Thread: For those matching in 2015 or later...

For those going into their second year, or those who are starting in August, I'm curious how you feel about being at Saint George's given the difficulties that could come with matching in 2015 and beyond.

For me, it seems like a risky proposition - the unknown of whether enough spots will be available and if I'll be able to get one of them. Part of me has this fear about being down there and then there being some rash decision during year 2 that only US-trained students are going to be able to match.

Anyway, I'm not trying to stir the pot, but I'd like to get a sense of where others in the same boat are at with this. If you're a current student, are you paying any mind to the prospect of what could happen with residencies? For those going down in August, is this playing into your decision?

Originally Posted by Agent Cooper

I think it's appropriate to say that the great majority of SGU students match into SOMETHING. You have some control over whether or not you match. I think at this point it's justified to hope/believe you will match if you work hard.

The problem for some (no idea if you are in this group or not) is that matching into SOMETHING isn't the goal. The goal is to match into something SPECIFIC. I know when I started at SGU I had a plan that included trying for a very SPECIFIC residency with a very viable backup plan.

Let's say your heart is set on one of those moderately competitive specialties like Gen Surg, or Anesthesia. Telling someone who hopes to spend their days in the OR cutting or gassing that they will match into SOMETHING isn't reassuring at all. I suspect that if you tell someone who really wants to do surgery that they can always do FM/Psych/Neuro (1) and spend all day in clinic that they would be greatly disappointed.

I have known several people from SGU who were not able to get into the specialty of their choice, sometimes even after 2 years of research and a prelim year after which they accept that it isn't going to happen and match into a less competitive specialty. Yes, they finally matched into SOMETHING but were not happy about the situation.

Right now I have a friend at SGU who is in the bottom 10% of their class and is terrified that in March 2013 they will be without a residency and be in an even more disadvantageous situation.

Yes, you have some control your ultimate match results. However, your control is limited by the 2 ton rock that sits on you labeled ECFMG. And to get away from that rock you may have to cut off your arm with a pocket knife which kind of limits your ability to do surgery.

Finally, it makes for a really weak slogan. "SGU - You'll match into SOMETHING"

(1) Again, not saying that FM/Psych/Neuro are in any way less or inferior to surgery, just that the numbers show they are easier to obtain. To be clear FM/Psych/Neuro are NOT in any way less or inferior to any other specialty. Any other conclusion is your own.

Originally Posted by jjesusfreak01

Its my understanding that this has nothing to do with the quality of the education at SGU and everything to do with the fact that the LCME accredits US schools only.

If they are legally capable of accrediting SGU and they would consider doing so, SGU needs to open up the checkbook and sign on the dotted line.

One of my procrastination tools has been researching medical education, credentialing, residency issues, etc.

LCME has no national or geographic limitations per se. Canadian schools are LCME accredited. The biggest hurdle for SGU is its for-profit status, because LCME accreditation has never been granted to a for-profit school. However, there is a loophole in the LCME rules, which could allow a school to get around this for-profit issue as longs as they strongly affiliate themselves with a non-profit entity. This is the loophole that the Palm Beach Medical College in Florida is trying to use to get accreditation. If it's successful, it it will be the 1st for-profit MD school accredited, and on US soil to boot.

Just fyi, the first for-profit DO school is Rocky Vista which opened in Colorado a few years ago and is now fully accredited by the osteopathic accreditation body. Rocky Vista is owned by the same people who own/run Ross. Rocky Vista is graduating their first class this year. I have no clue how they fared in the Match this year, but I know that Rocky Vista cut a deal with a hospital in Pueblo, CO (which is really pretty remote and backwoods, no offense to anyone from Pueblo, CO) to open a IM residency program there specifically for their graduates. I'm assuming this was to make sure that half their graduating class didn't end up unemployed (bad for business advertising).

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

LCME has no national or geographic limitations per se. Canadian schools are LCME accredited.

From the LCME Rules of procedure:

The LCME does not accredit educational programs leading to the M.D. degree in institutions that are chartered outside the United States and Canada, nor programs located and provided in foreign countries by U.S. or Canadian medical schools.

The terms “United States” and “Canada” refer to those geographic locations where citizens are issued passports by the governments of the United States and Canada respectively.

From what I've understood from reading about the LCME they'd need approval from the US Department of Education if they wanted to expand their scope.

Originally Posted by Phrenetic

The biggest hurdle for SGU is its for-profit status, because LCME accreditation has never been granted to a for-profit school.

While that is a hurdle I think SGU's location is the far bigger one.

The day Grenada becomes a part of USA is the day SGU might get LCME accreditation.

Originally Posted by MerlinDoc85

The day Grenada becomes a part of USA is the day SGU might get LCME accreditation.

Let's work on Puerto Rico first.

I admit I did not read all of the previous posts (just the first few). Some of the residency programs are decreasing their numbers as well. For instance, ETSU IM program only took 20 new interns this past match instead of 40. I know this is just one program that I know of but that is a pretty big drop.

Also, we actually have a SGU student who matched into a plastics fellowship after surgery. If you go to PGY 6 and beyond you will see his name somewhere.

I vote for American Samoa.

Originally Posted by Salama

Let's work on Puerto Rico first.

Originally Posted by Agent Cooper

Yeah. The OP asked if we worry about matching, and a few people responded with some serious concern, so I'm playing devil's advocate a little bit. I'm not trying to totally dismiss what's been said. Sure it's quite prudent to have realistic expectations about the match. And one needs to make an informed decision before they commit to SGU, but I've said that already.

I think it's appropriate to say that the great majority of SGU students match into SOMETHING. You have some control over whether or not you match. I think at this point it's justified to hope/believe you will match if you work hard. Phrenetic, I bet you will match. I honestly believe I will match or I wouldn't be here. So being that I've been on the island for a year, should I walk around with a s#!t attitude, drop out maybe, or should I continue to work my tail off and be optimistic? I'm here. How does it help to agonize over the match when this is what I believe? Call that "cavalier" if you like.

A great majority of the 50% that drop out match! That's something to consider.

Originally Posted by apatite

A great majority of the 50% that drop out match! That's something to consider.

Do you just subscribe to this forum to just go around random school threads to post asinine comments? Nice.

Originally Posted by thxleave

Do you just subscribe to this forum to just go around random school threads to post asinine comments? Nice.

I don't think I am posting "asinine" comments. Why don't you just say stupid comment lol you want to sound intelligent?? hehehe The attrition rate is very high in SGU and other Caribbean medical schools. Its somewhere around 50%!!! which is ridiculous in my opinion. I was just trying to point out that 98% of the 50% that are left match into residency. It's a fact! It's just reality my friend. Is it a bad thing that I am letting the prospective students know they are going down a risky road?