I'm stuck in a dilemma, unsure of which direction I should go. I was wondering if any of you had any advice or know anyone I can speak with. I'd really appreciate any advice.
Here's a brief synopsis - let me know if it makes sense and/or you need additional information.
I graduated college with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. My biggest hurdle with applying to medical school was my MCAT score. This resulted in me going through the Caribbean route. Due to personal reasons, I had to withdraw from the Caribbean school and attend to those issues. Now that they are solved, I'm ready to get back into school.
At this point in time, I have two options:
1) Apply/Transfer to another Caribbean med school
2) Come back to the US, start from square 1
My dilemma with the first option is - I don't want to go through the whole Caribbean Med school process again. Their methods and ways are not very conducive to learning. And as always, being an IMG applying for residency is never promising.
My dilemma with the second option is - I'd have to start with square 1 and that includes retaking my MCAT. Because I haven't done too well on it previously, it creates a negative image. Admittedly, I have come a long way between how I studied for the MCATs previously to now. But there is a lot of uncertainty involved. In addition, when applying to US Medical schools, it won't look too positive that I withdrew from a Carib school. I'm not even sure they'll take take into account my personal reasons, or just purely at the fact that I withdrew from a Carib school. I realize a lot of this depends on my MCAT score and I can do other things to boost my application, which will take a few years -- and I don't mind doing. But all said and done, if my withdrawal will still make my application have a red-X, I don't know if it's worth it.
So here's my dilemma. Let me know if you have any tips/insight to this. I'd really appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!
That is a tough one. If you didn't like the ways things were done in the Caribbean med schools, perhaps reapplying/transferring to another isn't the best route. I am sure studying and taking the MCAT, not to mention reapplying to US schools, would be difficult. But does it really matter how difficult it was if at the end of the journey you are doing exactly what you want to? Best of luck making these difficult decisions. Thanks for linking up with Medical Monday:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your response and positive words.
DeleteHey! Stumbled across your blog through medical mondays (which I was too disorganized to join this month), eeps. What about applying to a Canadian medical school? There are a few excellent schools here that do not require the MCAT. You could focus on the stronger parts of your application. The education here is on par with the US and you would have a much stronger standing in the US match then if you applied from a Caribbean medical school. And you could hang out with the polar bears :) (jk they live a lot farther north).
ReplyDeleteI do love polar bears =). Thanks for your response and insight. I'd never thought of Canadian medical school route - I will def look into it!
Deleteflygirl, Em is right, Canadian schools are viewed more positively than Caribbean schools for residency. However I have seen some Caribbean students match very well but are held to a much higher standard (step scores, research etc) compared to USA grads. I say apply for both and see how it goes though it will be extremely difficult. God will direct you to the right path.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response and positive words. I will def look into it!
DeleteHi from medical Mondays! Maybe you should talk to some graduates from the different programs to see how their experiences and finding jobs post school/residency panned out. Also just asking other physicians their opinion on various schools can be invaluable. What a tough choice I'm sending good vibes so you can make the right decision.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day you'll be a doctor. Don't think too hard at what will happen with option A/B. Just pick one and work your ass off the hardest you've ever worked. It will pay off.
ReplyDeleteI go to an international school as well, its a UK degree so we dont have the same things as the caribbean schools, but I understand the IMG residency fear. I say apply for both. Generally you hear your decision from USA schools earlier, and some Caribbean schools usually have extended deadlines. That can be your back up. Also, leaving a Caribbean school may not look to bad. US schools are aware of the residency match difficulty you may face, and may understand if you wanted to try at a US school to guarantee the quality of your education and increase your chances of matching. I go to a european school, but we actually have two ppl who came from other schools, one from caribbean. I don't think it affected them at all.
ReplyDelete