My Caribbean Medical School Experience | This Was Unexpected...

I visited St. George's University, one of the big 4 Caribbean medical schools. The experience was anything but expected. Here's what I learned about Caribbean medical schools.
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TIMESTAMPS:
03:00 - Things I like
03:36 - Things I don’t like
04:37 - Step 1
05:21 - Match rate & attrition
08:48 - Anatomy lab
09:39 - Culture shock
10:22 - Cost
10:56 - Student culture
12:03 - Student support
14:08 - Updates to my original Caribbean videos
LINKS FROM VIDEO:
Day in the Life Caribbean Med Student: • Day in the Life - Cari...
Truth About Caribbean Med Schools: • The TRUTH About CARIBB...
MD vs DO vs Caribbean: • MD vs DO vs Caribbean ...
#premed #medschool #caribbeanmedicalschool
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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. May include affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you).

[@kevinjubbalmd]

This was a great practice in me being mindful of the reciprocity rule from Influence by Cialdini. I liked a lot of the staff and people I met at SGU, so no disrespect to them, but I cannot allow myself to be filtered or have premeds be lied to without calling this stuff out. If I'm fortunate enough to be on KZbin and have people watch them, then it's my responsibility to serve my viewers. Thanks for watching. I love you all. EDIT: No disrespect at all to Caribbean students. I have tremendous respect for the doctors and residents I have worked with who were trained in the Caribbean. They worked an uphill battle and overcame the odds. Will be making a follow up video to elaborate further

[@oreman011]

I was afraid clicking on this that this would just be a shill. Thanks for staying true!

[@justinmoore5589]

Hey Kevin, I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. I love how thorough and well thought out they are. Your videos have really helped me understand the process behind becoming a physician. I decided late in the game I wanted to go to medical school. Therefore, I am lacking in a phew key areas that might allow acceptance in traditional U.S. based medical schools. With that being said, do you have data showing how often or if any U.S. medical schools misrepresent their attrition rates, pass/fail rates, and Step 1 averages? I would be very interested in learning this. Thank you so much for all you do! You are the man!!!

[@its9333]

Damn..I missed him...

[@moniquedavidson988]

Please do an analysis on Cuba med schools

[@MV-qw2dw]

@@moniquedavidson988 would be interested! Please do!

[@tigger911ish]

SGU probably regretting their decision to invite you DrJ.. Lol

[@tq131]

it was a great video showcasing the other side of Caribbean medical school. It should be your last straw, but if anyone decides to go there, I believe they can be successful with the right mentality. 30% of students are dropping out because those people shouldn't have been qualified to go to medical school in the first place. They probably kept the lazy study habits that kept them through university at average GPA. Anyone watching this and decides to go to Caribb school, you will need to change. They won't hold your hands like Canadian medical schools (i.e. UBC realllly don't want to fail you). Don't think about being put in prison. You are only going to be there for 2 years before rotations, and those hard few years will change the 50 years of your future life.

[@georgelampros4593]

@@tq131 SGU is like damn someone with a brain actually proved how shady we are not a great business model

[@preppypuppy2638]

tigger911ish They were the ad that played before this video...I'm choking on the irony.

[@insidemansions453]

😩😩😩😂😂😂

[@trevorwatkins7171]

You should absolutely go around to U.S. Medical schools and do this same assessment. It would be incredibly enlightening to know how culture differs around the U.S. and which medical schools are just bullshitting. There is NO appropriate source online for this sort of thing right now. U.S. News and Review is a joke. As an applying student, I want to know what it's like to actually go there. How about a series where you travel around, visit a ton of medical schools, and talk to all of the students?

[@kevinjubbalmd]

I like this idea

[@TerenceThomas]

I agree US news sucks lol this would be a great idea

[@thanhthanhvo5191]

THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING IDEA!

[@stephenr4185]

Kinda like Flexner 2.0. Maybe we’ll just call it the Jubbal report.

[@aubreyingram3582]

Yes! Especially some of the “big name” DO schools. Tuition creeping up to $80k annually, decreased student resources, difficulties with combined NRMP Match, etc.

[@knzay]

i was so ready for this to be a fluffy, ass-kissing video about how your mind has been changed since visiting the campus. boy was i wrong

[@ngoctam850]

Ke La same, can’t believe I put this school as my backup plan😬

[@hassanarshad3805]

SGU: invites Dr. Jubbal on an all-expense-paid trip to make them look good Dr. Jubbal: I'm about to end this school's whole career

[@smiley8106]

Hassan Arshad lmaoo

[@chrisnettles3133]

SGU is the 2nd largest provider of physicians in American and have placed more students into US residencies for the past ten years combined than any other school in the world, and you think they will go away? Who would fill those spots?

[@hassanarshad3805]

Chris Nettles no I don’t think they’ll go away, it’s just that “I’m about to shed light on this school’s predatory practices but ultimately not affect their profits” doesn’t make for as good of a punchline

[@MV-qw2dw]

@@jamesmcgwire849 apply to polish med schools. Cheaper , better and able to get residency in the US. Some schools allow student loans. Not many know of this option. It's often kept a secret.

[@littlejackalo5326]

@@chrisnettles3133 it's called quality over quantity.

[@mahidac]

Caribbean MD here, also a cardiology fellow currently - every student considering a Caribbean pathway for their MD should legit watch this video. Very well done

[@LilJbm1]

If you are the hopeful orthopod I want to say I respect you so much and much love, the blog was heartbreaking. If not I very much recommend reading that blog, the $1M mistake. Wonderful med student, wonderful resident, wonderful researcher it seemed, and all the points people make about you/the blogger being egotistical are not fair as the blog makes the clear point that even an insanely successful physician is just worse off at the Caribbean. I very much am a believer in objective metrics, the P/F reform of Step 1 will be terrible, and if you have the skills, and a heart in the right place, you'll make a great cardiologist!

[@kevincorrigan1754]

@@LilJbm1 is that the guy who wrote the million dollar blog?

[@LilJbm1]

@@kevincorrigan1754 Not sure but they were both Caribbean MDs and cardiology fellows so on the off chance they were the same person I wanted to share. How many Caribbean cardiology fellows are there in the states? A few dozen maybe?

[@DavyBoy81]

My cousin went to an IMG school, came back to the states and ended up becoming Chief Resident. You need to put in the work most definitely.

[@isaiah3787]

That wouldn’t have anything to do with your med school though.

[@OrganicDolphin]

This is completely irrelevant

[@Valcreee]

well that backfired for SGU lol

[@georgelampros4593]

terrible school man im speaking from experience unfortunately stick to a US school

[@tiffanyjoyxP]

George Lampros what was your plan after leaving them ?

[@georgelampros4593]

@@tiffanyjoyxP text me personally

[@georgelampros4593]

@@tiffanyjoyxP NP

[@Hepacivirus]

@@georgelampros4593 why is it a terrible school

[@littlegiant101]

I go to a Caribbean medical school, because I'm from the Caribbean and currently MS4 in the US, and I was on this one rotation, where the attending called all of us into a patient room and called on one of the students and asked him to identify the rash on a teenage patient. It was clear cut what the rash was but this student he called on didn't quite understood what he was asking, as the doctor him self had a very strong accent. The doctor got so upset and into front of the patient and he's mom said "JUST IGNORE THEM, THEY KNOW NOTHING, THEY'RE NOT FROM HERE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK HERE!" I was shattered and felt extremely disrespected, I worked hard to get here, got amazing step1 and shelf scores and for this man to say "IMG's" know nothing!, I was crushed! Still crushed, I get teary eyed, every time I think of it!

