I'm going to be a M2 starting at Ross in about 2 weeks. I just finished my first year and I wanted to post a response, in particular, to Catherine's excellent post.
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Catherine:
...
Med schools apps are at an all time low (since 1990)...••••Actually, I think they were at an all time low in 1995-96. They may actually be back on the rise, especially with the U.S. economy turning a bit sour.
•••quote:•••For the applicant that failed to get into MD or DO school going abroad isn't going to help - if you can't get into med school with the odds in your favour then you won't be able to cope with the added pressure of going foreign and being a poor academic.••••I agree. If you are a poor academic, you're going to struggle no matter where you are. Ross is no cakewalk, I can tell you. Plenty of students fail the courses, mainly due to poor study habits. But, it's not as many as you think and there is an opportunity to repeat courses (without having to repeat an entire semester). Fortunately, I've passed all mine so far.
•••quote:•••If you can't face going DO then do a master's or something - retake the MCAT.••••Sure, that's great if you have time. Personally, I'm a bit of an "older" student (let's just say 30+) and couldn't afford anymore time. Likewise, I didn't even bother applying through the AMCAS system this time. I applied originally in 1993 and was not accpted. After working for several years, I decided that this is really what I wanted do and Ross offered me a quick opportunity to matriculate.
•••quote:•••As for quality of education - well it's pretty much down to the individual no matter where you are. Although, I imagine without any structure it just makes life more difficult.••••I agree with this statement.
•••quote:•••One point about having a badge with DO - at least everyone knows you went to a US school.••••And, with an M.D. no one knows where you went to school unless they ask... (you address this below).
•••quote:•••With MD you could have gone anywhere - ok, if you've got an American accent then the odds are on your side - but what you going to say when someone does ask you where you went to school? Are you going to hang your certificate on the wall in your office - or will you be more "embarrased" than the DO?••••Yes; there is definitely the "shame"/"hide your shingle" factor involved with any U.S. who goes the I.M.G. route. I think many say, when asked, that they did their training in New York (or whatever state they did 3rd and 4th years) or state where they did their residency. I'm not going to misrepresent the fact that very few are proud that they went off-shore for their education.
•••quote:•••There's an awful lot of people out there who went foreign, failed, and left with nothing except huge debts.••••Yes, but not as many as you think. And, these folks probably did not get into a U.S. school for good reason. Still, there are many who are now practising in the U.S. and have even achieved some coveted positions at large hospitals and teaching institutions. Again, like you said, it's all up to the individual. You need to seriously consider going the Caribbean route before you commit.
•••quote:•••The carribean's great for a beach holiday - not an education.••••You have OBVIOUSLY not been to Dominica.
There's really nothing to do there except study and, maybe if you have a little free time, SCUBA dive or hike. It's a pretty place, but it makes you miss the U.S. and what we all take for granted.