Hello All........
I was wondering if there is someone currently attending Spartan.
How do you like the school? the dorms? the island? the professors? Do you use cadavers? Do professors hold review sessions? How many students matriculate each term?
Any input is GREATLY Appreciaated.

How do you like the school?
- I like it.

the dorms?
- No dorms, you rent apt's.


the island?
- Nice and friendly people. Takes a little getting used to but I do like it.

the professors?
- Overall I like them. They know their material and are always available for help after class. Many of them I can even call or go to their houses after class for extra help.


Do you use cadavers?
- Yes, min. of two per tri my entire time here. Averages about 8-12 students per cadaver from my point of view. Small dissection room, but more than large enough to accommodate the class size. You could fit a third cadaver and probably 10 or so more students in the room if you wanted to without it getting to crazy.

Do professors hold review sessions?
- Yes, personal review whenever you want it, and review classes

How many students matriculate each term?
- Depends, but small class size (lets say around 20 - 30) which is actually the reason I chose to come here. Smaller class size = more one-on-one time with professors. And like I said they are at your disposal any hour of the day/night (within reason)


Hope that helped.

The best thing for you to do is to come and see the school by yourself. what is good for some people is discusting for others. on average the class has about 20 students and they have 2 cadavers per trimester. but all the talks about the professors being available for review sessions and such is not even close to the truth. most of the professors are not available for extra help. as a matter of fact most of them only come to the school for lectures only and then they run away. some of them vome very late to lectures but others are very helpful and would do what it takes to help a student pass a class or any other exam. the school currently offering a review session in the evening for the usmle. it is somehow helpful, and it is free.
many things in the island are great but i really recommend that you visit the school and attend few classes before you decide to join.
i like the school and i think it is good for me. but you should take your own advice and visit before you attend, because it is a huge decision that you have to make.
good luck to you

MD4LIFE07 - I have to respond to your post, I can not agree with your statement regarding the prof's not being available for help...I have NEVER seen that to be true.

Most (all from my experiences, and anyone else who I have seen looking for help) of the prof's are available. I have never been turned away or told I could not be seen. I have even called them at their houses to schedule an appointment the following day. I am sorry you have not had the same experience. Bottom line is if you want help they will help you. They will not seek you out, but they are always available. And I have found that to be true of every prof.

I can only think of TWO (4th Tri) prof's who run back and forth after classes. The first one I have seen on numerous occasions by appointment, again without any problem and at any time.

The other, I would not know how helpful he is since I have never looked for extra help from him

I do agree that the best thing to do is come and see the school before you start. I did not do this, but found myself to be very happy here. The bottom line is that NO school is perfect, you can always find something wrong with any institution.



One other bit of advice which I think will be true no matter where you end up. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to cover the material. It will be lectured to you and presented in different ways, but the majority of the work must be done on your own. Memorize Memorize Memorize...and do plenty of practice questions (I found books like NMS, Pretest, BRS* to be very helpful)

okay one other piece of advice - bring First Aid for step 1 with you and make sure you know that from cover to cover by the end of 4th tri. In every class follow that book (even if you are not covering some things in it). From what I have read and heard you will find much of the information testes on STEP 1 within that text.

-Good Luck Chicago13

I am sorry that i so not agree with you "specialK". i have just came to the school and i only telling what people are saying about the faculties already. maybe there is one or two professors in the school who want to help, but the rest do not care about you if oyu pass or fail.
if you have been helped by some of the faculties then you are lucky, but the rest of the student do not get this special atention. as for me i am sure that there are better schools than spartan an i am thinking about leaving it already.
good luck to every one in the school.

__________________________________________________ _

I am not going to get involved in a back and forth with you ... this will be my last reply to your misrepresentation of the school under this topic, but I can not allow potential students to have this school (my school) misrepresented.

You are possibly the only person I have ever heard make that claim in both my time at Spartan and all of my friends over the past several years (excluding those students I have met here who failed due to their own shortcomings as students). This is why I now doubt your authenticity.

That said, I have never heard of any student EVER being turned away when THEY SEEK help. This is not Special attention, but the attention that ANY student gets when they seek out help.

The very fact that in 5 days time you changed your view from:

"... I like the school and i think it is good for me..."
to
"...as for me i am sure that there are better schools than spartan an i am thinking about leaving it already."

just goes to show that you are either attempting to put down this university for some reason not related to your attending it. OR that you simply may not have what it takes to be successful in medical school. I do not doubt your ability, but instead your attitude. If in fact you do need help meet me in the library tomorrow at 1:50 at the *big table* (I will not give away your identity to anyone, you can also message me if you prefer) and I will personally see that you receive the help you claim you are not getting (either from the professors or from me personally). Regardless of the reason or your situation I do wish good luck to you wherever you end up. I mean that seriously.

But once again I am compelled to stress that you are completely misrepresenting this school. I can honestly tell you that if anyone in the school is complaining or has ever, it is simply because they are either failing a class or have just failed an exam. The funny thing is these are the same people that never sought out additional help.

Being that I have completed my basic sciences I feel that I am in a better position to supply that information honestly and truthfully (each is entitled to their opinion though). I have the experience of 1 1/2 years on the island with the entire staff compared to the 1 1/2 months you have been here.

_____________________________________________

As a side note to Chicago13 (and anyone else reading this or interested in the school) feel free to email me or PM me, when I have the time I will get back to you. I am studying for Step 1 now and preparing for rotations so please don't expect a speedy response every time.

The only question I would ask about a medical school is Would I be able to get Rotations and get a License. If that school has produce previous graduate those are what I care about.

What people or student dont realise in Medicine, especially when student go across the ocean be any country is that, you have to ba able to find information to any question. That include you been able to make your own study time and keep to it, dig your test books to retrieve an answer to your question.

IMG student should really understand the whole process of IMG tranining before venturing in it. I beleive that most successful IMG grad are self starter.

I was accepted to attend Spartan in Jan but could not due to change in family status, but I will be attending in May 09 or latest fall 09. My greatest strenght is finding an answer to any problem and I know how to dig anything out.

Part of this due to my experience as a Respiratory Therapist because you will always solve other people's problem. And remeber that your commitmence of becoming a physician. If you can not solve problems other than your, and your can not find an answer in the mist of many...Hey Bro...find another profession before it's too late.

My advice to all who is looking for a golden school anywhere, the simple answer is that; their is NONE. Anywhere you go you will have to do the WORK...nobody I repeat NO SCHOOL WILL HAND YOU AN MD DEGREE.

NOTE: if you really want to decide which school to attend do your self a favour go and read First Aid for IMG, read process of USMLE certification, familiarize yourself with what you will need to pass all the steps.

When you digest all these steps that would befall you along the way, and you feel like you can pick up any medical school book seat down study and pass the steps. Then you are ready to attend any medical school.

__________________
All caribbean med school
ocean side, carib MD 2010 "supras parable"

"you will get alot more done with a gun and nice talk, than with a gun alone" Al capon

Perseverance is the word of the day...

Agreed...

It is the word of the day every day