[@MV-qw2dw]

What an ahole..

[@lovefunkrockmusic]

Yeah, that happens in healthcare. It’s a dog eat dog mentality. Just work hard and smart and prove that preceptor wrong

[@amretsekhon976]

Former Carib student, I was always told I was less than US grads for picking my path, but when I did, it was the option I had (I advise against it now bc of a lot of the challenges). Because I knew no one would take me seriously I WORKED my butt off and at times during fourth year was put in charge of training US MD/DOs on certain rotations. It sucks that people can just let our work speak for itself, you'll frequently be seen as "less than" purely for where you went to school. but Caribbean school made me more self-sufficient than a lot of our US counterparts, we had to struggle with admin that didn't care about us, take a lot into our own hands, and meet challenges most people in the US don't. It definitely makes you a stronger and more empathetic clinician in the end. also, all that being said, I loved living on the island. At the end of the day, not having a dozen poptart flavors to choose from at the grocery store isn't that big of a deal when you get to live in perfect weather all year round.

[@trcherrera]

@@amretsekhon976 Same sentiments here. This is relatable coming from a southeast asian physician. My take is that not everyone will eventually wanna work in the US which is I think consistent with what Dr. Jubbal was telling. I am for any medical school simply because we need more doctors than we actually have. Some go back to the US and some dont. Patients need doctors everywhere. Schools like SGU or any medical school offers a unique opportunity for those who decided to go there to rise above and be exposed for their particular challenges and it will end up contributing to their uniqueness as a physician and strengths in future I hope. So for physicians really wanting to be working in the US, then probably this advise sounds reasonable. But also consider the other side. Doctors who want to be doctors at their core need institutions for them to become one. Its up to them where to go from there and conquer that next step themselves.

[@failyourwaytothetop]

@@trcherrera You speak like a winner that will rise above any obstacles life has to offer.

[@DrAdnan]

“...and that’s it for things that I like” -straight savage 😂

[@philtastic1]

Kevin, you are the most ethical and moral premed advisor. Great job for staying unbiased and honest. I respect you so much brother!

[@Painter38R]

My son graduated in 2021. High honors throughout college and pre med. Received Md from SGU and still has not matched! Very few residencies take SGU . We have applied 4 times for em and fm. He went to SGU because of a scholarship. BIG MISTAKE. The folks have little contacts to help...your rotations are in the worst hodpitals...he added an MS in bioengineering from NYU ..honor roll in 2022, certificate in medical coding in 2023, MS in computer sci before med school, extensive travel in Asia and speaks japanese. $600,000 in debt, unemployed. Planning to move to Japan to teach English (got certified to teach english as second language). My son is a workaholic...and did not get ONE EM interview. US citizen born in Mt Sinai Hospital. As a caucasian male he is the bottom of the list for hire...add carib grad to that.... SGU adds more mds to USA...but mds CANNOT PRACTICE medicine unless they have a residency and most residencies won't interview them. One more issue...If you are a US citizen you are still considered a foreign student even though you rotated with everyone else in US hospitals. A nother issur...Lincoln hospital...funded by our tax dollars...check out fm residencies...Directed by foreign dr...all residents from India, pakistan, saudi arabia, syria! Do not do Carib med schools..look at eras...check how many matches...sgu said 970 matches this year....they do not indicate how many years of graduates...they graduate 2000 students more a less a year....where are the others?..I was blocked from the SGU parent gtoup for telling the truth! Sorry...Sunday morning rant. Supporting depressed md living at home again...single mom and his twin brother investigating every possibility daily as another match season approaches.

[@Painter38R]

Sorry about typos...no edit button😳

[@sonnyreel289]

Really sorry your son has had a rough time. My daughter graduated last year and just finished her 1st year of residency in EM. Her boyfriend went to SGU and just finished his 1st year of residency also in EM. Both are in the Miami area of Florida and did their rotations there also. Tell your son not to give up...keep pushing forward!

[@oliviaarteaga4092]

I rather go to osteopathic or naturopathic medical school not MDs

[@soroushdarvish9281]

First of all how do you go 600k in debt? Something doesn’t make sense here. I know many idiots who got FM or internal with carribean degrees you tripping

[@Am-Not-Jarvis]

"Honorary pre-med adviser". I think with all you have contributed to students in need, you can drop the "honorary" title.

[@dmdm9232]

Deep RESPECT to you Doc for being so transparent with your truth instead of being bought by the fancy offerings by SGU. May you soar to tremendous heights in all that you do! Wishing you so much love and blessings to come your way! 🙏🏽

[@Kickbackfool87]

I knew all of this from past research, but I still watched it to see if you'd let yourself be swayed. Your honesty and trustworthiness is refreshing. There are a lot of people who would have been in your shoes and let the smoke fill up their ass until they couldn't see straight. I appreciate your objective approach despite the wining and dining they did.

[@venusd1946]

Thank you so much!!! YOU ARE THE BEST PRE-MED advisors!! This guy is like an investigative journalist!! In the premed world!!

[@kevinjubbalmd]

😂

[@smiley8106]

So true! I don’t waste my time with advisors anymore. Last time I saw an advisor was first semester freshman year lol. Then the rest was KZbin.

[@johngrey1074]

US MD > DO > Carib MD Retake the MCAT. Do a post-bacc/SMP. Boost your ECs. Do anything you can in order to avoid a school like SGU, even if it means delaying your applications by a year or two. Don’t gamble with your future.

[@georgelampros4593]

I wish I had listened to this advice

[@DrMaja9Urkel]

Have you gone to SGU?

[@youreokay7888]

is DO the same as MD or worse, and why?

[@johngrey1074]

@@youreokay7888 The degrees are equal once you're a practicing physician. But when you're applying for residency, you have more options available to you as a US MD graduate. But IMGs (people who get MDs from offshore schools) are the worst off.

[@pamkaur1426]

I went to SGU. It is true that this school is very cut throat. It is true that for some, the amount of work that is required of them is so overwhelming that they fail a class or drop out. I personally did not look at attrition rates when I was looking into carib medical schools. There are people from all walks of life at this school, with all kinds of personalities. You cannot say that this many people failed or dropped out so I will too. You have to know what YOU want and how much you want it before even thinking about medical school at all, no matter if its a US school or a carib. I think SGU should portray the attrition rates accurately, but even if they don't it is irrelevant to your decision if you know that you are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. St George's is the number 1 provider of doctors in the US. They know what they are doing and they do it well. It is ALLLLLLL about way you put into it. And if you do, you will ultimately be a stronger, more caring and more confident doctor knowing that you overcame so much to make it to that point. I know I certainly am. Lastly, going to Grenada for med school was the first time I left my small hometown and my family... a culture shock was inevitable BUT it was not nearly as extreme as portrayed here. SGU does a lot to make the transition as seamless as possible. The island is beautiful... I don't know of any student that doesn't miss it after they leave. It was my favorite part about medical school.

[@shl2133]

I want to like your post 10000 times if i can. I agree with you 100%. SGU is definitely not an easy path to become a physician but it definitely will make you a stronger person mentally and emotionally so we can serve our patients with more humility.

