Hello! I want to study at UNIBE in Costa Rica. Does anyone know anything about it? I heard good feedback about that university, but I want further references??
For undergrad or for med school?
Are you a US citizen? Do you intend to practice medicine in the US once you graduate?
You should know:
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US medical schools will not accept transcripts from foreign colleges/institutions. US med schools require a minimum number of credits (usually 90) including all pre-req coursework to be completed at an accredited US or Canadian college or university if you want to be considered for admission.
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the odds of a graduate from a foreign medical school matching into a US residency program are extremely poor. All med school grads are required to complete a US medical residency before they can obtain a medical license in the US.
See: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Charting-Outcomes-in-the-Match-2018-IMGs.pdf
As of March 2017, UNIBE students are not eligible to receive US federal student loans to pay for their education there. The program was disqualified due to a very low pass rate on the USMLE exams.
ValueMed is a discussion forum for foreign medical schools. There is a sub-forum for UNIBE here: https://www.valuemd.com/unibe-dominican-medical-schools/
I think you’re talking about UNIBE in Dominican Republic. Already did some research on Federal Loans and in Costa Rica they are accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. I checked and I could find them with their ID. Still, I was wondering if someone had any experience in COSTA RICA, not Dominican Republic. But thank you for the info 
Points 1 and 2 still apply.
You’d still be a iMG and will have trouble matching into a US medical residency.
If you look at this document–[NRMP-ECFMG Charting Outcomes in the Match
International Medical Graduates–2014](https://www.ecfmg.org/resources/NRMP-ECFMG-Charting-Outcomes-in-the-Match-International-Medical-Graduates-2014.pdf)
This document lists the number of IMG s who applied from med schools in each country and how many matched.
Costa Rica is not mentioned anywhere in the document because fewer than 10 graduates of Costa Rican medical schools applied to practice in the US. There are >10 medical schools located in Costa Fica–which tells me that these schools lack experience in placing their grads into US rotations and residencies.
Are you planning on practicing medicine in Central America or in the US?
If the latter, going abroad for med school is an extremely poor idea.
I think you’re talking about UNIBE in Dominican Republic. Already did some research on Federal Loans and in Costa Rica they are accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. I checked and I could find them with their ID. Still, I was wondering if someone had any experience in COSTA RICA, not Dominican Republic. But thank you for the info
Thanks for the information. I think in the end it’s all a matter of hard work. I’ve met people who have gone to Caribbean Schools and they have matched in the residency program.
I have a good GPA and yet I can’t afford a medical school in the U.S. I’m not giving up on my dream. So, if it means going to another country to get my MD, then I will do it.
You can’t rule out the options that are provided, you just need to do further research about which school is best.
In the past Caribbean medical school were a viable option; however the medical education landscape has changed enormously in the past 10 year. Working hard simply is no longer enough to ensure a US residency match for a Caribbean med school grad.
The number of US medical grads is increasing every year with 3-6 new medical schools opening each year. Plus existing medical school have expanded their class sizes at the request of the AAMC. Also starting in 2020, the residency Match will be unified with both MD and DO students in a single Match.
The number of US medical residencies (which are funded by Medicare) has been capped since the mid-90s, but number of US medical grads keep increasing. The MD-DO merger has resulted in the closing of about half of current DO residency program because they cannot meet LCGME standards. Already fewer than 40% of Caribbean med students Match into ANY residency. It’s estimated that by the mid 2020s, there will be no excess residency slots available for IMGs.
Are you willing to take on $250K in loans and not be able to pay them off?
Please read this–[Why Your Waiter Has a MD](http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/16/why-your-waiter-has-an-m-d/)
No one can afford med school in the US. Almost all medical students take out federal student loans and Grad Plus loans to pay for their medical education. (Both of my daughters did…so did all their med school classmates.) As long as you are a US citizen or PR (and don’t have any student loans currently in default or felon drug arrests), you will qualify for these loans–which BTW are the exact same loans you’re thinking about taking out to attend a Caribbean med school. So don’t say you can’t afford to attend med school in the US…
Additionally, there are scholarship for service programs where your medical school (tuition plus a living expenses stipend) is paid for in return for working for 4 years as a physician in either the military services or a medically underserved area of the US.
HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) requires 4 years of military physician service payback in return for your med school being paid for 100%
https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education/hpsp.html
^^This is the Army’s version. The Navy & Air Force also offer the same program
NHSC (National Health Service Corps) requires 4 years of work as a primary care physician in a federally designated area of need in return for fully paid med school costs plus a yearly living expenses stipend. https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/index.htm
Besides the national programs, some individual states also have their own versions of the NHSC where your med school tuition (but usually not living expenses) is paid for in return for 4 years working as a physician in a medically underserved part of the state. Additionally, some states will repay your med school loans for you if you work as a primary care physician in a medically underserved site within that state. (Google state + medical loan repayment to see which state offer this program)
Thread specifically about UNIBE in Costa Rica-
https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/threads/is-unibe-a-good-school-of-medicine.1123098/#post-16248044
Includes posts from a current student
This student is also talking about Dominican Republic. I already talked to him, but thanks 
and actually in Costa Rica the tuition is $76000 for four years and a half… It’s way cheaper than in the U.S., that’s for sure. So, with all due respect, don’t tell me “So don’t say you can’t afford to attend med school in the US…”.
And yes, there are many options to pay for my studies, but being in the army or the Navy is just not an option for me. All those programs offer solutions in exchange of something, and sometimes that’s just not viable.
But thanks anyway for all the info! I appreciate it! Take care!
If you live in the right state, med school tuition can be as low as $14K/year. That’s less than UNIBE.
Consider relocating to TX, NM, NV, or WV. Public med school tuition in all those states is less than $18K/year. TX has TEN public MD programs, plus 1 public DO program. In addition, Baylor offers reduced tuition to in-state residents. WV has 2 public med schools–1 MD and 1 DO.
NYU SOM gives free tuition to every student they accept. University of Houston’s new med school will have free tuition when it opens in in 2020.
Still not an option, but thanks! I appreciate it!
You are the only one who can decide your destination. But as an older man I want let you know that in life, money is not the only criteria for everything. Many, if not all med students borrowed money to be educated and your future is all in your hand.
Indeed! Thanks for the advice.