School Name: Saba
Location: Netherlands Antilles
Basic Science Tuition:
$4,950.00/semester
Clinical Science Tuition:
$5,450.00/semester
USA Clinical Rotations: Yes
Time required for MD: 40 months
Hi-
I'm looking for a friend, Fetah Nesrudin (sp.?). I know he's on Saba, & I'd like to get in touch with him. So, Fetah, if you see this, email or call me!
Posted on Dec 6, 2002, 12:53 AM from IP address 63.188.49.196
I am curious which review books you used for step 2. I know of the Kaplan NOVACON disease series, but I am curious which ones you used. I would like ot have them for the rest of clinicals
Thanks
Posted on Dec 3, 2002, 9:52 PM from IP address 4.61.230.218
There is a lot of worrying about this whole IMG thing.
So let me offer some good news (or atleast I think it is good news. . .)
Basically the main thing boils down to obtaining residency in the U.S., so here are some facts that are encouraging for IMG's:
1) The number of residency spots in the U.S. has increased. This has been happening steadily for the last several years and there is no indication that this trend will stop.
Well, the only thing I can think of is just simply because there are more people in the U.S. than ever before (what is it now? Like 290 million or so?). More people equals need for more doctors. Also the elderly population is increasing astronomically. Interesting the portion of the U.S. population that is growing most rapidly is: people greater than 85 years old!
2) The number of applications for those residency spots that are IMG's (International Medical Graduates) has decreased. Why you ask? Here some a couple of resons:
a) In 1998, ECFMG introduced an additional exam that IMG's must take called the CSA (Clinical SKills Assessment). This is only offered in two places (Atlanta, Georgia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). SO as a result of this test, which is so geographically inconvenient for IMG's all over the world, The number of IMG's applying to residency in the U.S. has gone down.
b) Since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, immigration to the U.S. has become more difficult for several IMG's from other countries, to come to the U.S.
Anyhow. . .so those are some points to consider.
I am a form believer that if you are a U.S. citizen and you go to Saba, then you aint got nothin' to worry about. Man you will get some primary care spot with no problem. . .I'm serious.
If you are not a U.S. citizen then, yes you will face those visa issues. But there are options (J-1, H-1B) so you have to do your research and put in that extra effort.
Best of luck to all, and please try to help each other. It is not a solo journey.
Saba fourth year med student
Posted on Dec 1, 2002, 10:29 AM from IP address 136.247.238.48
I agree substantially with everything above. I only add that State licensure is still a problem for IMGs ... which of course drives the "where" of your residency consideration. Just remember to check out the specific state's requirements for licensure before applying for a residency in that state.
Good luck.
Posted on Dec 3, 2002, 12:23 PM from IP address 65.190.185.14
Thanks for responding to me but I have a few more questions for you.
1) When did you transfer to ROSS?
2) How is ROSS' curriculum so much better?
3) Wouldn't I be fine attending SABA if I studied the approp. textbooks and USMLE study guides from day 1?
4) Which island did you like better (living condition wise)?
5) Do you keep in touch with any of your former SABA classmates, have they been succesful?
6) What was wrong with the teaching at SABA, how is ROSS so much better?
7) I have spoken to numerous ROSS students who said that ROSS was the worst experience in the world. We have a family friend who attended ROSS and then transfered to SGU. She said there are so many political games played at ROSS, the exams are vague and the grading is not clear. Why does ROSS have such a high dropout rate.
8) There must have been some courses that were taught well at SABA if so what were they?
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 9:11 PM from IP address 64.12.96.198
Wilma.....Few more Questions.
by Kevin (Login kkunzer)
Wilma -->
Thanks for responding to me but I have a few more questions for you.
1) When did you transfer to ROSS? Transfer more than a year ago.
2) How is ROSS' curriculum so much better? The prof's and material presented is more representative of the USMLE, if this is your goal.
3) Wouldn't I be fine attending SABA if I studied the approp. textbooks and USMLE study guides from day 1? I believe so, but I am unable to predict because I do not know your background. It depends on the prof's that they have now on the island, before it was awful.
4) Which island did you like better (living condition wise)? I liked the island of Saba much better.
