If you are a Caribbean medical student who comes from Vancouver, Edmonton, or any other location in Canada, it would not be unreasonable to seek residency placement in your homeland when you return. By preparing well ahead of time for post-graduation career steps, you may be successful in serving your residency period on Canadian soil.
Matching in Canada from a Caribbean Medical School
If you are a Caribbean medical student who comes from Vancouver, Edmonton, or any other location in Canada, it would not be unreasonable to seek residency placement in your homeland when you return. By preparing well ahead of time for post-graduation career steps, you may be successful in serving your residency period on Canadian soil.
At Windsor University School of Medicine (WUSOM), we take great pride in preparing our students for success after graduation. Many of our alumni have been placed in various residency programs across Canada.
Getting Matched to a Canadian Residency Program
You cannot always accurately predict where you will be placed in residency after graduation, but you can implement some useful strategies to improve your chances of Canadian placement.
Take these points into consideration:
• No “One-Size-Fits-All” Application – You should be aware that all of the residency applications will be different. Various residency programs will have different priorities and expectations. One way to prepare for filling out applications is to do research on the programs to which you are applying. Take a look at what services and specialties they offer, so you will know how to complete each application appropriately. Performing such research will also help you to determine whether particular residency programs will meet your needs, as well.
• Maintain High Standards – Accredited Caribbean medical schools expect their students to maintain high standards. In many cases, getting a medical education from a school in the Caribbean could make you better prepared for a career as a medical professional. As long as you maintain such high standards for yourself while in school, you should have a reasonable chance of getting a placement match in the general geographical area you desire.
• The USMLE – Do not underestimate the importance of the United States Medical Licensing Examination USMLE scores. As an international medical graduate (IMG), these scores will be crucial in terms of achieving the best placement possible after graduation.
• Have a Backup Plan – No matter where it is that you study, you may not always be placed in the residency program of your choice. However, you might get a placement in the same region. Always have some backup choices and apply to those programs, too. You could enjoy highly rewarding residency in the United States, for example, so give some of the programs there some consideration. It cannot hurt to apply in both countries.
The Residency Match that is Right for You
You have likely heard rumors that if you study medicine in the Caribbean, you may find it difficult to achieve residency placement in Canada or the United States. This simply has not been the case for countless Caribbean medical school graduates. You need only peruse our alumni success stories to see that a degree from WUSOM can take you places. As many IMGs who have been placed in Canada might advise you: Just apply and see what happens!
Call WUSOM today at 1-869-466-1220/6157 for more information about attaining a Caribbean medical degree. You may also use our online contact form to reach us.
