They are the best ones to talk to about this.

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Call the appropriate authority, not random people, they will mislead you!!!

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http://www.hornafrica.biz/index.html

I am currently a 3rd year student at St. Christopher's

I am looking to transfer and I have a few Questions:

Which would be worse (more likely to bar me from getting any residency interviews or spots):

To have taken and Passed Step 1 prior to starting the school that you have obtained your MD from

or

To transfer into a clinical program at another school with my basic sciences done at St. Christopher's

Call Oregon and ask if the credits you rec'd from St. Chris are any good. We know St. Chris Luton never had the authority to grant degrees. It's unsure whether or not they had the right to give credits for medical courses. The school was never recognized by anyone.

No Senegalese school issuing degrees under this name exists as of March, 2006.

http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html

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I don't understand what this means... can you please explain/elaborate from your own understanding, empathy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by empathy Call Oregon and ask if the credits you rec'd from St. Chris are any good. We know St. Chris Luton never had the authority to grant degrees. It's unsure whether or not they had the right to give credits for medical courses. The school was never recognized by anyone. No Senegalese school issuing degrees under this name exists as of March, 2006. http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html

I think the current SC situation is too complicated, and will create problems down the road for current students even if everything is sorted out. Here are some of the questions I've heard people raised --

1) The split. It's entirely unclear how this will be treated. Some argue that since Senegal issues the charter, the "bloodline" stays with Senegal's new campus (if there is one). Some argue that since "St. Christopher" existed before the parent university in Senegal, this is where the true "bloodline" lies. So, doesn't matter which side you choose to continue with, there will be licensing boards that think you have "transferred" to the new entity, which creates a need for two sets of transcripts -- may be a headache at that point if the two sides dont' get along at that time, or if one side goes under. Arguments from both sides as to "who holds the bloodline" are both interesting, and it's unclear how medical boards will see it down the line. BTW, medical boards are known to disagree with ECFMG's judgement as well, so which way ECFMG leans means little when it comes to licensure.

2) Future of "squatting" in UK -- while foreign schools are technically allowed to operate in UK as a private business, I think this practice has a very bleak future. Recent negative publicity may very welll lead to legislative changes if any of the squatter schools try to re-invent itself in UK. SC was probably the last remaining functional squatter before the GMC disapproval.

3) Overall big picture of licensure -- Offshore IMG's have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Many of the previously "easy" states are now taking second looks at their licensing laws to more tightly regulate IMG"s. TN recently went with the California list. NV has taken similar stance (short of coming out to say "California list") -- both states were relatively easy just a year ago. Offshore IMG "quality control" seems to be a hot topic among the boards now. Current students need to set your sights in the long run -- 5 to 10 years from now when you will be starting your practice and seeking licensure in various states. It will only get tougher... so it stands to reason that you need to give yourself the largest leeway possible in choosing your schools now.

4) As for starting over vs transfer credits -- licensure and acceptance of SC credits by medical boards aside, you need to ask yourself this very basic question -- if you need to rely on any of the course work you have done at SC for licensure, you will need official transcripts from SC come licensure time -- will there be anyone from the correct side (L vs Senegal, depending on how the particular licensing boards views are) to issue you the transcript 5 or 10 years from now?

My personal opinion -- if you choose to leave, start over fresh. 2 to 3 years of extra work now is worthwhile when comparing to headaches that may follow you through your career.

P

__________________
Jean Luc Picard
Academic Hospitalist/Assist. Professor of Medicine, Star Fleet Medical, Earth, United Federation of Planets
Borg-Certified... Resistance is Futile.

In Glock, We Trust... Everyone Else... Keep Your Hands Where I Can See Them.

http://www.odmp.org/search.php?searc...=2001&cause=27
http://www.nypdangels.com/wtc.htm
http://www.hampsteadnh.us/police/A%2...ica%20Died.htm
http://longmontpolice.com/MEMORIAM.HTM

It's best at this point if you guys call Oregon, the GMC or your state licensing boards. You need to seek the advice of an authority of which I am not.

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__________________

Hi Picard,

What's your opinion regarding starting over and the need to complete all 3 steps within 7 years?

How would taking longer than 7 years (if get rewrite of step 1) affect licensure?


dt

I think for MS-3's who took Step I just over a year ago, they are probably OK because they will be able to complete all 3 Steps in 5 to 6 years if they start over, as long as they register and take Step III with a state that allows Step III right after graduation. This is to assume that rules about when you can take step III in these states don't change in the next few years. MS-3's have some wiggle rooms here if something goes wrong and they are delayed for a year or so.

Current MS-4's are in a tougher spot. If they start over, they will be looking at taking Step III in the 6th year (at the earliest) after passing Step I, assuming they took Step I about 2 years ago. They have very little, if any, wiggle room if something goes wrong (having to sit out a year, not graduating in time, waiting for paperwork... etc). They will need to be able to re-start in MS-1 this fall in order to make the deadline.

As far as I know, you cannot re-take Step I and "reset" the clock once you pass it. Not all states have the 7-year rule. Those that do, some have room to negociate. Again, this is just another piece fo the puzzle/hurdle facing SC students now.

P

__________________
Jean Luc Picard
Academic Hospitalist/Assist. Professor of Medicine, Star Fleet Medical, Earth, United Federation of Planets
Borg-Certified... Resistance is Futile.

In Glock, We Trust... Everyone Else... Keep Your Hands Where I Can See Them.

http://www.odmp.org/search.php?searc...=2001&cause=27
http://www.nypdangels.com/wtc.htm
http://www.hampsteadnh.us/police/A%2...ica%20Died.htm
http://longmontpolice.com/MEMORIAM.HTM

Thanks Picard. I was hoping there could be a "reset".

fyi for all: here is a chart for all the states... it also tells you how much post-grad training is needed.

http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_eliinitial.html