they are loaning us the money not giving it to us. SMU is not like every other school if there are no loans there are no students, no students means no SMU. AUA managed to fully lend their students the money for the semester. UHMS in st. kitts is brand new and has citibank loans. The SMU admin sucks plain and simple no way around it or to dispute it. the school is great but the admin will keep SMU from becoming something special which is what the schools potential is

Fidel doesn't even help his own people! Ask any Cuban-American.

It's definitely a tough situation. They had Doctor's Choice to fill in for Health Xpress and DC dumped out. They always had Teri, and then they went bankrupt.

The new school in St. Kitts is run by the physician who founded Ross. I'd say that gives him a good track record with loan companies.

I think the school will continue to work on loan options. Hopefully, the school assisted funding will be a short-lived thing and they'll find a permanent loan company again. Too bad it can't happen as quick as ordering a happy meal at McDonald's.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds ()
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()

P.S. If students were a high caliber and didn't flunk out or transfer due to failing, it probably would be easier to get loans. Our attrition rate is high, and therefore I'm sure a lot of students default.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds ()
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()

there is no doubt that this loan crisis has definitely torn apart the loan stability of the Carib Med Schools. Just look where everybody is applying into. If you talk to Ross.... this falls class for 1-4 semesters is already full. In the past they've accepted students into the fall class less than a month before classes started. Now.... before the summer term even started, they were already full and not accepting any new applications for this falls class. So... having those stafford loans is worth more than the price of gold right now.... So now what are students options.... because all the rest of the schools are in the same predicament that SMU is in....

You're right.... UMHS in St. Kitts. is another option... They are the only Carib school to have a loan program with Citibank. And..... you don't need a co-signer.... But.... the school was built and founded by the Ross Founder... so Dr. Ross has a lot of connections that made that possible. SMU just doesn't have these connections.

There is no doubt that these are extremely tough/stressful times right now... I was extremely caught off guard last semester when I had to find a co-signer, which I thought was a shoe-in with my parents. Until I talked to them and found out that a loan that they were tied to with their business didn't allow them to take on any more financial liability for 2 years. last minute I found a co-signer that only agreed to co-sign for one semester.... I wasn't about to sit this semester just waiting.... for SMU to announce this new program through their parent company.... especially after seeing how this TAP played out. so I had to apply to another school during the break to transfer after this semester..... because the last thing I want to worry about before block exams here again.... is to find a co-signer, and try to figure out what in the heck I was going to do.

The best we can do, is always try to plan ahead, and hit the books hard to make sure your academics are in order. That way.... hopefully you are able to adapt to conflicts as they arise. This applies to everything... not just SMU.... for instance.... if you own stocks and the market becomes extremely volatile (just as it is now), you should diversify your portfolio so that you are able to adapt and not go under...

__________________

3rd Semester St. Matthews Student
3rd Semester MBA Public Health Admin Student

St. Matthews Forum Moderator

Tons of students leave for other reasons than failing. Here at AUA there are about 15-20 from SMU just this semester that left because the school can't get its act together.

Defaulting on loans implies failure. One does not default if they progress elsewhere, they only default if they fail to progress.

Originally I was a bit perturbed because I was accepted and then pressured by admin to send in the $500 deposit. I wanted to wait and see the results of financial aid, regardless, I followed the admins urgency and sent in my $500.
Later I found out that there was just no way I could qualify for loans. My parents agreed to co-sign and then we saw all of the companies dropping out.
Luckily I applied to a school with federal loans and was accepted.

I am still upset about losing my $500.00 - and if the admin reads this I want my money back.
But I suppose I could be in a worse situation.

Congrats on your acceptance! I know you had to deal with a lot, but glad to hear you're going to be in med school even if it's not with us.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds ()
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()

At least that's what they tell you...

In my first three years in the Caribbean system, I've learned that most of the students aren't the straightest shooters.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds ()
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()

Thanks man!
Yeah, let's just say it hasn't been the easiest road. Looking forward to only worrying about studying.