[@WeamAhmed95]

My man Dr. Jubba did NOT hold back 👏🏽 very informative

[@jaysmith6013]

Every potential med student needs to watch this to make an educated decision about where to go

[@jsanjuan93]

This is a critically important video for those interested in medicine. Thanks for doing this as pre-meds need non-biased perspectives, especially with the changes to Step 1 coming in the near future.

[@georgelampros4593]

Do you believe that the new changes to step 1 will make it harder for carribean students to match?

[@MikeSmith-zo6eu]

Let me tell you, being a SGU student. It don’t come easy, nothing is handed too you. It’s extra tough, and you have to want it. I didn’t get to 4th year by mistake, I worked my ass off. The people that fail out go and party and don’t study and fail term after term. U have to want it, it’s not going to be given to you.

[@luisalfredo74]

your right, i’m term 5 now in sgu and it takes hard work just to pass the exams and i’m not the best student

[@shl2133]

I agree. The drop out rate is high just because the incoming rate is too high. It doesn’t portray the incompetence of the school nor students who survived

[@Hepacivirus]

@@luisalfredo74 is it a good university, I was thinking about it

[@luisalfredo74]

Hepacivirus idk if its worth it anymore since step is pass/fail

[@Hepacivirus]

@@luisalfredo74 oh I see

[@adilnusair8607]

Bro I'm not even joking, I was planning on applying to the university because they gave me a too good to be true speech about the university. You saved me man!

[@georgelampros4593]

I went there for over a semester and it was pure crap

[@adilnusair8607]

@@georgelampros4593 bruv after wut I've heard, if I went there i would feel the same way

[@georgelampros4593]

@@adilnusair8607 Bro stick to a US school now thank me later lol

[@Gross126]

George Lampros so what did you do? Did you reapply to US med school?

[@georgelampros4593]

@@Gross126 nope im becoming an NP

[@PrincessPeachGummy]

Honest, unfiltered, blunt truths about the med school admission and residency application process is so rare and precious. Students who perceive this as hurtful don't understand how valuable and empowering this information is! Advisors don't care about you--they care about their institutions. They have little incentive to help students achieve their true goals. Anti-fragilism is ESSENTIAL to beating the odds and and becoming the physician you want to be. It's so easy for people to sugarcoat things and give you a cookie for floating along and carrying out tasks that require little effort. A healthy amount of stoicism supplemented by the motto "nobody cares, work harder" helped me to swallow my pride, work my butt off, and get me to the medical school and ultimately residency position I wanted.

[@frantzfudoshian1548]

You should definitely make a series where you (possibly a team of others) visit many medical MD and DO schools in America and see if it's "Jubbal Approved" Complete transparency and pulling the curtains before our eyes, it'll definitely help applicants make a better school list as well as schools see their faults and actually tackle these challenges And bring light to the sacrifices when pursuing medicine and not have this stigma of being nearly impossible and something unachievable

[@lovefunkrockmusic]

Frantz Fudoshian Especially DO schools. There are DO schools that are questionable like Nova Southeastern

[@Westernman1992]

lovefunkrockmusic what are your reasons? What is their Match rate and average step/COMLEX score?

[@doctorlife]

Woah, that’s insane - a huge eye opener. I hope this video helps future students with their decisions and the universities to up their standards! You’re filmography has upgraded as well, I like this change 💪🏼

[@rider03]

I'm an SGU grad, matched Internal Med on the first try, completed residency two years ago. I worked as an attending and then decided I wanted to go into interventional radiology instead of pursuing any of the medicine sub-specialties. I then stepped into the match for a second time and am currently almost done with my first year of residency in radiology. I agree SGU is not for everyone however, the bleek picture painted by Dr. Jubbal is not as accurate as it may seem. My classmates and I matched great specialties and many of our seniors are in high positions academically in various institutions throughout the U.S, SGU gets more respect than you think in clinical practice. In the end though, I agree exhaust your US options first, only because this stigma follows you for a few years and you constanly feel as if you must prove yourself, but for whatever reason, if you have to go to SGU its all about what you put into it. When its over you wont regret it.

[@Mercyforthewicked]

its awesome that it worked for you, however, things have changed drastically over the years included the number of applicants. i argue that the average med school applicant now compared to 10 years ago has much better stats. Its just incredibly competitive. Nonetheless, it does not mean its not doable.

[@georgelampros4593]

@@Mercyforthewicked Jasleen you're so right

[@MV-qw2dw]

@@Mercyforthewicked this is absolutely correct. SGU has change in ownership and sold to a for profit company in 2015.

[@Qwabyna]

This life is not about the school, is what you use your education for and how smart you are. You can go to a Carribean school and be a great doctor same as someone will attend a US school and fail badly. In life just focus focus focus and bring the best out of you. All schools are profit making entity

[@victorian1010]

It’s crazy how I was so confident and prepared to apply to a carribean school especially SGU but now you really have given me something to think about and I really appreciate that.

[@georgelampros4593]

He is absolutely right I went to SGU baaaaad

[@jasminerennie3986]

Currently an SGU student. And everything you say is true. And it’s so bad during the pandemic because in no way are they trying to re-incorporate people slowly but surely into the cariculum so that we can atleast try and get some practical stuff done. It’s 10x harder working online trying to figure out how to do all these physical examinations but at this point all I can do is give it my best

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Good luck my friend

[@jawaadhassan8866]

I am a SGU grad, I put in hard work, Step scores were 250+ and matched a decent residency (non-surgical), and I take the credit for most of my achievements. Dont completely agree with the anatomy lab part of the video. My co-residents are mostly US grads and my anatomy knowledge is better than most of them andalthough I am in a non-surgical fields, there is a lot of anatomy in radiology. What you put in is what you get out.

[@Mr-E.]

Do you think the match rates of your peers was decent? Did it seem like a high attrition rate or low matching?

[@squiggs1002]

He wasn't talking about specific individuals he was talking about as a whole. Can you honestly say that the rest of your class was on your level? What was the average student like at your school?

[@failyourwaytothetop]

@@Mr-E. Residency rates are pretty poor but I don't care whether I match or not. I only like pathology. I'm not interested in the living and pharmacology.

[@issta7618]

هلا جواد هل لى أسالك عن بعض الاستفسارات لو تسمح ؟

[@CuriouslyCute]

My conclusion: Caribbean is LAST RESORT

[@Derek.Mitchell]

Insightful video! I was seriously considering SGU as a safety school and this helped guide my decision to exclude it from my list. I would love to see similar videos contrasting public vs private schools, university location vs medical center location, etc.

[@georgelampros4593]

go to a US school yup

[@ScarfLess117]

Why would anyone expect a med school that is outside the US to have close to the same match rates as an american school? The US is going to favor or match more students from within their own country than outside. Also, any student that travels to another country and culture shock is causing them to drop out, then i don't think they knew what they were getting into and they small minded. How can you expect to leave a country as big as the US and expect a tiny island to come close to their lives back home? Why don't the US schools increase their class size?

[@sonnyreel289]

My daughter graduated from SGU and is now in residency. SGU has a campus in Grenada and England. Their home office is in New York, where all graduations are held. They are the only Caribbean school that is accredited with the US.

