The TRUTH About CARIBBEAN MEDICAL SCHOOLS
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
- Medical school is insanely competitive. In the most recent data available from the AAMC, only about 41% of applicants were ultimately accepted to a U.S. medical school. Osteopathic D.O. schools have been gaining in popularity in recent years as well, forcing less competitive applicants to turn to Caribbean medical schools in pursuing their dreams of becoming a doctor. Are Caribbean medical schools a good option? Here are the pros and cons.
It’s important to understand that the medical school you attend is not the final determinant in whether or not you’ll be a good physician. I know a great deal of highly [impressive physicians who trained at Caribbean medical schools, and other physicians who trained in the U.S. who are not as impressive. That being said, we believe in full transparency and making educated decisions.
At Med School Insiders, we’re surprised how commonly Caribbean medical schools are suggested and recommended to pre-med applicants, without regard for the significant drawbacks.
Benefits (Pros)
01:07 Less Competitive
01:49 Excellent Climate
02:08 Rolling Admissions
Drawbacks (Cons)
02:27 Difficulty Matching into U.S. Residency Programs
03:00 Cut Throat Culture
03:50 Limited Specialty Flexibility (For Competitive Specialties)
05:00 Inconsistent Quality of Training
05:37 Increased Cost
05:39 Are Caribbean Medical Schools Right for You?
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Disclaimer: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. The content and associated links provide general information for general educational purposes only. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Kevin Jubbal, M.D. and Med School Insiders LLC will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.
If there's one thing I value, it's being open and honest. While this video may not have the information you wanted to here, the truth is what you need to hear. Thanks for watching.
Hear, not here.
Troubling that you apparently failed to proof-read what you wrote.
Just wanted to give hope to anyone watching. I went to a big 3 Carib medschool and failed my step 2 ck on my first attempt. Thought I was doomed after not matching. Studied hard, took it again and passed, did well. Worked for a year as a tutor. Matched the following year into FM residency. I'm working as a traveling hospitalist, life is good. Never give up on your dreams. Work hard and you can get there.
Congratulations!😊👋🏾👨🏾⚕️🏨
Congrats!!
Love this thank u sooo much for ur wisdom
Good hope! I also just finished at Auc. Was mediocre at best. Of course I could have worked a lot harder but I was an average student, average to less than average step scores and I applied psych and fm. Had 20+ interviews and matched at my number 2 spot psychiatry at a university based program. I could not have asked for a better medical school experience. Also, every one of my psych interviews I was the only IMG interview along with US students. Where I matched, half of us are IMGS and the other half are US grads.
@@Sexdewana I really wish people that never went to a Carib school would STOP giving their opinion. Great Job btw.
Only 57% get matched? Its the stress of premed all over again. No thanks. Also the weather/beaches might be nice, but you'll be at home studying 24/7, so think twice about that.
One thing that @medschooinsider and almost every influencer out there forgets to mention about the medical schools in Puerto Rico. Even though Puerto Rico is in the Carribbean, PR is a US territory, and therefore all 4 medical schools in PR are actually acreddited by the LCME. All the schools have match rates higher than 75%, my school this year had a 85% match rate. In my school half of the class are students who lived in US Mainland (I can't say US students because all puertoricans are US citizens since 1918, therefore everyone in our class is a US citizen). Only downfall is that you need to learn Spanish.
Only 57%...wow... Wish I could have said something similar. That match is huge af. In India about 1.3 million apply and 60k get accepted.... Yeah... The match rate is pretty abysmal.
30 hours a week of studying isn't 24/7....
Shashank .K But don’t you apply in India straight out of high school? Regardless, that’s a completely different scenario than the U.S.
When we talk about matching, we’re referring to medical school graduates. So, these are people who have gone through at least four years of undergrad (many have master’s degrees and PhDs btw) who have made it through medical school (at least four more years) and accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. The thought of wasting your entire youth and being in a lifetime of debt to only have a 57% chance (which is actually lower because these are just the people who made it through their programs) at actually getting practice is horrifying. Unless your family is incredibly wealthy, it’s a risk that is never worth taking.
@Brent F Agreed. If you're going to go the Caribbean route (totally legitimate and a valid option if your US chances didn't go so well), I'd keep it to one of four. St. George's, Ross, AUC, and AUA are probably the four to consider. Although I'm biased, I am an SGU grad who matched into a competitive specialty.
I hear Caribbean, I think pirates of the caribbean:
"It maybe the best medschool I have ever seen."
Haha I get it
How to Medicate so it may seem
Getting into a Caribbean medicls school is easier. Staying in one is significantly harder. I finished in a Carib school. You cannot match in super competitive residencies such as dermatology. I disagree with the less collaborative atmosphere drawback. We all tried to look out for each other because we are all in it together.
What School did you go to?
How about now?
Update?
I'm a 4th year from a Caribbean med school and I completely agree with this video. I've mad hundreds of videos on the topic
Rae's Med School Vlogs do you know anything about MUA?
