Hi! My husband is considering attending St. James. However, I have seen many things that are discouraging to me. I really would like to hear from alumni (preferably) or current students.
First, some background. My husband graduated from a major university with a degree in accounting. He originally started premed and then changed when he wasn't getting the grades. He is very smart but at age 18 was not mature and did not focus on school as he should have. He successfully took biology, organismal bio, chem 1 & 2, physics 1 & 2, genetics, and organismal chem 1 (did not take 2). His grades were ** and Cs. After undergrad he went to law school. He graduated and passed the bar and has been practicing law now for several years. He has been successful practicing law but is itching to be a physician and regrets him immaturity during his college years. He wonders what kind of opportunities open up to people with a JD and MD. He might be able to get a great job as a malpractice attorney (we would still want him to be able to practice as a physician as well). He read somewhere about St. James and was thrilled to learn he could go without taking the MCAT. He is a GREAT test taker (did very will on LSAT) but feels he would do poorly because so much time has passed since school. He doesn't remember organic chemistry at all, he claims. He is now 31 years old. I am a school teacher. We have young children. The logistics of THAT situation is another can of worms! :(
He has called and spoken to representatives at the school and of course they are all sunshine and roses. She bragged that 83% got residencies. I'm not sure what I've seen online reflects that. They obviously want him to go whether it is best for us or not.
We are okay with the stigma of going to a Caribbean school. We are not snobbish about him doing clinical in an undesirable area. Don't care of others turn their noses up at us. We just want him to be a practicing physician when it is all said and done. I feel like he will work hard, he has proven he can work hard and pass difficult exams already, but I worry that is not enough to overcome the stigma attached to this school.
I recently looked at the 2010-2015 match lists. I noticed there were very few students. 20-30? How many did not get matched? How many started to begin with? Do some students get their MD and then don't every get matched? Why? That sounds like devastation. Are there options for people who don't get matched? I am leaning toward this being a very bad idea. Am I right?
First, some background. My husband graduated from a major university with a degree in accounting. He originally started premed and then changed when he wasn't getting the grades. He is very smart but at age 18 was not mature and did not focus on school as he should have. He successfully took biology, organismal bio, chem 1 & 2, physics 1 & 2, genetics, and organismal chem 1 (did not take 2). His grades were ** and Cs. After undergrad he went to law school. He graduated and passed the bar and has been practicing law now for several years. He has been successful practicing law but is itching to be a physician and regrets him immaturity during his college years. He wonders what kind of opportunities open up to people with a JD and MD. He might be able to get a great job as a malpractice attorney (we would still want him to be able to practice as a physician as well). He read somewhere about St. James and was thrilled to learn he could go without taking the MCAT. He is a GREAT test taker (did very will on LSAT) but feels he would do poorly because so much time has passed since school. He doesn't remember organic chemistry at all, he claims. He is now 31 years old. I am a school teacher. We have young children. The logistics of THAT situation is another can of worms! :(
He has called and spoken to representatives at the school and of course they are all sunshine and roses. She bragged that 83% got residencies. I'm not sure what I've seen online reflects that. They obviously want him to go whether it is best for us or not.
We are okay with the stigma of going to a Caribbean school. We are not snobbish about him doing clinical in an undesirable area. Don't care of others turn their noses up at us. We just want him to be a practicing physician when it is all said and done. I feel like he will work hard, he has proven he can work hard and pass difficult exams already, but I worry that is not enough to overcome the stigma attached to this school.
I recently looked at the 2010-2015 match lists. I noticed there were very few students. 20-30? How many did not get matched? How many started to begin with? Do some students get their MD and then don't every get matched? Why? That sounds like devastation. Are there options for people who don't get matched? I am leaning toward this being a very bad idea. Am I right?