Caribbean medical school rankings can show you the most reputable Caribbean medical schools, but it's important to look beyond rankings when considering applying to these schools. In this blog, we’ll explore Caribbean medical school rankings, the easiest medical schools in the Caribbean to get into, plus what you must know before applying to these schools.
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Caribbean Medical School Rankings
Here are some of the most reputable Caribbean medical schools, including Caribbean medical school acceptance rate, average MCAT and medical school GPA requirements. These schools are known as the "big 4" Caribbean medical schools, as they are accredited and generally recognized as the most reputable options:
1. St. George's University School of Medicine
- Location: St. George’s, Grenada
- Average GPA: 3.3
- Average MCAT: 498
- Attrition rate: Around 16%
- Residency attainment rate: 95%
- Acceptance rate: 41%
2. American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
- Location: St. Maarten
- Average GPA: 3.27
- Average MCAT: 496
- Attrition rate: Around 12%
- Residency attainment rate: 92%
- Acceptance rate: N/A
3. Saba University School of Medicine
- Location: Saba Island, Caribbean Netherlands
- Average GPA: N/A
- Average MCAT: N/A
- Attrition rate: N/A
- Residency attainment rate: 94%
- Acceptance rate: N/A
4. Ross University School of Medicine
- Location: Barbados
- Average GPA: 3.2
- Average MCAT: 493
- Attrition rate: Around 20%
- Residency attainment rate: 92%
- Acceptance rate: 42.7%
Want to know how to get accepted to med school WITHOUT perfect grades?
Top 4 Easiest Caribbean Medical Schools to Get Into
While getting into any medical school is no child’s play, some schools are easier than others, and Caribbean medical schools tend to be classified among the easiest medical schools to get into for North American premeds.
While admissions statistics tells us that getting into Caribbean medical schools is not always easier—for instance, the “big 4” at the top of Caribbean medical school rankings—Caribbean medical school requirements are often more relaxed than other schools. Caribbean medical schools also usually accept low MCAT scores and accept low GPA scores compared to most medical schools in the US and Canada.
Below is a list of the easiest Caribbean medical schools to get into.
1. Caribbean Medical University, Curaçao
- Location: Curaçao
- Average GPA: 2.8
- Average MCAT: 498
- Attrition rate: Around 16%
- Residency attainment rate: 95%
- Acceptance rate: 41%
2. American University of Antigua
- Location: Antigua
- Average GPA: 3.1
- Average MCAT: 474
- Acceptance rate: 30%
3. Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba
- Location: Aruba
- Average GPA: 3.0
- Average MCAT: N/A
- Acceptance rate: N/A
4. Saint James School of Medicine, Antigua
- Location: Antigua
- Average GPA: N/A
- Average MCAT: N/A
- Acceptance rate: 47%
Factors to Consider When Applying to Caribbean Medical Schools
It's appealing to look at these schools with higher than average acceptance rates, but finding out if they have a good residency match rate, and if they are accredited are other things you do not want to overlook, especially since not all of these easiest Caribbean medical schools are accredited or recognized elsewhere. If you plan to return to the US or Canada once you finish your medical degree in the Caribbean, your choice of school will impact whether or not this is a viable option for you and your career outlook.
If you plan to pursue residency in the US or Canada, double check that graduates of your target Caribbean medical schools are eligible to participate in the match by checking their ECFMG certification sponsorship status. All IMGs require ECFMG certification in order to practice medicine in the US, and be aware that not all Caribbean medical schools have the required sponsorship!
The ECFMG will ONLY grant certification to IMGs who graduate from sponsored schools. You can check if a Caribbean medical school has sponsorship from the ECFMG here by checking under the "Sponsorship Notes" tab.
If you have been contemplating going to the Caribbean to study medicine, you should first carefully consider your options and research potential schools. Here are some things you should consider before you apply to any Caribbean medical school.
#1 Is the School Accredited?
What is the point of getting a medical degree if you never get to practice where you want? This is what happens to anyone who goes to a Caribbean medical school that hasn’t been accredited by a recognized authority. Do you want to practice medicine in places like the United States and Canada after your degree? Then you need to be intentional about picking from the Caribbean medical school rankings. Before you allow the tuition fees and the qualifications required for a Caribbean medical school to sway you, you should find out if the school has accreditation. And it isn’t enough that a school just has accreditation. Does this school have accreditation from recognized authorities? Most companies recognize accreditation from authorities like the ACCM and the CAAM-HP.
#2 What is the Quality of Education and Faculty?
As a medical student aspiring to be a doctor, the goal is to learn from the best so that you can become the best, right? If you are trying to be the best, one of the first things to avoid is going to a school with sub-standard quality. Even if a school is at the top of Caribbean medical school rankings, learning about the faculty in these schools is a good way to start judging their quality of education and instruction. Research the curriculum, faculty and facilities. Note that many Caribbean medical schools have higher attrition rates and lower USMLE pass rates than US medical schools. You should also keep in mind most Caribbean medical schools have larger class sizes than their US counterparts, so individual student support may be limited.
#3 What Are the Residency Match Rates?
