Scott has done a lot of research. Can't you tell from his awesome posts!!
I too did a lot of research. Most of it was BEFORE I headed down to the Caribbean. Back in 1999 that is.
And 3 and a 1/2 years later if I had to choose a Caribbean school all over again I would still choose Saba.
Look, I'm a really honest guy. I don't give a rats ass about sugar coating the Saba experience. Nor do I think that is fair to prospective students.
People deserve the truth, so they will get it, here goes:
1) Saba is a young school (since 1992/1993). So yes it has it's growing pains. With facilites etc.
2) Everyone makes this huge bid deal about California licensure. C'mon people it's only ONE state. After all there are 49 others!
3) One of the biggest bottom lines is tuition. Is it not? I mean if you can't afford it, you can't go.
At Saba you pay a fraction of what the other 'established' caribbean med schools charge.
4) Despite the slander, Saba has NOT been greedy. They had not ripped off students. I know. I have done rotations in four different states. I have rotated with students from:
a) ROSS
b) AUC
c) St Christopher
d) St. Eustasius
e) Spartan
f) Fatima (Phillipines)
g) MUA
and U.S. medical students also
My dear friends all of them (except the U.S. medical school students) have horror stories. The biggest ones coming from ROSS and Spartan students.
Ross students told me that they send stuff to their schools head office in New York. They call later and the school will say, "sorry we did not receive it".
So they mail the documents again, call and again smae thing "we did not recieve it".
So finally they have to literally drive to the head office and hand the documents on person!
Spartan: I am not even gonna start here. . .good lord
5) Look I have nothing to gain by bashing other shcools and I hope this is not coming across as that. I am just repeating what those students have told me.
6) There is a lot of corruption out there. A lot. You best bet is to get with a small program that won't screw you.
7) St George is waaaay to expensive, there is no way I can justify $14,000 per semester in tuition and fees.
o.k this post is getting too long. . .gotta end it soon
If I had to choose all over again, I would choose Saba. But ask them to put the school on a different island because Saba island is too boring.
best of luck to all
Saba, fourth year med student
Posted on Nov 16, 2002, 4:26 PM from IP address 136.247.237.213