5) Do you keep in touch with any of your former SABA classmates, have they been succesful? Yes, I do and many of them are in the clinicals and were not very successful on passing the USMLE. It is because Saba did not prepare them well for the exam, some of them are extremely bright individuals, but if you do not learn the material the way you need to know it, then you will most likely have a failure for the exam. Many of the students that transferred from AUC to Saba did very well on the exam. Some students did pass but barely, very few score as well as Scott Jones.
6) What was wrong with the teaching at SABA, how is ROSS so much better? Saba has prof's from Russia, Yugo., and places that are not in touch with the USMLE, Ross is more connected to the US. There is a USMLE style of questions, this is not the way Saba presented the material.
7) I have spoken to numerous ROSS students who said that ROSS was the worst experience in the world. We have a family friend who attended ROSS and then transfered to SGU. She said there are so many political games played at ROSS, the exams are vague and the grading is not clear. Why does ROSS have such a high dropout rate.
First of all there are alot more students at Ross, I am not promoting Ross as the Choice School.....I am only saying the teaching is better than Saba, but it is a Rocky road. SGU is the best.
I am not promoting any one school over the other, I just want you to have the facts. There are pros & cons to all the carribean schools.
8) There must have been some courses that were taught well at SABA if so what were they? Those profs have all gone, they were very good. Many of the left for a school nearby called St. Eustatius or those teachers that were very good are now in clinicals....saba has an MD PhD program. For instance Microbiology was taught by Tula, she was great, but the last I heard the Microbiology teacher was awful....I am not current about the prof. who are there now, you should check with students on the island.
Go Luck and I hope this will help you. Remember, I am not saying that you should not go to Saba, you should just understand the task you have ahead of your school. You will not have the support that you do in the US system if you go to a carribean medical school. If you fail the exam, they do not have a program to help you pass the exam. For instance in the US if a medical student does not pass the exam....they set up a team of Prof. that will work with you and help you pass.
Hope this is helpful.
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 9:11 PM
from IP address 64.12.96.198
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I have read your posts both on the SABA forum as well as the main Fed for Foreign Medical School Fourm. I am a prospective student to SABA and have been accepted for Sept 2003. I was just wondering why you are so bitter against SABA Medical School? You say you attended there so have you been able to be succesful since youve graduated? Did you obtain a residency? I only ask because I need honest adivce from former students and you seem to be very unhappy with your decision in having attended SABA. So please be specific. What were the cons of SABA? Why do you hold ROSS up on a pedistle as it is yet another carib med school and graduates are still FMGs and have to jump through the same hoops to obtain a residency as do graduates from AUC, SABA etc. I just want some SABA insight from you. You seem to have regrets and be fairly bitter but why?
Response greatly appreciated.
Kevin
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 2:43 PM from IP address 129.79.133.78
Kevin,
Congrats for you acceptance to the 2003 class. I'm not Wilma, but I have been reading these forums, and I just wanted to say that i think SABA sounds like a good school. How can their match list show many students with residencies? Look at their website. I don't know, but maybe people fuss about certain schools b/c they didn't do well. I don't know what their reasons are, but medical school is tough so no matter what, we all complain about something. I'm not going to base my opinion about SABA from these forums...come on, we don't know who we are talking to! The school has to present the facts, and SABA has shown us a residency list.
Good luck...I wouldn't worry so much. Just work hard, and maybe I'll see ya in the Sept. class too.
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 3:28 PM from IP address 146.163.215.69
I think that future students should be aware of what Saba is really like, in regards to education.
Think about the amount of money you are paying and will you be successful if you attend Saba?
I did my basic science on Saba, but became so frustated that I transferred to another school. The prof's on Saba are knowledgeable, but are clueless how to teach or prepare students for the USMLE.
How do I know this, well I took a Grad. Level Biochemistry class in the US as a non-degree seeking student with medical students, physician assisants, and people seeking a Master's in Biochemistry......the difference was appauling. After taking some extra classes own my own....at a school that teachs I passed the exam without a problem, but if I would have not taken these classes at the US school, then I do not think I would have passed. This is why the PhD students, PA's, people with Master's degree in Science....all do very well with Saba. Ask Scotty Jones who is a DC....did he ever have to read any biochem book in DC school? Look up the classes that people take in DC and PA school for example and you will see that I am conveying you the true information. Other students can not express themselves on the forum because they are blocked and I am sure they will block me as soon as they can.
