
Attending a University in the Caribbean enables some Canadian students to gain a medical education, without waiting years to gain admission to educational institutions in Canada or the United States. Before you apply to study at Caribbean medical schools, however, you should research five key points very carefully.
1. Know The Language of Instruction
Although many nations in the Caribbean with excellent medical schools, such as Cuba, furnish instruction in Spanish, fluency in that language won’t necessarily help you communicate with people in every part of the region. For example, Haitians speak both French and Haitian Creole. People in Saint Lucia speak English, and in Suriname you’ll likely study in Dutch. The diversity of language assists medical students, however, because you might locate a medical training program more readily taught in a language already known to you as a Canadian.
2. Verify Accreditation
Before spending money to attend any medical program these days, it makes sense to verify the accreditation derives from a reputable source. Medical students expend long hours studying and volunteering their time in hospital settings. Spending several years and a lot of money training in the field won’t benefit either you or your potential future patients if you cannot find paid employment after graduation because experts in the field discount your credentials.
3. Ask For a Prerequisites List
Although in practice educational institutions sometimes waive individual academic prerequisites, reviewing the full list will give you a good idea about the subjects you must master in order to gain serious admissions consideration. For example, many Caribbean Medical Schools expect students to take a college level Anatomy course with an associated human lab before seeking admission. Observing the dissection of a human body as an undergrad assists students in visualizing the locations of anatomical structures. Some farsighted medical school admissions committees change their prerequisites frequently to keep pace with the exploding levels of new information in scientific subjects.
4. Consider Cost of Living Issues Carefully
Even if you can afford the high cost of attending an accredited physician or veterinarian training program in the Caribbean, remember to factor in the cost of daily living when you apply to medical schools there. Particularly in places which appeal to numerous tourists, the actual cost of living in comfortable accommodations may prove steep. If your future alma mater does provide housing, inquire about the anticipated costs involved in order to compare those fees with the costs of an equivalent off-campus residence.
5. Factor in Transportation
Do you plan to reside full-time near your medical training program for the full three to five years required to earn a medical degree, or do you anticipate flying home to Canada on a regular basis? Include travel in your cost estimates.
A Great Experience
Attending a high quality medical training program in the sunny Caribbean appeals to many Canadian med-students. With careful advanced research, it can boost your career prospects!