Interview with Ross University School of Medicine
By: Charyse Magdangal
1. What is your name, your professional title, and your relationship to the
University?
My name is Erin Healey, I am the Senior Associate Director of Admissions for Ross
University. This is my passion. Higher education has been my career for a long
time.
2. What are some essential problems in the healthcare field (clinically or policy-
wise) and how is Ross University working to change that?
Family and Primary Care. We see a lot of students going into that for Residency
placements. There is such a variety, and our students have the scores to get into
almost any program. You see a lot that have a true passion for Family and
Primary Care, and that’s where the need is right now.
3. What is a brief description of the application process?
We’re not on AMCAAS. We have our own application on our website, and that’s
where students will upload any of their documents and their written statement.
We have a holistic admission process, so that means we are looking at
everything. We are looking at grades, MCAT score, clinical experiences, written
statement, and everything that comes in your resume. We’re looking at
everything at the same time. We don’t use the GPA and the MCAT as a cutoff.
4. Are there any special programs for which this medical school is noted?
We have a commitment to teaching first experience. Our campus has grant-
writing and research. The faculty is in the classrooms, and they have office hours.
They will be accessible to you all of the time. We are the only school in the
Caribbean that does Organ and Systems based curriculum, which is similar to
Stanford and Harvard. We’re also known for true academic leadership. Our
Dean, Dean Joe Flarity, was the former Dean for the University of Illinois School
of Medicine. We are also known for our clinical affiliates. We are known for all
clinical all the time. You’re going to have clinical experiences during your basic
sciences.
5. What sets your curriculum apart from other Medical schools?
It’s the Organ and Systems based. The trend right now in the US is the Organ and
Systems based, and that is what we’ve gone to. All of your content will be put
together. So instead of immunology or pathology, you’re going to study the
digestive system, the renal system, and the nervous system. That’s how you’re
going to get your education. Because that’s how its taught and practiced. We’re
the only school in the Caribbean that does that.
We also have a center for teaching and learning which is a lot about cognitive
skill-based learning. The kinesthetic and phototactile learners really get down
into it to find out how you learn so you can maximize your classwork.
6. How would you describe the academic environment?
It’s community based. There are stories, more often than not, about people who
might have fallen behind in their small, problem-based learning group, and those
in their group help them get through. There is almost an attitude of “we’re in
this together”. Being down in Dominica facilitates community, because you’re
not flying home, and you’re not going home after classes. Down in Dominica,
you’re down there by yourself, so it encourages and motivates people to become
a part of the community.
7. How are students evaluated academically? How are clinical evaluations
performed?
It’s a grading system after the first semester. The first semester is pass/fail- it’s
anatomy- and it’s pass fail, and after that it’s a grading system.
8. How do clinical rotations work?
Your clinicals will be done in the US. For us, we have the shortest time outside
the US. Our clinical affiliate includes Atlanta Medical Center here in Georgia.
Clinical evaluations are going to be graded. There are preceptors at every one of
their locations, and they have coursework on top of their clinical sessions.
9. What are the current tuition and fees?
We’re actually pretty competitive when it comes to out of state public or a
private institution. We’re very competitive. We’re recognized by the
Department of Education which means students will typically fill out the FAFSA,
and they will find out how they’re eligible for loans and programs. We also have
multiple scholarship programs. We have our most up-to-date tuition costs and
fees up on our website.
10. Does your school provide housing?
We have on-campus housing. But also our “off-campus housing” is right across
the street and goes up into the hills. It’s very close.
11. What does a well-rounded student mean to you?
We have the whole holistic thing going. We are really looking at that. We’re
looking for people who have the passion and the drive. The interview is a really
important part of the application process. Candidates will interview with their
regional admissions representative. We’re looking for that special something,
and it’s hard to put a finger on it. It’s definitely someone who has the basic
foundation, but it’s not going to be based on a specific GPA or a specific MCAT.
It’s also a lot of personality, because we are going to provide the resources to
make you a great physician.
12. Is there any special advice you would give to someone applying to your school?
One, don’t rush. Don’t rush. Don’t rush. Take in every moment now. You have to
concentrate, because you have to be successful in the now to get to the place in
the future. I have students all the time that are trying to meet deadlines, and
they’re just not making them, because they’re concentrating too far out here,
and not performing well here. They’re just checking things off. “Oh, I took
Biology. I took Organic Chemistry.” But how did you do in the moment there?
How did you do in those courses? You want to be able to understand the
information. Revel in the moment. Revel in the classes. Learn it to observe it.
Learn it to be able to practice it.