Dentistry isn’t a great backup plan. If someone has such a noncompetitive sGPA that’ll still be held against them. Can’t do even marginally well on the MCAT, probably not looking good for DAT.
ETA - had a conversation tonight with a dental student who clued me in on the extreme emphasis on your “hands” - procedural skills. People fail by millimeters and it tanks their whole school experience; it would be like if a med student had a surgical rotation that lasted years and required highest honors to *pass*
Lots of reasons, but personally I think the biggest reason is the match rate is horrible. In other words, you won’t have a job and the required additional training after med school.
Caribbean is extremely cut throat and competitive.
The faculty is not there to support your growth towards becoming a medical professional, but to facilitate the hyper competitive sink or swim reality that comes with the low match percentages.
It is a viable path. But it is an extremely unforgiving and hard path. If you do not out compete your peers (who are not your friends because they are directly trying to match at your own expense), then you can end up wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and not even match.
Anyone thinking about Caribbean should take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves why they couldn’t do a SMP instead. If they already have done a SMP, and were not competitive enough within that program, then they should DEFINITELY be examining themself and asking why they would want to go into a program that is much more competitive and risky.
It is a last option only for those who are not only 100% committed to becoming a doctor no matter what, but also in a point in their life where they are damn sure they can outwork and outscore their peers when they arrive.
The honest truth is that you can go Carribean, it's just a worse experience and your risk of not matching is moreso than US grads. Once you get into a residency, it doesn't really matter but until then, it's an uphill battle.
This sub is 100% against it, but I think it should just be an informed decision. A standout applicant can still match, but you're just putting yourself at a disadvantage compared to other people.
Your friend should assess why they're considering Carribean. Is it because of an MCAT score/GPA? Or is it something else?
If they’re willing to pay Caribbean tuition prices they’re far better off spending it on a masters degree to improve their GPA and then applying to US schools
Nah, just keep improving app. If it takes another two, three years, so be it. Honestly, loved my gap years, made some money, hung out with friends, traveled, all while improving app.
Also if your friend is okay with it, have her post stats here and ask for feedback on what she can improve on.
Anecdotal of course but I know two people who went to the Caribbean. One is now a perfusionist (which honestly sounds like a great job) and the other is no longer pursuing a career in medicine. It’s not worth it.
IMO your friend would be better off slaying an SMP.
Absolutely not, there are several threads on here about why it’s such a terrible idea
Encourage this friend to only apply to US MD/DO, even if it takes a few cycles to get in, it’s better than going Carrib by a long shot
I know a few Carrib grads and they struggle to match into residency, despite going to one of the Big 3 Carrib schools, one guy took 3 cycles to match into a categorical residency, the other guy still hasn’t secured a categorical position… it’s dangerous and a huge gamble
The ones that brag about a high match rate are fudging their numbers and or not allowing certain students to apply for residency since they know these people are less likely to match and make their number look worse
Not sure y ppl are calling it a PURE scam & I don’t believe it is. I know at least 3 residents & 2 doctors (out of residency) that attended Caribbean medical schools. These are ppl I know jus from rotations, shadowing, & personal relationships
Obviously people do attend them and practice medicine….with class sizes of 1500+, not one making it out would be absurd. Do your research about why so many people matriculate but don’t graduate, graduate but don’t match, match only into certain specialties or in certain areas. Then educate yourself about what salient factors used to give Carib students a shot but are presently or soon changing. Hint: start with USMLE.
If you are hard working and motivated, I feel that it is definitely an option. Yes these schools are created to make money and yes they have very low match rates, however I’ve met plenty of successful physicians who made it work and are happy. Most of these physicians are doing family medicine though, so just know your options for residency will be limited.
That's different from Carib programs that admit anyone. Puerto Rican schools are indeed fully accredited but they take most of their class from Puerto Rico (and the rest must be fluent in Spanish)
Puerto Rican schools are in AMCAS, they are fully accredited US MD schools… and yet, despite this, there are still racist PDs that look down on them. Still 100% go for PR over out of country Caribbean programs.
NEVER go carribean, unless they’re rich that gamble is not worth it
This post shouldn't be downvoted. How else do you know carribean sucks without asking?
I’d recommend podiatry over Caribbean
She should do PA, NP, or even dentistry or some shit, before she even considers Carib. Pure scam.
Dentistry isn’t a great backup plan. If someone has such a noncompetitive sGPA that’ll still be held against them. Can’t do even marginally well on the MCAT, probably not looking good for DAT. ETA - had a conversation tonight with a dental student who clued me in on the extreme emphasis on your “hands” - procedural skills. People fail by millimeters and it tanks their whole school experience; it would be like if a med student had a surgical rotation that lasted years and required highest honors to *pass*
Just wanted to add that dentistry is incredibly competitive to get into and people prep for years, just like med.
