I just received an acceptance to SGU yesterday. I applied for Aug 2004 but was waitlisted and accepted for Jan 2005 instead. My overall GPA was 3.0, science 2.7 and MCAT 24. I have several years of living/volunteer/work experience in developing nations working in public health, and have unsuccessfully applied 3 times to US MD and DO schools before trying SGU. I am extremely happy to finally be accepted, but still am concerned about going to a Carib school. For one, my pre-med advisor is dead set against non-US med schools and says I should instead choose a different career. He thinks I will just be throwing my money away. I need someone to put to rest some concerns, and I hope I don't offend anyone.

1) Does SGU reject anyone, or does everyone just get put on a waiting list until there is room? Like I was accepted for Jan 2005 even though I applied for a different term?

2)Do teachers care about learning and creating great doctors, or are they just there for a paycheck (particularly visiting US profs)? Do visiting US profs teach at SGU because they respect SGU, or because they want to get paid while on a Carribbean vacation?

3)Are IMGs eligible for tuition reimbursement programs, ie trading a year of tuition for a year of volunteer/military service?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Your pre-med advisor is either an idiot or someone who couldn't become a doctor and doesn't want to see others succeed where he failed (I've seen the type).

The Carib "big 3" schools have together produced tens of thousands of practicing u.s. licensed docs. SGU alone would account for at least ten thousand i would imagine, probably higher.

As for the rejection issue, I was rejected from SGU a few wks ago with the same MCAT as you, but a 2.5 GPA. So, yes, it does happen. I think you will generally find that SGU requires a good gpa, and decent, mid 20s mcat score. The Jan and May classes are easier to get into than Sept. which is why they shifted you there, because your gpa/mcat are both below the norm for the fall classes.

I have no idea about tuition reim., nor about the mentality of those that teach/visit there to teach. The fact that the school has been around for almost three decades, having produced thousands and thousands of docs in ALL areas of medicine unlike even its counterparts in the Carib, I think is sufficient testimony to the quality of the profs, regardless of their motives and whatnot.

There are many considerations to make before going offshore. Ross has high attrition, AUC a history of instability and internal strife. The rest aren't even approved coast to coast or Stafford-eligible. But SGU has had none of these issues, is located on a nice island, has a great campus, a superb track record, and is a very safe bet no matter how you look at it.

It's major minus is it is waaaay expensive, but maybe you get what you pay for.

since give or take a few of the details that basically described my situation three years ago, including the part about the pre-med advisor.

I'm a little short on time and am sorry I cannot respond to your bullet points. However, let me just say that I chose to attend SGU and am now half way to graduation. This is the closest I've been to achieving my goal at any point in my life! It's a good feeling!

I hope you find the feedback from other students helpful in making your decision. All the best to you, as you have certainly put in a lot of effort to date.

I am now a 4th year getting ready to apply for residency. I have finished my cores and I can tell you with all honesty that SGU students do just as well academically in the cores as otehr US schools but SGU out does the US students in determination and hard work.

Not every student gets in as the former poster told you. I think for every student accepted there are 5-6 rejections. I beleive 1 out of 3 people interviewed get accepted. I could completely be wrong with these stats but this is what I remember. I think Steph probably has the right Stats.

The profs have a open door policy at SGU. They will go out of their way to make sure you get the help you need whenever you need it. I remember Dr Jordon doing anatomy reviews before exams on the weekends. The professors have no other responsibility aside from teaching students. No research to worry about or grants...etc. The other profs the visiting profs are usually from US medical schools. They like coming down to teach and alot of them have told us that they have SGU grads at their program and they are better than the US grads. That makes one feel real good about our education. And then the overall scores of SGU students and residency list should convince you that SGU students do well.

As far as military reimbursement SGU does not qualify because it is an off shore school. I applied for the Army Health Scholarship and the condition was that it had to be a US school. During med school we dont qualify but they have similar reinbursement programs once we graduate and are doing our residency in the US. You will get money every year to pay off your tuition while you are in residency and then at the end you will serve certain number of years to pay off the military.

Nimitt
4th Year
SGU SOM

I met with Dr Jordan myself at a Canadian orientation earlier this year, and he seemed extremely helpful, answering every question from the audience...very, very nice guy.

IndianBabu

__________________
SGU SOM, Class of 2009
An ex-samosa technician with a big heart from Canada.

Wait til you meet him in the anatomy lab and anatomy lecture...quite different. mumehmumamuhmahmhahaaHAHAHAAHAAHHAHAAHA!

Thanks for all your replies. Two questions about military reimbursement - 1) Do they repay you for money you've already spent on tuition, or do they just help repay outstanding loans?

2) Who gets reimbursement? Is it a competitive program to get into?

1) They pay you a lump sum of money for instance the program I was looking into paid you $30,000 a year plus bonus and other things according to the specialty you are in. In total it came out to about $40-45,000 a year while you are in residency. Then when you get done you repay them by serving time usually one for one. So they dont repay all your loans per se nor do they reimburse the exact amount you spend they Just give you a fixed amount. THen when you are with them you will get your salary based on you comission as a captain and then bonus according to your specialty and you board status. For example I think a surgeon who just passed his surgery boards gets paid more than the internist who passed his boards in bonuses.

2) Is it competitive not really. They will gladly accept those that want to do this because they need the doctors. As long as you pass their physical and their OCS you are fine. I beleive you have to be a US citizen that is one of the only criteria that is a must.

Nimitt
4th year
SGU SOM

Congrats on being accepted. However, this does not mean you'll be handed a diploma 4 yrs later. Hard work and determination is what counts at the end. SGU opens the door for you, its up to you to take the advantage and achieve your goals/dreams.
Instead of worrying about the caliber of SGU and the financial aspect of medical school, you should be focused on how hard you are willing to study and be prepared to make the necessary sacrafices in order to graduate and obtain a decent residency.

As a graduate from SGU, I have nothing but praise for the school and its dedication towards teaching (especially the basic sciences dept). I have completed a residency in medicine and am now a fellow in GI at a university hospital.

I don't mean to sound harsh but I want you to realize that getting into med school is not the hardest part. Its the 4 yrs after that which will be your most challenging ones.

All the best
ERCP

From speakign with students, graduates and doctors (I actually found out about SGU from a graduate of their first class) I have little doubt SGU graduates match or even surpass their American counterparts. I have, unfortunately, fallen prey to some of the prejudices some of my pre-med advisors, pre-med guides and non-SGU doctors have against foreign schools. Of course, to a patient, and MD degree is an MD degree. My physician could have gone to SGU for all I know. I've never asked. I am excited to start in January - I sent in my acceptance! - and I do not think it is going to be easy. The things that prevented me from applying in previous years (this was my 4th time around) however, were the amount of advertising SGU and Ross do. I though that was where tuition money was going. US schools do not advertise as much, if at all. Also, I was concerned by the fact the AAMC does not include it in its list of schools.

Speaking of which, does anyone know why AAMC does not encompass SGU, considering its great track record? Is this just a prejudice on their part? Any chance it may be in the future?

Thanks!