I am looking forward to start medical school in Caribbean Islands hopefully in Jan 2010. My current finances:
Credit Card Debt: $21000 (0% till Sept. 2010 for a car) Savings: $30000 (can pay up the above loan if needed) Undergraduate Loans: $3200 No Credit Card debt
Net Cash on hand = about $10000 after paying above credit card obligations. Would like to keep my federal undergraduate loans.
Is there an advantage over the other for the below mentioned lenders ? The Caribbean school I got accepted is eligible for US Federal Aid. Please help me out here with potential issues to keep in mind. I think of the following Sallie Mae offers 0.25% rate reduction for automatic payments from checking account and paperless statements.
I am member of Ped-Fed but since I joined them rather recently, I was not able to get their credit card. I plan to get Pen-Fed credit card so that next time in 4 years or so when they do 2.99% for life balance transfer I can utilize maximum benefit of it after graduating.
Ill appreciate the kind and sincere responses. I am trying to do online research, but being so close to the semester start and still to secure housing and other stuff in a different country, its overwhelming....
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If I want to apply to US med schools, ill have to take MCAT again in Jan 2010 and apply at the end of 2010 and start Med School at the end of 2011 !!!
I am going to take maximum stafford loans but they will cover a little less than half the total expense.
Sure US schools have better reputation, but Medical license exam is required for all medical students regardless if they go to school in US,Caribbean or europe.
I don't want to do surgery or a super competitive residency.... For my goals, a caribbean school would do fine if I do OK or well on my Medical Board exams.
From what I hear the Carib Med Schools are terrible and the rate to passing the medical boards (USMLE) is very low. Or it could be that the students in the Carib Med Schools are more stupider than the ones in the US Schools to explain the low rate.
Either way, make sure you understand what's going on so you can transfer to a US school in year 3 and get that name on your diploma.
ltcm said:Kanosh said:I advise going to an American school. Better reputation and no need to take an additional test here to become licensed.
I'm not sure if anyone who gets into both would choose the Carib.
Carib = didn't get into US Med School (which is not to say it's a terrible idea - I know someone who went to the Carib and is doing quite well).
The new thing is Eastern Europe. If you don't get in to a US med school, go to Hungary or the Czech Republic.
Lot of doctors in my family, and they're seeing a ton of kids who didn't get in to US med schools go abroad, then come back to do their boards and residency.
tripleB said:From what I hear the Carib Med Schools are terrible and the rate to passing the medical boards (USMLE) is very low. Or it could be that the students in the Carib Med Schools are more stupider than the ones in the US Schools to explain the low rate.
Either way, make sure you understand what's going on so you can transfer to a US school in year 3 and get that name on your diploma.
Is "stupider" an actual word? It may be to the stupid people.
Not always, but a great majority of people do go to Caribbean to what I call "Buying Education" Unfortunately, a few people like myself who have not had luxury to study in US schooling system since childhood, and hence took a little bit to get in the US schooling/testing mode suffer.
Sure, i have been in States for a decent amount of time now, but the thinking and learning style that one develops since childhood is very crucial. Even though I speak english almost perfect with very little or no accent, it still stands my third language. If I am reading a paper in my native language, it comes naturally to me, I can read it much faster. However, in english when native speakers struggle with Verbal reasoning part of MCATs, usually, it doesnt bring good news for foreigners. There are always exceptions.
Lastly, sure you may consider a Caribbean graduate "Stupider" but hey guess what, when comes time, people dont hesitate for a second to sue the a$$ of a harvard graduate ! Contrarily, a doctor who knows his $hit and takes his time to take my medical history and can make the relevant clinical connection is far better in my books for my personal needs than say a Hopkins graduate.
Although, I will admit that many students who get accepted to US schools are obviously brilliant, but a great deal majority of them DOES NOT want to be doctor to be a doctor in US. Tell them they will have capped salary of 100K with all loans forgiven and then lets see what is the rate that we see doctors in this country. All goodwill and volunteer work requirements to be a doctor goes down the toilet !
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