Carribean or Hungary?

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Hi, I am a graduate from a canadian highschool and I wish to study medicine, but at the same time I am really confused!! I want to study medicine somewhere other than Canada or the US because of the fact that you have to complete undergrad first. I was considering the Carribean because you dont need any specific requirements and they teach you pre- med for some universities (I have done acedemic level science courses in highschool just to be prepared..somehow lol). However, recently I came across Hungarian med schools that also take highschool graduate. I AM SO CONFUSED NOW & frusterated because I feel I am not getting anywhere !! I basically want an MD and be able to come back to Canada or the US and practice..but I am unsure of what steps to take at the moment. Please message back. Thanks.

[thaskef]

I’m extremely interested in getting an adequate response to this question as well. I’ve heard many stories in support of and against foreign med schools and would like to know how students are expected to decide to go to an american school when there are so many less expensive and stressful options out there that claim to be equivalent.

[brandonw_395]

If you’re only thinking about tuition, you need to really think if you want to get into medicine. The best quality education is here in the US and those schools will give you the best chance to practice medicine.

The Carribean schools lose students because they get sick and have to return to the US for medical treatment. What does that say about them?

And would you want someone operating on you if they had an inadequate background and education? I wouldn’t. You have people’s lives at stake here and Carribean schools who admit all their applicants aren’t doing society any favors.

[doc2b123]

I just completed my first two years at St. George’s University in Grenada, and I can’t recall a single student who had to return to the US for medical treatment for some rare illness they acquired while swinging from tree to tree with the monkeys. As for the question that was asked earlier, if you are accepted to a medical school in the US or Canada, it will make it a little easier for you to practice in those places. I would not rule out foreign schools though! I don’t advocate all of the Carribean schools, but after my experience at SGU, and my step 1 score, I can guarantee that you will get an excellent medical education in Grenada. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Angela Peters

[brandonw_395]

I never said Carribean students swung from trees, but I have heard stories of them returning home to seek medical care they couldn’t receive at their own school.

I think there is something wrong when these schools are for profit. That means they want to admit as many students as possible. I also never said that there were no competent or good students in the Carribean, but I think the averages would show the US med students are a notch above and those are the ones I want operating on my loved ones.

[doc2b123]

First of all, I don’t think you should always believe everything you hear.
I’d also like to remind you that foreign students take the same exams you take, so on what grounds would you say that US med schools are a notch above foreign schools?
“And would you want someone operating on you if they had an inadequate background and education? I wouldn’t.” Isn’t that what you said? How exactly is it that you determined that we have inadequate background and education? Don’t forget that we don’t practice in the US unless we pass the same exams you do and these standardized exams allow reliable and valid comparisons to be made among students taking the test.

Angela Peters

[djo12]

Hi,

I would like to say that I agree with Angela. If you look at statistics, St. George in the Carribbean has higher MCAT averages and GPA averages than some American med schools, such as Howard University, for example.

I would also like to add that in the med school application process, some really qualified people get rejected and get their medical degree abroad. In fact, I know people from M.I.T and UPenn that were not accepted into any U.S schools and went to St. George, where I know they will become GREAT doctors.

My point is, it is really ignorant and unfair to discriminate against doctors who went to the Carribbean for their medical degree. While some schools in the Carribbean may be out to seek profit, other schools like St. George actually have higher MCAT and GPA statistics than a few medical schools.

I would also like to point out that there are far more residency positions in the U.S than there are seats in American medical schools, so the U.S really benefits from the contributions of foreign medical grads to our society.

quote:

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Originally posted by doc2b123

First of all, I don’t think you should always believe everything you hear.
I’d also like to remind you that foreign students take the same exams you take, so on what grounds would you say that US med schools are a notch above foreign schools?
“And would you want someone operating on you if they had an inadequate background and education? I wouldn’t.” Isn’t that what you said? How exactly is it that you determined that we have inadequate background and education? Don’t forget that we don’t practice in the US unless we pass the same exams you do and these standardized exams allow reliable and valid comparisons to be made among students taking the test.

Angela Peters

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Rita Sahai

[djo12]

This is to further address the misconception that Carribbean med students are “less qualified.”

I want to provide examples using people that I know personally in order to highlight the ignorance involved in judging a person who went to the Carribbean as “less competent”:

I know a girl who got a 26 on her MCAT and another who got a 24 on her MCAT, both of whom were accepted into U.S medical schools. Neither of these girls were disadvantaged in any way. Neither of them were underrepresented minorities. Given that information, they had HORRENDOUS scores.

On the converse, I know a guy who scored above 30 and went to M.I.T for undergrad and a girl who got a 29 and went to UPenn for undergrad, both of whom went to St. George because they were rejected by U.S medical schools. They had plenty of volunteer experience and extracurricular activities. Clearly, they are NOT less qualified than American medical school graduates. They had really wonderful MCAT scores and went to some of the toughest, most competitive undergrad institutions in this country.

So my point is, if you want to make sane decisions about your future medical care, don’t make ignorant judgements about foreign medical doctors based on generalizations and falsehoods.

quote:

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Originally posted by djo12

Hi,

I would like to say that I agree with Angela. If you look at statistics, St. George in the Carribbean has higher MCAT averages and GPA averages than some American med schools, such as Howard University, for example.

I would also like to add that in the med school application process, some really qualified people get rejected and get their medical degree abroad. In fact, I know people from M.I.T and UPenn that were not accepted into any U.S schools and went to St. George, where I know they will become GREAT doctors.

My point is, it is really ignorant and unfair to discriminate against doctors who went to the Carribbean for their medical degree. While some schools in the Carribbean may be out to seek profit, other schools like St. George actually have higher MCAT and GPA statistics than a few medical schools.

