In the most recent data available from the AAMC, only about 41% of applicants were ultimately

accepted to a U.S. medical school.

Osteopathic D.O. schools have been gaining in popularity in recent years as well, forcing

less competitive applicants to turn to Caribbean medical schools in pursuing their dreams of

becoming a doctor.

Are Caribbean medical schools a good option?

Here are the pros and cons.

Dr. Jubbal, MedSchoolInsiders.com.

It's important to understand that the medical school you attend is not the final determinant

in whether or not you'll be a good physician.

I know a great deal of highly impressive physicians who trained at Caribbean medical

schools, and other physicians who trained in the U.S. who are not nearly as impressive.

That being said, we believe in full transparency and making educated decisions.

At Med School Insiders, we're surprised how commonly Caribbean medical schools are

suggested and recommended to pre-med applicants, without regard for the significant drawbacks.

But first, let's first cover the benefits.

First, Caribbean schools are less competitive and therefore you have a higher chance of acceptance.

It's no secret – the main reason and biggest

benefit in attending a Caribbean medical school is that it's less competitive than getting

into a U.S. allopathic medical school.

The average MCAT of U.S. matriculants in 2018-2019 was 505.6, and the average GPA was

3.47 and 3.71 for science and non-science, respectively.

The average MCAT and GPA for Caribbean medical school matriculants is much lower.

For this reason, the schools have been described as “second chance medical schools”,

offering students a chance who would otherwise not be realistic candidates for U.S. programs.

Number two, excellent climate. Location-wise, the Caribbean is not the worst

place to be.

You'll have warm, tropical climates to enjoy year-round, without having to worry about

commuting in the snow.

Not all United States medical schools can say the same.

Number three, rolling admissions. In order to apply to U.S. medical schools,

you must apply through AMCAS in a set timeframe.

Caribbean schools, on the other hand, practice a rolling admissions process, meaning you

can apply throughout the year and matriculate shortly thereafter.

But now, the drawbacks.

First, it's challenging to match into a U.S. residency.

The NRMP regularly publishes the Match data for U.S. graduates

as well as U.S. IMGs (that's international medical graduates).

In 2018, 94.3% of U.S. medical school graduates successfully matched.

In comparison, only 57.1% of U.S. IMGs were accepted to a U.S. residency program.

That's not a comforting number.

Even the best Caribbean schools only reach around 70% match rates on the higher end.

Number two, a cut throat and less supportive culture. Most Caribbean medical schools are in the

for-profit business, and profit as the bottom line is a major driver in their motivation.

As a result, student support systems and student wellbeing is not as highly prioritized compared

to many U.S. programs.

In addition, you're less likely to find a collaborative atmosphere, given that you're

competing with one another to get a coveted U.S. residency position.

In stateside medical schools, pass/fail systems are more commonplace and the chances of going

unmatched are far lower.

Unsurprisingly, attrition rates are significantly higher at Caribbean medical schools.

While the literature doesn't demonstrate strong evidence regarding wellbeing in Caribbean

students versus stateside medical students, I'd wager that burnout and stress levels

are higher in the Caribbean.

Number three, Limited Options in Terms of Specialty. As much as you may think you know what specialty

you want to practice long term, you'll likely change your mind

(and often times more than just once).

For example, I was positive that I was going to practice pediatric gastroenterology when

I first entered medical school, but I ended up matching into plastic surgery.

A significant limitation with attending a Caribbean medical school is that you are significantly

less likely to be successful in matching into a competitive specialty.

We've outlined and ranked the most competitive specialties

before – understand that if you're going for specialties like neurosurgery, plastic

surgery, or orthopedic surgery, you're much less likely to be successful than if you graduate

from a U.S. allopathic medical school.

Again, it's not impossible, but you'll be at a significant disadvantage.

But let's say you're going for a less competitive specialty. Maybe you just want to match into a desirable residency program.

Even then, you'll need to make up for the fact you attended a Caribbean medical school

by performing higher on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2CK compared to if you attended a U.S. program.

Number four, Inconsistent Quality. There are over 60 Caribbean medical schools,

but the quality at each is subject to vary.

Unlike the LCME in the U.S., which is the accrediting body for U.S. medical schools,

the accreditation system in the Caribbean is less standardized and less robust.

As a result, some schools have good results and good performance from their students

— upwards of 95% passing USMLE Step 1 and a high percentage matching into U.S. residency

programs.

But others have a Step 1 pass rate as low as 19 percent with equally abysmal residency match

rates.

And number five, Increased Cost & Debt Burden. Some Caribbean medical schools have secured

federal financial aid options for their students.

But still, graduates are left with similar amounts of student debt, hovering around $200,000.

Combined with the fact that you'll be less likely to secure a residency position (and

therefore practice clinically as a physician), it becomes clear that this is a riskier financial

option.

So Is a Caribbean Medical School Right for You?

For most students, I recommend delaying your application by a year and strengthening your

application in order to apply to stateside osteopathic or even allopathic medical schools.

Students are often surprised by how much they can strengthen their application in just one

year.

For other students who may not have the patience to strengthen their app or because

of other factors limiting them, Caribbean medical schools may be their last option.

Our team of top physician advisors have helped hundreds of students get into U.S. medical

schools and we can help you as well.

From planning out your next year to helping you craft a masterful personal statement that gets you accepted,

we've got you covered.

And we're invested in your success.

After all, we win when you win.

Visit MedSchoolInsiders.com learn more.

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Thank you so much for watching, and I will see you in that next one.