The TRUTH About CARIBBEAN MEDICAL SCHOOLS

Medical school is insanely competitive. In the most recent data available from the AAMC, only about 41% of applicants were ultimately accepted to a U.S. medical school. Osteopathic D.O. schools have been gaining in popularity in recent years as well, forcing less competitive applicants to turn to Caribbean medical schools in pursuing their dreams of becoming a doctor. Are Caribbean medical schools a good option? Here are the pros and cons.

It’s important to understand that the medical school you attend is not the final determinant in whether or not you’ll be a good physician. I know a great deal of highly [impressive physicians who trained at Caribbean medical schools, and other physicians who trained in the U.S. who are not as impressive. That being said, we believe in full transparency and making educated decisions.

At Med School Insiders, we’re surprised how commonly Caribbean medical schools are suggested and recommended to pre-med applicants, without regard for the significant drawbacks.

Benefits (Pros)
01:07 Less Competitive
01:49 Excellent Climate
02:08 Rolling Admissions

Drawbacks (Cons)
02:27 Difficulty Matching into U.S. Residency Programs
03:00 Cut Throat Culture
03:50 Limited Specialty Flexibility (For Competitive Specialties)
05:00 Inconsistent Quality of Training
05:37 Increased Cost

05:39 Are Caribbean Medical Schools Right for You?

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Disclaimer: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. The content and associated links provide general information for general educational purposes only. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Kevin Jubbal, M.D. and Med School Insiders LLC will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.

[MedSchoolInsiders]

If there's one thing I value, it's being open and honest. While this video may not have the information you wanted to here, the truth is what you need to hear. Thanks for watching.

[stady]

Just wanted to give hope to anyone watching. I went to a big 3 Carib medschool and failed my step 2 ck on my first attempt. Thought I was doomed after not matching. Studied hard, took it again and passed, did well. Worked for a year as a tutor. Matched the following year into FM residency. I'm working as a traveling hospitalist, life is good. Never give up on your dreams. Work hard and you can get there.

[abeed]

Getting into a Caribbean medicls school is easier. Staying in one is significantly harder. I finished in a Carib school. You cannot match in super competitive residencies such as dermatology. I disagree with the less collaborative atmosphere drawback. We all tried to look out for each other because we are all in it together.

[Docwiththelocs]

I'm a 4th year from a Caribbean med school and I completely agree with this video. I've mad hundreds of videos on the topic

[howtomedicate]

I hear Caribbean, I think pirates of the caribbean:
"It maybe the best medschool I have ever seen."

[thefenerbahcesk]

Only 57% get matched? Its the stress of premed all over again. No thanks. Also the weather/beaches might be nice, but you'll be at home studying 24/7, so think twice about that.

[mushfiqursiddique]

He's absolutely right. I go to a caribbean school and its cut-throat. You need to have realistic expectations when going to them. At the end of the day, these are for-profit businesses and you're just a number. Many of them are known for making tests and standards extremely difficult to weed out students or to get them to repeat. For me, time was a factor and I couldn't afford to take a year off to improve my credentials. It's all really based on individual circumstances. If I could do it all over again, I'd def have tried harder to get into a US school. Do your research before making a decision. All the best.

[MV-qwdw]

hi guys, hes absolutely correct on all his points. I am an attending in a caribean medical school. My school has has ridiculous attrition rate, and make the final exam (NBME) worth 45% of the grade and the CBSE is worth 35% of the grade. Year 2 is basically teaching yourself to survive the cut-throat policy.

[JennMedArt]

Great video!! I personally know SO MANY IMGs who matched into U.S. residencies. I myself attend a Caribbean school (Top 4). Greatness comes from within, not from the school you go to. Like he said in the video, you can find great IMG docs and horrible US docs and vice versa. If a Caribbean school is your only option, do not be discouraged! Work hard and persevere. Good luck!

[eddyjoemd]

As an IMG I wholeheartedly agree with what this videos says. Things worked out for me, but I consider myself a lucky one who dodged a lot of bullets along the way. I would recommend taking a year off to strengthen the application as this video suggests. Good job!

[ShrinksInSneakers]

For people like me who are nontraditional students coming to medicine later in life makes getting into US medical schools incredibly difficult. If you are a blue-collar former construction worker going back to school with limitted resources you are unlikely to understand how to put a good application together for medical schools in the US. Ultimately, I would take the Pepsi challenge with the education I received as a Caribbean grad. Difficulty matching really depends on how good you are and your scores, the cut throat culture is real but it makes you an animal if you survive it, limitted specialty flexibility is real (don’t expect orthopedics, neurosurgery even if you scores indicate you are a stud), Quality of training depends on the school in my opinion SGU and Ross have the best reputations, increased cost is a fact these schools are giving you a chance when no one else would, and that comes with a price.

[mitchelllyons]

I went to a Caribbean school for three years transferred to a US school, repeated my MS3 then matched into Integrated Plastics. It can be done but it is tough and everybody will tell you it's impossible. If you want a cometitive residency don't go to a Caribbean school.

[hockeydude]

Please, any US pre meds. DO NOT go overseas for med school. As a US-IMG it is a massive headache. At the end of the day you’ll be a great doctor wherever you go if you work hard that’s not really the issue. The stigma you’ll carry and the challenges of living in an another country far outweigh most reasons people have for leaving.

[domthebomb]

This has been my question for years🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[jessicahall]

I personally know and have shadowed a family practice doctor who attended a Caribbean med school. During his time in the carribean his island was hit by a hurricane. The plane they were put on to evacuate to the US crashed. Those who survived were placed randomly all over the country for their rotations. He still scored amazing on Step 1 and was chief resident at Mayo Clinic. So take from that what you will.

I know another carribean med student whose school was hit by a hurricane as well two years ago. They were shipped to a vacant med school building in TN.

So, I think Hurricanes are my biggest concern tbh.

[MM-twmo]

Average MCAT’s and GPA’s are much, much higher for Canadian medical schools. It’s pretty insane how competitive it’s getting; it’s hard to fault anyone for going the Caribbean route, especially when they’re stellar applicants that are getting fucked by the system. Still need to be wary of securing residency afterwards though

[savagemedic]

It’s my last option. I just now got financially stable to get a plus loan on my own, and this is coming from someone who had to get food from the salvation army, sleep at work until the bus ran, and I couldn’t find a job that paid descent after graduating in 2015...I’m so unhappy and burned out that I want to go to a Caribbean medical school...I didn’t ride a bike in a suit to shadow for nothing

[marcocarrasco]

Its needs to clarify the following: It takes at least (2) years to reapply to med school with a decent update to your CV. Med schools want you to apply to AMCAS in july. Many take 9-10 months to respond. I have had friends waitlisted whom get denied even later. By the time you get denied its too late to reapply with an update. You need another year to update your credentials. Then reapply. Therefore. It should be mentioned that it takes 2 years to reapply to med school

[OrganicDolphin]

At my university they advertise Ross med school to worried pre meds. It’s so messed up. The Caribbean is the greatest scam.

[rogerstewart]

I currently attend one of the Big five Caribbean medical schools and believe it is a good option if you need a second chance and are willing to put in the work. I would highly recommend against going to any school that isn't accredited by all 50 states and approved for title 4 funding. If you're heart isn't in it and you don't put the work in you'll definitely fail. The schools won't hesitate to allow you to repeat a semester and pay for an extra semester/year of tuition either. You pay them they give you the opportunity to achieve your dreams, if you don't seize that opportunity they will definitely take your money and fail you.