Getting into medical school in the United States has always been a competitive process. But recent data suggests that the number of med school applicants is reaching an all-time high. The acceptance rates of US medical schools range widely, from anywhere between 20 percent to just under three percent.

As such, it’s not uncommon for many applicants to fail to gain acceptance into Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs. But getting rejected from medical school doesn’t have to end your dreams of becoming a physician. Many pre-med students in this position begin weighing other options, including programs outside of the US.

When considering international medical schools, programs in the Caribbean can present some enticing opportunities. Join us as we explore the Caribbean medical school requirements you should know.

Caribbean medical school requirements to be aware of

One reason pre-med students seek out Caribbean medical schools is that they tend to have higher acceptance rates than their stateside counterparts. This is true for a multitude of reasons, including the numerous start dates and slightly looser requirements regarding an applicant’s GPA and MCAT score.

But despite their higher enrollment rates, international MD programs provide students with a pathway to residency. To provide the needed medical education for a residency placement, admissions standards are still high. Caribbean medical schools consider the following elements:

1.     Undergraduate education

All qualifying applicants to Caribbean med schools will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. The subject of your degree can vary, but there is specific prerequisite coursework you’ll be expected to complete.

For example, applicants to the St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine are required to have completed the following:

• One year of general biology or zoology
• One year of inorganic chemistry (general or physical)
• One year of organic chemistry
• One semester of physics
• One semester of mathematics (calculus, computer science, or statistics)
• One semester of English

The Admissions Policy Board at SGU strongly recommends students also complete an additional semester of physics, two semesters of social science courses, and courses in biochemistry, microbiology, and physiology as preparation for medical school. Basic computer literacy is also imperative.

Generally speaking, your acceptance into a Caribbean 4-year MD program won’t be determined solely by your GPA, but a satisfactory academic performance is still important. It’s also not uncommon for medical schools to analyze your science and non-science GPAs separately to better assess your grasp of the prerequisite course material.

That being said, Caribbean medical schools like SGU utilize a holistic evaluation of med school applicants. This means that while your academic performance will be considered, the admissions committee considers experiences and character in tandem with those academic metrics.

For more information about how your GPA will be considered, check out this article about medical school GPAs.

2.     Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to assess student readiness for medical school. Not all Caribbean medical schools require MCAT scores from applicants, but you should expect that most reputable institutions will.

The MCAT format is broken down into five subjects—biology, chemistry, physics, behavioral science, and critical reasoning skills. These have been identified as prerequisites for medical school success, so it’s helpful to look at the exam as more than just another hoop to jump through to gain entry. If you’re hoping to apply with confidence, you’ll need to know you’re equipped to handle the rigor of an MD program.

For more information about what to expect from this exam, you can visit this article about preparing for the MCAT.

3.     Clinical experience

Like SGU, an increasing number of medical schools have been adopting a holistic evaluation of applications. Alongside your traditional academic metrics and scores, you should focus on growing your breadth of clinical exposure to prepare you for your medical training.

Just like stateside institutions, Caribbean medical schools look for pre-med students who have amassed a healthy amount of clinical experience. Those looking to gain admission to an MD program can do this by shadowing local physicians, volunteering in hospice centers, working as a medical scribe, or even training to be a volunteer EMT.

When admissions teams see high-quality clinical exposure on an applicant’s resume, it signifies their unwavering desire to pursue a career in medicine while also demonstrating their commitment to the process of becoming a physician.

For more information about seeking out these opportunities, review this article about ways to gain clinical experience for med school.

4.     Supplemental materials

As an applicant, your undergraduate education, MCAT score, and catalog of clinical exposure make up the core elements MD programs will be looking for—but that certainly isn’t an exhaustive list. While the aforementioned information can provide admissions teams with a clear look at your academic abilities and your level of commitment, they don’t provide a full picture of who you are as a would-be physician.

You can use supplemental application materials like strong letters of recommendation and a dynamic personal statement to paint a fuller picture of your potential. Letters of recommendation provide medical schools with an external perspective on your capabilities as a future physician and can have a sizeable impact on a committee’s decision-making process.

Conversely, your personal statement is where you’ll have an opportunity to tout your own potential. But it’s helpful to keep in mind that your other application materials will already be listing your performance-related achievements. Look at this essay as an opportunity to provide Caribbean medical schools with a clearer vision of who you are as a person.

SGU, for example, seeks med school candidates who demonstrate the following competencies:

• Empathy and compassion
• Motivation and commitment
• Ability to learn from mistakes or failures
• Critical thinking with problem-solving ability
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team
• Sense of community responsibility
• Curiosity and dedication to lifelong learning
• Sensitivity and openness to diversity

When you’re crafting your personal statement, it’s not the time to be modest. You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your academic journey, and you have big goals you’re looking to achieve—this is your opportunity to highlight what you’ve learned and draw attention to all the positive qualities that will enable your success as you trek forward.

For more information about crafting a quality essay, you can visit this article about the features the best medical school personal statements share.

For advice on gathering compelling letters of recommendation, check out this article full of tips for securing great letters of recommendation for medical school.

Find your Caribbean medical school fit

Earning your MD at a Caribbean medical school can be a great way to receive a high-quality medical education amidst the enormously competitive med school applicant pool that exists in the US today. And now that you know a bit more about Caribbean medical school requirements, it’s clear that the standards for education are still high.

A number of successful physicians found their perfect fit in Caribbean MD programs. If you’re considering following in their footsteps, take the next step in researching more. Visit our article “10 Surprising Facts About the SGU School of Medicine.”