Caribbean Medical Schools and Residency

Applicants who are considering attending medical schools in the Caribbean should be aware of the challenges they will face when it comes time to apply for U.S. residency programs. Every year, approximately 95 percent of senior medical students in the United States match into a residency program, compared to only 50 percent of U.S. citizens graduating from a foreign school.

When comparing potential Caribbean schools, it is crucial to ask where and in what specialties their graduates eventually match. Well-established schools such as Ross University, St. George’s University, and the American University of the Caribbean have higher success rates.

It is important to note that the vast majority of Caribbean school graduates enter professions in primary care. While this provides a partial solution to the growing shortage of primary care physicians in the United States, students should understand that their chances of obtaining a residency in a more competitive specialty is much more limited compared to U.S. medical school graduates.

In 2012, 76 percent of the senior medical students at Ross University obtained residencies in primary care, including 43 percent in internal medicine, 26 percent in family medicine, and 7 percent in pediatrics. Recent residency placement data from St. George’s University and the American University of the Caribbean demonstrate similar trends.

More about Caribbean medical schools

Be sure you are attending an accredited medical school in the Caribbean

Hear from a former Caribbean medical school instructor

Get more information from websites of medical schools in the Caribbean

Things to consider when choosing a medical school in the Caribbean