I would also like to point out that there are far more residency positions in the U.S than there are seats in American medical schools, so the U.S really benefits from the contributions of foreign medical grads to our society.

quote:

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Originally posted by doc2b123

First of all, I don’t think you should always believe everything you hear.
I’d also like to remind you that foreign students take the same exams you take, so on what grounds would you say that US med schools are a notch above foreign schools?
“And would you want someone operating on you if they had an inadequate background and education? I wouldn’t.” Isn’t that what you said? How exactly is it that you determined that we have inadequate background and education? Don’t forget that we don’t practice in the US unless we pass the same exams you do and these standardized exams allow reliable and valid comparisons to be made among students taking the test.

Angela Peters

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Rita Sahai

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Rita Sahai

[mike33333]

Howard University is another questionable program. If you can get into a fast-track program such as that offered by Northwestern or Dartmouth do that.

KEEP IN MIND YOU ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DONE WITH YOU MEDICAL TRAINING AFTER MEDICAL SCHOOL! RESIDENCY’S AND FELLOWSHIPS COME NEXT!

You need to look good to get in. Attending one of the traditionally easier schools will reflect poorly on you and your ability. There is a reason why the AVG. MCAT and GPA is sub-par at these institutions.

[giton]

First of all, please note that Caribbean is spelt with one r and rather two b’s- just to start off.
Next I’d really like to urge you all to shoew that we’re educated people and as was said stop being ignorant and unfair.
Being myself a 4th year medical student at the University of the West Indies, a premier tertiary institution in the caribbean; by no means is my school or training a notch below what is offered in the US or anywhere for that matter. If you do some research you will notice that we are comparable to several leading univerosties across the world. Furthermore have contributed significantly to developments in medicine specifically HTLV-1, sickle cell disease and several other conditions some of which discovered right here in the caribbean where you’ve been falsely informed that we cannot provide adequate services for even our students. We may be limited unfortunately with resources as we are not an economic superpower of the world but we certainly are highly trained and taught the same things taught in the US. We are not any less than you are and I even stand to say that we are better off without the attitudes and personalities that are obviously brainwashing young people looking towards joining this noble profession.

[encotel]

Important thing here is the message, not the messenger. So, put aside competence issue and look at the message.

The message is that it has been highly risky for non-US med graduate to come back to US/Canada and take USMLE exams and be granted residency in the sought after field (say Surgery). There are many competent foreign medical graduates who immigrate here and give up hope of qualifying after unsuccessful tries for several years (one road block after another). I personally know a Ukrainian lady, who transitioned into IT career after several years frustration.

If the guy with 30 MCAT and so called excellent volunteering record gets rejected, then there has to be a good reason for it. There are 127 Medical Colleges in US (and further 17 or so in Canada). If the person has applied to only one, then it is his fault for not having a back-up plan, but if he has applied to multiple and still got rejected by them all, then obviously ALL these colleges think they have other candidates better suited to this field than this guy with 30 MCAT. Being a doctor is not just intellectual ability, but a combination of that with certain additional personality traints – leadership ability, communication skills, psychological maturity, compassion and empathy, ability to persevere, and much more. Simple supply and demand situation. If there is less seats than applicants, colleges can be choosy, apply above criteria, and in their view, they have chosen what they think is the best.

So, the bottom line is – if one gets rejected, the best thing to do is obtain feedback on what factors can be made even stronger and apply next time. By going to external medical schools, one ‘looses’ a year or two in taking USMLE exams / residency, anyway. Why not find out what can be improved and apply to US colleges the following year. Time better spent.

So, no sour grapes, and do not shoot the messenger. Listen to message and succeed.

[telemed]

I think it mostly has to do with perception, not reality. Having previously sat on the admissions board of a medical school, MCATS and grades are more of a threshold ‘cut-off’ point than anything else. The personal interveiew and past pragmatic medical or research experience play more of a role at the more highly ranked schools.

Graduates of foreign medical schools from places like the Carribean are perceived by the U.S. medical community and patients as having taken an easier path, or because they could not get into a U.S. school.

There are alternatives. Schools of Osteopathic Medicine, if you have a doctorate-then there used to be a 2 year program at the University fo Miami, and the U.K., Capetown and elsewhere offer 6 year combined undergraduate/medical school programs.

Or if you are really interested in patient care, become a Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant (although these are both demanding professions).

[lmc399]

I’m only a student but this is what i’ve been told, correct me if I’m wrong though:

-Med school rankings are all about the $$$, top ranked means their professors pull in the most grants. It has nothing to do with teaching ability.

-Caribbean schools tailor their teachings specifically for passing the boards, vs. higher ranked schools who’s professors drone on about their own specific research (which brings in the $$$ that ranks the schools) but leave you on your own when it comes to studying for boards. Thus they may be a better option for students who are not so good when it comes to standardized tests.

Also, my father who is a surgeon asked me this question:

A student who graduates first their med school is called the valedictorian, but what to they call the student who graduates last?

“Doctor”

[joe24]

what is avg. GPA and MCAT for caribbean schools? st. George?

[janet1]

I have been to a doctor who graduated from Hungary. He is awful. He is also way too young to know much. Thankfully I don’t NEED a referral and can go to whomever I choose pretty much. Med school in Hungary costs 25% of the education in the states. That alone raises an eyebrow. I will budget shop for some things, but my health is not one of them. I have excellent insurance, I have money and I shop till I find the doctor with the best resume. If you want to be a hack, go overseas. But you won’t be seeing my insurance card.

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