Here are things to understand and accept before coming to the Caribbean for med school. Please understand that…
- …power and water goes out more than you’re probably used to.
- …there will be hurricanes.
- …there will be earthquakes.
- …there will be flooding.
- …there will be potholes on the road.
- …there will be power outages (though in recent semesters, the power’s been pretty good).
- …there will be waiting in long lines.
- …there will be ways of saying things you consider rude that the others may find just normal talk.
- …you’ll probably get homesick at times.
- …you’ll probably get culture shock at times.
- …you’ll probably be comparing everything on the island to what you’re used to back home. It’s ok. It’s natural to do so.
- …when you get off the island, you’ll probably miss the island, especially coming home to freezing temperatures during winter break.
- …you will initially feel ripped off with the inflated prices, but then you’ll get used to it and once you come back to the states, everything will seem cheap.
- …you are a foreigner.
- …you are the one with the funny accent.
- …you may or may not carry stereotypes. Please don’t exacerbate them.
- …there are much poorer countries out there.
- …you’re here probably because you couldn’t get in anywhere else. No need to think you’re better than everyone else.
- …just because you went to an Ivy League school doesn’t mean you’ll do better than everyone else.
- …you may meet some classmates who you’ll be shocked are going to become doctors. Some of them may eventually drop out, or med school will shape them up.
- …you will be the new kid on campus… don’t think you can come and change how things run.
- …getting accepted into medical school is not the hardest part of the process of becoming a doctor. And frankly, I bet neither is Basic Sciences.
- …medical school’s no cake walk.
- …you may (or may not) be looked down on by your US-graduated colleagues and residency interviewers. Show them good reasons why you should instead be looked up to.
- …most problems you’ll complain about is neither unique to the island or the school.
- …you’ll make lasting connections with some people here. Some other people you may never want to see again.
- …you’ll discover your weaknesses in med school. But you may also discover your strengths.
- …you may not agree with everything on this list.
- …your experience is what you make it.
- …you’re in the Caribbean with 365 days of summer and the beach just a step away… enjoy it!