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After making my choice to attend a Caribbean Medical School, the most common question I get asked is why did I choose AUC?
First and foremost, you must be strong enough to withstand the occasional stigma that ties along with attending a Caribbean medical school. Luckily, I know many Caribbean residents who were placed at a hospital in my hometown located in Central Wisconsin that is accepting of students from one the "Big Four" Schools.
What are the "Big Four" Caribbean schools and how do they compare to US Medical Schools? Click here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenmoon/2020/05/11/will-attending-medical-school-in-the-caribbean-hurt-my-chances-of-becoming-a-us-doctor/#8d1e39676ae5
In order to find the medical school in the Caribbean that is right for you, here are a few aspects that I considered in comparison to a few of the other "Big Four" schools:
** I recently changed my post to no longer include St. Georges University in Grenada due to many questions and concerns regarding their accreditation for student doctors in the United States. **Housing Location:
AUC (Sint Maarten) has housing that is located on campus on the Dutch side of the island for first semester students. For second through fifth semester students, additional housing is walking distance away from campus with a shuttle service through the medical school provided that will pick up and drop you off early in the morning and the evening if you are concerned about safety. Almost all of the housing that I found before signing my lease, both on campus and off, allows students to have their own bedroom and private bathroom. Aside from being walking distance to campus, housing surrounding and on AUC is also walking distance to the beach, a small grocery store, and restaurants.
Comparing this to other Caribbean medical schools, Ross University (Barbados) has their own housing available for students that provides them with their own bedroom with either a private or shared bathroom. The houses are in a gated complex called The Villages of Coverly with a grocery store and gym for students, but in order to travel into town where the medical school campus is located requires a 40-50 min commute one way. Not only is the campus a commute, but so is getting to a beach if you are looking for a study break.
Flying to and from home:
If you are the type of person who wants to travel home between each semester of medical school, consider the price of how much money it is from your nearest airport to the island. With your student email, you can also check out StudentUniverse.com which occasionally has good deals on flights.
Class Size:
AUC has a small class size, with the September starting class around 200 students, and January and May starting classes even smaller at around 100 students.
Ross's class size is roughly 200-400 students each starting term..
Curriculum:
AUC just renewed their medical curriculum starting September of 2021. It will now be system based.
Ross University's Medical Sciences Coursework -
Undergraduate Academics:
AUC and Ross both participate in what is called MERP (Medical Education Readiness Program) that is located in Florida. Students who do not have an adequate undergraduate GPA or MCAT score may have the opportunity to attend this fifteen week-long program in order to prove that they are able to handle the rigor of a medical school education. While students cannot apply for MERP directly, they can apply to the Caribbean school of their choosing and see if they can get directly admitted or must attending the MERP program before moving on with their pursuit of becoming a physician.
- Cidney (Seaside Prescribed)