My daughter started in August 2003. She did not like Grenada and still does not like it. She went through Ivan and spent a term in Miami (she liked it). Then she went to St. Vincent; in the beginning she felt that it was OK, but as the time went by she ended up hating that island as well; I am not going to get into details why as many are well known and have been mentioned many times ad nauseam. She felt and still does, that with a few exceptions the professors (visiting or non-visiting) at SGU sucked; even the one from Johns Hopkins (she taught bio-stats) fell into that category. She studied a lot; in fact she believes that her whole stay in Grenada, Miami and St. Vincent was a mammoth individual study excersize. Her GPA after the completion of the two years of basic sciences stands at 3.51. Her debt load now stands at something like $135000. She took the 6 weeks Kaplan course in New Jersey to prepare for her USMLE Step 1 test. She told me that the Kaplan instructors, with one exception, were amazing, way superior to anything she had encountered at SGU (their knowledge, clarity, focus, communications skills and the list could go on and on, absolutely outstanding). The costs associated with the course, including food and hotel accomodation were approximately $8000. Yesterday she received her USMLE Step 1 Score Report; it read 224/91. In less than three weeks she will start her core clinicals. Do you think SGU is worth it? You must decide for yourself.
Both my daughter and I feel that SGU is worth it and more.
Thank you SGU!!!

After reading your rant, it sounds more like Kaplan was worth it than SGU. Another question, would you still feel that way if she had received a 182/75 on step 1?

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2006 Basketball National Champions + 2006 Football National Champions + 2007 Basketball National Champions
God must be a Florida Gator fan because everyday at sunset the sky turns orange and blue!!!

Its great to be a Florida Gator!!

I don't think he was ranting..

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The message was intended for many prospective students who want to learn as much as possible about SGU and the performance of students attending that university. Inspite of all difficulties, discomforts and displeasures that are part of every day SGU life during basic sciences, even somebody like my daughter did very well; and if you believe even for one minute that without the solid foundation she acquired at SGU she would have been able in six short weeks to reach a level of perfomance enabling her to get a fairly decent score then I have a bridge on the moon that I want to sell...

congratulations and thanks for the post.

i disagree that the professors sucked. the professors for the most part were great! they taught relevant information which carried me right into my clinical years. before i go further...i am now a 4th year student at st. george's. i recently did 2 away rotations at 2 great us schools...and the students at both schools did nothing but complain about their basic science years. over and over i heard how professors would come in and talk only about their research and interest and completely leave basic science out of the lecture. the students did not even go to class, but instead would stay home and just read the textbooks.

living in grenada and st. vincent was a sacrifice...but in the end the experience and culture was well worth it. i would put my education up against any other american school. i did well on both step 1 and step 2.

of course if you can get into an US school then do it...no brainer...but i would definitely say that st. george's is the next best option.

..............

this is not a comment about ross or auc or saba but it does matter where you go particularly for a competitive residency. Any individual may buck the trend but there are better odds from some places. Just lke in the us.

As for Dad: there is nothing wrong with his or his daughter's views. they are honest and fair. They dont reflect my experience (most of the time anyway) but its the sum of the impressions that one get's here that makes this forum worthwhile. And BTW I was NOT the JHH person refered to who taught stats (I did however act as stats tutor for my class and I was good!).

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Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

Just a few comments:
Dad and his daugther are entitled to their opinions. Congrats on a great step I score...believe me, it will take your daughter a long way!! (I know). I disagree that most of the SGU professors suck. There are many who are excellent teachers (a certain embryo prof for example) and some who really do suck (a certain micro prof if he's still there).
For the most part, many of the SGU profs are really interested in teaching rather than it being a distraction for them from a lab or other research. Also, I'm glad that you think the debt and sweat was worth it. We all have different experiences through SGU and I thoroughly enjoyed mine - loved both islands and would go back in a heartbeat. Unfortunately for some, the experience is not as enjoyable. This cannot be helped - some will like it, some won't, but the end result is the same if the sacrifice is made: M.D.

DrB, the professional student, your statistical analyses and other rants are a bit old now. I think we all agree that there are many viable options to attain that beloved degree - be it caribbean, eastern european or whatever. Everything has to be weighed - not just the cost factor.

Gator98MD, all I have to say is sept 3rd, first game of the season, I'll be in Ben Hill Griffin doing the gator chomp for you!!