[@hivalee6992]

Wait so you are telling me if I go to a Caribbean medical school (one of the big 4) , pass my classes, and pass step... I have a 93 percent chance of first time matching? Sounds just like any US medical school hahaha. It is not like they are kicking out students who would've gotten 250 on step lol. Now I'm not saying Caribbean med schools are on the same level as US med schools (obviously), but passing step and your classes comes down to the STUDENT. 20 months on an island before rotations without Uber and convenient shopping is literally the smallest sacrifice you will make in your path to being a doctor (honestly if that is what stops you from being a doctor, thank goodness you quit early and realized how badly you DIDNT want it because this road is longggggg). If you aren't ready to be a doctor (really self asses here) don't go to a Caribbean OR US med school. If you are, go to one of the Big 4. I'm a student at one of the big 4 right now, and my experience has been great, hoenstly better than I expected. If you are a prospective student and have honest questions, email me at [e-mail].

[@KukiRoxx]

I am a senior undergrad student and I will be applying to medical school this cycle. Thank you so much for posting this video, Dr.Jubbal! MY GOAL is to apply and go to a US MD SCHOOL!!

[@korylove7293]

As a Caribbean person you have to think about this, Caribbean Schools are more cost efficient for Caribbean students especially since attending us schools cost us over 100k a year. St. Georges accept so much students because we have no where to go really to get such good education. Also Caribbean students are 3rd world and we don't have much universities so obviously we go to the best we have and, that school accepts us generously because they probably understand. I'm currently in lower 6 and after doing so much research I realize how much international schools cost and St. George's seems to be my n best option

[@angisonfire5464]

you always hear "dont go to the carrib" but damn this was THOROUGH lol now i know actual reasons not to go there

[@georgelampros4593]

I went to SGU for 6 months and it was a total joke stay away please

[@ninachan3067]

@@georgelampros4593 could u tell me what happen?

[@georgelampros4593]

@@ninachan3067 in a personal chat yes

[@nadiaalli]

@@georgelampros4593 can you please elaborate ...?

[@MA-tl2ht]

@@georgelampros4593 same here and seriously it was a complete joke.. saved my soul

[@farazr2]

One thing I never see mentioned is that just because the school you go to doesn't provide for you, or is bad value, doesn't mean that GRADUATES from that school are subpar. If someone goes to Caribbean, makes it through the shitty environment and attrition, rocks STEP, rotations, and matches, they should be seen as equals to US counterparts. Even in /r/medicalschool, there was a post recently about "what do we owe IMG competitiveness" where people shit on those whose only options are international. I also think AUC is better than Ross and SGU for having smaller class sizes and mitigating a lot of the downsides you've listed here. They have student-performed cadaver labs with 7-8 students dissecting at once not prosections, and ready access to mental health on a moment's notice.

[@christinekwon1858]

THIS!!! As a non US Citizen, a carribean school is my only option to practice medicine in the US. But I am scared that once I do start practicing, I will be judged as a carribean medical student and looked down on. I wish there would be some positivity about carribean medical schools or at least respect for those who survived to the end so that there isnt this awful prejudice against them.

[@mets3245]

I have to say, I stumbled across your channels today and I'm obsessed. I clicked on this one expecting you to cow from a free trip, but you gave a really fair and insightful perspective. I love how you speak, I love your priorities, you're incredibly charismatic and I only wish I discovered your channel sooner! I'm going to be searching your channel to see if you have any videos on preparing for SOAP- 8 days until Black Monday

[@nadiaalli]

Whilst US med schools is hands-down the best, advising the public to only focus on that specific prize is not the best thing to do because the simple fact remains that the number of applicants exceeds the amount of medical schools and their accommodation capacities by incredibly far for US medical schools. This therefore means that it is next to impossible for all applicants to secure a seat in a US medical school unless they're willing to wait for years and continuously repeat the same process, cycles after cycles to get an acceptance letter. Not everyone may get into a US med school but we must also recognize that there are successful doctors in the US with caribbean roots. It's about the work, luck doesn't exist.

[@damian8827]

This is why I'm subscribed to your two channels. Keep up the good work. Really appreciate your videos

[@skiw168]

im from SGU and in residency now :) . There are so many truths in this video. It was definitely lots of hard work in order to get into the residency program of my dream. Nothing is handed to you for free. I did feel that I have to study so much harder compared to many US medical students, mainly because I had to compete with them for good residency spots. In the end, the pro is a sturdy knowledge foundation, but cons is the stress of catching up everyday, and anxiety of being kicked out. However, one thing i would disagree with the video is about the student life. I met some of my closest friends in SGU, and they were the main reason of how I stayed sane and got my support. I do agree with ur observation, I did lose a few friends during my studies there. It was painful to know someone close has been kicked out because they didn't pass a class. Adding to choosing a caribbean medical school, make sure the place you are applying is accredited in EVERY STATE. Not all of them are accredited equally. Also, consider how many hospital affiliations they have. This will become very important in your clinical years when deciding where you might match at. For the ppl already in Caribbean schools: Work hard, stay disciplined and persevere! Don't ever give up.

[@hangettingstronger]

How do you check if the uni is accredited in every state?

[@aksaarbasil3272]

As an SGU alum and IM resident at my first choice in CA, I believe this video is misleading to some potentially great SGU candidates. I am writing this to ensure that anyone who is considering SGU as a real opportunity to become an MD in the US is not deterred from their dream. I am not saying the facts presented are not true, but I do think many of them were one-sided and incomplete, once again contributing to the stigma fueled by individuals who never went to SGU to begin with. To address some of your points: ** ATTRITION RATE: The high attrition rate comes from the lower admission standards at SGU... this is a fact. Some people are not here for the right reasons or ready for the rigors of medical school. EVEN THEN, the standards are very reasonable - if you can simply pass your classes (70% average with 2 additional failed attempts) you will not fail out and become part of that attrition rate. This is certainly very doable and on par with US med school standards. ** USMLE: SGU requires you to PASS NBME/Step 1 to continue to US rotations. Again, I think that minimum proficiency is a very reasonable measure for any future physician… in fact the lack of such a measure given SGU’s more lax admission standards would probably be more worrisome, no? By the end of pre-clinicals, most of us felt SGU prepared us well for Step and this was not even an issue. ** ROTATIONS: You can do ALL your rotations in the US (60+ affiliations) and one of the major plus points at SGU is the insane alumni network. My friends and I 100% took advantage of the SGU network as a means to get our foot in the door at rotations/residency programs all over the US. I received invaluable facetime for rec letters, interview connections etc which is now 100x more important with the new USMLE P/F system…This was probably one of the biggest perks of SGU in particular. I was waitlisted at a small rural DO school with 0 rotation options in CA or NYC and I don’t think I would be at my first choice if I had gone this route. ** RESIDENCY: If you are interested in a primary care residency (IM, FM, peds etc) then SGU can get you there. Many of these residencies are at solid programs in CA, NJ, and NY, FL (view Match List 2019 on SGU’s website to confirm). If not, it will be harder but not impossible... do your research and be reasonable. Also a fact: SGU is the #2 source of physicians in the United States with >900 matching in 2019… the help I received from dozens of SGU attendings and residents showed on my residency app and often pulled me through. Again, probably not something I would have had if I went DO. ** MONEY: Tuition is significantly HIGHER than the US, also a fact - but not mentioned is that SGU gives massive scholarships to thousands of deserving students every year (I received a grant on top of a scholarship that took off ~1/3rd of tuition fees, and SGU ended up being cheaper than the DO option I was considering… a major factor in my decision). Regardless you definitely need to ask yourself, is this worth it for me? ** QUALITY: If you reach out for help, SGU provides because as a for-profit institution attrition is a bad look. There are small group activities as well as multiple tutoring programs you can enroll in (SELP, SL, AEP) that gives students advice on study strategies and subject-based tutoring. 4 students in the class above mine who initially failed Term 1 used these services and made it to graduation with an upward academic trend. Also can confirm that if you don’t ask, you will not get anything… that is your choice. ALSO for students with an 85% average (solid B) SGU provides opportunities for special anatomy hours and enrollment in a research program partnering you with a PhD on campus! Great for people interested in publications/research over partying on the beach * ENVIRONMENT: I did not mind the island, but I am someone who is open to new experiences and loves traveling/adventure (got my scuba diving license out there). I made some lifelong friends and was immersed in a new culture. It was 100% annoying at times but big picture - to me the inconveniences of an island were nothing in the face of the opportunity to become an MD. Obviously, US MD is your first choice. If you apply multiple cycles and look offshore remember there are some truly HEINOUS programs out there, and I cannot speak to any of them in the same way I cannot speak to the experience at a US MD or DO school. SGU is a US-accredited school with a 93% match rate, many of which are in reputable programs. This is a fact. If you are here to become a physician and willing to work hard for it, you will get there. I did TONS of research before choosing SGU and looking back, I would do it again. Why? I would not be an MD IM resident in California if I had not chosen SGU. The common response to this will be that I am the minority who overcame some monumental obstacle but based on the odds Dr. Jubbal himself presented (30-35% attrition, 93% matching) the odds are actually IN your favor rather than stacked against you at SGU. Biggest takeaway - do your research to find out if this is a good option FOR YOU. If you are a hard-working student (which is expected in both US and IMG schools) and comfortable with a primary care residency (of which you have many solid options), then SGU may be a viable option for you to become an MD.

