wait let met guess...spartan health sciences university is the harvard of the carribbean. President Bush is coming down to give us a special award in recognition of the outstanding graduates it has produced and go onto service the mainland.

posting opionion is not a violation of terms of use. even if information is not correct, this is anot a violation of terms of use. what is a violations is an insult, flame, trolling (such as an agenda of deliberately speading misinformation) vulgar language etc. if youre post violations terms of use please edit them. I will be giving warnings to anyone who violates TOS.

Originally Posted by cooldreams

nice attitude you have there...

what will i do?? report it like i did...

those are not against terms of use. please reread tos if you have any questions about violations.

Originally Posted by cooldreams

SURE BUT EVERYTHING DETAILED WAS THE POSTERS OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND CAN BE PRESENTED AS FACT.

when you get on here and say, "man.. i saw SGU... the floors have holes, all the teachers made you worship the devil, and no one passed the usmle" obviously it is a false account only made to hurt the reputation of the school. no fact is presented, not even a real personal account, rather all hersay and made up "facts"... this is something the MODS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AS DOING SUCH IS AGAINS THE TOS AGREEMENT! ... THIS IS NOT POLICED AT ALL...

Originally Posted by stephew

those are not against terms of use. please reread tos if you have any questions about violations.

ok.. lets see here... from TOS: " You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, insulting, threatening, flaming, trolling, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. "

so... no slanderous hateful insults.

stephew, seriously, you still stand by to say that

Originally Posted by spartanmd2009

"Out of the 2005, spartan students who took step 1 for the first time. There are 5 known students who passed- 1) was a PA for 10 years, 2) was a transfer from a medical school in pakistan....the other 3 studetns worked really hard and passed."

"But do you know many students attempted Step 1 in 2005? Well over 120. So out of 120 students, 5 passed on their first attempt from spartan."

"Its easy to get access to cocaine. Believe me, there are enough students here taking that stuff and living in their own world. I believe you were one of those students."

"why doesnt the st lucia government recognize spartan as a valid medical school"

"Ask any of these questions and see how he reacts..like a trypical drug addict that has been caught."

"And as for your post, did you take cocaine before or after you posted that stuff. nothing to be embarrassed about, lots of students are doing it at spartan."

are all ok by the TOS?? if so, i promise you will see much more by letting it go now. you are letting this forum be abused.

all of those statements are made up lies. they can all be contested and most have been repeatedly on this forum. some of those would require actually being an admin at spartan to know that information as fact. those lies are slanderous to spartan. they are hateful, and are quite insulting. do you really feel they are within the terms of service?

Stephew, your turn.

SpartanMD2009, I think you are the one that is on crack. I was not a PA before I attended the island. I had just finished my bachelors before I started at Spartan. As for my drug habits, I dont have any!

I must say you have really made yourself to look quite stupid on this forum. Now whenever you post anything, everybody will take it with a grain of salt. You really dont seem that smart! Maybe this is the reason you are having such difficulties with Spartan. If you think you are too good for Spartan, LEAVE! I am going to be honest. You probably will not pass the USMLE. There is a certain attitude that is common among those Spartan students that pass. You clearly do not possess that attitude. I would give up on school now, before you are in the hole even more! Im serious, if you were a PA, go back and practice as a PA. You wont make as much money but oh well. I really suggest you quit Spartan. You sound like the quitting type anyhow.

As for my original post, I have had some problems with Spartan. The administration has frustrated me at times, but I did keep a very positive outlook on things, and I focussed on school and not forums like this one. Overall, my experience with Spartan was pretty good! Anyways, I am a doctor now, I have my ECFMG certificate, I WILL match into a highly competitive specialty come March 2007. I have made it. I am happy. Some dont make it. They usually end up on this forum! I must say, Spartan is full of many pessimists! They usually dont do that well! Spartanmd2009, you are doomed - sucks to be you! Maybe you could go back to Pakistan and be a PA for Al-Queda. Im sure they will pay you 350 rupees a month instead of the worthless 200 you were receiving working in Karachi!

I want you to report me again cooldreams. Spartan Health Sciences University sucks. Its the bottom hole of the carribbean and its an embarrasement to be at this school. The admin is pathetic for not doing much to improve this school, with more clinical sites and for being so shady.
We are the laughing stock at jackson park in chicago right now. People think its a joke that spartan exists. Why do you think the St Lucian government doesnt recognize our school cooldreams, its not because we produce quality doctors. Our school sucks. The only positive thing about spartan health sciences university...hmm... I am still trying to find it.
Report this now. Call up stephan, and highlight the TOS to him.
oooh..I am scared.

Originally Posted by cooldreams

ok.. lets see here... from TOS: " You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, insulting, threatening, flaming, trolling, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. "

so... no slanderous hateful insults.

stephew, seriously, you still stand by to say that



are all ok by the TOS?? if so, i promise you will see much more by letting it go now. you are letting this forum be abused.

all of those statements are made up lies. they can all be contested and most have been repeatedly on this forum. some of those would require actually being an admin at spartan to know that information as fact. those lies are slanderous to spartan. they are hateful, and are quite insulting. do you really feel they are within the Terms of Service?

Stephew, your turn.

I have news for you. I am also a certified ECFMG. I am actually paid by the admin to post on value md and unite all of us fellow graduates.
Congrads, so what competitive residency are you applying for? I am thinking about ob/gyn or maybe peds.
Its so cool to talk to a fellow spartan md, who has gone thru this system. I want to publish a book about my experiences would you like to co author it with me?

Originally Posted by SpartanAlumnusMD

SpartanMD2009, I think you are the one that is on crack. I was not a PA before I attended the island. I had just finished my bachelors before I started at Spartan. As for my drug habits, I dont have any!

I must say you have really made yourself to look quite stupid on this forum. Now whenever you post anything, everybody will take it with a grain of salt. You really dont seem that smart! Maybe this is the reason you are having such difficulties with Spartan. If you think you are too good for Spartan, LEAVE! I am going to be honest. You probably will not pass the USMLE. There is a certain attitude that is common among those Spartan students that pass. You clearly do not possess that attitude. I would give up on school now, before you are in the hole even more! Im serious, if you were a PA, go back and practice as a PA. You wont make as much money but oh well. I really suggest you quit Spartan. You sound like the quitting type anyhow.

As for my original post, I have had some problems with Spartan. The administration has frustrated me at times, but I did keep a very positive outlook on things, and I focussed on school and not forums like this one. Overall, my experience with Spartan was pretty good! Anyways, I am a doctor now, I have my ECFMG certificate, I WILL match into a highly competitive specialty come March 2007. I have made it. I am happy. Some dont make it. They usually end up on this forum! I must say, Spartan is full of many pessimists! They usually dont do that well! Spartanmd2009, you are doomed - sucks to be you! Maybe you could go back to Pakistan and be a PA for Al-Queda. Im sure they will pay you 350 rupees a month instead of the worthless 200 you were receiving working in Karachi!

very intresting

Originally Posted by spartanmd2009

I have news for you. I am also a certified ECFMG. I am actually paid by the admin to post on value md and unite all of us fellow graduates.
Congrads, so what competitive residency are you applying for? I am thinking about ob/gyn or maybe peds.
Its so cool to talk to a fellow spartan md, who has gone thru this system. I want to publish a book about my experiences would you like to co author it with me?

your banned?

Obviously