Hi i am indian 12+ student thinkng to get admited into texila american university so pl guide me as i dont hv much idea abt this...i am intsting in appering for USMLE ..pl guide
@@zheel123 I also want the same suggestion. 12 th pass student from India
He's absolutely right. I go to a caribbean school and its cut-throat. You need to have realistic expectations when going to them. At the end of the day, these are for-profit businesses and you're just a number. Many of them are known for making tests and standards extremely difficult to weed out students or to get them to repeat. For me, time was a factor and I couldn't afford to take a year off to improve my credentials. It's all really based on individual circumstances. If I could do it all over again, I'd def have tried harder to get into a US school. Do your research before making a decision. All the best.
Which school did you attended?
hi guys, hes absolutely correct on all his points. I am an attending in a caribean medical school. My school has has ridiculous attrition rate, and make the final exam (NBME) worth 45% of the grade and the CBSE is worth 35% of the grade. Year 2 is basically teaching yourself to survive the cut-throat policy.
Larry V which school are you at?
Do you mind sharing which school you are attending?
@@RoyallyPrincess sgu
Any info on St Georges in Grenada
@@cherileerush2193 what would you like to know?
Great video!! I personally know SO MANY IMGs who matched into U.S. residencies. I myself attend a Caribbean school (Top 4). Greatness comes from within, not from the school you go to. Like he said in the video, you can find great IMG docs and horrible US docs and vice versa. If a Caribbean school is your only option, do not be discouraged! Work hard and persevere. Good luck!
JennMedArt I mean, it’s not terrible, but you’re better off doing a 1 year SMP with linkage to a med school. If you got it you’ll make it. If you don’t then it’s better to fail now than when you’re about to start third year and bomb step 1 or don’t match with way more debt.
Do you mind sharing which school you are attending?
@@RoyallyPrincess Ross University School of Medicine 🙂
@@Dreamer-kd2jv I agree, I'm just trying to let people know that it is very possible
@@JennMedArt That's awesome! I've recently been accepted at Ross and am planning to attend this fall! How are you liking Ross so far? Are you living in Barbados or are you doing clinical rotations? I've been trying to find students who currently live in Barbados and find out their experiences. Most student life experiences I find are from students who lived in Dominica.
This has been my question for years🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
indeed, haha
As an IMG I wholeheartedly agree with what this videos says. Things worked out for me, but I consider myself a lucky one who dodged a lot of bullets along the way. I would recommend taking a year off to strengthen the application as this video suggests. Good job!
Hey Dr. Joe!
@@yurigiron6802 hey Yuri!
Do you recommend applying for med school and then if you don’t get in to take another year to strengthen your application?
Exactly! Do a masters/bridge program or a postbac
I personally know and have shadowed a family practice doctor who attended a Caribbean med school. During his time in the carribean his island was hit by a hurricane. The plane they were put on to evacuate to the US crashed. Those who survived were placed randomly all over the country for their rotations. He still scored amazing on Step 1 and was chief resident at Mayo Clinic. So take from that what you will.
I know another carribean med student whose school was hit by a hurricane as well two years ago. They were shipped to a vacant med school building in TN.
So, I think Hurricanes are my biggest concern tbh.
LOL I've lived in Florida most of my life and we were only hit by a real hurricane and that was before you were born. The media spins hurricanes as a yearly end of the world event. It isn't!!!
Average MCAT’s and GPA’s are much, much higher for Canadian medical schools. It’s pretty insane how competitive it’s getting; it’s hard to fault anyone for going the Caribbean route, especially when they’re stellar applicants that are getting fucked by the system. Still need to be wary of securing residency afterwards though
Peace be to you! Thanks for covering THIS! I felt so ashamed for not getting into medical school that I was SERIOUSLY considering this! Ross and Montserrat looked like good programs. I didn't consider things like issue discussed in this video. I also didn't consider the HUGE amount of money spent travelling. The good Lord guided me to the PA profession. I SHOULD say that some of my erstwhile PA classmates went the Caribbean route and are Doctors now. I wish you all the VERY best of succes in your positive endeavors. Medicine is a great profession. I hope those of you striving for that MD/DO get it!😊
I went to a Caribbean school for three years transferred to a US school, repeated my MS3 then matched into Integrated Plastics. It can be done but it is tough and everybody will tell you it's impossible. If you want a cometitive residency don't go to a Caribbean school.
Mitchell Lyons do you know anything about MUA?
I’m in a similar situation, what school did you transfer to? Looking to transfer.
They let you transfer some credits?
@@Ditkasdozen US schools allow Caribbean transfers. The credits are not issues in these cases, it’s step scores and passing a year in the states. Most will set you back to start year 3 to prove you’re worth their diploma. I do agree though that Caribbean students are still matching to competitive specialties.
@@Ditkasdozen what you’re saying is anecdotal. I know two students at my Caribbean school that transferred in from US programs, and were not held back to day 1 year 1. They did make them take our last semester of basic sciences class however. Several US schools have transfer policies, and although my experience here is anecdotal, I know of one school that accepts Caribbean students if they have spots open. They do make them repeat year 3 however. Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it’s not true or actually happens. It may be rare, you’re not looking for it, or ill-informed. Now, there could be factors that no one sees, i.e. knowing someone high up in the staff food chain in order to get in, but that is unknown.
