Dear students and prospective students,

St. James has done there best to screw all the students transferring out of their school including me. Let me tell you what's going on..... When we all first started they made us sign a letter to pay them 4000 dollars if we left the school before finishing Basic Sciences (16 months). This was a letter sent in along with the admissons packet. We signed and expected to receive a decent education and services while we were there. Well, since then they have lost financial aid, they don't have professors to teach some of their classes, or they come in 2 months late, and their services have dwindled.

Many people tranferred to Xavier which made the President angry. He said in a student meeting before we left, <Don't transfer to Xavier, transfer anywhere but there>. He called Xavier a bunch of names, etc. Many people left because of financial aid not being provided, so many left SJ not of our own volition. Others left due to poor facilities or no teachers. Now, St. James won't realease any transcripts.

Why won't SJ release any transcripts? Let me tell you the horsecrap that you have to go through to get a transcript. FIRST, you have to pay 50 dollars to SJ just to let them know you are transferring. And on the form they ask you if its a school in or out of Bonaire. If you mark "in Bonaire" then they want you to show proof that you have officially transferred to Xavier due to liability reasons. SECOND, then they want you to send 25 dollars for the transcript. But, they won't send it out without you paying the 4000 dollar administration fee for all the "work" they did to get you to the island. Some reasons are: immigration, Housing (thats a joke, you have to get your own housing), admissions, etc. Well let me enlighten everyone on this load of crap. When you signed up at St. James, you paid a hefty 2000 dollars administration fee to cover all these things. So what does this amount to. A bunch of lies. They did this to deter anyone from transferring.

Third, if you try calling them, they send you to some admin lackey to field all the calls.

Well, I just have one thing to say. This will not hold up in court, I assure you. Where is the guarantee of service that comes along with signing a contract like this. Or the assumption of "good faith". Problem is there is none. When you don't supply proper services or faculty then SJ has breached its "good faith" aspect. Also, you cannot hold students transcripts out of duress. So, if SJ thinks we are gonna accept the rhetoric given to us then they are wrong.

I warn any student thinking of attending St. James, to think again. The low this school has sunk too is sad. It has become a dirty game playing school that really doesn't want to keep students by improving and growing but by trying to intimidate them.

If it was a doub in anyone's mind before about the school's intentions then it shouldn't be anymore. All Carribean schools think about money but SJ is showing that MONEY is all they care about.

Ask yourself this, have you ever seen ANY carribean or U.S school have such a nasty way of doing business.

Frankenstone

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I am older than I look.

It is a shame that you are having such a hard time. This is not unlike alot of private schools. I recently couldn't get a graduate student to enroll in a program because he couldn't get his undergraduate transcript at a Florida University sent to us because they said he still owed some student fees and tuition. It can be agonizing. It will probably cost you more to get a lawyer than to pay. The worse part is that it is probably a legal contract you signed, and it would become a "he said she said" argument in the courts if you argued about their services, etc. It would all boil down to is it a legal document and did you know what you were signing at the time. Many US schools including ours now are trying to get students to sign forms that they will always pay out of state tuition rates, even though they can become a state resident and pay lower tuition after a year. A big difference there of 30 thousand per year. It's all about money up here too.

That maybe true for a University providing full services and such with accountability, but when a Foreign School like St. James tries to tell students that Illinois laws apply to a Bonaire run school well that is not true. St. James tried this crap before and the students took them to court on the island and the students won. St. James was mandated to give transcripts. Why were they even holding students transcripts in the first place??,....no reason to except to "punish" people for leaving to Xavier. Make it tough for them - no other reason period. Not paying tuition is one thing but penalties for leaving the school because the school no longer offers financial aid or other student want to go to different school is 100% REDICULOUS. There is NO COMPARISON to the situation with the transcripts with St. James and owing tuition to a US University. Give me a break..... you don't see the difference??

There is already previous precedent established that St.James has to give transcripts. I don't think any student who had to leave for financial aid reasons should be having there transcripts witheld because of their rediculous 4000 dollar clause. That was a factor beyond the students control. Either way, just because you sign something doesn't mean it will hold up in court. Especially if it says at the bottom, laws of Illinois apply.

