In the Caribbean, offshore medical schools normally welcome students from Canada and the United States who will be returning home for residency. The application process, however, isn’t always a walk in the park. Expectations are not always met, and an applicant’s qualifications and other elements do not usually match up with the schools being considered. It is equally frustrating for students to realize, in the middle of the semester, that they are better off a different school.
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For this reason, it is important to make a sound decision regarding the academic institution that will educate, train and hone students for a good number of years. In deciding to pursue a medical career, a leading-edge medical school in the Caribbean takes students a step ahead in the career game. Here are four factors that can make that happen:
Quality of Education
According to The Washington Post more and more students, applicants and relevant organizations are acknowledging the advances in the quality of medical education in Caribbean. Competitive specialities are offered in fully equipped schools and laboratories for better learning and application. The schools have options that address student needs, such as in the medicine specialty that an applicant intends to practice, from primary to specialized care, academic to private practice, and from urban to rural environment.
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Applicants may choose to research for the best fit in terms of integrated curriculum, modalities for student lectures, research opportunities, flexibility during pre-clinical and clinical years, as well as academic, personal, financial, and career support and counseling. The academic institutions also offer a wide range of support services throughout their experience as medical students. In the Caribbean, several medical schools recognize student representation in school committees.
Various accreditation levels
Caribbean medical schools take pride in their different levels of accreditation. Some of these are national, regional and local government accreditations such as from the Ministry of Health, as well as private organizations and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS). A number of Caribbean medical schools are also in the World Health Organization’s list of government-recognized medical schools. Foreign students seeking residency in the United States must attend medical schools that qualify graduates to practice their profession in all 50 states. Such schools should also meet the rigorous requirements that enable students to obtain financial aid as American citizens. Applicants should read about accreditation as part of their research as well.
Ease in entry with less applicants
CaribbeanMedStudent.com explains that in the Caribbean, medical schools are “generally less difficult” for entrants with its three-semester school setup. In terms of student population, medical schools in the United States have a number of applicants that are disproportionate to the available slots. Moreover, a lot of incoming medical students prefer to stay as near as they possibly can be to family and home. As such, there are less American and foreign applicants in the Caribbean, making it ideal for those who want reduced competition and greater room for individual student focus.
