Americas or the Caribbean Islands has been the most sought-after and dreamed destination to study MBBS abroad for Indian students for its excellent scientific infrastructure, US-based medical curriculum, recognitions and accreditations, affordable MD/MBBS fee structure, desirable student and teacher ratio, clinical rotations in the top American hospitals, American lifestyle, and so much more. The countries of Guyana and Barbados in the Americas are excellent harbors to pursue medical careers and win your chances to practice medicine in the United States.
Just like India, the United States has scarcity of world-class physicians. As per the Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), the country might face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033 . After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, the need for doctors in the United States and worldwide has increased with the growing population. The irony of the situation is that even in such a scenario, several qualified candidates fail to get a seat in the medical school. Students with a lower Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or PCB aggregate scores than their peers are often rejected by the U.S. medical schools. In such a situation, Caribbean medical schools have a higher acceptance rate.
Before anyone goes ahead to choose a medical school for MBBS in Americas, it is important to do critical thinking and set the right parameters for selection.
MBBS in Caribbean at top medical schools vary in terms of accreditation, curriculum strengths, and opportunities available to medical aspirants. However, identifying the right medical university is the key to have a successful and bright medical future.
Accreditation and recognition are significant as they state the credibility of the medical school ensuring it has met the national standards for a MD program leading to a genuine medical degree. Most importantly, the MD programs of all U.S. medical schools or Caribbean medical school are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education as this accreditation allows medical students to appear for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and enter residencies recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
The year 2024 onwards, medical graduates of only those Caribbean medical schools accredited and recognized by agencies registered with World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) will be allowed to pursue residency or fellowship training in the United States. In case of medical schools in the Caribbean Islands, World Federation for Medical Education recognized three accrediting agencies with WFME Recognition Status – the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherland and Flanders, and the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM).
Ensure that the medical school chosen by you for MBBS in Americas is listed in WDOMS (World Directory of Medical Schools). It is the best credible source to check any medical school worldwide and find extensive information about the medical schools.
The most common methods of teaching for MBBS in Americas are traditional, problem-based learning, and integrated format.
1. Traditional format: Under this teaching method, the Caribbean medical schools mainly focus on lectures and tutorials in the preclinical years to help students develop a good knowledge of the medical concepts. During the clinical years, students will get to learn about scientific theories in various clinical settings on the basis of the affiliated hospitals with the medical schools.
2. Problem-based learning: This teaching approach is more student-oriented in which students learn about various scientific topics in diverse scenarios. It aims to develop problem solving skills and effective teamwork in students; promote motivation and self-directed learning for early clinical exposure. During this learning, students are directed to diagnose a disease and suggest treatments for an imaginary patient.
3. Integrated learning: The first two years of the 5-year MD program in the Americas or Caribbean are based on traditional teaching methods. However, there are medical schools in the Caribbean focusing on the medical training of students from the initial years to provide them ample hands-on clinical experience. Integrated learning/teaching method ensures the right balance of scientific knowledge and clinical exposure.
It is crucial for medical aspirants to check how a particular medical school in Americas supports its students and what type of research opportunities are available for them. Students seek academic and clinical training support along with the emotional, mental, and physical support from the members of the medical schools. During their MD in Americas, they might need help with accommodation, student life balance, or residency applications. As research plays a significant role for medical students, make sure the Caribbean medical school you will choose has good research facilities and qualified faculty members for support.
Before applying for MD/MBBS in Caribbean to any medical school, it is important to check the admission criteria.
Getting into a Caribbean medical school is easy compared to the one in the US, India, and Canada. Creating a basic eligibility benchmark, Caribbean medical schools maintain good quality of their students.
There is no doubt about the fact that education is a long-term investment. Nonetheless, budget is an important factor to consider while selecting a medical school in the Caribbean Islands. Choosing a Caribbean medical school over US medical schools is a wise decision due to the huge difference in the MD/MBBS fees. MBBS in Americas fees is 20-25 percent cheaper compared to US schools of medicine. The average cost of studying MBBS in Americas is between INR 30-60 lakhs. Moreover, various medical schools in the Caribbean provide scholarships to deserving students and make their medical education affordable.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a 3 step medical licensing examination taken to practice medicine in the US. The first two steps of USMLE are conducted during the MD/MBBS program. The medical schools in the Americas offer USMLE coaching to the students planning to practice medicine in the Americas. Checking the students performance in the exam will give you an insight into the quality of the USMLE coaching in any medical school.
The residency attainment rates of Caribbean medical schools plays an important factor while deciding one for your medical career. Students apply for residencies in the fourth year of their education and appear for the residency interviews. Make sure to check the match rate of the college for the medical residency program as it is important to practice medicine in the United States.
For any international student, including Indian students, a comfortable accommodation with proper mess and food facilities is necessary to spend five years of the MD program in Americas. Therefore, accommodation plays a significant role in deciding a medical school in Americas. Choose a Caribbean medical school with well-furnished hostel accommodation with mess facilities for students.
Holistic development plays a crucial role in the lives of medical students. Medical education is persistent and students often feel the heavy academic pressure. Talking to the counselors, faculty members, and even alumni to have an idea about the personal development of students at the medical schools. The best medical universities in Americas ensure high-quality medical education, exposure, and extracurricular activities to encourage students to participate in community practices, sports, international medical seminars and conferences, cultural programs, etc.
The last one year of medical school in Americas is dedicated to clinical training or clerkship in top hospitals of America. Good schools of medicine in the Caribbean or Americas offer training experience to students under supervision and help them decide a preferred specialization for their medical careers. The level of exposure during the clinical trainings and the exposure medical students get by working in a team, including interns (first-year residents) and residents (doctors in training) is massive.
Quality of medical education and faculty go hand in hand. If the faculty of any medical school is professional, experienced, and well-qualified, the education quality will undoubtedly be of high standards. The best Caribbean schools have a US-based medical curriculum to provide the right skillset and training to their students and serves as a pathway to practice medicine in the US.
The best faculty and professors must have adequate medical knowledge and experience to treat different kinds of patients for their illness. You can explore the website of the university and find information about the faculty members, like their qualifications, years of experience, etc.
As per the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) of 2021, 75-90% of medical graduates of Caribbean medical schools complete their medical degrees with an average debt of $203,062. Choosing a well-accredited medical school in Caribbean Islands or Americas allows a student to apply for federal student loan.
Although MBBS in Americas fee structure plays a significant role in the decision making process of the best Caribbean medical school, do not ignore the other factors of selection at any cost. Sometimes going easy on the pocket can be challenging for your medical careers, and you may end up in the wrong medical school in the Americas. Keep all the above factors in your mind to select the best college for MBBS in Barbados, Guyana, etc., in the Americas.
In the Americas, Lincoln American University for MBBS in Guyana and Victoria University of Barbados are the two top popular medical schools recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC), listed under WDOMS, and accredited by ECFMG and FAIMER. The universities in the Americas satisfy several parameters for medical college selection and support the medical journeys of thousands of international students who have joined them for their bright and successful futures.
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