Will going to the Caribbean screw you over?

About the Ads
nysegop

nysegop

Membership Revoked
Removed
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Messages
1,724
Reaction score
7
Is it worth going to medical school in the Caribbean? I have heard two stories:

A. Going to schools in the Caribbean isn't bad as it's easier to get into but most people will fail or drop out, the academics are virtually the same. Going to PR or DR med schools isn't as bad as you would think.

B. Going to school in the Caribbean will ruin your career. You won't be able to get ANY competitive fellowships and you will be among the lowest paid, lowest respected doctors in the country.



Which of these is true?
Members don't see this ad.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
nysegop said:
Is it worth going to medical school in the Caribbean? I have heard two stories:

A. Going to schools in the Caribbean isn't bad as it's easier to get into but most people will fail or drop out, the academics are virtually the same. Going to PR or DR med schools isn't as bad as you would think.

B. Going to school in the Caribbean will ruin your career. You won't be able to get ANY competitive fellowships and you will be among the lowest paid, lowest respected doctors in the country.



Which of these is true?
Click to expand...

US MD > US DO > Caribbean

That said, there are plenty of successful american physicians who went to the caribbean.
 
Carribbean is going to **** people over in the next 5 years as the number of residency spots will be matched by the number of US MD/DOs leaving little to no room for IMGs.
 
I think if you are pondering going to the Caribbean right now, then now is the time to go. I think that when people start going there after the next 2 years, life will become much more difficult getting back to the United States and practicing. That being said, the future is unpredictable. I know several Caribbean grads who are successful physicians in America.

People bash the Caribbean because of what they hear from other people. However, the Caribbean isn't going to be the most viable option in the next few years, so once again, if you want, go now or keep applying in the US if you want to practice here.

SGU and Ross are two good schools down there.
 
There STILL aren't stats on the MONSTROUS attrition rates bandied about for the Caribbean.

A is more true than B, but it lies somewhere in the middle.


I am not suggesting anyone go to the Caribbean, but you look at the match lists for SGU and Ross and there are a ton of primary care (and some surgery, anes, etc.) matches into the US. Therefore, it isn't like you are throwing your life away going to the Caribbean since clearly, over a thousand students from the more respected Caribbean schools match every year.
 
Last edited:
blizzah said:
There STILL aren't stats on the MONSTROUS attrition rates bandied about for the Caribbean.

A is more true than B, but it lies somewhere in the middle.


I am not suggesting anyone go to the Caribbean, but you look at the match lists for SGU and Ross and there are a ton of primary care (and some surgery, anes, etc.) matches into the US. Therefore, it isn't like you are throwing your life away going to the Caribbean since clearly, over a thousand students from the more respected Caribbean schools match every year.
Click to expand...
Attrition + people not matched + number of lower/mid tier schools success rates = carribean gives you a poor chance overall.
 
Probably closer to B. While I do know of a couple successful physicians who went to Caribbean schools, going DO is a safer bet.
 
At this point, I would say going to Caribbean is a very bad idea. Perhaps this was few years back it would be a different story. Even though this is unpopular, i would hesitant and brand new DO as well as brand new MD schools as well.

I would go to a well established DO or an MD school thats not completely brand new. Things may change in the future, but you don't want to be in 200K debt and not have a residency to complete.
 
There was a news story of some random dude who got fired from somewhere (for faking his credentials) setting up a med school in St Kitts (2004-2007 I believe). The dude would run his own anatomy labs and toss pieces of the cadavers into the garbage bin (lolwut). Turns out he faked his MD and didnt even finish med school at some random unknown place. He pretty much ran away and the school obviously shut down, no one graduated (no ****).

Imagine paying 40-50k in tuition to that place, wasting 2-3 years... and getting nothing in return at all except a middle finger (at best).
 
Members don't see this ad :)
kristofer said:
Going to any med school will screw you over. Med school will ruin your life.
Click to expand...

With a decent balance, it wouldn't ruin your life that much, cause remember doctors still end up being humans at the end, not soulless life saving zombies :eek:
 
I think the days of going to the Caribbean and getting a good residency are pretty much over, but there are plenty of FM spots in the middle of nowhere that I'm sure will be available for years to come.
 
nysegop said:
B. Going to school in the Caribbean will ruin your career. You won't be able to get ANY competitive fellowships and you will be among the lowest paid, lowest respected doctors in the country.



Which of these is true?
Click to expand...

