Getting into medical school is a notable accomplishment. But choosing the right medical school can have a sizable impact on your career trajectory as a physician. It’s important to ask questions to ensure you find a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program that will meet your needs.
Now that you’ve done some initial research, you may have peaked interest in the School of Medicine at St. George’s University (SGU) and are seeking specific information about things like the clinical training program, residency placements, or what life is like for students living in Grenada.
The SGU admissions team fields questions about these topics day in and day out. We’ve rounded up their insight to help you in your own decision-making process. Take a look at what they have to say.
7 questions students frequently ask the SGU admissions team
There are some common questions that relate to medical school admissions process in general. But if you’re interested in SGU in particular, you likely have some more specific queries as well.
Here is what other aspiring med students are asking:
1. Will I be able to obtain a residency in the US?
According to Richard Kleinman, a director of admissions at SGU, this is one of the top questions prospective students ask. “It’s a great question and probably the most important one,” he admits. “Ultimately, students considering SGU want to know that they have the opportunity to come back to the US for residency training—the answer is yes.”
SGU’s residency placement rates are consistently high. Consider the following:
- SGU has had a 93 percent US residency placement rate for graduates over the last three years.¹
- 2022 ushered in the placement of more than 990 SGU graduates into US residencies.²
- SGU has been the largest provider of doctors into first-year US residencies for eight consecutive years.³
2. How prepared are SGU students for the USMLE Step 1?
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 is a critical milestone toward licensure. It assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles. Furthermore, it evaluates mastery of fundamental patient-centered skills, which are critical in health management and constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.
There’s a lot riding on your test performance, so it’s important to ask any medical school admissions counselor about their institution’s graduate success in this area. At SGU, exams are based off of the USMLE Step 1, so students are exposed to the material from day one. This makes the actual exam not feel like something new.
This consistent preparation can be seen in the numbers. First-time test-takers from SGU have achieved a 92 percent USMLE Step 1 pass rate over the last three years.4
And students have plenty of support to help them avoid potential roadblocks. The Department of Educational Services(DES) is staffed with experienced professionals who provide numerous services, including hosting hundreds of workshops every week.
3. Where do students complete clinical rotations, and how do they secure those placements?
While students complete their first two years of medical school in Grenada—possibly split between Grenada and the UK—most of them return to the US for clinical rotations. SGU offers a diverse range of 70+ training sites and hospitals to choose from.
The institution’s longstanding relationships with hospital and clinical center partners in the US, the UK, and Canada help ensure that students who want to finish their education close to home can secure a placement in one of their preferred locations. That said, you also have an opportunity to move around if that appeals to you.
“Occasionally, we hear from students who want to use clinical rotations as an opportunity to travel, because there are options all over the US,” Kleinman explains. “And they have opportunities to go to Canada and the UK.”
To learn more, check out this article about clinical rotations at SGU.
4. How successful are students at obtaining competitive residencies?
SGU graduates go on to practice in all areas of medicine, including family medicine, pathology, and anesthesiology. The SGU School of Medicine is the largest provider of new primary care physicians in the US, but there are also alumni excelling in some of the most competitive medical specialties out there.5
You can review actual residency placements for yourself by browsing the annual match lists. SGU is also happy to connect you with a graduate who is practicing in your desired field. Students have access to support and resources to maximize their opportunities for matching, including speaking with current or former students who are practicing in their desired field.
5. How can I speak to a medical school graduate or student?
Speaking with alumni and current SGU School of Medicine students can be incredibly beneficial. They can provide you with firsthand knowledge about the curriculum, the instructors, living on campus, and more.
If you have questions related to your specific circumstances, SGU can also help you connect with someone who has had a similar experience. For example, a student considering starting the MD program in January would likely be paired with a graduate who went that route.
The process to contact an SGU graduate is as simple as filling out a form on the institution’s website.
6. What is it like living in Grenada?
The best way to understand what it’s like to live in Grenada is to take a virtual tour or visit in person. Free virtual tours are always available on the SGU website. The institution also allows prospective students who have been accepted to The School of Medicine to experience the modern Caribbean campus for themselves through the SeeSGU Program.6
Accepted students can also attend online social events and do some additional research about what it’s like living in the Caribbean to gather information.
7. How can I pay for my medical school education?
When considering the cost of SGU School of Medicine tuition, keep in mind that there are options for financing your education.
“We are approved for US Department of Education loans for the four-year MD program, so you can borrow up to the cost of the education,” Kleinman clarifies. “And we also have multiple scholarships.”
Beyond scholarships and loans, there are other ways SGU students have made paying for medical school more manageable, including loan forgiveness programs, loan consolidation, refinancing, and more.
It’s also worth remembering the long-term value of your education. The cost of tuition encompasses more than classroom instruction and access to labs. “Many of our students are getting the residencies they want and doing well on their board exams,” Kleinman emphasizes. “They are getting a lot in return.”
Earn your MD at St. George’s University
Now that you’ve reviewed the answers to some of the most common questions the SGU admissions team encounters, you’re better equipped to make a medical school decision that can help prepare you for a successful career as a physician.
If you can envision yourself achieving those career goals at St. George’s University, take the next step by heading to our request information page.
1Average of 2020, 2021, 2022 residency placement rate. Residency placement rate is defined as the total number of students who obtained a US residency divided by the total number of students who applied to a US residency program in a given year as of May 2022.
2Data as of July 2022.
3As the medical school graduating the largest number of students annually, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate and residency placement data as of July 2022.
4Average of 2019, 2020, 2021 scores. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of students passing USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time. In order to be certified to take USMLE Step 1, students are required to pass all basic sciences courses.
5Data as of August 2019.
6St. George’s University “See SGU Program”. Some exclusions apply, see details at www.sgu.edu/next-steps/see-sgu/.
