<p>I notice the admission standards are lower in the PR than in the US. </p>
<p>Is there any quality of education from those schools in PR? Will the graduates less qualified? How do they compared to the Carribean 3?</p>
<p>The 4 allopathic (MD) medical school in Puerto Rico are fully accredited by the LCME (the same accrediting body that examines and accredits all US allopathic medical schools). This means the education there is equivalent to the medical education offered in mainland US med schools. </p>
<p>Medical education is very standardized with very little difference in content from school to school. Only the instructional methods/delivery is different. All students must take (and pass) the same national standardized licensing exams (USMLEs). </p>
<p>Graduates of Puerto Rican med schools pass the USMLE on their first attempt at a rate approx. the same as mainland med students. (In fact, Puerto Rican students pass at a rate higher than DO students do.) </p>
<p>I believe the primary reasons why the admissions standards appear to be lower is twofold. First, there is a very strong admission bias towards individuals who are Puerto Rico residents or of Puerto Rican heritage. Secondly, at all 4 schools, students must be fully bilingual since some/most of the instruction is done in Spanish and students will be working with Spanish-speaking patients. Both of those requirements limit the number of eligible students who can apply to the Puerto Rican med schools. </p>
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<p>Since none of the Caribbean schools are LCME accredited, the advantage goes to all of the Puerto Rican schools. USMLE pass rates at the Caribbean schools range from very good to abysmal, depending on the school. The Caribbean schools with best pass rates severely restrict which students they allow to sit for the licensing exams. Fail out rates are very high. </p>
<p>Sorry to hear the language requirements for PR med schools. My DD is fluent in French, unfortunately. :(( </p>