So i just finished my 1st semester at SGU and received As in all classes. Before coming down here, i interviewed at my state school but was rejected due to lack of clinical experience and a lower MCAT score (27M). My GPA at graduation was 3.84. After being here one semester, i'd decided i'm going to go back and reapply to schools in the U.S and not come back for 2nd semester at SGU. I know if i was to be admitted to a U.S school, i would have to start all over again and that is perfectly fine. SGU is a fine school but the increase in class size and the island life is making me regret my decision to come down here. Has anyone been in the same predicament as i am and stopped going to SGU to reapply to schools in the U.S? I will go back and register and take the MCAT this summer. Any opinions? Thanks.

Not a bad plan. Another option could be to see if your state school accepts transfers from foreign medical schools into 2nd year. If you can maintain your 4.0 GPA this fall, you may have a decent chance to be accepted for transfer (depending your school's policies). You can also retake the MCAT this summer in any case, to beef up your application. You can then apply for transfer at the end of this Fall semester and have 8 months before the next year begins.

Check out this link - it may be helpful. Transferring from the Caribbean: Which Schools Accept FMGs? the rumors were true

The problem is my state school hasn't accept a transfer for the last twenty years so transferring if out of the question. The only way i see is for me to apply again this June and stay in the U.S to do some volunteer and work in a health related job. Transferring from a Carribean school to a US school looks pretty tough so i rather start over there now when i only have 1 semester done. I would have stayed in the U.S before coming down here but i was thinking of coming down here and try to make all As and come back to show them that i can handle med school courses. An expensive lesson but worth it.

Take 1 semester leave of absence from SGU, apply as soon as US application cycle opens and hope you get early interview. Some schools will even tell you if you got in before December. If you got an interview the first time, you will most likely get a second interview.

Either way if you end up going back to SGU in Jan, you will still be graduating 2012.

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MS-3 @ SGU

"I would rather try talking suicidal patients down first before suggesting they hurry up and jump" me

I applied to my state school during my first term. I did an MSc in Micro and had take Biochem, Genetics, and Micro. They knew I was starting my 1st term when I interviewed. My rejection letter said they feel they should give the spot to someone who is not already enrolled in a medical school. The tuition there was $12K & living expenses covered by my husband. They will want to know why you dropped out with good grades. Be ready to explain. The school was University of New Mexico.

bad idea. not going back for 2nd term will effectively look like dropping out of medical school. to transfer to a US school, you have to be an active student in good standing at the medical school you are applying from and able to return should you be rejected for transfer. if you do this, you will be applying to whichever schools in the US you want to apply to as if you had never gone to sgu. so if you do not return for 2nd term, that would be ok, if you improve your application enough and not have to rely on your performance in first term at sgu.

You need the 30 on the MCAT, good luck on the exam.

Ummm finishing 1 semester of Medical School (Basic Science courses I assume) still doesn't address the reason why you weren't rejected the first time.

Unless the "lack of clinical" experieince reason was just an excuse they gave you, I wouldn't bother, because nothing that the school was looking for has been added to your application and retaking the MCAT is a gamble.

Having a great college or med school GPA is not the end all to be all when it comes to being a practitioner of medicine. Clinical experience provides insight, clinical experience confirms a presumed passion for the practice, clinical experience seperates the DOCS from the NOTS.

HANG IN THERE LOVERBOY! Adjust to the island life and the increasing class size. You'll be finished before you know it and you'll look back and be glad that you had the expeience.

You are probably just home sick or missing LOVERGIRL

By leaving SGU, I would guess that you'll have a hard time getting back in if you're not accepted at a States-side school. You're already 1/4 through the program here (basic sciences in Grenada), the clinical years are the same whether you're a US or SGU student. If you're truly disliking the island life and class size, then I guess you should go, but be aware that you're likely closing this door forever.

Also, I don't think that dropping out of SGU will look good (even with a 4.0) unless you are make sure to explain why you left on your future applications.

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SGU MS3 (so glad to be done in Grenada!)

You already had a 3.84 GPA when you applied the first time, so while your recent 4.0 was in medical school classes, you already proved you could handle the work previously, so I don't see the change. If it was your MCAT, then maybe you will do better this time around but frankly I am surprised a state school wouldn't accept you since a lot of state schools have ranges around that score (27).

I am not sure how much value your clinical work will hold since you only have like a month before AMCAS is due to get that started and while most clinical exposure is good, the adcom is going to wonder why you didn't just strengthen you application during this year with taking the MCAT and getting in some serious clinical hours.

If SGU isn't for you, then that is another matter, but I think I agree with others on here that the decision should not be made hastily. If it doesn't work out a year from now, will you be wishing you stayed? You would be almost done with basic sciences by then, getting ready to start your last term. You most likely would not be accepted at SGU again, so would you go to Ross or AUC?

Whatever you decide, think long and hard about this decision. You have a 4.0 right now in medical school - you are already IN medical school and you will get your MD if you keep going. Why would you leave? That question will be asked.

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~~SGU MS3~~
Class of 2012