One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | alternatives to US medical school (4)

There is so much to be said about my trip to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that perhaps I should author a short novel. But I’ll spare you the long-windedness -- since after all, you’re all busy Pre-Med’s or perhaps already Medical Students -- and simply address that which we are all curious about: the academics. 

Gily is preparing for her latest adventure, one in a long line of adventures and experiences that the future medical school student and world-traveler has embarked upon in her 24 years of life.  Gily's trip starts tomorrow, she's leaving Augusta, Georgia for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and more specifically Trinity School of Medicine.  This is the last step in Gily's extensive research to determine if she's found the medical school program that is ideal for her.  We asked Gily if she would share her experiences with other prospective students, honest and unfiltered:

There are many reasons an aspiring physician may choose to pursue studies at foreign medical schools. Tuition rates at domestic institutions may be out of reach. You may want to expand the breadth and scope of your studies by gaining an international perspective. Academic or personal circumstances may limit the options which are available to you at home. Regardless of your reasons, you can rest assured that your dream of becoming a doctor is still well within reach.

In most cases, students who get their training at foreign medical schools are still eligible to sit for medical licensing examinations in the United States and Canada, as long as certain criteria are met. First, the institution at which you study must be listed with the World Health Organization (WHO) and IMED/FAIMER. Then, you will have to pass the USMLE exams and/or Canadian board examinations and finally, you must double-check with your state or province's medical licensing board to ensure that you are eligible for licensure.  

If you're looking into foreign medical schools, chances are you have many questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about foreign or international medical schools:

With only 40% of applicants to US medical schools and 25% of applicants to Canadian medical schools being offered enrollment each year, thousands of pre-med graduates are forced to look for alternative paths to achieving their dream of becoming physicians.