1. Yes, It has a higher chance of ruining your career because some of them close down or lose accreditation, and they aren't well respected in terms of residency placement.
2. Some people get into competitive specialties, some don't.. The majority of the people who graduate, mind you a lot of people drop out or get expelled, will not land super competitive specialties.
3. You will not be "lowest" paid.. That makes no sense. You will get paid like anyone else, you just have to make it thought residency and graduate.
4. You might get some disrespect from people, but you probably won't. I don't think other physicians care about alma mater, I think they'd care about how well you do your job.
 
druggeek said:
There was a news story of some random dude who got fired from somewhere (for faking his credentials) setting up a med school in St Kitts (2004-2007 I believe). The dude would run his own anatomy labs and toss pieces of the cadavers into the garbage bin (lolwut). Turns out he faked his MD and didnt even finish med school at some random unknown place. He pretty much ran away and the school obviously shut down, no one graduated (no ****).

Imagine paying 40-50k in tuition to that place, wasting 2-3 years... and getting nothing in return at all except a middle finger (at best).
Click to expand...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Theresa's_Medical_University_(St._Kitts)

News story: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_486515.html
 
I feel sorry for the graduates from that school. They just wasted a ton of money and time only to find out they can't be licensed physicians in many states.
 
KobeshouldbeaMD said:
1. Yes, It has a higher chance of ruining your career because some of them close down or lose accreditation, and they aren't well respected in terms of residency placement.
2. Some people get into competitive specialties, some don't.. The majority of the people who graduate, mind you a lot of people drop out or get expelled, will not land super competitive specialties.
3. You will not be "lowest" paid.. That makes no sense. You will get paid like anyone else, you just have to make it thought residency and graduate.
4. You might get some disrespect from people, but you probably won't. I don't think other physicians care about alma mater, I think they'd care about how well you do your job.
Click to expand...


maybe current 30 something year old and older attendings dont care but im sure with all the carribean talk... other attendings (people currently in med school/pre meds, as they become attendings) could make fun of a carribean guy behind the scenes.
nysegop said:
I feel sorry for the graduates from that school. They just wasted a ton of money and time only to find out they can't be licensed physicians in many states.
Click to expand...
well... i dont know if I feel sorry for them.
Would you feel someone for someone giving their bank account info. to some dude who emailed him from nigeria saying someone died and they now inherited a certain amount of money? :laugh:

People need to do IN DEPTH research on a situation before handing over thousands of dollars... this goes for anything. Instead, many people will just read some website and be convinced. Like some dude talking to me just yesterday:

"ya man im going to x (insert name of low-tier med school) school in the carribean, i think it's better man i dont know to do a 4 year degree then do another 4 years, im gonna save mad time and their website says it's accredited so ill be a doctor in Canada right away" (he's taken a year off from high school, had a low 60s average in high school, and doesnt know what residency is)
 
Yeah, but the students obviously thought that it was an up-and-coming school created by a registered doctor. Maybe they thought as the school gained popularity it would become more prestigious. I'm sure they had their reasons.
 
Macho07 beat me to it, but i'll say it anyway: looks like we have another geography major; Puerto Rico is part of the united states OP :thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:
 
Although I doubt pediatric residencies are too competitive, I was surprised to see the medical schools attended by the peds residents at my local hospital. Of 24 residents, 7 went to medical school in the Caribbean, 3 in India, 1 in Australia, 1 in the Netherlands, and 4 are DO. Along with 5 from our state school, 1 from U of Illinois, 1 from U of Texas, and 1 from UNC. Just thought I'd share :)
 
I suggest you guys do a little bit of research into geography. Even though Puerto Rico is a US territory, it is still part of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is an ocean. There are islands within that ocean. Puerto Rico happens to be in that ocean. Seriously, this is sixth grade geography. I can't believe we're having a debate about this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_in_the_Caribbean
http://travel.answers.wikia.com/wiki/Is_Puerto_Rico_part_of_the_Caribbean
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean
http://www.spanishcourses.info/countries/puerto-rico-info-172-en.htm
 
nysegop said:
I suggest you guys do a little bit of research into geography. Even though Puerto Rico is a US territory, it is still part of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is an ocean. There are islands within that ocean. Puerto Rico happens to be in that ocean. Seriously, this is sixth grade geography. I can't believe we're having a debate about this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_in_the_Caribbean
http://travel.answers.wikia.com/wiki/Is_Puerto_Rico_part_of_the_Caribbean
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean
http://www.spanishcourses.info/countries/puerto-rico-info-172-en.htm
Click to expand...


I think people are mostly speaking in terms of the fact that PR medical schools are considered US medical schools, not carrib FMG schools like Ross, SGU, etc.
 
Just don't do it, don't go to the Caribbean...it's not worth it.
 
nysegop said:
I suggest you guys do a little bit of research into geography. Even though Puerto Rico is a US territory, it is still part of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is an ocean. There are islands within that ocean. Puerto Rico happens to be in that ocean. Seriously, this is sixth grade geography. I can't believe we're having a debate about this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_in_the_Caribbean
http://travel.answers.wikia.com/wiki/Is_Puerto_Rico_part_of_the_Caribbean
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean
http://www.spanishcourses.info/countries/puerto-rico-info-172-en.htm
Click to expand...
The point isn't where it is located. The point is PR schools are fully recognized and accredited medical schools in the same category as other US med schools. Graduating from a PR school will make you an US med grad, graduating from a true Caribbean med school will make you a FMG. World of difference regarding residency matching.