For people like me who are nontraditional students coming to medicine later in life makes getting into US medical schools incredibly difficult. If you are a blue-collar former construction worker going back to school with limitted resources you are unlikely to understand how to put a good application together for medical schools in the US. Ultimately, I would take the Pepsi challenge with the education I received as a Caribbean grad. Difficulty matching really depends on how good you are and your scores, the cut throat culture is real but it makes you an animal if you survive it, limitted specialty flexibility is real (don’t expect orthopedics, neurosurgery even if you scores indicate you are a stud), Quality of training depends on the school in my opinion SGU and Ross have the best reputations, increased cost is a fact these schools are giving you a chance when no one else would, and that comes with a price.
Definitely, I know where you are coming from. I was in a bad environment as a teenager; I have a criminal record from then (not super bad stuff but stuff like fighting), and substance abuse problems. However, growing older and out of that environment I decided to get educated, began with adult ed, then gen ed, and decided to major in psyc, but since last year I've realized that I enjoy science and medicine so much. And I decided to that I can become a doctor some day, but with my "bad past" a Caribbean med school my be my only option.
Rich 91 what’s AA school ? Sorry if I sound ignorant on the subject. I’m currently a pre-nursing major set to get into a nursing school (RN) and I’m interested in CRNA school. And you said it’s 100,000/150,000 that’s quite a lot and kinda on the level of Med school debt (low side)
@@PatreceJoyce AA, Anesthesiologist Assistant
Please, any US pre meds. DO NOT go overseas for med school. As a US-IMG it is a massive headache. At the end of the day you’ll be a great doctor wherever you go if you work hard that’s not really the issue. The stigma you’ll carry and the challenges of living in an another country far outweigh most reasons people have for leaving.
How could living in the Caribbean be so hard?
Edit: Other than hurricanes of course haha
Landon Parmer I wish I went to the Caribbean!😂 I was naive after high school and thought going to med school at a 5 year program in the Middle East for less time and money was the smart thing to do. There are no pros besides cost and time saved, and that doesn’t outweigh the cons AT ALL. Most Americans (especially 18 y/o me) don’t know how much easier life is stateside.
Bottom line for US pre meds. There is almost 0 good reason for putting yourself through an international med school. Work harder at home😭
@@landonp.4073 If you only knew... Dealing with the rigor demand of medical school work/study load in addition to culture differences, electricity going out almost every day, and dealing with the stress and anxiety of obtaining a higher Step 1 score, plus matching into a US residency program... US med school is of course hard but doing all of that in the Caribbean is even harder...[depending on the Caribbean location]. It takes a huge toll on your comfort level and mental health at least from my perspective...
@@hockeydude471 is the stigma bothering you or is it how hard it was to get a US residency?
Earthling108 Sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear before, I haven’t finished yet. I’m only 21 in my third year. Right now of course the uncertainty of matching and being able to go home is a massive stress. As I progress the other aspects of the process show some pretty annoying bias. A couple examples
1) certain specialities are incredibly competitive for IMGs. A lot of places don’t even wanna look at your application regardless of what your tests scores are or any other qualifications. It seems some specialities pride them selves on how few IMGs they have.
2) elective rotations, certain prestigious US institutions, list on their websites that US-IMGs are ineligible to even apply to rotate with them. Whereas non-citizens are able to do up to 3 months of rotations.
3) even within “non-competitive” specialities, there are plenty of high quality programs with average step 1 scores in the 220-230 range that would never give you the time of day even if you’re at 250+, simply because you’re a US IMG.
See ultimately, when you don’t go to a US school, you get yourself labeled as damaged goods. Doesn’t really matter why or when you went, you’re damaged goods indefinitely. No one wants that, but not everyone (18y/o me) really grasps the depth of it.
Ultimately, medicine is extremely hard to do. But it takes the same amount of work and uncertainty to be a great attending physician. Either you can put in that extra work and get into a US med school. Or go international and then put in all that same work, with no guarantees and severely limited career options.
Sorry for the rant, but if a single US pre med reads this and stays home. I feel like it’s worth the time and effort😂
It’s my last option. I just now got financially stable to get a plus loan on my own, and this is coming from someone who had to get food from the salvation army, sleep at work until the bus ran, and I couldn’t find a job that paid descent after graduating in 2015...I’m so unhappy and burned out that I want to go to a Caribbean medical school...I didn’t ride a bike in a suit to shadow for nothing
Kind of funny that the ad i watched on this video was for a Caribbean Medical school...
really insightful!
Can you do one with Canadian medical schools please. I've been looking into that a lot but the only draw backs I see is just the fact of commuting from Canada to the u.s with a medical degree or whatever from Canada .
US recognizes Canadian MD's and residency training. COming to the US wouldn't be too bad.
Canadian schools are harder to get into than American ones. A lot do not accept international applicants.
The acceptance rate at Canadian med schools is around 10%, and its even lower(about 2%) for international applicants. Comparing to the US which has a 40% acceptance rate, I would say you would have better chances in the US than in Canada.
@@Diorchestra93 Don't forget the way higher tuition fees in the US
A few, if not most, Canadian med schools, you also have to be a resident. So, you have to establish a residency first by living there for at least 2 years. I tried moving to Canada to go to med school there, but the best med schools only accepted residents.
