Medical Schools in the Caribbean

Students considering studying medicine in the Caribbean should be aware of the various factors to consider before selecting a school. A Bachelor's degree from a US-accredited school is necessary for admission to a medical school, which is a four-year program. Students also need to take the MCAT admission test in order to be accepted into a medical school.

Accreditation

Before enrolling in a medical school, you should make sure that the school is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is an organization that accredits medical schools, including those in the Caribbean. There are 12 LCME standards to look for in a medical school, including curricular content, faculty, learning environment, organizational structure, student selection, services, and support.

Caribbean medical schools are increasingly popular among students, both US and Canadian. My own OB/GYN, who has experience treating pelvic pain, completed her residency in a Caribbean medical school and now practices Obstetrics & Gynecology in Toronto.

Size of incoming classes

The size of incoming classes at medical schools in the region can be an important consideration when choosing a school. The size of an incoming class is determined by the number of applicants and number of medical residency spots available. Some medical schools have a much smaller student population than others. The average incoming class size is just over 100. Some medical schools in the Caribbean have more than one incoming class each year.

Admission requirements for medical schools in the Caribbean vary greatly. While most Caribbean medical schools consider MCAT scores and GPAs to be key academic measures, many also consider qualitative factors, such as personal experience and background. These qualitative factors will help you demonstrate your readiness for medical school.

Clinical center affiliations

Some medical schools in the Caribbean have clinical affiliations with international teaching hospitals. The American University of Antigua, for example, has agreements with several teaching hospitals in the U.S. and around the world. Its students also have the opportunity to complete their rotations at these facilities. These institutions are constantly expanding their networks of affiliated hospitals.

Other medical schools in the Caribbean include Saba University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Medicine. They both offer MD and MBBS degrees. In their first two years of medical school, students are taught academic medicine, while in the clinical year, they study medicine in a clinical setting. Many of the best Caribbean medical schools have affiliations with American hospitals, which will allow their students to do clinical rotations in the US.

Academic quality

Academic quality of medical schools in the Caribbean is questionable. Many Caribbean schools misrepresent their accreditation status on their websites. Some schools have a low exam pass rate and high attrition rate. Many schools also fail to maintain a culture of continuous quality improvement. Despite this concern, medical educators in the Caribbean are making an effort to improve the quality of education at their institutions.

Before selecting a medical school in the Caribbean, prospective students should know that academic quality in the region is often lacking compared to the quality of education offered in the U.S. Most students finance their degrees with student loans and take substantial debt balances with them into practice. This means that prospective students should do extensive research on the total cost of their medical education before applying. They should also determine if there are any scholarships available to them to reduce their total cost.