Medical schools’ applications are surging each year across the world. More than 50,000 students apply for about 20,000 first-year seats at United States (US) medical schools every year. In the 2020-2021 application cycle, a total of 53,030 students applied to allopathic medical schools in the US via the American Medical College Application Service. Of the total number of students, only 22,239 made it to the US medical schools for a success rate of 42 percent. Most of these students who failed at gaining admissions to US medical schools seek medical education outside the United States.
As medical schools play a crucial role in shaping the students’ future, attending a fully credentialed university is essential to pursue medicine. Now, what if I say that the Caribbean is a great choice with relaxed medical school requirements? How? Read on to explore top-tier Caribbean medical schools and their entry requirements.
Top-Tier Caribbean Medical Schools
Medical schools in the Caribbean are segmented into two types- offshore and regional, and three tiers- top-tier, mid-tier and bottom-tier. When browsing Caribbean medical schools, you need to focus on top-tier offshore medical schools for a rewarding future.
Top-tier offshore Caribbean medical schools prepare matriculants from the USA or Canada to practice in their home nations after graduation. Offshore medical schools in the Caribbean generally have higher graduation success rates than others.
Above all, top-tier medical schools in the Caribbean mostly have international accreditation or recognition from US agencies. The WFME recognized accrediting bodies accredit these medical schools. Presently, accrediting bodies that the WFME recognizes include the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), and the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).
Furthermore, attending a credentialed Caribbean medical school allows international students to take the USMLE licensing exams and makes them eligible for federal student loans.
Entry Requirements for Top Caribbean Medical Schools
1. You Must have Completed Pre-Med Coursework
Pre-med coursework entails a pre-medical curriculum that students must have accomplished for further studies in the medical field. In essence, it’s a foundation course for pursuing medicine to become a physician.
2. Taking the MCAT is Mandatory
Top-tier Caribbean medical schools ask to take the MCAT to select the deserving candidates. However, they focus on the holistic admission process rather than only MCAT scores.
3. You Must be Proficient in English
Top Caribbean medical schools have English as their medium of instruction. Thus, proficiency in the English language is essential for students planning to study in the Caribbean. You can take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to prove English language proficiency.
4. A Bachelor’s Degree in Science is a must to have
A three-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university is essential to get into Caribbean medical schools. You can also study 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours to attend Caribbean medical schools.
5. You Cannot Fail to Consider Patient Care Experience
Caribbean medical schools expect at least 50 hours of the direct patient care experience from applicants to check their seriousness for the profession. You can complete this requirement before your enrollment.
Apply to the MD program now if you have what it takes to get into renowned Caribbean medical schools!
