Guide to AUC
Here I have compiled a list of blog entries and links pertaining to studying medicine at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and living in St. Maarten. Whether you are an applicant, recent matriculant, or simply interested, these entries may be useful places to start!
Prospective Students
- Why the Caribbean?
- Medical School Timeline
- How are Caribbean Med Schools Accredited?
- Guide to Caribbean Medical Schools
- Caribbean Medical School Rankings
- Why AUC?
- AUC Clinical Sites
- AUC Campus
- AUC Classrooms
- Student Organizations at AUC
- Student Support at AUC
- AUC vs. SGU
- AUC vs. SGU vs. Ross
- AUC’s Performance on USMLE Step 1
- About St. Maarten
- Choosing a School
Applying to AUC
- Application Process
- What Stats Do I need?
- Interview and MERP at AUC
- Should I start in January, May, or September?
Before Coming
- What to Pack
- Phone – Calling Locally and Abroad on St. Maarten
- Transportation
- Banking
- Textbooks
- Hotels
- Dorms vs. Apartments
- On-Campus Housing
- Apartments Around AUC
- Bringing Pets to St. Maarten
- Shipping Things to St. Maarten
- Spouses at AUC
- Maintaining a Long Distance Relationship in Med School
- iPad Apps for Med School
- How do I get to AUC from the Airport?
- Things to Accept Before Coming
What to Expect
- Classes and Exams at AUC
- Common Questions from New Students
- Study Tips for First Semester
- Is Med School Really That Hard?
- My First Day in St. Maarten
- My First Day in Med School
- My First Month in St. Maarten
- Should I Study Before Starting Med School?
- Rumors About First Semester
- Attrition Rate at AUC
- AUC Gym
- AUC Cafeteria
- AUC Rotunda
- AUC Welcome Mixer
- AUC Gardens
- Safety
- Weather
- Orientation Advisor
- Grocery Stores Around AUC
- Restaurants Around AUC
- Restaurant Reviews
- Cost of Grocery
- Cost of Supplies
- How Much Would Med School Cost?
- Internet Speed
- What do they sell at Note Service?
- What is ICM?
- Research at AUC
- Sports at AUC
- Blogs of Other Caribbean Med Students
Basic Sciences
- SGA Calendar
- Study Notes
- How Can I Become an Anatomy TA?
- What Equipment Do I Need for ICM?
- Religious Services on Campus/ Places of Worship in St. Maarten
- Affordably Fun Things To Do in St. Maarten
- How do I improve my MSPE Letter?
- Getting Involved
- Can I Get Asian Products on the Island?
- Comprehensive Exams During Fifth Semester
- What Do You Do During Fifth Semester?
USMLE and Clinicals
- What is the USMLE?
- Preparing for Step I
- What Step 1 Score Do I Need For My Specialty?
- Clinical Registration Checklist
- AUC Clinical Sites
- iPhone Apps for Clinical Rotations
- Books for Clinical Rotations
- Do’s and Don’ts of Clinical Rotations
- How to Pre-round, Write SOAP Notes, etc.
- Things to Learn When Starting Clinical Rotations
- How to get Letters of Recommendation
- UK Clinicals and Spouse Visas
- Preparing for Step 2 CS
- Preparing for Step 2 CK
- Setting Up Elective Rotations at UF Shands
Clinical Site Reviews
- Endocrinology — Nassau University Medical Center, NY
- Family Medicine — Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, NY
- Internal Medicine — Miami
- Obstetrics/Gynecology — Miami
- Pediatrics — Miami
- Psychiatry — Royal Blackburn Hospital, UK
- Psychiatry — Spring Grove Hospital, MD
- Radiology — Nassau University Medical Center, NY
- Surgery — Nassau University Medical Center, NY
- Surgery — Romford, UK
Clinical Site Guides
- Guide to AUC: Blackburn
- Guide to AUC: Bronx
- Guide to AUC: Miami
- Guide to AUC: Nassau
- Guide to AUC: Romford
- Guide to AUC: Shreveport
Residency Interview and Match
- How to Apply for Residency
- How to Improve your MSPE Letter
- Most IMG-Friendly States
- How to Prepare for Residency Application Season
- How Many Residency Programs to Apply to?
