Thanks! Given your stats, i think u have a better chance of getting in lol~~

I hope so! The US schools haven't been as accomodating: I applied to 22 (I was a late applicant since I took my MCAT AUG 20th...that was the hardest MCAT I've ever taken)...and have gotten 9 rejections so far...and only one interview which was to my state school.
I was originally only going to apply to SGU..b/c it's where I think I'll get the best education and I can go to Prague and all over the US and England for my clinicals. I also like large class sizes (I like talking to random people). I'm not sure if it's just me but IMG's have a much better bedside manner than most US grads.
But everyone always said: US! US! US! So I'm trying both ways and seeing what happens. I really think I'd enjoy going to SGU more and become a better doctor for it but the pathway is so much easier (and has more oppurtunity) being a US grad.
While where you ultimately end up depends on you and your board scores being a US grad does help obtain a better residency.... so my heart's torn and I'm curious to see what the deck will deal.

proteinpowda
With those stats, I'd be surprised if you do not get into SGU. Obviously, if you get into a US school, go there first.

I'd be surprised too unless my interview report was bad (it seemed to go well) or who knows. I sent a bunch of updates on my file (new internship I'm doing, additional LORs, etc).

I still have 13 "live" US applications but it's getting late in the season... and doesn't look too promising.

well with those stats you've definitely got a very good shot in the US unless there's a skeleton there we don't know about or your state schools are Cali/NY/TX. Can't imagine many DO schools wouldn't take you with those numbers if you're interested in that route.

Anyway good luck either way and if you don't get in to a US school and decide to come here we'll always welcome another qualified borderline candidate. The more the merrier!!!

Crazycrab,

Wow! that was fast decision from adcom there. I hope to hear back soon from my counselor. A big Congrats to you!

Alan

Alan:
Thanks lol. You'll get acceptance sooner or later. I don't see why not.
Proteinpowda:
Haha, you are so much better off than me. I guess the only thing you can do is waiting? lol. It will come to you.

I like the DO route but at this point in time the public just isn't educated enough about DO's. Too many people don't realize that they are physicians....and while I know there is for all means practically no difference I would rather be an MD than a DO. Yes yes yes I know, it all comes down to how YOU individually practice medicine but I'd still rather be a Caribb MD than a DO.

As far as the US schools go I'm going to repost what I wrote on an AUA forum when students were asking if they could get in with 2.8s and MCATs under 20...and also what I put on an AUC thread...while a 31 isn't acing the MCAT it's stll a good score.

You know it's kind of funny...
I just started doing this forum thing again and have been primarily posting on the SGU threads and once or twice on an AUC thread.... and most of the MCAT scores are in the twenties and lots of GPA's are around 3 or less and people are getting in (more towards AUC, SGU's tougher to get into)
And then I went over to SDNET...and almost everyone there is in the 33-40 MCAT range with EC and LORs that they can list for days..and gpa's above 3.5 and a lot of them are having issues getting in when they've applied to over 20 schools. My heart basically sank into to my stomach when I read some of the posts... (I'm a good example; I had a 31R on my MCAT; applied to 22 schools, and have received 9 rejections and only 1 interview other than SGU which was for my states school).

So what I'm saying is for the Caribbean schools don't worry too much about getting in; one of them will take you. Instead focus on fixing the habits that have you applying to the Caribbean in the first place:
1) How could you have scored higher on your MCAT
2) How could you have had a better GPA

And this doesn't go for every1: There are plenty that don't get into to US or Canadian schools b/c of their lack of stellar ECs. But those EC's won't neccessarily make you a better student will they? All in all it comes down to you and how you will do on your boards. And there are plenty who don't want to apply to US schools in the first place. I've spent over 2k on application fees alone! So in a lot of ways the Caribb is a better option b/c it saves you a lot of hassles getting in but causes more (possibly) when you get out.
Food for thought.....


Part of the reason that the stigma exists about Carrib schools is that they traditionally accept those that didn't get into US or Canadian schools. Quite honestly I wouldn't be comfortable going to a school where students are getting low scores on their MCAT b/c that test does say quite a bit about your study habits. I worked my butt off for my score and I'd prefer to study with others that were willing to work as hard. Doctors are supposed to be the best of the best. And I want my fellow students to push me to study for my boards. Granted the MCAT sucks; it's not an end-all be all...but if you want something bad enough you'll work for it.
My GPA wasn't that great so I had to compensate for it on my entrance test. Personally: I learned how to become a much better student from the time I put in studying for the exam. I never had studied that hard in my life before and because of I know I'll be a much stronger medical student. I'd want to graduate from an institution where my peers had done something along those lines. And maybe it's a bit of a prestige thing but acing that MCAT is a way of showing your dedication to getting in. If you do bad your first time; then suck it up; study harder and retake it. Learn from your mistakes. I screwed up with my grades a few times; yet in my last year of college I knocked out 37 credit hours with a 3.8. And I'm glad I messed up. Why? I learned what my faults were and how to study and work harder. I learned that I tried to absorb too much material instead in an unorganized fashion rather than learning one concept and building on it. My grades fell apart the semester I lived with my friends who didn't go to college; so I moved out and picked up the slack. Yet when I studied for the MCAT I was once again living with those same friends that I had originally screwed up my GPA with and could now tune them out (I put headphones on) as I sat at my desk staring at textbooks and running problems for hours on end. And while I still managed to do well with the distraction of living with those that were in the "real world" and asked "Why the rush to get in?" And thought it was ok to put things off....I did fall astray some days and I wonder how much better I would've done in an environment where I was pushed to compete more.

So call me harsh: I didn't apply to other Caribb schools b/c I didn't want to go somewhere where the avg student had something around 3.0 and a 20-24 MCAT b/c that says quite a bit about the AVERAGE (like I said some are the complete exception to the rule) student. Here comes the bashing. Maybe it's just me: I just don't think it's acceptable for students to think they don't have to really push themselves to get in and they'll settle for "good enough." If I could go back in time I'd do a lot of things differently and I'd be in a US school already...but it's too late to fix my GPA...I could study a month and probably get a 35 or 36 on my MCAT this time around (I was pacing close to it getting 12s and 13s on PS and Bio and always 10s on verbal...damn test I took just sucked!) and I'd kind of like to do that to prove to myself I can.
But I'm so eager to start medical school and become a doctor that I'm not willling to take another year off.
Then again I might be completely wrong about some of the other Caribb schools; they might be some of the hardest working students on the planet once they get to med school.
But I remember the old verbage "Try to surround yourself with those that are better than you so you can learn from them," or something like that.

Hi Guys:

Just wanna to share a good news with everyone. I just received an acceptance call from my admission counselor for August 2008 class. I interviewed on Dec 20th. Good luck to everyone. If you are interested in my stats or tips about admission process, let me know.

Alan

Thanks Proteinpowda for posting this. I think what you said is very important for future students to consider.