Carribean MD or podiatry? What are my chances?

[FutureDoc_5384]

Hello. I am a premed student. Overall GPA of 3.4 and science of about 2.6. Not yet taken MCAT. I do have lots of patient hours, shadowing, community service, and research. Will be applying to MD schools in the Caribbean (from the big 4) and possibly podiatry schools in the US. Does it seem like I may have a shot into getting into one of those schools? I have shadowed both MD's and podiatrists and enjoy both so at this point its what school would accept me. Only helpful answers.
Thanks!

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[KnightDoc]

Hello. I am a premed student. Overall GPA of 3.4 and science of about 2.6. Not yet taken MCAT. I do have lots of patient hours, shadowing, community service, and research. Will be applying to MD schools in the Caribbean (from the big 4) and possibly podiatry schools in the US. Does it seem like I may have a shot into getting into one of those schools? I have shadowed both MD's and podiatrists and enjoy both so at this point its what school would accept me. Only helpful answers.
Thanks!

I have no skin in this game, so please don't beat me up if you don't like this advice, but the consensus on SDN is to avoid the Carribbean at all costs. Those schools will definitely accept you, because they accept just about everyone. Your challenge will be being allowed to practice in the US after spending all that money, and that's assuming you are good enough to make it through a program that is designed to weed you out as you are spending a fortune.

Podiatry is definitely a better choice, assuming it is something you would enjoy.

Check out the Caribbean threads for a ton of detail on what I am saying.

Good luck!!!

 

[Goro]

Hello. I am a premed student. Overall GPA of 3.4 and science of about 2.6. Not yet taken MCAT. I do have lots of patient hours, shadowing, community service, and research. Will be applying to MD schools in the Caribbean (from the big 4) and possibly podiatry schools in the US. Does it seem like I may have a shot into getting into one of those schools? I have shadowed both MD's and podiatrists and enjoy both so at this point its what school would accept me. Only helpful answers.
Thanks!

If you're breathing and can write a tuition check, you're in at the Carib schools, who are salivating at the thought of yet another mark that fits their business model.

Read my guide to reinvention for premeds

 

[Gilakend]

No one can answer for you if you want to go into podiatry. I suggest shadowing as many as you can and figuring out if you'd enjoy the profession. With an MCAT of ~498-500 I think you'd have a great shot at podiatry (although obviously not the expert in this).

It is very obvious you shouldn't go to a Caribbean school.

 

[gyngyn]

I've seen MCAT scores in the 480-490 range get into Ross and St. Georges recently.
I don't recommend it, though.

 

[IsleyOfTheNorth]

If your science GPA is 2.6 and you go Caribbean you will fail... expensively.

 

[KnightDoc]

There was a long thread on this quite recently

Podiatry or SGU Carribean MD?

I have been accepted to SGU and was planning on starting this January. Amazingly, I was given $126,000 in scholarship money (Dean's & Humanitarian Aid Scholarships). I know almost everyone on here hates the Carribean schools but I've pretty much exhausted all other options. My GPA is 2.9 and...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Don't bother -- OP started another thread requesting that only current and past Caribbean students respond. He is not interested in the collective wisdom of the adcoms or other members of the community here, since he's apparently not hearing what he wants.

 

[KnightDoc]

Oh, must be a variant of SHS: Selective Hearing Syndrome.

More like forum shopping for a favorable opinion. I didn't want to get into it, but was tempted to suggest he just reach out to the Big 4 directly and have them put him in touch with their "success stories" to help push him toward filing those applications and paying that admission deposit.

 

[Biscuitboy11]

As far as I am concern the Big 4 are now just the Big 2. But anyone of the Nine Podiatry schools may give you a better path to practice clinical medicine, perform surgery, see patients and be a doctor. Is it the first choice speciality for most? No but with the large percentage of off-shore students who dont earn a degree, dont get any residency slot, or get a slot in a speciality they didnt want, podiatry should be seriously considered

Second this! I'd also add that the podiatrists I work with are a very well respected part of our hospital medical community, and they have a nice practice mix of office and operating room. Ours are also involved with the local running community. In my area we have orthopedists who are foot and ankle specialists, and I always recommend my friends go to our podiatrists instead of the orthopods for things like hallux valgus (bunion) surgery.