- Questions Asked During a Residency Interview
- Dos and Don’ts of Residency Application and Interview
- How to Dress for a Residency Interview
- Following Up After a Residency Interview
- Tips on Ranking Residency Programs
Residency and Beyond
AUC School Websites
- AUC Homepage
- AUC Vital Signs
- AUC Alumni Online
- AUC Alumni Association on Facebook
- AUC on Facebook
- AUC on YouTube
- AUC England on YouTube
- AUC on Twitter
- AUC on Flickr
- AUC Alumni Network on LinkedIn
- AUC News
- AUC UK
- MyAUC Web Portal
AUC Incoming Class Facebook Groups
- AUC School of Medicine May 2010
- AUC School of Medicine September 2010
- AUC School of Medicine January 2011
- AUC School of Medicine May 2011
- AUC School of Medicine September 2011
- AUC School of Medicine January 2012
- AUC School of Medicine May 2012
- AUC School of Medicine September 2012
- AUC School of Medicine January 2013
- AUC School of Medicine May 2013
- AUC School of Medicine September 2013
- AUC School of Medicine January 2014
- AUC School of Medicine May 2014
AUC Student Organizations
- THE SCOPE — The student-run newsletter of AUC
- “A Few Of Us” Facebook Group
- AUC AMSA Facebook Group
- AUC AMWA Facebook Group
- AUC ASMA Facebook Group
- AUC ASA Facebook Group
- AUC BGLAM Facebook Page
- AUC BMSA Facebook Group
- AUC Catholic Facebook Group
- AUC CMDA Facebook Group
- AUC CMSA Facebook Page
- AUC Diversity Council Facebook Group
- AUC Diving Club Facebook Group
- AUC HIV Committee Facebook Group
- AUC ICAN Facebook Group
- AUC JMSA Facebook Group
- AUC Kayak Club Facebook Group
- AUC LMSA Facebook Group
- AUC MSA Facebook Page
- AUC Phi Chi Facebook Group
- AUC SNMA Facebook Group
- AUC Spouses Org Homepage
- AUC Spouses Org Facebook Page
- AUC Spouses Org Facebook Group
- AUC Spouses Org (Post-SXM) Facebook Group
- AUC SVC Facebook Group
AUC Clinical Facebook Groups
- AUC School of Medicine Bakersfield
- AUC School of Medicine Baltimore
- AUC School of Medicine Louisiana
- AUC School of Medicine Miami
- AUC School of Medicine Michigan
- AUC School of Medicine New York
- AUC School of Medicine UK
- AUC UK
- AUC Crittenton Hospital
- AUC Ealing Hospital
- AUC Romford/Queen’s Hospital
- AUC Wexham Park Hospital
AUC Residency Match Facebook Groups
- AUC Residency Match 2010
- AUC Residency Match 2011
- AUC Residency Match 2012
- AUC Residency Match 2013
- AUC Residency Match 2014
- AUC Canadian Match 2014
AUC Sports Facebook Groups
- AUC Beach Football
- AUC Hockey
- AUC Gym
- AUC Gym Staff
- AUC MMA
- AUC Sailing
- AUC Soccer
- AUC Tango
- AUC Tennis
- AUC Triathletes
- AUC Volleyball
- AUC Zumba
Other AUC Facebook Groups
- AUC Classifieds
- AUC Doggies Play Group
- AUC Dr. Tisdall’s Step 2 Question and Review Group
- AUC Hip Hop Club
- AUC International Students
- AUC Kids
- AUC Medically Obsessed
- AUC Music
- AUC Neuroscience
- AUC Off-Campus Housing
- AUC Publication Club
- AUC Veterans
- AUC Wilderness and Alternative Medicine
Useful Academic Links
- Blaufuss Multimedia (Guide to arrhythmias)
- Faces of Abnormal Psychology (Interviews of abnormal psych)
- Medical Gross Anatomy (U Michigan)
- Medical Mnemonics
- O.R. Live (watch surgery videos!)
- Project H.M. (The Brain Observatory)
- The World of Abnormal Psychology (Videos about abnormal psych)
- Caribbean Med Student’s Med Blog
Articles About AUC’s History
Useful Links for Living in the Caribbean
- St. Martin News Network
- St. Maarten Island Times
- The Daily Herald (St. Maarten’s Main Newspaper)
- Today St. Maarten
Public Forums about AUC
Match Resources
- Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
- American Medical Association (AMA) – Links to state medical boards
- Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
- Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) – Licensing requirements by state
- FREIDA Residency Program Search
- Match A Resident
- MD Salaries
- MyERAS
- National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
- Scutwork: Residency Program Reviews
Hi Dr. Benji,
First of all, I appreciate this entire website that you put together. My wife has been accepted to one Caribbean school, and has her interview with AUC tomorrow.
It is looking like our two main options will likely boil down to either Saba or AUC. We believe that we’re leaning toward AUC, but still considering Saba. The problem is, we are having a hard time finding resources on Saba to be able to compare the two (besides the links to blogs that you shared, thanks again, by the way).
From your time at AUC, did you have any interactions with students or staff from Saba? Do you have any insight you can share about pros/cons or at least how it seems to differ from AUC? We’ve looked at aspects like tuition already, but are wondering more about living situations, support for families (we would be bringing our infant son), or general feedback about the school. We’re looking for honest answers here, so don’t hold back on if there were things that you preferred about AUC and why.
Thanks in advance! Any and all feedback is appreciated.
Best,
Josh