Why the Caribbean?

Well, most obviously, people point out that the Caribbean is a beautiful place to study, and warm all year round. If I get tired studying for 13 hours straight, I can just step outside and watch a beautiful sunset on the beach… how can I say no to that?

But more importantly, I can learn a lot about myself and others by living in another country and studying with fellow students and faculty from all over the world. Experiencing what it’s like to be a guest in another’s country and adjusting to life in a different culture can make me into a stronger individual, and a more open-minded doctor, with a fascinating story to tell.

For me, going to a school in the Caribbean is a great way to jumpstart my journey, as the application process is much faster that of U.S. med schools. For the schools I applied to, I found out whether or not they wanted to give me an interview within two weeks of submitting my application, and whether or not I was accepted 1-2 weeks after the interview. This is a great option for students who do not get into a U.S. med school by April, as Caribbean schools offer a chance to start med school in the fall without needing to wait another year to reapply. As for me, I applied in the summer, and got in for the fall. As a post-bacc student who already has a degree, I cannot afford to wait another year.

Schools in the Caribbean are also generally more affordable. The tuition at Saba University, for example, is $23,375 per year, while the American University of the Caribbean costs $36,538 per year, which is considered on the higher end of the cost spectrum for Caribbean medical schools. In contrast, the average tuition for U.S. public and private medical schools is around $38,000 a year. Many are even higher. Penn State’s tuition costs $45,786 per year while Tufts University School of Medicine costs even more at $50,320 a year!

It is also generally less difficult to get into a med school in the Caribbean. In the U.S., it is not uncommon for a med school to have 11,000 applicants apply to fill 190 spots (New York Medical College 2008-09). This is due to the disproportionate high number of premed students in comparison to the low number of seats available in the United States. As there are three entering semesters per year at most Caribbean med schools, more spots are available to be filled at these schools. And as there are less American applicants who consider traveling abroad for med school, there is less competition for spots for applicants in these schools. For example, in Spring 2009, 1,663 applicants competed for 422 seats at St. George’s University. In terms of admissions requirements, Caribbean schools are also usually less difficult to get in. For example, at New York Medical College, matriculants have an average score of 30 MCAT and 3.5 GPA, whereas at St. George’s University it is 26 MCAT and 3.3 GPA.

Unlike US med schools where professors are obligated to put in time for their own research and medical practice, in Caribbean schools, professors are dedicated (and paid) to teach. That is their primary job. This gives them more time to prepare for their lectures and more time to help students.

The only concern I have for Americans considering applying to the Caribbean for medical schools is to make sure you do your research! There are around 56 med schools in the Caribbean and many are not recognized in the United States, although they may be accredited by their respective countries. The only four med schools in the Caribbean that are actually considered by the United States Department of Education to be comparable to U.S. medical schools are St. George’s University (SGU), Ross University, American University of the Caribbean (AUC), and Saba University. Of these four, SGU, Ross, and AUC all meet the rigorous requirements of the federally-guaranteed U.S. student loan program (they are referred to as the “Big 3″). Their students are therefore able to do anything U.S. medical students can do: receive U.S. federal loans, participate in the National Residency Matching Program, and be licensed in all 50 states. Check out my post about how Caribbean med schools get accredited!

When people think of the Caribbean, they normally would not think of med schools. But with a chance for personal development, faster application process, more affordable, less competition for seating, the same great education and opportunies as their U.S. counterparts, and of course beautiful beaches, the Caribbean med schools give aspiring physicians like myself a great opportunity to pursue their dreams.