I understand about what you are saying when it comes to US schools. For that reason, I agree with you. However, there are some are not going to Caribbean schools because they cant get into US schools. So when you look strictly at the program and what you learn, MUA seems to have a nice premed program. Here is what two students said:
Student one -
Enter MUA as soon as possible if you don't have to practise in California, New Mexico or Texas (there may be 1 or 2 more states where it's on a person by person basis and New York should be okay by the time you graduate). Pre-med in May means Med 1 in January (just keep a B average and you automatically get into Med school). From there it's a 40 month program. You'll have an MD degree before you hardly would have finished gross anatomy in the states (assuming you got accepted to a US school). All you need is a mechanism to sit for the USMLE step1 and then get into clinical rotations. From there it's the same as being from a US school. The emphasis here (at MUA) is geared toward preparing for the step1. All test are written in the same manner (as the USMLE) and you even take a prep course (required) for the USMLE. Of course, if you bomb the step 1 and step 2 (meaning barely pass) then you'll have trouble getting a good residency later on regardless if you went to a US school or not. Although, look at the unfilled spots every year; if you pass step 1 and 2 and graduate from med school you can find a residency somewhere (family practice probably but that's a great field as well). Also, here at MUA the Pre-meds seem to do much better in general than many first year students. That is because they are taught what is important for med 1 and when med 1 rolls around they feel very comfortable and are not as stressed. As a premed 1 I've already gotten to identify the nerve chords and branches of the brachial plexus as well as the various muscles and arteries in the arm (we have 2 cadavers from last semester assigned to us and we also go from table to table in Gross anatomy class examining the fresh cadavers). This is something you won't get from a pre-med course at your local college! The instructors are great for the most part and they go out of their way to make sure you get the information you need. Don't get me wrong, you have to earn it but they give you all of the tools you need. I know this is long but I wouldn't hesitate to go into the pre-med program if I were you. One other thing, rumors run rampant. Unless you know 100% that something is true, I would disregard it (99.999% of the rumors are BS). This is a great small school that will get you to where you want to be...a licensed and practising Doctor.
Good luck and hope this helps!
Tim
PreMed 1
Student 2 -
NY is ok right now... you can get a permanent license in NY as it stands now.. you just CANNOT do more than 12 weeks of rotations there OR do your residency there ... thats the whole thing with NY approval.. want approval to do greater than 12 weeks of rotations and want approval to do as RESIDENCY in NY....
the premed program is GREAT at MUA.. its a stepping stone into the med program and it really prepares you very well.. the premed kids have consistently been at the top of their classes when starting out in first semester... so you really have nothing to worry about as far as doing premed at MUA is concerned...