[@arbinddas2487]

Aksaar Basil, good job man! Keep up the good work 👌. Stop these doctors who backstab SGU and SGU students in general.

[@MV-qw2dw]

@@arbinddas2487 4th year here. And this video is very accurate. Sorry to disappoint you.

[@MV-qw2dw]

It's not about hard working anymore. That has completely changed. Sgu sees their numbers by term 5 and realized they do not have many seats for rotations.. What do they do? Change the curriculum and rules to fail more students and make more of a profit by recycling the students back to term 5.

[@timmytamagotchi]

@@MV-qw2dw have you seen that boat outside of patrick adams? what does it say?

[@futureDrNLB]

Thank you for providing another perspective!

[@dr.pewpew2619]

US med school: we won't admit you unless we know you'll graduate. (5% attrition, 150 graduate) SGU: we'll give anyone a shot at it (35% attrition, 1000 graduate)

[@saboo_tage]

3:00-3:36 "things that I like" 3:36-14:08 "things that I didn't like" Uh oh

[@SG-gw5xo]

If anyone around me wanna go to Caribbean: Me: *whip out Dr J's video.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

😂

[@TerenceThomas]

Literally just sent this to one of my friends who wants to go to sgu vet school😳😬

[@kutiel55]

@@TerenceThomas the vet school there is way different. One of the best in the world.

[@TerenceThomas]

kutiel55 thats really interesting that theyd be so different. I wouldnt be surprised though based on what he’s told me about it

[@SG-gw5xo]

@@TerenceThomas lol sharing is caring

[@OrganicDolphin]

SGU: *invites Dr. Jubbal to see the benefits of a Caribbean MD* Dr. Jubbal: “What I’m going to do here is known as a pro gamer move”

[@hetvikhetia4354]

Thank you so much for this Dr.Jubbal! I just dodged a bullet

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Woot! I do it for people like you. Premeds shouldn't be lied to

[@nihalsatyadev8753]

Hey Dr. Jubbal - I go to a Caribbean school (UMHS) which is not one of the big 5 but is accredited. I agree with some of your comments here but our school does have: A) real cadavers B) personalized experience C) a very low attrition rate

[@solmaramos5112]

Nihal Satyadev I’m surprised they don’t mention the 2 medical schools in P.R. Which are fully accredited and as good as any US school because they are US MD.

[@WillJ99999]

poor caribbean med students seeing this, it must really have crushed their hope....i'll say this though, whether a person succeed or not, it really depends on their mentality. If you know youre being underestimated, know that your opportunity is lower than other people, do try hard and do your best, dont just aim for "bare minimum", aim HIGH, higher than all the US average student, in fact, aim 250+ in the USMLE and dont listen to anyone, not even this dr on youtube (his advice is not for you anyway). Youre there now and your goal is to be a doctor, giving up now won't make you become one, the only down part is you just have to try harder than other US med students. But i assure you when the day come when you finally got a match to the program you wanted, u'll feel way more rewarded than any other average US med students can ever feel. In fact more impressive and honorable if you ask me, for someone who majority of the people keep doubting they'll ever b in the same level as the US students.

[@adakuudoyeh6960]

I think I'm going to frame this ❤😢

[@jovansiacsmatthew]

Born and raised in the Carribean...Thank you saying this. It really means a lot. After watching this video, I felt so discourage.

[@moyes2584]

The best comment ever. God bless you

[@tylerbrooke98]

I'm 00:18 seconds into the video, thinking maybe he'll change his mind about some things he's said about Caribbean schools....till I see the time stamps pop up, and see there's only a thirty-six second gap between the 'Things I Like' and 'Things I Don't Like' stamps. Yikes.

[@juliansolotorres]

Hey Dr. Jubbal, thanks so much for the video. I’ve watched it before applying to medical school, and I watched it again as a medical student at SGU. Your overall opinions are spot on (at least in my perspective). I’m thankful to have a chance to become a physician someday in the US and know I have to get through another year here in the Caribbean before I go back and do my clinical years in the US. If you’re a current pre med and are thinking about applying to medical school in the US at least apply twice if you don’t get in the first time before applying to the Caribbean. I was already older and wanted to get my medical journey started so that’s why I applied to a Caribbean medical school, but I do see now the difficulties that has come with my decision including; cost of housing is outrageous, food is expensive and almost always out of stock, people aren’t the friendliest and all that piles up. But I do believe you will come out of this experience as an overall more patient and tolerable person.

[@KenmanG1982]

Thank you Dr. Jubbal for these points. People are complaining because they want to feel proud of where they went to school. But they don’t. Caribbean grads rarely put their medical school in their bio, and often lie about it when asked. Of course “Island Schools” are inferior. Many Canadian programs refuse to take Caribbean grads due to poor clinical skills. Basic science knowledge is not enough to be a doctor! Dr. Jubbal is one of the few North American grads to actually comment about this.

[@samhitanair4072]

Thank you for being such a genuine mentor.

[@Rpere387]

Here in south Florida a lot of our doctors come from overseas medical schools. Some from the Caribbean and others from schools in their home countries of Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia etc.

[@raspberryK1]

Dr. Jubbal, keepin' it so real. You are awesome! I hope I get to talk to you one day if you are ever in Chicago!

