do you mean that the fact that all sgu rotations are acmge approved is not a good enough reason to pay more money for sgu??

well it all depends where u want to practice, if u're happy with living in NJ or NY for the rest of your life then sure don't waste the extra money and go somewhere like saba. but if you're from california or texas and want to come back to practice there then i would suggest you go to sgu, otherwise you might not be able to practice in those states or will not be able to graduate in 4 years because you will be waitlisted to rotate in the few acmge locations offered by other schools. Now I am not bashing NJ or NY I am from NJ myself, and will probably end up practicing and living there, but I don't like having limited options, and I feel like SGU gives me a lot more options of where i can practice then any of the other carib schools.

__________________
SGU-SOM, Class of 2010
Due to the high volume of private messages, I can only answer questions that are posted in a forum. Private messages will be ignored.

All Saba cores are greenbook.

__________________
Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

I have copied a post from cavalletti's link that I think is relavent:

"I am nearing the END of 4th year, since I have less than 15 weeks of clinicals left, you can consider me a 10th semester Ross student.

I agree that all cores should be done at ACGME places and Ross SORELY LACKS spots in Pediatrics. Just how many ACGME spots are there? I believe its 6 or so Hospital affiliates...each taking only a handful of students every 6 weeks. Do the math. Ross has several HUNDRED, perhaps nearly a thousand (Semesters 5b, 6, 7, 8) 3rd year med students. What is Ross's solution? Place students in non-ACGME rotations and hope that they don't notice (and many don't)! If you don't believe me, call the clinical science department and try to schedule a Peds Core ASAP in an ACGME site...and see what dates they give you. I would not be surprised if they start talking early 2008 at this point.

Yes, I am basically doing a CORE as one of my last rotations in medical school because Ross simply doesn't have the spots in ACGME Peds and I had no other choice but to wait. I have called over 40 non-affiliated hospitals in the US...none have been willing to take Ross students for the Peds Core. It really is a shame...and I don't think I am the only student out there that was forced to take the USMLE Step 2 without having done Peds.

In this regard SGU is far superior in that SGU students often get to finish their cores in a timely manner. It really is a matter of timing and having space available...which are often overlooked ingredients in doing well on the USMLEs. Ross can boast about whatever it wants but the fact of the matter is, they screw tons of students each year who are forced to sit for Step 2 and answer Peds questions without having done a Peds rotation. Why do students elect to take the exam before the core? Timing. The match happens only once a year and the interview season isn't year-round. Timing is a BIG deal. What are the options for a typical Ross student? a) do the Peds Core in a non-ACGME site and be in danger of future licensing issues in certain States [Texas is an example]; b) wait and do the ACGME Peds Core and then take Step2 but be in danger of applying very late or possibly having to sit out a year; c) rely on Step1 scores only when applying; d) suck it up and just take Step2 without Peds so that you can show both Steps and be more competitive when applying in a timely manner; e) take the Peds Core at PMH in Dominica since it would be considered ACGME equivalent.

A word of advice to all those Ross students out there who are either still on the island or just starting clinicals: PLEASE schedule your PEDS core ASAP at ACGME sites. You can work all other cores around this schedule. Don't discuss where you'd like to do your IM or Surgery at such and such hospital UNTIL you have a firm schedule in place for Peds. When I mean firm, I mean FIRM!!! Do not fall for the line that they'll temporarily place you in a non-ACGME peds core and when an ACGME approved spot opens up, they'll give it to you. Trust me, once they schedule you for something, you are forgotten.

At this point, I think Ross should do the smart thing like AUC and make affiliations at hospitals in the UK so that Ross students can do their Peds Core in ACGME equivalent sites in a timely manner.

I wish everyone the best of luck"

i think the tuition is way too much, but i really like the school. Knowing that I dont have to worry about my rotations, that everything will be scheduled for me is great. I also like the fact that I can do my rotations in the UK, and thats where am going

__________________
Peace out
Envivany
SGU
Class of 2009

i actualyl disagree with the "no one cares which school" philosophy. Its quite true that some will not care: that if you are an IMG they wont look at you at all, or if youre an IMG they dont really care so long as youre good. It goes both ways. However the name does matter to an extent. Much in the same way that students from harvard get more opportunities all things otherwise being equal than kids from U PoDunk. Is it fair? no. does it happen? yes. And i know smoe PDs have a level of comfort with some schools because they heard of it and view others as questionable. Im not making a distinction between sgu and any other particular school. (saba in this case) simply that the name does indeed matter at times.

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

Do any of the other caribbean schools have UK rotations?

AUC does, and any AUC UK rotation is taken without question as ACGME-equivalent. As far as I know all AUC cores are greenbook as well.

Are UK rotations considered green book?

Good question. Anybody know the answer?

Yes they are!! Because they're in another country.

__________________
-

"Bart, having sex on prom night is as American as our fifty-first state, Saudi Israelia!" -The Simpsons.

-