5 Important Factors to Consider Before Selecting a Medical School

Most students around the world aspire to attend medical school. Medical school graduates gain the ability to help people better their lives and health, they gain access to a wide range of exciting and well-paying career opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, they begin a lifetime educational career journey in an intellectually engaging and ever-changing world.

The first and most important step in the long journey ahead is to select the right medical school. Medical science is a noble discipline, and whether you've given it any thought or are just getting started, identifying the right one takes careful consideration. This guide will provide you with valuable insights while choosing the best medical college to study MBBS / Medicine. So, without further ado, let's get started.

1) Type of Medical School / University

Medical schools can be divided into two major categories - Public and Private.

Since public universities are government-funded and have rigid admissions requirements, getting a place there could be difficult. Private colleges, on the other hand, have more reasonable admission requirements, which increase the chances of acceptance

When analyzing options to study medicine in the Caribbean, you have the choice of going "regional" or "offshore”. Regional medical schools train students to practice medicine in the region or country where they are based, while offshore medical schools are mostly attended by students from the US, UK, Canada, Asia, and other countries, and therefore these graduates opt to return home for clinical practice after graduation, completing their basic sciences in the Caribbean and clinical rotations in the United States and Canada, respectively.

2) Medical School Rankings

These rankings are based on accreditations, recognitions and approvals that a school has. This ranking report gives you a comprehensive idea of how a particular university fares in the comparison with others. If you're thinking of attending a Caribbean medical school, you should look at the Caribbean medical schools ranking before making a decision. Of course, medical school rankings are important, but they should not be the only consideration in your decision.

3) Cost of Education

This is one of the most significant factors. Medical studies are quite expensive and public universities have lower fees as compared to private ones. However, the downside here is that public universities have more stringent selection criteria. Private medical schools on the other contrary offer a large amount of scholarships and grants to eligible candidates. So, while evaluating the cost of medical schools, you must ensure to consider the percentage of students who receive this kind of financial help in the institution.

4) Infrastructure and Faculty

Another essential aspect to consider is infrastructure and faculty. You also need to check if the school is attached to an outpatient hospital to ensure extensive clinical exposure. Qualification of the faculty on campus should also be reviewed since they are the people who will be guiding you throughout your education program. 5) Class Size

The class size in medical school can vary from 50 to 300 students. Generally, most medical universities have around 150 students in a batch.

Therefore, choose a school that has a smaller class size. It offers students an intimate setting in which they experience hands-on learning thereby encouraging high levels of student engagement. Small classroom environments also make it easier for students to get to know one another so students enjoy better support and rapport. These schools have a family-oriented environment and the faculty and administration are easily approachable and available all the time.

Wrapping Up

Selecting the best Caribbean medical school is a major task. This place will not only shape your future career but it is where you will be spending the next 4 to 5 years of your life and gain priceless knowledge. Therefore, take your time to consider all of these aspects and choose the university that best fits your needs.