How to get a student loan for a carib med school?

I got into a med school in antigua, but need financing. I applied to RBC, but got rejected because they felt my co-signers don't make enoug to pay back. What I have done now is postponed my admission to jan instead of sept. I was wondering if there is a way to improve my merit and apply again. Or is there any brokers who you can pay to get you a student loan? For my parents mortage I remember we paid a broker who applied on our behalf anddid stuff to bring up our merit. Can the same be done for student loans? If anyone knows anyone that does that plz pm me the information. thanks in advance

Have different cosigners that have higher income?

nah I don't

try your parents.

Originally Posted by cheystar

nah I don't

Check out Teri/CanHelp loans do a google search.

Originally Posted by Darklord

Check out Teri/CanHelp loans do a google search.

i tried the school had recently been taken out of the list of eligible schools.

Originally Posted by fallleave

try your parents.

I did use my parents as a co-signer

how old are you?

My bro used can govt student loans and an RBC 150k LOC without a cosigner to fund his overseas med program. He finished his degree here first and did a 4 year program abroad. My guess is your < 22 thus they look at your parents income, so you wont be eligible for govt loans yet, but i dont understand why RBC requires a cosigner since you are a student with papers proving your admission.

Try ValueMD forum, more indepth discussion there.

Good Luck!

Originally Posted by fl4wless

how old are you?

My bro used can govt student loans and an RBC 150k LOC without a cosigner to fund his overseas med program. He finished his degree here first and did a 4 year program abroad. My guess is your < 22 thus they look at your parents income, so you wont be eligible for govt loans yet, but i dont understand why RBC requires a cosigner since you are a student with papers proving your admission.

i am 23. the co-signer requirement I heard from one of the managers that it started last year or so cause because ppl who have studied in the carib haven't after the 4yr interest period haven't paid back or haven't continued. so now for whoever goes to med school other than canada need a canadian co-signer. in terms of government loans i will only be eligible for the federal loan portion of osap which is max 10,000 per year.

Off topic but if you do go to medical school in Antigua, what are your options when you are finished? Is it easy to pass the board in Canada or are you limited to the Caribean/US?

I think you'd be considered an IMG (Internationa Medical Graduate). You still have to pass the LMCC (Canadian boards) to do residency in Canada.

Currently most provinces have separate spots in residency for IMG students, so the pickin's is pretty slim for competitive specialties. IMGs are not eligible to go after the regular spots for CMG's (Canadian medical grads). There are plenty of IMG's applying and very few spots, so the chances of coming back to Canada to do something competitive like Plastics, Ophthalmology, ER, etc are pretty slim.

However if Family Medicine is your interest there shouldn't be a problem getting into residency in Canada.

If you're talking about doing residency in US/Caribbean and then working in Canada I have no idea about that...

Your name wouldn't happen to be Anu would it?

i tried the school had recently been taken out of the list of eligible schools.

Well that should tell you something!
Not all medical schools abroad are created equal.

I would encourage you to continue to apply to Canadian and US medical schools. Unless you didn't plan on returning to Canada.

Congrats on your acceptance into meds school at Antigua. However, have you thought this out clearly? Beside the finances issues at the moment!

First, costs of going to med school at Antigua (it ain't cheap, and OSAP won't fund you more than 3 - 5k / year, can't quote the exact figure, and most banks will need a very good co-signer to give you the funds that you need, unless you borrow thru the school at antigua, however, you will be paying thru the roof on interest!)

Second, I understand that most carribbean meds school does their clerkship in US, however, it is not localised in one region, you will be moving left right and centre not just your elective year, but also your core rotation (i hope that the school will help you find accomodation)

Third, you won't be able to apply to first round match thru CaRMS, Don't knwo about restrictions in US. And you have to write several exams before you are eligible to apply for second round match thru CaRMS. By that time, most of the competitive speciality or hot spot (ie Toronto spots) will be gone! You can be match to rural family medicine in Timmins / Nfld.

There will be more issues. I hope you truly think this thru, unless your stat and MCAT score do not permit you to get accepted into any Canadian school, and your only aspiration is to become a physician, then head to Antigua for 4 years, and I wish you luck!