Author: Benji Ho

I've put together a photo tour of apartments within walking distance of AUC that students usually choose to stay, in hopes this would help those who are looking into apartments as well. There are several places one can start when looking for housing... Continue reading

As much as I like living in the dorms, it is the time of the semester in which I need to start finding off-campus housing to stay for the remainder of my stay in St. Maarten. This place has to be somewhere where I can tolerate and enjoy living for a year or more, if I don’t move back onto… Continue reading

After we complete our first five semesters of Basic Science training on the island, we go back to the states (or Canada) and take the USMLE Step 1 board exam within a semester's worth of time. Once we pass the exam, we work with our clinical advisors and schedule our clinical rotations (aka "clerkships") for our third and fourth years of med school... Continue reading

Today we took our last histo exam and finished our first class ever in medical school, Histology. It feels great not needing to worry about another class now but I cannot celebrate yet. I need to now focus on the anatomy and MCB exams next monday. Nevertheless, everything seems a little easier, now that we only have two classes and… Continue reading

One concern many prospective students have before coming to AUC is whether or not St. Maarten is a safe place to live. Crime does happen on the island, and for that reason it is a legitimate issue... Continue reading

A couple of readers have asked me about what the procedure was like when I applied to AUC, so here, I'd like to address it. The application process for AUC is very swift and straightforward. This is because after AUC receives your online application, they assign all applicants an admissions advisor who guides you throughout the whole process and answers all... Continue reading

About: Anguilla is a British Island about 8 miles away from St. Martin. It is accessible by a 30-minute ferry from Marigot Harbor. Unlike St. Maarten, Anguilla is very rural, and very flat. There is a different type of charm and mentality here, and the beaches are beautiful. Highlights: You HAVE TO go to Shoal Bay East (not to be confused with Shoal Bay West). It is often considered by travel magazines to be one of the top 10 best beaches in the world. Continue reading

The picture says it all. I am in dire need for grocery shopping. My roommate and I have decided in the beginning of the semester to rent a car every three weeks to stock up on groceries for the next three weeks. For the first time around, I overestimated my appetite and bought more than enough of what I need.… Continue reading

Not long ago I received a question from a reader asking: Would you recommend the dorm or apartment for first semester. Can a parent live with me in the dorm for a few days when I move in at the start of the semester? I've decided to post my reply here because I'm recently in the process of finding an apartment for next semester, and have had enough experience living in the dorms. Continue reading

Here are the long awaited pictures from my family’s visit to St. Maarten during the September 2009 American University of the Caribbean White Coat Ceremony. Thanks Jason, Justin, and Irene for your pictures! I had a memorable time and appreciate the support! In the pictures are my two brothers Jason and Justin, my mother, and my girlfriend Irene, Irene’s mother,… Continue reading

One thing I really like about AUC’s campus is its gardens, elevated and overlooking the lagoon and the ocean. Everyday I pass by them to and from class, and just a small, simple glance at them along the way brightens up my day. The study of medicine isn’t merely the practical knowledge to prepare me for the work environment, but… Continue reading

Today I was feeling tired and was tempted to skip an optional anatomy wet lab review after my morning classes. I had had a big workout yesterday, and feeling sore all over, I was really tempted to go home and eat a big, warm meal, kick off my shoes, and crawl into bed and get that extra rest to recuperate… Continue reading

I remember when I was applying to medical schools I've always been curious as to what the campuses of these schools look like, besides what they show on their websites. St. George's University, of course, has pictures of their campus all over their site, because they are the largest school, and obviously have a very large, very beautiful campus as well, worthy... Continue reading

I felt pretty good yesterday. In anatomy lab, we had a pretty well-dissected eye on our cadaver, and so many people from other tables came to our table asking “Hey I heard you guys have a pretty good eye, can you show it to us?” and “Hey I heard you can see the superior cervical ganglion on your body! Can… Continue reading

Last night was a beautiful night, and I just couldn’t pass it up for studying in an enclosed room. A nice place to study I discovered are the study rooms on the topmost floor of the dorms, right on the roof. Hardly anyone’s there, and they have plenty of desk space, dry erase boards, internet access, air conditioners (which make… Continue reading