I graduated from American University of the Caribbean in 2015. Attending AUC was one of the best decisions I have made. The "Big 4" are a relatively safe bet if you are ok with matching primary care. A lot of the negative match statistics are skewed by the smaller, less know schools. I do disagree with the statement that Caribbean schools are not as supportive as American schools. The community at AUC was genuinely supportive and the students had a great sense of camaraderie. I understand my experience cannot be extrapolated to all Caribbean schools, but again, attending AUC was one of the best decisions I have made and I would absolutely do it again.
I agree. I'm an AUC graduate, class of 2013. I felt supported the whole way, from my admissions advisor, to faculty advisor when I got to the island, to orientation advisor, to TAs, tutors, wellness counselor who was always available (and even did free group meditation/mindfulness sessions), to clinical advisors during my clinical years. Even as an alumnus, the alumni relations department at AUC is awesome and do not forget about you just because you've finished school and are not paying them anymore. They have tons of alumni get-togethers, like reserving VIP rooms at basketball games, going to different national conferences and having alumni get-togethers (like the one I talked about here: www.caribbeanmedstudent.com/2018/10/reconnection/), and being a great resource to post-graduate opportunities.
Hello! I have actually just been accepted to AUC and I’m very grateful. I’m just continuing to do my research on attending Caribbean schools before I commit and accept their offer but reading everything online is extremely confusing. I hear that Caribbean schools (esp the top 4) are a good option if it’s a last resort and I also hear to avoid them at all costs bc residency match rates are significantly lower/harder than just staying in the US. And since I want to do a specialty matching for me might be extremely difficult (not impossible with a lil hard work though). Is there anyway I can reach out to you more personally on what made you make ur decision about going here and what field you ended up or want to go into to help clear my mind and make the right decision for myself?
"A lot of the negative match statistics are skewed by the smaller, less known schools." This, 110%.
Very accurate. I went to a Caribbean school, am a subspecialty and fairly successful. However it is much harder and many more hoops.
If only Med School Insider was around in the early 2000s....
At my university they advertise Ross med school to worried pre meds. It’s so messed up. The Caribbean is the greatest scam.
There are a lot of offshore medical schools in the Caribbean, like Ross for example. At my university they warn us about them quite often
Its needs to clarify the following: It takes at least (2) years to reapply to med school with a decent update to your CV. Med schools want you to apply to AMCAS in july. Many take 9-10 months to respond. I have had friends waitlisted whom get denied even later. By the time you get denied its too late to reapply with an update. You need another year to update your credentials. Then reapply. Therefore. It should be mentioned that it takes 2 years to reapply to med school
Can you make a video on med School for international students? Also one on going straight from high school to med school!
Don’t do overseas MD school. Difficult to match for residency and most likely become a pcp. Expensive as hell too.
They’re worth it if you don’t get into a mainland school and aren’t trying to do a very competitive specialty.
Adnan A I was looking for your comment 👀
Could you do a pros and cons video about taking a gap year and post baccalaureate programs? I love your videos!
yes!!
There's literally zero con in taking a gap year or two or three, apart from losing time, like you become a doctor later than others and if you care about money, that can be a lot of money down the line. But as long as you do something meaningful in your gap year, that will always help and never hurt your admissions.
FOR post bac....I guess the biggest cons is how you have to pay for them and there's still no guarantee you'll get into medical school, so you might have paid tens of thousands for nothing, but if you're desperate to be a doctor and your grades suck, it's the only way to raise your GPA.
Still waiting
DO ONE ABOUT MED SCHOOLS IN EUROPE
I currently attend one of the Big five Caribbean medical schools and believe it is a good option if you need a second chance and are willing to put in the work. I would highly recommend against going to any school that isn't accredited by all 50 states and approved for title 4 funding. If you're heart isn't in it and you don't put the work in you'll definitely fail. The schools won't hesitate to allow you to repeat a semester and pay for an extra semester/year of tuition either. You pay them they give you the opportunity to achieve your dreams, if you don't seize that opportunity they will definitely take your money and fail you.
what was your mcat score & gpa?
Can you list those accredited schools?
@@pearlsmith99 500 MCAT and less than a 3 GPA. Most people are in the opposite situation where their MCAT is well below average and their GPA is good.
x Toaster God x
Thx m8
Roger Stewart thank you! I’m definitely trying to get my gpa high enough & do well on the MCAT. Most likely I won’t get past a 508.
So you quit your residency and now you’re pursuing youtube and business full time?
Can you make a video about what you’re exactly doing now?
Thx
Check out his vlog channel and you’ll find out
I just heard a 100% match mex school description. You should include it too!
You should do a video on how Puerto Rico Medical Schools are US medical schools and don't apply to your Caribean Medical School Groups. P.R. medical schools have high match rates and high Steps scores
J H yes
@ That's right
Could you ever do a video about different countries Canadians get can their medical degree and use it to practice in Canada? (I have no interest in going to the US, and will probably stay in Canada but I’m just wondering)
@Med School Insiders at around 1:35 the average MCAT/GPA you mention is for applicants, not matriculants.
