If you’ve wanted to become a doctor for a while, you’re likely familiar with the typical road to earning your MD: you apply to medical school, you enroll in a program where you’ll study medicine for four years, you land a residency in your chosen specialty, and you obtain board certification.
But that timeline may not always fit perfectly depending on your individual circumstances. It’s possible you won’t gain acceptance to your chosen programs the first time around. Maybe you simply find that you are not ready to start the process to begin medical school during the traditional August start.
If you find yourself hoping to get started with your medical school experience sooner, there’s another option you might consider. The School of Medicine at St. George’s University (SGU) allows medical students to start their MD program in January or April, so there’s no need to wait until fall comes around.
Keep reading to hear about one SGU graduate’s experience starting medical school in January and how it set her up for success.
Pursuing a true calling
Dr. Micheline Beaulieu began her postsecondary education in her native Canada. “I obtained my undergraduate degree at McGill University,” she says, explaining that she started out studying animal health and diseases with the intention of becoming a research veterinarian.
Though she continued down the veterinary medicine path after college, Dr. Beaulieu’s attitude eventually began to shift. An externship in Paris proved to be a pivotal moment, as some of the professionals she encountered during the experience helped her realize she was more interested in pursuing medical school instead of veterinary school.
“I met a number of physicians who inspired me to become a physician,” Dr Beaulieu explains. “I wanted to be involved in research studies where the ultimate goal [would be] to help people.”
Gaining peace of mind
As with every student who decides to pursue medical school, Dr. Beaulieu faced some tough decisions. Should she apply to a Canadian school and hope to get accepted for a standard fall start? Would that risk pay off?
She knew of students who regretted waiting when they were ultimately rejected from medical schools—sometimes more than once. That’s when Dr. Beaulieu discovered a path at SGU that wasn’t so riddled with anxiety; she applied for the school’s January start.
“I did also apply to a Canadian medical school, and SGU’s Why Wait initiative gave me a financial safety net in case I was accepted into that school,” she explains.
The Why Wait Medical School Opportunity at SGU offers applicants the opportunity to get a head start on their MD program in January. If they are subsequently accepted to and enroll in an MD or DO program at a US or Canadian medical school the following fall, all SGU tuition and administrative fees will be reimbursed. This offers a low-risk path for future physicians to get a jump start on their career.
Dr. Beaulieu says it was actually very easy to take advantage of this initiative. There’s minimal amount of additional effort involved—students need only accept the terms and conditions and then sign the accompanying form.
Finding the right fit
While Dr. Beaulieu appreciated the opportunity Why Wait afforded her, she ultimately decided against heading back to Canada for medical school. After beginning her medical education in Grenada, she realized St. George’s University was where she wanted to obtain her MD.
“SGU has helped me realize my dream to help people,” Dr. Beaulieu says, “and I am very grateful for that.”
And she isn’t the only one who feels positively about the education SGU provides. Numerous alumni found going to school in the Caribbean at SGU to be a perfect fit, often noting that they felt supported by a community of like-minded students working toward a similar goal. You could find yourself among future colleagues as early as January.
Why wait? Start medical school sooner
SGU has contributed over 23,000 physicians to the global physician workforce, with students, graduates, and faculty from over 150 countries. They have practiced in every state in the US, as well as in more than 50 countries. 1Providing a foundation for high quality doctors is part of what the School of Medicine at SGU does.
If you’re eager to start medical school, it may be time to consider how SGU’s January or April class could fit into your plans.
We are here to help you build the future you dream about. Visit our application page today.
*This article has been updated from December 2021 to include current facts and figures.
1 Based on the number of students who have completed the Doctor of Medicine program from 1981-2024.
This article has been updated from January 2021 to include current facts and figures.
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