Hey everyone.
ok, here's the deal: the website clearly states that SJSM is recognized by the canadian student loan program and therefore students are eligible to receive loans. I called them today and spoke to a rep who stated that SJSM is not recognized to receive any loans from the Canadian gov't. Yet another discrepancy! When I called SJSM and spoke to the financial aid dep't they only gave me the contact info for RBC and BMO. They didn't seem concerned about the misleading info on the website.
I also spoke to the clinical co-ordinator to get an update on clinical sites. She informed me that the list of hospitals on the website has changed. They have also lost Dekalb Medical Centre in Atlanta because SJSM is not affiliated with LCME. Is this a requirement of caribbean med schools? How would this effect one's chances of obtaining licensure in the future.
My concern is that there have been so many discrepancies and I don't want any surprises later. Also, what other loan options are available?
Thanks to all that reply.

If you go to this site for BC you will find that St. James is a "Designated School". This means that at least in BC you will be able to get student loans. How much you will really gets I dont know.

From https://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/sfas-bin/...SAINT+JAMES&p4


Hope this helps.

thanks. What about Ontario?

If you go to this website, do a 'School Search':
OSAP Main Page

You can also go here for more info: General OSAP Information


And if the school of your choice is not listed, you can always request the school to be listed -- take a look at the website.

ok, here's what i got about that a while ago:

the school is not approved for us to get either OSAP or canada student loans. however, if you do have existing loans with them, you can keep them on an interest-free status as long as st james fills out the form. the school may one day be approved for loans since it has to do with how many years the school has been in existence (or at least that is how i understood it). so much for that.

the school is, however, on the canadian list of approved foreign medical schools (for a lack of better description of the list). out of all the schools in the antilles, only st james, saba and i believe one more are on the list. so, if you go to, let's say RBC, the first thing they do is look at that list. since st james is on it, you are immediately eligible for a loan up to $150,000. Canadian, of course.

u have pretty much answered the questions about canadian loans here...the reason osap hasn't been approved since there hasn't been a significant amount of ppl applying to it...hence there was no need....also the amount given by osap to caribbean medical schools isn't sufficient if u look into the mater a bit more.....

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In order for a medical school to be approved by OSAP, it has to be in existance for at least 10 yrs -> per OSAP

thanks for all your help guys!

"the school is not approved for us to get either OSAP or canada student loans. however, if you do have existing loans with them, you can keep them on an interest-free status as long as st james fills out the form."

Does anyone know what form SJSM has to fill out and where I can get the form.... i've been trying to sort out this whole thing since I got here. The main issue that OSAP said to me was that the school didn't reach the 10 year minimum. I can't remember though when SJSM qualifies, but it might be soon.

.... from canada, your get a tax return.... for going to Saint James... i dont know anything about a canadian loan...... i never heard of such a thing, i know that you can get some kind of loan for being an international student from ontario, but i never heard of a specific loan for saint james that connects to canada... Canada is known to give loans to all students no matter what school u go to... now im not half sure on what im saying is true or not, im sure ill be flamed like mad. but this is how i understand how things work for canadian students studying abroad.

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