I thought the science GPA was a bit low
Hello, just found your channel and so in love with it. Also looked around your website after watching the video. I arrived at the decision to enter medicine later in life. I already have two undergraduate degrees, so I am now looking at entering a pre-medical post-baccalaureate program. I looked to see if you have a video about it but couldn't find one. Would love to hear what you've seen or experienced regarding students who only do premed courses in a post-bacc program and their chances at getting into med. school as well as how med. schools admissions perceive them. (: Just subscribed, your channel and site are an excellent resource.
@@MedSchoolInsiders Really? Thanks so much!
I was accepted at the university of Kansas wait list 2 yrs in a row. I had to shit or get off the pot. I applied and attended St. George’s university. Never looked back, matched into a competitive pyramid surgery residency in nyc. Finished in five yrs (on time) matched in a competitive surgical sub specialty.
Yes it was harder than for a US grad, but I worked my ass off, nailed the in service exams.
You gotta want it more and work harder.
Going to a Caribbean school isn’t as good as a US school, but it gets your foot in the door, what you do with that opportunity is up to you.
another thing that wasnt mentioned is the time. In the US you have to do 4 years of pre med and then 4 years of medical school, in the Caribbean you go straight from high school to med school if you get accepted, most schools it takes 5-6 years to complete, the 1st year and a half being a general science year (like what pre med would be) and the next 4 years is applied science.
Hey Doctor ! Your Videos are really Good.
Video Suggestion : Hospital administration - Degree, Colleges, Career, Income.
.
Thank you.
Could you make a video of international medical schools in general. There were classmates that ended up going to Mexico for medical school. I am not sure of the strategy behind this but some of the schools guarantee Residencies in the US.
Also encourage to check out international med schools in Israel including MSIH, Sackler, Techion! Over 90% match-rate to US programs, CHEAPER tuition than most American schools, pass/fail systems so not competitive at all among each other (speaking for experience as a second-year MSIH student soon to take Step 1).
Can you guys do a video covering similar material on European medical schools?
As a med student in Puerto Rico, I feel I need to clarify that the medical schools here are MD, use AMCAS for applications and are part of the U.S. accreditation system (LCME).
Right, but arent curriculums in Spanish, so you have to be fluent?
is it true that you should at least understand Spanish when going to med school in Puerto Rico?
No, it’s in English. Also, I don’t think we need to clarify anything. Program directors know we are LCME, that’s all that matters.
@@charliec7853 Curriculums are in english. Classes are taught mostly in english, with some clarifications in spanish if needed. You are required to have taken 12 credits in english and 12 in spanish courses in order to be considered for enrollment. The interviews are mostly in spanish, but you are also asked questions in english to make sure you are fluent.
@@pearlsmith99 Understanding and knowing Spanish will help students a lot for various reasons: You will be living in a Spanish speaking location. A lot of medical terms have some origin from latin words which are similar to Spanish word equivalents. That will help you learn material easier. You do not need to know Spanish fluently to study here, but it will help you in getting in and in studying the material.
I am an international student who got in to Californian allopathic medical school.
This is great.
you should check for CAAM-HP OR ACCM accreditation for caribbean medical schools before enrolling.
Hi! I'm from Pakistan and am starting Med School over there. I was wondering if you could make a video about foreign students applying to U.S. how does that work? what're the criteria? ,etc.
@Brent F those schools are great. But other schools are at the top of the line, too. Like Khyber Medical College, and Army Medical College.
I was asking because I had some friends who completed their 4-yr program here and then apply to residency over there.
Thanks for the advice. ✌️😘
The other viable option I have seen as a patient is doctors with Pakistani and not sure with Indian heritage, but definitely American born and US citizens go to medical school in Pakistan and then become a US M.D. I presuming tuition is significantly less in Pakistan.
i was thought how shady it is that caribbean schools promote their med schools when its so hard to get residency in the long run. how is that even legal?
Those are mutually exclusive events....
Thanks for this balanced review of the Caribbean medical school experience! Prospective med students should be aware of the potential for a difficult match. I agree with your advice that they should spend a year (or two) strengthening their applications before reapplying. I'm an EM Physician and just launched my channel focussing on global health... let me know if you'd like to collaborate on a video on global health medical electives.
I did it, and while I work as a physician now I don't recommend it. The attrition rate is super high. Even top tier Caribbean schools admission process will let in people who won't succeed and are left with huge debt. The competitive fields are not attainable. Mid tier residencies are possible for the toppers with some luck. If getting into Allopathic US school isn't happening go for Osteopathic. Totally agree with taking extra year or two to get into the right place. By the end of training most people have been sidetracked at least a few years and being an attending in your 30s you still come off as young.
At 4:09 the background with all the specialties lists optometry as a medical specialty. Optometry is a completely separate program, you don't go to medical school at all to become an optometrist. You most likely meant to put ophthalmology there, as it also deals with the eyes but instead focuses on diseases of the eyes and often has a surgical component, and requires medical school to matriculate into an ophtho residency.
I live in the Caribbean and I want to be a doctor but I wasn't sure if I wanted to study here or not, most of the people I know who are doctors studied abroad, that's also a challenge for me because my mother doesn't have the finances to send me abroad to study, maybe if I work hard enough I could get awarded a scholarship which will allow me to travel and study. Also, the weather isn't so nice anymore, it's so hot that it's hard to function on literally anything, considering I have overactive sweat glands it's hell for me. I only get my studying done at night because that's when its cooler outside.