One person going to court, might be expensive but, 15 people can manage it. Maybe we can sue for punitive damages and/or court costs.

IF ST. JAMES WILL JUST GIVE THE FREAKIN TRANSCRIPTS LIKE ANY DECENT SCHOOL SHOULD THEN THAT WILL END THIS WHOLE DIALOGUE.

I never thought the school could get so rediculous.

This policy would qualify as LEGALLY UNETHICAL in any court.

Frankenstone

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I am older than I look.

WOWW!
I need to think twice about that application I sent there!!!

It's realllly scarryyyyy!

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Something that bothers you, just flush it off and wipe the remaining patiently. RS-Stanislas

I have read two "legal" documents produced by SJSM and it was evident no attorney was involved in creating either document. One even alleged that Antillean law applied, yet disputes would be resolved in Illinois. That's so farsical that it's funny.

I would inquire at the court if the previous documents related to students suing for their transcripts was available. If memory serves me right, there was a clause in the decision about future students and their transcripts which is what prompted SJSM to come up with this ridiculous fee idea. Legally, transcripts and residency permits are separate issues and if the Bonaire campus is going to represent itself as a government agency processing residency papers for a fee the Antillean authorities might take an interest.

Something else to check out: the Antillean government delineated a process for students transferring to other schools and I think it involved leaving the island and reapplying for residency papers, etc. That process was to become effective December 31, 2005 and suggests that there were no requirements prior.

I would either obtain a copy of the court order and "refresh" SJSM's memory or contact the local attorney who represented the students. XUSOM has her contact info.

Something else to keep in mind: when I experienced my difficulties obtaining my transcript I had a school administrator from my new school contact SJSM and experience the lies first hand. Based on that experience, my new school waived the transcript requirment.

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Life is sexually transmitted.

Frankenstone and Mr. Pryor:

As a person who knows each of you, I am disappointed and embarrassed for you. I thought you were both mature individuals who made a decision to pursue your medical education elsewhere. I respected and supported those decisions at the time because I understand that we all have different educational needs. While St. James works for me, it obviously does not for you. That's cool.

And now that you apparently have made it your mission in life to slander and bash St. James at every opportunity, I no longer have the same feelings toward each of you.

Do you think maybe you have a problem with the St. James administrators because of YOUR personality? You signed documents KNOWING the potential outcome and agreed to the terms. If I remember correctly, you BOTH posted extremely POSITIVE postings regarding the school in the past. And, BOTH of you actually WORKED for Dr. xxxx. In fact, Frankenstone's wife painted the school sign! (When according to immigration laws no student can work on the island.) Now you are 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Every educational institution has issues. Are you going to walk away from the current school when they tell you something you don't want to hear? Xavier is no bed of roses either Frankenstone. And while you love it now, there will be problems guarenteed.

As an intelligent person, I can read between the lines and say, "These guys have issues." What I struggle to understand, is why not just walk away? Really? What are you gaining by these crazy actions? Don't you have lives? Or do you just sit around and think of ways to slander St. James?

I mean, you are both in medical school? Why aren't you studying?

I've had my transcript request processed at St. James with no problem. I also was given an opportunity to confirm my grades, which were accurate, prior to leaving Bonaire. No school in the US gives transcripts to students who owe money. Check it out. There is a notice on every transcript request that clearly states no official transcript will be given until all fees are paid. Deal with it.

In addition, I've also been without financial aid and survived at St. James with 100% of their support and tuition deferrment.

I successfully completed boards and am gearing up for clinicals.

As a former classmate and friend, please, let go of St. James and move on with your life. I'm afraid if you don't, you'll never accomplish your goal of becoming a physician.

I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavors.

To the contrary...I don't have any issues with SJSM. In fact, the last conversation I had with the president of the school was cordial and he assisted me in obtaining my transcripts...due to the failure of one of his minions to act appropriately and who then lied to me and others to cover up. Nonetheless, the transcript issue at SJSM is ongoing, to the needless detriment of students. It is a ridiculous matter and the tactics used are deplorable. That you haven't been involved is great for you. Had you encountered a problem, I'm sure you wouldn't have been pleased.