And by the way, the Caribbean is a sea, not an ocean, per sixth grade geography. Couldn't resist.
 
I have a co-worker who left last week to start at Ross. She's paying about $20K to get a head start on topics that will be covered during the first semester. Ross claimed that students who participate in this prep course have far greater success passing Step 1 than those who don't. When she told me all this, I had to shake my head.

OP, don't go to a for-profit, offshore medical school. They don't have your best interests in mind. If you're accepted to a US allopathic or osteopathic medical school, you can feel fairly assured that you'll pass your boards and graduate. Adcoms do their best to admit only students they believe will succeed. The same can't be said for adcoms at Caribbean medical schools.
 
I'm sorry, this is probably a really stupid question, but what is the difference between "step 1" and "step 2"? Do all schools have these "steps"?
 
nysegop said:
I'm sorry, this is probably a really stupid question, but what is the difference between "step 1" and "step 2"? Do all schools have these "steps"?
Click to expand...

Steps are licensing exams: USMLE Step 1, Step 2CS, Step 2CK, Step 3. Step 1 is taken in the third year of medical school, I believe. If you do poorly on Step I, your chances of getting a competitive residency go down the drain. It's probably the most important exam a medical student will ever take.
 
Last edited:
circulus vitios said:
Steps are licensing exams: USMLE Step 1, Step 2CS, Step 2CK, Step 3. Step 1 is taken in the third year of medical school, I believe. If you does poorly on Step I, your chances of getting a competitive residency go down the drain. It's probably the most important exam a medical student will ever take.
Click to expand...

I still don't get it. So if you don't pass step 1 then you take step 2? and then step 3?
 
nysegop said:
I still don't get it. So if you don't pass step 1 then you take step 2? and then step 3?
Click to expand...
No. Every exam is taken and must be passed to obtain your license. Step 1 is crucial in residency matching (and often getting a spot will need a solid score vs. a barely passing score, while getting a competitive residency spot will need a top notch score..) and is highly emphasized everywhere.

Some carribean schools wont even let you take step 1 until you can prove you're ready... and most people there get like 6 months to study vs. 5 weeks in the US...
 
druggeek said:
No. Every exam is taken and must be passed to obtain your license. Step 1 is crucial in residency matching (and often getting a spot will need a solid score vs. a barely passing score, while getting a competitive residency spot will need a top notch score..) and is highly emphasized everywhere.

Some carribean schools wont even let you take step 1 until you can prove you're ready... and most people there get like 6 months to study vs. 5 weeks in the US...
Click to expand...

Ohh I see. So people's residency could potentially change if they got a lower or higher score on step 2?
 
nysegop said:
Ohh I see. So people's residency could potentially change if they got a lower or higher score on step 2?
Click to expand...

Step 2 is taken during your 4th year, so yes it does factor into the residency decision.
 
Praefectus said:
Step 2 is taken during your 4th year, so yes it does factor into the residency decision.
Click to expand...

What is the purpose of step 3? Does it affect your residency? How come on the Puerto Rico school it had a step 1 residency and a step 2 residency?
 
nysegop said:
What is the purpose of step 3? Does it affect your residency? How come on the Puerto Rico school it had a step 1 residency and a step 2 residency?
Click to expand...
Either you're trolling to some extent or you just need to do basic research.
 
I am no troll, but thanks for the help you gave me.
 
I wouldn't say it's trolling, a lot of pre-meds don't know what the Steps are. I was talking about Step 1 with a pre-med last year and they were shocked about all the standardized tests you take in med school.
 
Caribbean schools used to be an option, 4-5 years from now when you are matching it'll be a nightmare.

There has been a shortage of spots in US medical schools for a long time, and there was a significant gap between the number of AMG's vs. the number of residency slots. That gap is closing dramatically as DO schools grow at a 300% rate/10 yrs and MD schools grow at a 15-20% rate over 5 years.

These offshore schools are going to collapse. The smart investors sold their Caribbean schools to DeVry and have started for profit DO/MD schools in the U.S. (1 for profit DO school built, 1 in the works and 2 for profit MD schools in the works).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

ghostlibrary
  • Question
Any advice for high school seniors going into pre-med this fall?
Replies
11
Views
811
Angler
Angler
thehara
Hopkins vs UVA vs William & Mary
Replies
10
Views
3K
jhmmd
jhmmd
L
Should I stress over the MCAT soon?
Replies
2
Views
819
PapaGuava
PapaGuava
S
Going from a Nurse to a Doctor
Replies
17
Views
2K
DarkHorizon
D
lockness
  • Locked
Over
Replies
2
Views
878
gyngyn
gyngyn
Top