Same
Same, I want to truly know if I'm making the right decisions, I have asked persons and they said it's best to study in the Caribbean but when im on utube research, their opinions are different
Dont forget that some lose their accreditation during... I'm from Trinidad going to UWI Cavehill med school but one of my friends experienced that already so... 🤦🏽♀️
Once it doesnt happen here 😅😅
LMFAOOO that's funny. You think you are going to an accredited medical school and one day it is not accredited. hahahahaha
I’m from Trinidad too but I’m still in secondary school
Hoping to attend med school soon one day
Would you recommend Caribbean or allopathic or osteopathic?
Someone should tell the Caribbean applicants out there before you apply... you will have trouble getting year 3/4 clinical rotations, a lot of your class will fail/drop out, and those who are lucky enough to match are most likely destined for family medicine (maybe internal). Just being honest
Can you make a video on the match plz. I'd love to watch it.
Hey Dr. jubbal I am an Indian medical aspirant and I want to come to carribean medical schools for my Medical studies. There is one particular caribbean medical school, Spartan health & Science university in st. Lucia which is getting crazy promoted in my country by a lot of admission agents. I heard many of their grads are actually doing good and working as a physician in many states of the US. Is this university legitimately good for my prospects of my future as a doctor in US? I am confused and sceptic that I might be fooled by these admission agents, so I might ask it from an actual expert. Will appreciate your help and response 🙂
Cool. I guess in 5 years I'll apply for med school (since 1 year break to strengthen my application.) I hope I do get accepted at Baylor... amen.
One thing that @medschooinsider and almost every influencer out there forgets to mention about the medical schools in Puerto Rico. Even though Puerto Rico is in the Carribbean, PR is a US territory, and therefore all 4 medical schools in PR are actually acreddited by the LCME. All the schools have match rates higher than 75%, my school this year had a 85% match rate. In my school half of the class are students who lived in US Mainland (I can't say US students because all puertoricans are US citizens since 1918, therefore everyone in our class is a US citizen). Only downfall is that you need to learn Spanish, at least basic Spanish, because most of the interaction with patient will be in Spanish. But you need to apply thorugh AMCAS, you need the mcat, the research, the extracurricular activities, just like applying to Medschool in the US Mainland.
True, I was confused because they didn't mention P.R.
I didnt even think about PR
S L I don’t blame you, even the influencers doing these videos don’t think of PR
Are classes taught in Spanish or English? I’m proficient in Spanish but need to learn medical terminology in the language. I’m more concerned about trying to learn challenging content in another language!
One thing I've always wondered about, is that 75%+ in terms of all students that start, or after ppl get weeded out by NBME/CBME's and not even get to take step 1? I know PR is a decent option, but I just never knew how those numbers r truly calculated.
I know someone that attends a Carib med school but this person doesn't have a bachelors degree and never taken the MCAT. This school in St. Vincent still allowed him to attend the school. I find that suspect.
There are also a good number of 18 year olds entering carib med schools as many of them come from other countries like India where they don't require a premed program in college. Some US students do this too to skip 4 years but this style leads to poor retention rates or future unprofessional MDs joining the profession for the wrong reasons.
@michael h It's a stepping stone to see the type of student you will be in medical school. To see if you got what it takes and to see how smart you are for med school. Don't be silly.
Hello can you plz make an updated version of this vid plz and also tell us more about the Puerto Rican med schools option plz
I love your video , explain everything about medicine. Right now I’m Nurse working and I want to study medice. I need help and recommendations about study medicine on Puerto Rico
Lucky for you the 4 medical schools in PR are part of the US accreditation system (LCME, correct me if I’m wrong). One is public and the other 3 are private. For the public medical school, you’ll need to have 12 credits in spanish and 12 credits in english language in order to be considered for enrollment. The private schools may ask you from 6-12 credits. You can apply thru AMCAS. They are very competitive, and haver very good residence programs. I would highly recommend you to learn some spanish if you want to understand your patients. Classes are mostly in english, with some spanish explanations.
I have a question, can someone answer it? I'm currently halfway through my undergraduate degree and have decided that I'd like to go to medical school. The problem is I haven't taken pre-med courses beside the English and I need to raise my GPA. Would a Caribbean medical school be doeable at this point or should I just stick to going the Phd/PsyD route? I want to be either a psychologist or a psychiatrist...but I'd obviously need to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist. I feel like I'm too late in the game to have the pre-med qualifications for a medical school in the US.
Failing 1 class in first year uni, is fucking up everything else.
Wait. If I apply in the US and don't get approved, I can't apply again?
Do one on UK med sch pls!!
Can you make a video regarding strengthening your application?
I work in the e.r were I have witnessed both American and Caribbean medical schools. For their rotations, honesty Caribbean medical students seem to be lost. Unless he/she is aggressive on wanting to learn even from the auxiliary staff. They just ended up getting coffee and lunch for the staff aka gofers. I have witnessed this.