[@NeuroNate24]

Finally an honest review of a Caribbean med school based on someone's actual experience of it! I love the transparency and the no bullshit honest facts about the program. This is exactly why I'd never lower my standards and apply here even if it was my only option. Thank you very much for making this Kevin!

[@georgelampros4593]

don't go to a Caribbean school man good thinking

[@TheOnlyTinMS3]

Thank you for this! It is a fact that students are too afraid to speak up about the negatives because they are still in the program and who knows what will hapen.

[@stellawine4976]

Thank you so much for being honest about your experience with SGU!! This video is super helpful even after watching your previous video about Caribbean medical schools.

[@cbc067]

graduated sgu 2009. matched ortho roommate matched plastics. in the end it’s all about putting in the work, and networking. I loved my experience!!

[@joelthomas180]

Thank you man. Seriously, thank you.

[@georgelampros4593]

go to a US school

[@lilmiscuti3]

While everyone here is "debating" about American vs Caribbean med schools and Jubbal's opinion, I am just here like: *trying to study but super distracted and..."ohh. He is gorgeous."

[@MrE03]

Thank you for your honest review, Dr Jubbal! Don’t let the downvoters get in the way of you telling the truth!

[@dianavillavicencio5865]

I consider myself as a great student who wanted to start medical school young and didn't have time or money to take the MCAT 3 times, let alone do 3 useless masters. I go to AUC in St. Maarten and I love my school and the opportunity it gave me to become an MD, my lifelong dream. My class is not of 1000 students, and several other weird things you mentioned also didn't apply here. It does require a lot of hard-work like all medical schools and your performance is on you! If you study hard, you will stay and become a doctor. And please reconsider recommending students to try DO because they didn't get into MD. Students who chose to become DOs should have as motive the love and interest for Osteopathic Medicine. I really think theres a lot of people obsessed with the Caribbean issue, I swear we don't even talk about US MD, DOs who wanted to be MDs or blah blah... We just live to study and go to the beach a few hours after block exams. Also, remember we all take the same board exams and we all study with the same resources. And remember that all of our clinical rotations are done in United States, in cities that many "US school" would love to see might I add. Advice to pre-meds; when looking for med school options, look for students who have had the experience at different places, and get the info from successful people who have actually done well in their respective programs. There isn't a perfect path for everyone either. Medicine is hard everywhere folks, but it is the best! Good luck.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Shouldn’t take 3 MCATs or 3 masters to get into a US MD or DO school

[@finerton]

THANK YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!! You just preached nothing but a word!!!

[@xniks101x]

What a long way to say “I chose to slash my U.S. match rate chances in half because I didn’t want to retake mcat nor pad my gpa with an smp”

[@AN-gz6xm]

Extremely helpful! Straight forward, honest and thorough just like always! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to make useful quality content. Much appreciated 😊

[@angiecortes1]

Hmm...My brother is a third term student at SGU and absolutely loves it. You should contact students and graduates of sgu to make a decision vs this vlog. :)

[@dm_1236]

No looking at the objective facts and stats instead of anecdotes is what premeds should use to make a decision.

[@OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro]

Woah! I did my surgical rotations w/4th yr. SGA students, many years ago. They didn't tell me ANY of this about their school! This was really an eye opener! 😯 Thank you, Dr.Jubbal.

[@royallan4667]

My new primary care provider graduated from St. George. I immediately thought of Saul Goodman and his University of American Samoa degree.

[@gdaymates431]

Yeah but Saul is an excellent lawyer haha. Saul'Goodman

[@user24x91]

I'd like to know what makes a caribbean medical student a lower caliber compared to a US student? The only thing you mentioned in the video was the inadequate anatomy lab experience. But you didnt mention that there are elective courses that are offered that include a course in dissecting the cadavers. Or elective courses that allow you to volunteer in community clinics and let you get a broad experience. There is an internal test that we must pass before step and that test is essentially our practice test to give us an idea of how we would do on step 1 and from talking to upperclassmen it seems to be a pretty accurate way to judge our step performance. Also when you talk about the 500 students that do not match, I'm not sure if you included the international students that go back to their home countries (not the US) to practice.

[@rosegold.sunset4749]

If its a practice test then why aren't the students who fail it not able to sit for their Step 1 exam? That's why it seems sketchy. The results are skewed if those students don't write it with the others who pass the "practice" test.

[@sebucwerd]

I got a 523 MCAT, and will likely graduate summa cum laude. With substantial research, strong LOR and PS, and token shadowing and volunteering, I have failed to get in this cycle. Better pack the sunscreen

[@kevinjubbalmd]

If you have a 523, strong GPA, substantial LOR, research, etc., that points to very weak soft components of your application. Your application, personal statement, secondaries, interview skills, etc. are the issue

[@sebucwerd]

@@kevinjubbalmd can pass a Turing test for only so long before my robotic tendencies are manifest. Time to study how to be a human after several premed years!

[@arbinddas2487]

You are a brilliant example how you get back stabbed in your own back yard. Someone now advising you to develop soft skills!

[@mojustus1783]

Do NOT go to Saba University SOM!!! I went to Saba University (1of the big 4) and everything he says is absolutely true about Saba. Go to Ross or SGU instead if you absolutely have to!! They're more expensive but have way more resources cuz they're bigger. The soul crushing aura of the student-body was so apparent at Saba too. Saba Admin would continuously lie and constantly intimidate the students instead of fixing their failures becuz it cuts into their profits. I started with a 100 students, and 15 or 16 finished the island without any repeats or fails. How insane is that?? Not to mention, that usually the 2-3 top of every class were always doing cocaine becuz the school did not allot enough time for us to study. We wer in lecture 8a-5p M-F. It was like living under a fascist regime. Some of the students, just like Dr. J mentioned, get some kind of Stockholm syndrome, wer they'll try to defend the school becuz they don't wanna make they're school look bad...which develops poor ethics in a future doctor when the school is manipulating and ruining the lives of many of their fellow classmates. It was a disgusting experience. Please if you know anyone applying there, do not let them go. Message me here and I can answer any of your questions about SUSOM.

[@georgelampros4593]

don't go to SGU either

[@arebee4592]

Did you actually graduate or just drop out

[@mojustus1783]

@@arebee4592 yes i finished, it gave me cancer, do not go to a Caribbean school...they take everything that is shitty about medical education (i.e. the extreme stress, the hierarchy, the emotional complications, the mental health issues that arise) and multiply it 50 fold.

[@arebee4592]

@@mojustus1783 that sounds so rough, I mean was it kind of worth it now, assuming you matched residency in the us. Also from what I’ve read taking the step 1 board exam after attending a Caribbean med school can be toxic, how was it for u?

[@mojustus1783]

@@arebee4592 if by worth it u mean "money" then yeh watever...but ur whole mental health and sense of existence gets thrown off and those kinds of damages will never be compensated for. I'm being as real as fck with u, the treatment that school gave us has scarred me and many of my friends for life. One thing they thought well is how to perpetuate the whole "keep your mouth shut" culture that exists in the hierarchy of medical education in regards to unethical issues.

[@MV-qw2dw]

4th year student from sgu here. This is very and actually extremely accurate. People will say, "work harder, study harder etc, etc"... It's not about hard working anymore. That has completely changed. Sgu sees their numbers by term 5 and realized they do not have many seats for rotations.. What do they do? Change the curriculum and rules to fail more students and make more of a profit by recycling the students back to term 5. Again, it'd a for profit med school.

