I am a prospective student trying to narrow the choice among around 5 schools now (it doesn't matter mentioning them here as some reasons are purely personal and don't apply to other people).
Point 1: Academic calender/curriculum structure
One of the particularities of St Martinus seems to be that it is one of the only two schools in the Caribbean (the other may be University of Health Sciences - Antigua?) that replicate the 2 semester/year model apparently usual in the US (I am quoting this), instead of the usual 3 semester/year usual in other Caribbean Med schools. St. Martinus site claims this is one of the reasons to be very successful in USMLE results (I am quoting again) and that the 3 semester structure makes harder to retain the vast curricula/volumes of information. Anyway, it is true that this 2 semester structure gives time to remediation (ie, saves periods aside to study further and repeat exams if failed the 1st atempt). It also gives time to some real break (for example it would give me time to visit home in Europe). Furthermore, this means one pays 4 (+4 clinical) and not 5 (+5 or +6) semesters.
But strictly speaking about the academic structure and study/learning process, what is the opinion of people here? Does this make an important diference or does the 3 semester/year may also have advantages and it all may well depend more on teachers and other aspects than the calendar timing only? What about the comparison to US continental classical calendar?
Point 1: Academic calender/curriculum structure
One of the particularities of St Martinus seems to be that it is one of the only two schools in the Caribbean (the other may be University of Health Sciences - Antigua?) that replicate the 2 semester/year model apparently usual in the US (I am quoting this), instead of the usual 3 semester/year usual in other Caribbean Med schools. St. Martinus site claims this is one of the reasons to be very successful in USMLE results (I am quoting again) and that the 3 semester structure makes harder to retain the vast curricula/volumes of information. Anyway, it is true that this 2 semester structure gives time to remediation (ie, saves periods aside to study further and repeat exams if failed the 1st atempt). It also gives time to some real break (for example it would give me time to visit home in Europe). Furthermore, this means one pays 4 (+4 clinical) and not 5 (+5 or +6) semesters.
But strictly speaking about the academic structure and study/learning process, what is the opinion of people here? Does this make an important diference or does the 3 semester/year may also have advantages and it all may well depend more on teachers and other aspects than the calendar timing only? What about the comparison to US continental classical calendar?