Is it true from your (MSI and fellow viewers) experience that any science related degree can get you into med school?
Sure you'll probably have to stand out more if you have a B.S. in Physics for Astronomy you'd possibly have to make up for the
degree field with MCAT and the like, that much is kinda inferred.
However, when I peruse forums in regards to what B.S. to go for to give the best education and rigor to prep for Med school
there is a pretty even split between doing something like BioChem and the like vs. getting a B.S. that more closely relates to the
field you want to go into (if you know what you want to do before med school).
Example: I am deeply interested in PM&R and to my limited knowledge, believe it may be a decent idea to do something like
a B.S. in Physiology and Kinesiology to more closely relate with what PM&R work (only found out about PM&R recently thanks
to Dr. Webb's "what speciality should I go into" video and Med Insider's competitive salaries video).
I'm not worried about someone hearing this and coming up with an exact plan for me.
More so clearing some air regarding this ideology that you need a degree like Biochem that is more broad instead of
getting the B.S. in something that interests you and is still related to medicine.
Thanks.
Better doctors in the caribbean than in the us cuz u actually touch and practise on really patients unlike the US
Could you guys do a video on ireland/ atlantic bridge? or European schools in general?
Have you heard about the international medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico? would like to hear about that one
Could you do an up to date video with recent data?
Good thing I saw this, prevent me from making a huge mistake. I dont think this is the same for school in Puerto Rico is it? I had been have family there and been doing research, and one of the med schools there has a higher acceptance rate than some on the mainland, and have the same accreditation. Classes are taught in Spanish though, and thankfully I speak the language, but would it be well to go to a school in a PR?
I wonder how many people leave the US, only to realize that they were meant to not live there the whole time!
I graduated from Ross university. I had been out of college for 4 years and did not do well on the MCAT the first time. A friend of mine told me to apply anyway and apply to Ross in case US schools did not accept me. I didn’t know anything about foreign med schools. I was accepted to three US schools with the caveat that I had to complete a 1 year long post bacc program. Ross accepted me right away. I was inpatient and went to Ross right away. They even offered to start me in May rather than in the fall as most US schools do. I completed med school in 3.5 years and did really well on Steps 1 and 2. However, in retrospect I should’ve waited the year and gone to a US schools. Graduating from a carib school is not the end of the world but it’s a stigma you will carry.
Notification squad 💪💪💪
Yess... it's always hot here in trinidad
why dont we recommend inian bangladeshi medical colleges?
I got into St. Georges Medical school and several DO schools in the states. I decided to go to DO school and I'm glad I did. I heard so many Caribbean school applicants say the learning atmosphere was very poor or they had to teach themselves and other students the topics. This sounds so ridiculous to me. Experts should teach, not students who don't know the subject well! Some IMG's would tell me it was very cut throat (which lets be honest all medical programs are this way, even in the states). Now that the DO and MD match are joined, I would really lean towards DO over IMG/Carribean. St. Georges and Ross U. seem to be very good schools and I know several great docs that trained there, however I think it's getting more and more difficult to get back to the states for residency.
I went to a DO school in the states and it all worked out. I matched at my number one program in emergency medicine (which has now become a competitive residency). I got over 15 interviews for residency at MD programs as a DO applicant (which surprised me). That was when the match was separated into DO and MD matches and getting interviews was more difficult. Now that it's combined, I would definitely stay in the USA and chose DO over Caribbean.
Certain specialties can be very difficult to obtain as a DO applicant such as urology, neurosurgery, and dermatology. Orthopedics is very difficult to match on the allopathic side as a DO (almost never done) but there are plenty of DO orthopedic programs out there. If you want these highly competitive programs, not only do you have to go allopathic route, you also have to do very well on boards, med school rank, etc.
Are u from th Caribbean? If so how did u apply to medical schools in the US??
So, would it be better to just stay a doctor in the Caribbean after Caribbean med school? >.
Ross student here, here's some info from my experience:
1. It is insanely competitive to Match. Based off NRMP info, there was a Total of 4,780 PGY-1 PROGRAMS. All the programs comprised together formed a TOTAL # of 32,194 positions, of which a TOTAL of 58,229 applicants (U.S./IMG/FMG) applied for.
- Why is every year more and more competitive? More Medical schools come up (either in U.S. or abroad) = Significantly higher applicants, while # of residency positions stay the same or increase (slightly). Also there are people who didn't match the 1st time and end up applying to the Match again, which contributes to the increase in the application pool.
2. Caribbean schools are great if you are interested in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, or Psychiatry. To be honest, I believe you can match into any specialty with hard work and great networking if you are an IMG/FMG, but entering into Neurology, Orthopedics, Surgery, Emergency Medicine is significantly harder.
- The link is for the Ross USOM 2019 Match list: connect.medical.rossu.edu/residency2019?_ga=2.267310478.1278430314.1554486927-517556871.1554486927
-Ex: Buddy of mine wanted Radiology, he scored ~260 on USMLE Step 1. When taking to the other applicants interviewing there, he found out there avg was ~205-210.
3. Cut throat culture? In my experience I don't think so, my fellow students were very helpful (way more than Ross lol) in helping me get through medical school and obtain a residency in California (which is harder for IMG/FMG because California is the ONLY STATE which requires a PTAL for IMG/FMG). Of course everyone will have a different response on this.