[@georgelampros4593]

I went to SGU for a little over a semester yea it wasn't good

[@MV-qw2dw]

@@georgelampros4593 I'm so sorry. Wishing you the best.

[@georgelampros4593]

@@MV-qw2dw I feel for those that get canned at the end of term 5

[@MV-qw2dw]

For term 5 info kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWmYpqBonMipi6s

[@rantianifowose4683]

I am in sgu so accurate

[@georgelampros4593]

sounds awful

[@Hepacivirus]

Is it that bad, I was thinking of applying over there

[@etherealbae2160]

Lol their plan to invite and persuade you backfired. I'm glad your opinions couldn't be bought.

[@smclean5504]

There is a difference between Caribbean US Med schools and Caribbean Med schools yes?

[@Marie-ls4nb]

Yes.

[@kenziemayrae3568]

Wow this was really helpful. I'm organizing a pre-med club meeting about Caribbean Med. schools and this was a great resource. Thank you!

[@ShrinksInSneakers]

Not too long ago the Caribbean MD was considered superior to the DO programs in the United States. This has since changed, but it’s worth pointing out. It’s difficult to make a blanket statement about the quality of training and potential for matching to competitive specialties. All of my friends that I graduated with matched to specialties other than family medicine. I personally knew multiple people that matched to emergency medicine, general surgery, anesthesiology, and radiology. While it’s true that things like neurosurgery and orthopedics are unlikely matches for Caribbean MDs, it’s not out of the question to get positions like those listed above. It’s also important to keep in mind it’s a case by case basis, there are some real savages in these programs that I would put up against the best US medical school graduates.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Note that the specialties you listed are average or not competitive. Watch my video on top 6 least competitive specialties for the data

[@ShrinksInSneakers]

​@@kevinjubbalmd I agree these are unlikely matches for SGU. I also agree the best option is to get into a US MD program if possible. It's good that there is more information available now regarding the admission process and strategies for making your application as appealing as possible. For a nontraditional student, coming from a family where the highest level of education anyone obtained was a GED, SGU a gave me an opportunity to contribute value to the world in a way I never thought possible. Maybe it all comes down to perspective like so many things in life. Thanks for the interesting conversation, best of luck on the journey.

[@tsastsastss]

Good shit. Tell it like it is. We appreciate you!

[@georgelampros4593]

yea these schools suck and are probably gonna get worse since STEP 1 is pass/fail...

[@mustafashah373]

Love you honest review! Thanks for posting this kind of info.

[@1a_jaromay271]

Hey Dr kevin i am your # 1 fan in the Philippines

[@shriszz]

He’s videos are literally my adviser rn❤️

[@samira1932]

I am a current student at SGU and can say that while harsh a lot of what you say is true so I thank you for this honest video. This is not a school for the light hearted and you need to work hard and maintain focus in order to do well here. My only critique is your comment about the social environment. In a school this large, the people you choose to surround yourself with makes a HUGE difference. I have an amazing group of friends that support each other and make me happy and motivated to be here and can't say I've felt even a hint of cutthroat attitude while here. It may happen but just like anywhere in life it's important to choose your friends wisely. I would have also liked to see how you compare the averages from students from the US and students from other countries as the data we are given shows large gaps between those numbers (aka if you aren't from the USA the chances are a lot worse). Also something I never hear mentioned is that some students who come here are from countries that sponsor them under the condition that they will practice and do their residencies in their own home countries. I'm not sure exactly how that would affect the numbers but its something to think on...

[@tigs870]

The last point about sponsorship is actually very interesting

[@sakethmeka1086]

Dr. J you are insane and probably one of my favourite channels ever.

[@makmotion7156]

Hello, it seems that you questioned a biased group when asking around to get a feel of the sgu environment. Did you actually have a diverse group of students, or did you just happen to only highlight the ones with the same perception? I am a current term 2 student at SGU, from Grenada and judging by our group chat, and basic conversation, people love it here. The culture shock is usually normal, but it isn't unbearable to the point where you don't adjust. Seriously? You're comparing uber to the public transportation which isn't fair. Let's actually discuss the fact that there is public transportation (aside from the sgu buses) and the only reason someone can feel barrelled in and claustrophobic is simply because they choose not to venture out. I have first hand experience of this. Thankfully, in my term, the students are more outgoing and interested in Grenada as an island, rather than the rock they just so happen to be living on. The group you spoke with most likely chose not to venture out and actually explore their options. Every accessible grocery store just isn't IGA, and taking a taxi is God right nonsensical when you can just take a public bus for way less. A taxi driver would get an inkling of an sgu student and gas the price all the way up, while the minimum you'd pay for certain trips to and back is $5EC. Secondly, you mentioned power outages. In all my years (undergrad included), if I witnessed two power outages I witnessed a lot. Sgu also runs backup generators. Let's just say around the time the students you engaged with were at campus, there was a shortage more than three times, I am certain it wasn't anything long lasting. Sounds like entitlement to me. We do not have uber or lyfts in Grenada and that's just the reality. If that's a con, perhaps consider a US school. Let's just be quite honest here. Most students who enter sgu are entering solely because they failed to be admitted in a US school. They wouldn't otherwise know of Grenada's existence if wasn't for it. Okay, you discussed the stats, and you may have a point there. Definitely something to look into. But I feel like most of your critique about the caveats are based on the fact that it is a Caribbean school. If I'm wrong, point me to a video of yours where you so graciously outlined the invalidity, and rather critiqued the statistics from US schools. If you have, no beef, I'd be willing to grant you my understanding for that specific point. Lastly, anatomy lab. It is quite useful because it's not just procession based. Although it is already dissected, there are techs and teachers available to clarify any doubt. If you don't maximize your understanding within that time, that is quite literally your fault. I've even witnessed some of my foreign colleagues proclaim how helpful and eye opening the lab sessions are. Dissections are done but students as well in upper terms, more specifically for the derm peeps. Overall, the sass and unneeded comments and slangs were a bit over the top. You have a hell of a platform, so just be careful with how hyperbolic you become. You were there for only a week, which is literally such a short time to get a good enough feel of the student experience (especially when you're not even one yourself). Have a good day sir.

[@madebymklanme1313]

STANDING OVATION!!!!

