Thread: Waitlist Question

I have just been "priority waitlisted" for the Jan. '08 term (class is full), with the option of taking a guaranteed spot in the UK for the global scholars program. I have read up on the GSP, but have trepidations about a program that is only a year old.

Most likely I will be doing the waitlist option, but I was curious if anyone has insight into the likelihood of being moved from "waitlisted" to "accepted" for the Jan. 08 term? It's really difficult for me to stay waitlisted when I know I could be starting in the UK in Jan. without question.

Anyone's input will be highly valued. Thanks.

This has been discussed many times before. SGU and AUC students do about the same in the match. Both schools have had some very impressive matches past years. SGU just has more placements because they have more students! SGU may be better known to a couple PD's, but it doesn't matter which school you attend, graduates of both are caribbean graduates!

The only reason I could see attending SGU is if you want to definitely do your clinicals in NY, because they just got a huge exclusive contract there. SGU students are not paying for more recognition, and certainly not for better residency matches.

what slevit said

Originally Posted by Malagant

You -have- got the argument down pat. SGU is the creme of the crop, and dealing with expenses is the hassle, but when financial services offer relief programs, and you have a stable career to work your way out of debt when you step out of school; Really, it's the decision to strive for a better quality of education AND experience.
St. George's is recognized, and students have to -pay- for that recognition. But you've already proven you're capable of being recognized in turn. Go for SGU.

horrible advice and completely false. both schools will give the same quality education, both schools have been around for the same amount of time, and both are recognized with thousands of practicing grads in EVERY specialty (including derm, ortho, neuro surgery, and plastics.... although not as ubiquitous due to it being extremely competitive as a foreign grad).

supernareg, go for the school that you personally want to go to. however, if your only problem is that you want a good residency placement..... flip a coin...... both will get you great residencies with good board scores. there is absolutely no long term advantage by going to one school over the other.

malagant, as a premed without even being finished with your premed required courses, do you really think you are qualified to be giving advice on topics like this? what experience in the field do you bring to the table when you make these generalizations about AUC, which school is more "recognized", and which will give a "better" education. you are only doing the OP more harm by making a completely uninformed post. im not trying to be mean or condescending, so please dont take any offense to my post.

My VMD-sense is tingling with this smack-down!

Originally Posted by Scott1981

horrible advice and completely false. both schools will give the same quality education, both schools have been around for the same amount of time, and both are recognized with thousands of practicing grads in EVERY specialty (including derm, ortho, neuro surgery, and plastics.... although not as ubiquitous due to it being extremely competitive as a foreign grad).

supernareg, go for the school that you personally want to go to. however, if your only problem is that you want a good residency placement..... flip a coin...... both will get you great residencies with good board scores. there is absolutely no long term advantage by going to one school over the other.

malagant, as a premed without even being finished with your premed required courses, do you really think you are qualified to be giving advice on topics like this? what experience in the field do you bring to the table when you make these generalizations about AUC, which school is more "recognized", and which will give a "better" education. you are only doing the OP more harm by making a completely uninformed post. im not trying to be mean or condescending, so please dont take any offense to my post.

Originally Posted by McGillGrad

My VMD-sense is tingling with this smack-down!

I suppose your valueMD-sense must be pretty keen by now

im going to merge this with another similiar recent thread.

and no smackdown. both sgu and auc students have a history of being good guys and showing mutual respect.

The school will not give you a better residency.

Your letters of recommendation
USMLE Scores
How well you present your self during your interviews....

All these things will decided if you get the residency program of your choice...or if you get any at all.

You could go to SGU....pass with 185 and you won't be looking at derm, em, or any surgery.

So.....if you think the school will grant you a spot for the best residency program...you are in for the shock of your life.

Plus, SGU and AUC are both Caribbean medical school...students from both schools will not be looked at certain programs, will have difficulty in getting certain programs b/c of main campus location, and will still have to face stigma.

So...don't go and have false illusions that going to one school will guarantee you one spot or that you will get looked at more. Wrong.

I recently had to make the decision between the two schools, and it was very very tough.

Differences:
AUC:
1. It probably has greater class cohesiveness due to smaller class size. The possible implication being more personal attention can be given by professors.
2. The island is better as a whole in terms of living, food, etc.,. In other words it is closer to what life is in the US.
3. Cheaper (ultimately not by much).
SGU:
1. Higher matriculates' GPA/MCAT.
2. More alumni in more competitive fields due to larger class sizes and the more competitive nature of aforementioned matriculates (GPA/MCAT). Assuming medical education at both schools are equal, then the uGPA/MCAT can be use as a predictor of medical school performance (clincial rotation grades/ step 1).

Personal criteria for choosing school.
1. Most important criterion: Which school will maximize the probability of transfer to a US med. school and/or attaining a competitive specialty?
Do I know for sure I want to transfer? Yes, but I also understand it is difficult, so it is something I am hoping for, not something I am banking on. Do I know I want to do something (ultra)-competitive? The answer is no. No matter what, I will work hard to do well, and I believe I will do well, but then I may still choose to do something less competitive like family/internal. But from my experience with applying to US med schools, I realize I do NOT want to repeat the agony of really wanting something, coming close, and not getting it, because I didn't put in reasonable effort to maximize my chance.
With that partial disclaimer aside, I believe SGU will maximize the probability of attaining a competitive field. How much greater will my chance be if I choose SGU? I am not sure, but I have no doubt it will be greater. The reasoning is that as a result of the more competitive nature of SGU's student body (GPA/MCAT), and greater number of students, there will be greater representation of SGU alumni across fields, including the competitive ones. This translates into greater familiarity, and possibly recognition, by the PDs regarding SGU. In addition this also imply that there is greater probability of of an SGU alumni being in a position of some authority regarding whichever specialty, at whichever institution.

2. Second criterion: Which school will help me learn the most and maximize my step 1 score?
In my case I think both schools come out even. Even though AUC is smaller, and hence more personal attention and class cohesiveness, yet I believe both are irrelevant to my personal performance - though this varies from person to person. I believe it will be up to me to put in the work and study intelligently if I want to master the basic science material, and correspondingly do well on the step 1. I feel this independent relationship between mastery of basic science material and what med school one goes to (within reasonable parameters) remains true even in comparison between SGU and a good US med school.

3. Last criterion: Which school/island will provide the better standard of living?
Undoubtedly, St. Maarten is a better island to live on, but I am rather flexible and for the most part roll easily with the punches.

In conclusion, because of whatever slight advantage I feel SGU offers in terms of transfer/competitive specialties, I chose SGU.

Originally Posted by stephew

im going to merge this with another similiar recent thread.

and no smackdown. both sgu and auc students have a history of being good guys and showing mutual respect.

i know for a fact that it is impossible for anyone from SGU to get a radonc residency. simply impossible, however, its definetely doable from AUC.

I think I remember some person from SGU who had a Hopkins radonc residency and is an attending at Harvard.... but I am sure I just imagined it....