You have come this far because the goal is to be a licensed doctor, able to practice wherever you want. So, of course, every stage of your medical education matters a lot! While your medical residency is the final stage of your training, it is the stage you receive intense medical training in your area of specialty. It makes sense to pick only schools with excellent residency attainment rates, especially if you want to match to a residency in the US or Canada as a Caribbean graduate. As a Caribbean medical school graduate, your chances of matching to a US or Canadian residency spot are already lower as you are considered an IMG, and may have to meet additional requirements in order to participate in the match. Many graduates of Caribbean medical schools struggle to obtain a residency in their home country, because preference is given to graduates of medical schools in those countries. Your options for residency may also be limited to the Caribbean at some regional schools.
#4 What Are the USMLE Pass Rates?
Would you like to do your residency in the United States of America? One of the things you should check out before picking any Caribbean medical school is the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) average score of the school’s graduates. The USMLE score is used to evaluate all medical graduates applying to residency, whether from the US or international schools. This is why you need to check the USMLE pass rates at Caribbean schools. The pass rate of medical graduates is often an indicator of the quality of education so, of course, you do not want to overlook it!
#5 What is the Level of Student Support Available?
Medicine has one of, if not the largest curriculum, in postsecondary education. So, throughout your stay in medical school, you will be subject to a lot of information. It can become overwhelming sometimes but doing this in a conducive environment, and with people who show the utmost support is always very helpful. Look for schools that have the right student amenities, study help and career resources you want. Unfortunately, student support may be limited at some Caribbean medical schools because class sizes tend to be larger and student resources are scarcer. For instance, in your clinical years as a Caribbean medical school student, you may have to take the initiative to organize your own rotations and clinical opportunities - a key factor in preparing for residency.
Conclusion: Should I Apply to Medical School in the Caribbean?
Studying medicine in the Caribbean may be another way to secure a spot in medical school, and there are certainly some good options out there for applicants. However, plenty of premeds consider applying to Caribbean schools after facing medical school rejection from schools in the US or Canada, or because they fear their GPA or MCAT score isn’t high enough to get accepted.
If you’re applying to medical schools in the Caribbean because they seem “easier” to get into, you should consider your options carefully. For one, not all Caribbean medical schools will offer you the quality of education you are looking for, and even the highest-ranked schools are not always any easier to get into.
Studying in the Caribbean also means there are disadvantages when it comes to applying for residency in the US or Canada. If your plan is to return to the US or Canada to pursue your residency, note that you’ll be classified as an IMG regardless of your citizenship status, and it will be harder for you to match competitive residencies or specialties.
If you are thinking of studying medicine in the Caribbean, be sure to do your research and consider all the options available to you and whether they can help you reach your goal of becoming a doctor.
1. What are the admission requirements for Caribbean Medical schools?
Generally, requirements for any Caribbean medical school will involve the following: a competitive GPA, prerequisite coursework in science, letters of recommendation and a great MCAT score.
2. Are Caribbean medical degrees recognized in different countries?
As a graduate of a Caribbean medical school, you can practice in different countries, including the United States and Canada. However, you will need to pass a licensing examination like the USMLE in the US or the MCCQE in Canada and receive ECFMG certification before you can practice. If you are pursuing a residency position in the US or Canada, your chances of matching are lower as you are considered an International Medical Graduate.
3. How do Caribbean medical schools compare to medical schools in the United States?
Caribbean medical schools are often seen as a viable option for premeds who have struggled to gain admissions to medical schools in the US or Canada. Some of the primary reasons being:
- Caribbean medical schools require lower average GPA score.
- Some Caribbean medical schools do not require the MCAT
- Caribbean medical schools have fewer admission requirements
And while accredited, reputable institutions in the Caribbean offer good medical programs and are training future doctors, there are some disadvantages to studying in the Caribbean, such as fewer clinical learning opportunities, less student support and a lower chance of matching residency.
4. How long does it take to complete medical school in the Caribbean?
It generally takes four years to complete medical school in the Caribbean.
5. What is the cost of attending Caribbean medical schools?
The cost of attending the top schools in the Caribbean is similar or higher when compared to the cost of attending a US medical school. But more important to note is the fact that the tuition for Caribbean medical schools varies based on the institution and specific programs. Medical school tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs should be considered when calculating the cost of medical school in the Caribbean.
6. Which Caribbean medical school is the best?
The “big 4” Caribbean medical schools are widely considered the best of Caribbean medical school rankings, based on reputation, quality and success rate of medical graduates. The big 4 med schools in the Caribbean are St. George’s, Ross University, Saba University and the American University of the Caribbean.
7. Do Caribbean medical schools accept anyone who applies?
With the reputation that the average Caribbean medical school has earned over the years, this question is not out of place. While the expectation or qualification that gets you into a Caribbean medical school may pale in comparison to the qualifications needed to get admitted to a US medical school, there are still admission standards students need to meet. The more reputable MD programs in the Caribbean have strict admissions standards and can be just as competitive to get into as US schools.
8. Is going to a Caribbean medical school worth it?
For some students, attending medical school in the Caribbean will be worth it to become a doctor, even if they face different obstacles or challenges during or after their degree. For others who are facing medical school rejection in their home country, it's best to try other routes to acceptance before applying to international medical schools.
Before you apply to any Caribbean medical school, it's best to research the potential schools, the admission requirements, tuition costs and clinical opportunities offered. You should also determine beforehand whether you will be eligible to complete your residency at home in the US or Canada once you graduate. Be sure to explore all your options before committing.
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Your friends at BeMo