[@billsampson1235]

There are NO pros to going to a Caribbean school aside from having a really dark and bumpy road to MAYBE getting a primary care residency in a place most people don't want to live or train at. And this is just getting to applying to the match if you are lucky enough to make it through every career ending obstacle put in your way. One are the USMLE exams. Failing any will end your career right then and there after 2 years of preclinical tuition. Before you do that though you need make it past the student cullings at the end of every preclinical term. I honestly have no idea of what the true number is since so many people are forced to repeat terms, take LOAs, get dismissed etc, but I would guess somewhere around half of everyone who arrives on that island for term 1 never even make it to taking the USMLE step 1 and passing. Then there is the challenge of finding competent people to write your LORs. Since none of the doctors you will train with want to be involved with academic medicine and don't really give a crap about what happens to you, this will make your clinical years a nightmare. Add a pandemic in there and there really is no hope at all since you won't even be able to really find in person clinical experience to get good letters in the first place. I went unmatched even with double digit interviews after graduating from this same school. I remember the school inviting successful graduates to speak on the island when I was there. I assumed it was to motivate us a little before finals, but realized after they posted tons of stuff like this on their website, that they use people like him as a form of propaganda. Everyone who goes to the Caribbean think they will be someone with a story like this (hell I nearly was too and had a story like this until a few weeks ago) but in the end, it is most likely to all come crashing back down on you. Anybody who thinks doing this is a good option should know that you are really just competing with your own classmates at a place like this. The only places that will interview you are places that also take Caribbean students. At some of my interviews the entire cohort was filled with ONLY SGU students. You aren't really in competition with US medical schools because their programs won't even consider you in the first place. This is very important as the school avoids telling us this knowing that sending twenty two year olds to a hyper competitive environment in a foreign country would make them all lose their minds. They also want to makes sure you aren't aware so that they can extract as much tuition out of you as possible. Most medical schools now don't even have grades. The idea at non-for profit US medical schools (that actually care about your well being) is that anyone who passes is as qualified as anyone else to practice medicine. While this principal is true as medicine is essentially a very skilled trade, SGU doesn't care about this and since they want to make sure they have a long match list and match a slightly higher number of people, they will betray the bottom half of their class to ensure their business model can continue. Literally the difference between a few multiple choice questions on an exam can be the thing that makes you unemployable out of a place like this. Your faculty and classmates will try to instill an "us vs them" mentality in you to keep you calm, but the smartest people there know you aren't competing with US students at all and you should look at your classmates there like you did to your classmates in your first premed class in college. SGU cares about you for a few things (even though 99% of it is for your money). One is to make their USMLE pass rate as high as possible so they can put a high figure on their website (no one knows what percent pass step 2 CK though as it's probably not high enough for the school to want to announce publicly). They also care about SOMEONE getting into residency from their school so they can write crap like 1000+ students matched without telling you that there were probably twice that number who applied in that given year and ended up with nothing. They do not care about you as an individual at all. If you think you will find a mentor down there or an advisor who can actually help you if shit hits the fan at the very end, you really aren't paying attention to what is going on around you. Actually come to think of it, you are completely on your own after you get off the island and start clinicals. Not that they were much help to begin with, but I haven't directly spoken to one school "official" or faculty member since I left Grenada up until I found out I didn't match. Even then all they really had to offer me was little more than condolences. Caribbean medical schools are a great option if you have a strong desire to potentially be deeply in debt, unemployed, unmarried, suicidal, shunned from your family, develop tons of mental disorders and self destructive habits, and become an otherwise broken, cynical, and morally corrupted soul. I wouldn't wish the aftermath of what I am dealing with because of this decision to attend a Caribbean medical school on anybody. Tldr: AVOID CARIBBEAN MEDICAL SCHOOLS. I could literally write a book about how badly attending one has screwed my life up. *name changed for anonymity

[@georgelampros4593]

haha what you say is true bud I went there and left in term 2

[@dhaufjebzjchseis3828]

did you end up getting matched ?

[@gabzz72]

Anddddd that was the last time they invited anyone with a YT account to review them😂

[@TejasM14]

Phew a person of integrity! Solid.

[@JayJay-xc4xl]

I wish there were channels like this for Dental School. I’m just watching these things as pre-dental student. Anyways, very interesting videos

[@janeanfrancois2117]

I am a premed student in the Caribbean and SGU is a very well respected school. The comments that degrade the school that I hear are mostly from Students that come from the US. Students that didn't try enough, sorry to say, or hard enough to go to American schools. They then go to West Indian Med schools expecting an easy life. While in reality we work twice as hard for we get cut from the programmes. Caribbean student who know the work ethic, know what is expected and are determined have never given me a bad review. They take a taxi to the market, they work hard to be number 1 and they realize that US persons use us being Caribbean as a back up... As much as I respect you and your videos, because they have been a great inspo to me and my classmates, I cannot agree with this entire video. I believe you should have consulted with a student who does see the good in SGU, if only for a fair opinion.

[@HasanKhan-fc8fd]

What are your opinions on the best med school to go to abroad if 1) You want to practice or get a residency spot in the US and 2) If you have exhausted your options within the US. I do see the points that you make, but there are many many grads that do come back to the US/Canada after going to SGU or Ross and have practices that are just as good.

[@AK-ei7iy]

Very interesting. Appreciate this man for providing unbiased clear insight. You should do a video with Dr.Buck Parker a KZbinr who went to a Carribbean Med School

[@garyshahinyan3206]

Azim Kader he would 100% agree. Dr. Parker says it himself, people go to Caribbean just because they couldn’t get into a U.S. med school.

[@jefferybeck256]

Unbiased? 🤣 Med school insiders wants you to think you must get into a US allopathic or DO program because it's more competitive and you're more likely to spend money on their products to prepare. Are carribean medical schools like SGU perfect? Definitely not. Will they get you where you want to go? If you have the drive and motivation, most likely. Are they the best option if you're seeking a challenging, top tier residency? No. Are they otherwise a valid route to go for medicine? I strongly believe so and many alumni have gone on to take positions in all sorts of specialties.

[@D4n21]

@@jefferybeck256 if you have the drive and mindset you probably can at least get into a DO program first

[@lovefunkrockmusic]

Jeffery Beck Well, with STEP1 being pass and fail. Caribbean is not looking good. Plus mid level encroachment in Primary care

[@MaskedManMikeMD]

as a graduate of one of the big 4 (not SGU) you hit the nail on the head for a lot of negatives. Especially with the student culture and support. We know we can be dismissed if we are having trouble, and the mental health support is atrocious. We just had a joke of a "mindfullness meditation" class. I had to work my ass off more to even get through the internal exams to be able to take the steps, and they werent even good indicators of how well you even do. The Caribbean school experience has caused me to have severe depression, imposter syndrome, and yes, it has caused me to call a crisis hotline one or two times during my 4ish years. The only ones that ever thrive here are the honor students that seem to have no problem partying on the weekends and still being top of the class. This experience is not for everyone.

[@georgelampros4593]

I left after 6 weeks in term 2 I feel yah

[@אוראהרון-ר6י]

Thank you for making this!

[@gloshiv2381]

I’m attending SGU soon.... haha is it still possible to match in competetive residency with hard work?

[@TerenceThomas]

When I saw the day in the life, I was wondering if you had actually gone down there for yourself. Crazy to hear all the tricks being played. I appreciate your honest reviews🙌🙌

[@TheAlextv100]

Hey Dr. J, great video! Personally, I have had quite the opposite experience as a medical student at AUC. Our class size is 150 students, anatomy labs allow us to do full dissections with lesson plans on brand new cadavers, mental health services are extremely easy to schedule and are prioritized weekly, and the culture on our island is incredibly friendly and positive! I know I am only one opinion on the matter, but I have truly had a great experience at this school. Would love to see a video of you out here in Sint Maarten!

[@User1Mac]

You nailed it! I’ve been waiting for someone to tel the truth. People have to hear this before going

[@CosmicFox808]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I really appreciate your honesty!

[@onyiachika3934]

I'm an international student. Going to a US medical school was my first option, but i heard that they hardly accept international students. So, i started thinkig of Caribbean medical schools. Watching this video now, I'm actually confused on what to do 😔😥