If you're honest, you'll have to admit that if either Frankenstone or I had a mission to slander or bash SJSM we'd have ample topics to choose. I haven't for a couple of reasons...you and others in your situation being one of them. I have no desire to harm the school in any manner or cast aspersions on its students. I have friends who remain there and I wish them all the best. The problems that SJSM has are unique to the school, yet every other Caribbean school also has unique problems. It is nonsensical to critique problems unless they are generated needlessly...such as the transcript issue. That is neither slander nor bashing.

BTW, I never was asked to sign any contract with the school that indicated that money would be owed if I left the program. That was a complete non-issue in my circumstance. In addition, I didn't have any unresolved financial issue with SJSM (other than them owing me money) so their balking at releasing my transcript was flawed in any perspective.

Your contention that I am now against the school is erroneous and I defy you to produce any statement indicating that I am. I can produce statements of continued support for the school. Why? Because it is still a ticket to a seat to the USMLE, which is the only reason I went there.

If you have emotional ties to the school, good for you. I think that's normal. But it's a fallacy of logic to think that your feelings are shared by others. Certainly, Frankenstone and I worked to make the school better. That's the kind of people we are. He's doing the same for his new school (I'm not...they're doing very well without my input). But support and criticism are two sides to the same coin. Otherwise, you're simply a toad voicing one opinion. I continue to get emails from potential students and I still give them the same advice as before---yes, you can get to the USMLE through SJSM and you'd better check with your own state regarding licensure. If I intended to bad-mouth the school I have had ample opportunity and the perfect vehicle to do so. Do your own research...you won't find me doing so.

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Life is sexually transmitted.

Orthochick,

If you think I am bashing the school then you have never attended St. James. I could write a short novel on the shortcommings of St. James but I don't. If you don't see the error in not providing transcripts to the students and the response by the Admin then you truly are blind. Who are you to criticize me. You say J- and I "WORKED" for xxxx?? That is crap. I never received one cent from xxxx. And the money received from xxxx for the sign was to cover the cost of materials. If you know me so well then tell me who you are. OR do I have to find out myself. If you really respected me in the past then you would be supporting the students.

Did you know that there are others on this tuition deferment and because SDt. James still doesn't have loans they are caught without having tuition AND owing the school for it. So you so-called fellow students are really in a bind. They owe the school tuition and they don't have the money still. And your telling me that I am just bashing the school. You don't have a clue.

WHAT IS WRONG IS WRONG. PERIOD.

What....IT was ok when I defended the school but when they do something blatantly wrong and I tell the truth suddenly you lost respect for me. Then, I never needed your kind of respect.

You say I knew the consequences. Yeah, right. When the operations guy tells me that if I transfer because of no loans it would be understandable and they would not withold my transcripts and then they do. Its wrong. Me leaving the school was mostly about financial aid. St. James not having any loans. So how the heck am I supposed to stay. And I will not in any way go into debt owing tuition. And tuition "deferment" does not pay the living expenses. I don't know exactly who you are but you need to really look at the problem here.

If your worried that all this negative publicity is hurting the school, then the answer is yes. If he has a problem with transferring students then he should get loans, deal with Xavier directly, listen to the students and actually improve the school and faculty. Maybe you should be emailing xxxx about why they are doing this to the students. Not trying to complain against the facts here. You are on a losing argument.

If Xavier has problems then so far they have been minor. And at least you have someone to talk to and address the problems. So unless SJ admin start acting like a decent institution again I will let everyone know what they have done here.

Frankenstone

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I am older than I look.

please everyone, take to heart- you may disagree all you like but you may NOT flame other users or insult them.

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

Good for you Stephew. Non of us knows all the facts and it is a personal problem between the students and their schools. There are always two sides to every argument and I prefer not to take sides. I would try to have the current school waive the transcript requirement as suggested. Good luck