4. Was the Caribbean an amazing experience? After getting chased by Bulls, killing giant cockroaches the size of your palm, seeing giant hermit crabs at night, coming across a billion stray dogs (which I have no idea how they got there), getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, running away from 11ft boa-constrictors, having bats live outside your house, surviving hurricanes & insanely high humidity, eating at the shacks everyday, or flying into the island on a tiny plan by LIAT which will feel like its about to break at any moment. I would definitely say its a unique experience.
5. "We have a USMLE Pass rate of 99%", DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE STATISTICS. When I went to community college in undergrad I remember the Deen saying "We had a 100% increase in the people getting accepted into UCLA from last year", when I looked at the actual number it increased from 1 to 2 people lol.
- Caribbean schools do the same, that "99%" Comes after people are weeded out through MERP, the Curriculum, or Failure to pass the Comprehensive exam taken after 4th year
6. Is the attrition rate high? My class started with 374 Students. of which 110-120 students made it to 4th Semester.
- ~30% Failed Semester 1, ~18% Failed Semester 2, ~15% failed semester 3. Then there's the COMP which people fail as well (you only have 3 strikes for the COMP, then you're out. I know it sucks.)
- Why do people fail? Some people find out medicine is not for them, Curriculum maybe too hard (example we covered an entire semester on Immunology in 7 days, which the exact same amount of detail). There people who party Every day, Party every hour, and Party Every minute (avoid these people at all costs). Some people have family Emergencies. A few buddies of mine got injured on the island
Hi, I am a Caribbean Medical Graduate and everything said in this video is very honest/matter of fact. Also, “Roger Stewart’s” comment in the comment section is valid and should be kept in mind if the individual decides to go to a Caribbean medical school.
At the end of the day with all this info out there, individuals can make informed decisions based on what works best for their lives 🙂
Just to add, sometimes individuals from foreign countries who do not want to attend college in the U.S for a variety of reasons (such as: finance limitations, inability to get a U.S study visa at the time, do not want to take courses they may consider not useful in the long run towards an M.D degree etc)choose to attend Caribbean Medical Schools.
These students attend high school in their home country and then attend a Carribean medical school with a BS/MD -type combined curriculum.
loretta akpala do you know anything about MUA?
Is WUHS a good uni ? 😅
@@lorettaakpala7843im from jamaica and im in my last year, I'm still quite confused which is better, to study at uwi or to study overseas. I dot want to make a wrong decision/choice.
This is about offshore medical schools in the Caribbean? UWI is a bit different
Do you help International U.S. high students with their BS/MD or BS/MA applications?
UWI Mt Hope, Trinidad Only has 150 spaces for its local intake therefore they give you a deferred acceptance despite almost perfect grade for up to two years.
Really only 150 😭😭😭
Can you do the one for DO schools?
I know people that study in Dominican republic and now works on USA without problems
I juat hate how primary care gets look down at. The reality of the situation is the more doctors that think like that . The more likely nurse practictioners and pas will take over the feild. Hospitals are starting to fire pcp to usher in nps
100% Truth
Hi,
Do you know what the attrition rate is for Caribbean Medical Schools?
Thanks.
Hiii ;i like the video
Can you plz tell us how you make your vedeo any apps or something 🙏🙏🙏 i need it so much
Guys don't go to the Caribbean. Trust me, you will fuck your life up.
elaborate more please
Not UWI...it's very much competitive
Thank you!
Sometimes it's just having links to get in lol
From Day 1 to residency 90 percent of my class don't make it to residency I know because I didn't get residency. They are mainly interested in your money. Avoid!
I honestly just feel like giving up any hope of becoming the first doctor in the family and just become a nurse or something
I don't know your situation, but it's possible. I was the first one in my entire lineage to make it past high school. I worked hard from literally zero (English and all). And I made it to med school. It's not easy at all, but there are hundreds of different ways to get into med school, so you need to work smart and be ready to take the gamble. There's hope, I promise
Do not "just become a nurse or something". First of all, most nursing schools are incredibly competitive, so pre-nursing students are required to have a high GPA as well. I know med students and nursing students. There are incredibly intelligent people in both. Nursing and medicine are also different fields. If you have no interest in nursing, you either won't be successful, or you'll regret your decision. Also, just don't become a physician either because the last thing we need is more pompous MDs who are under the assumption that nurses are people who couldn't hack it in med.
Look mate, Im already going to finish my 3rd year but "I gave up." In my situation there are outside factors restricting me to get into med school(other factors as well). Look at what your goals are and where do you want to be in 10 years and from there YOU decide what you want to become.
NEVER GIVE UP
New stats show matching is only 50% for Caribbean med. better to go to a DO school.
just go nursing school instead, can practice as a bootleg psychiatrist with a masters(ie you can do everything a psychiatrist can)
Big LOL from France the rate is 10-20% in every school
L bo Most public medical schools in the US have below a 10% acceptance rate and the private ones easily got closer to 1%. The 40% he talked about was the total percentage to people who apply that get into at least one school (people typically apply to around 15 schools).