If someone already has a strong background then Saba should not be a problem, but if you only have the Bach. in Psychology....then you are doomed.
I am not going to say anything else. I wish you luck but beware a school that highly censors it forum, they do not want you to know the truth. As for Ross the basic science education is much better than Saba....for US standards.
I do not know your back ground Kevin, if you are a PA, or have a Master in Molecular Biology you will be fine going through Saba. The point that I am making is the education you are paying for on Saba....is like paying the price of a Corvette to drive a Yugo. If you are going to pay for the Corvette then drive one....go to Ross or St Georges SOM.
Good Luck and if you go to Saba, then I wish you all the best.
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 3:46 PM from IP address 12.77.144.91
Paul,
I am curious which books you used for Step 2. The only revies books through Kaplan I know of are the NOVACON disease series and books that come with a review course. I would like to get them to use with my rotations. Could you let me know which ones you used?
Thanks
Shelby Hein
Posted on Dec 2, 2002, 4:17 PM from IP address 4.61.230.218
Hey everyone,
I will be heading down to SABA on January 3rd from cali for the Janurary '03 term. I am pretty excited. I feel that I have made a good decision. If anyone can help me out in terms of what USMLE books to bring or if any current SABA Students is sellig their set, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone is heading down for the January, drop me a line... either email me or respond to this message.
Sincerely,
Terek
P.S... SABA RULEZ!
Posted on Dec 1, 2002, 4:29 PM from IP address 198.81.26.208
I would certainly appreciate current information from Saba students regarding your impression of the basic science faculty. I had been strongly considering Saba but am very concerned about statements in a recent post concerning past faculty quality. Thank you.
Posted on Nov 30, 2002, 6:50 PM from IP address 63.156.84.24
Just took the Step 2 today. Tough exam ... every bit as tough as the Step 1. There was "alot" of Neurology and Peds on my exam. Very, very little surgery. A fair a amount of OBGYN and the rest medicine.
For those of you leaving the basic sciences and going into clinicals, I would recommend finding the books you will use to review for the Step 2 and study them all along. I felt the Kaplan books were very good except the Neuro section was very weak. This will make prep for the 2 painless.
Good luck!
Posted on Nov 26, 2002, 6:07 PM from IP address 65.190.185.14
I took the Kaplan video courses for both. The Step 1 prep was excellent. Step 2 left some to be desired in Neuro ... still very good. The Q bank for Step 1 is excellent and for Step 2 gives way too many clues. The Step 2 is much more difficult than the Q bank for Step 2. Still, I would recommend Kaplan with the reservations mentioned above.
I too was always told that Step 1 was much easier. This was not my experience. The people I have spoken with (who also took the step 2 "recently") on balance have either said it was as hard as the Step 1 (like me) or slightly less difficult (but not much).
If you are expecting Step 2 to be a piece of cake, I would advise you to reconsider your opinion. Indeed, I felt it was every bit as challenging as Step 1.
Good luck!
Posted on Nov 30, 2002, 3:36 PM from IP address 65.190.185.14
Because no one wants to put up an answer. Actually, I'd like some first hand info comparisons on facilities and access to faculty. Come on now, lets have a little response from the gallery.
Posted on Nov 28, 2002, 10:27 PM from IP address 63.156.84.69
considering saba, auc and sgu - grading, remediation, failing
by Matt (no login)
I am planning on a successful academic program, however, I would like to know info and comparisons on policies if a student has grade problems during a basic science semester. Do any of the schools actually allow for a course retake, remediation, to extend another semester, etc. or are program schedules rigid and to fall behind is failure bound?
Posted on Nov 8, 2002, 6:55 PM from IP address 67.234.27.105
I can't give you the answer because I'm just in the prep stage of heading to waterworld myself. Guess none of the all knowing out there has any knowledge on the subject because there was no other response to your post. Maybe they are just tired from all that studyin!
Posted on Nov 28, 2002, 10:20 PM from IP address 63.156.84.69
I'd like to know the answer to this also as well as how students usually get around the island as I hear it certainly has its ups and downs. With this very clever statement would someone now please reply to this person's post? Thanks.
Posted on Nov 28, 2002, 10:14 PM from IP address 63.156.84.69
Housing and Apartments Exchange for med students
For Sale By Owner.