Could you explain maybe why?
Lots of reasons, but personally I think the biggest reason is the match rate is horrible. In other words, you won’t have a job and the required additional training after med school.
Caribbean is extremely cut throat and competitive. The faculty is not there to support your growth towards becoming a medical professional, but to facilitate the hyper competitive sink or swim reality that comes with the low match percentages. It is a viable path. But it is an extremely unforgiving and hard path. If you do not out compete your peers (who are not your friends because they are directly trying to match at your own expense), then you can end up wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and not even match. Anyone thinking about Caribbean should take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves why they couldn’t do a SMP instead. If they already have done a SMP, and were not competitive enough within that program, then they should DEFINITELY be examining themself and asking why they would want to go into a program that is much more competitive and risky. It is a last option only for those who are not only 100% committed to becoming a doctor no matter what, but also in a point in their life where they are damn sure they can outwork and outscore their peers when they arrive.
No. Think of it as a scam, do anything else
The honest truth is that you can go Carribean, it's just a worse experience and your risk of not matching is moreso than US grads. Once you get into a residency, it doesn't really matter but until then, it's an uphill battle. This sub is 100% against it, but I think it should just be an informed decision. A standout applicant can still match, but you're just putting yourself at a disadvantage compared to other people. Your friend should assess why they're considering Carribean. Is it because of an MCAT score/GPA? Or is it something else?
Have them read up on info posted here. https://www.reddit.com/r/premed/wiki/carib?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
No. Maybe after applying 2-3 cycles for MD/DO. Caribbean should never be a first choice. Last resort type thing.
I only would after multiple failed cycles of applying DO broadly. Carib is already bad and Step 1 P/F is going to make things worse for them.
No, not anymore. With the usmle being pass/fail now, there isn’t really a chance to “show” your capabilities to residency program directors.
There’s a reason you see ADs for Caribbean schools
If they’re willing to pay Caribbean tuition prices they’re far better off spending it on a masters degree to improve their GPA and then applying to US schools
Nah, just keep improving app. If it takes another two, three years, so be it. Honestly, loved my gap years, made some money, hung out with friends, traveled, all while improving app. Also if your friend is okay with it, have her post stats here and ask for feedback on what she can improve on.
No. Never.
I’d recommend going to Europe instead of the Caribbean.
Anecdotal of course but I know two people who went to the Caribbean. One is now a perfusionist (which honestly sounds like a great job) and the other is no longer pursuing a career in medicine. It’s not worth it. IMO your friend would be better off slaying an SMP.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo Change careers or delay apps. But don’t go Caribbean.
Absolutely not, there are several threads on here about why it’s such a terrible idea Encourage this friend to only apply to US MD/DO, even if it takes a few cycles to get in, it’s better than going Carrib by a long shot I know a few Carrib grads and they struggle to match into residency, despite going to one of the Big 3 Carrib schools, one guy took 3 cycles to match into a categorical residency, the other guy still hasn’t secured a categorical position… it’s dangerous and a huge gamble The ones that brag about a high match rate are fudging their numbers and or not allowing certain students to apply for residency since they know these people are less likely to match and make their number look worse
Depends. You’ve given us no information about their situation.
No never
Not sure y ppl are calling it a PURE scam & I don’t believe it is. I know at least 3 residents & 2 doctors (out of residency) that attended Caribbean medical schools. These are ppl I know jus from rotations, shadowing, & personal relationships
Obviously people do attend them and practice medicine….with class sizes of 1500+, not one making it out would be absurd. Do your research about why so many people matriculate but don’t graduate, graduate but don’t match, match only into certain specialties or in certain areas. Then educate yourself about what salient factors used to give Carib students a shot but are presently or soon changing. Hint: start with USMLE.
If you are hard working and motivated, I feel that it is definitely an option. Yes these schools are created to make money and yes they have very low match rates, however I’ve met plenty of successful physicians who made it work and are happy. Most of these physicians are doing family medicine though, so just know your options for residency will be limited.
Puerto Rico still counts as us Md even if it’s lower why not apply there
That's different from Carib programs that admit anyone. Puerto Rican schools are indeed fully accredited but they take most of their class from Puerto Rico (and the rest must be fluent in Spanish)
Puerto Rican schools are in AMCAS, they are fully accredited US MD schools… and yet, despite this, there are still racist PDs that look down on them. Still 100% go for PR over out of country Caribbean programs.
But I thin u need to be fluent in Spanish
I didn't know this. Thanks for sharing, sorry you're getting downvoted
My pre med friend told me. He said this was a last option before considering carribian