Caldwell Alum Gives International Students Advice on Getting Into Medical School
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Valbona Caco Kanarek is on her way to becoming an anesthesiologist. The 2003 Caldwell College alum, with a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry, is currently doing her internship year at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark in internal medicine.
Kanarek, who was born and raised in Albania, visited Caldwell on October 3 to speak with international Biology and Chemistry students about the steps to take when applying to medical schools.
She was invited to campus by one of her former professors, Dr. Sook Choi, The Calman Professor of Biology and The Chief Health Professions Advisor.
Since it is difficult for international students to get into a medical school in the United States, Kanarek said students should consider “other options”. One possibility that she is particularly fond of promoting is St. George’s University Medical School in Grenada, where she graduated in 2007 with the Medical Doctor degree. She pointed out that Caldwell College currently has a partnership with St. George’s University Medical and Veterinary School. The affiliation gives students an opportunity to receive their degrees in medicine or veterinary medicine in seven years, rather than the usual eight. The program was not in place when Kanarek attended, but now that it is, there is even more of an incentive for Caldwell College students to consider it. “St. George’s is a very competitive, strong, international school,” said Kanarek. Grenada, located in the Caribbean, is a “quiet, peaceful, beautiful place” with “nice people.” Plus, it didn’t hurt that she had a “huge room at the side of the sea”. It was a “very quick two years” and “your vocabulary will blossom,” said Kanarek. And, they have clinical rotations with U.S. based hospitals for the remaining two years of medical school.
Since there is stiff competition in getting into a good medical school, Kanarek stressed the importance of taking prep courses for the MCAT and she said it is important to focus on the essay portion of the test. Kanarek said she was fortunate, because even though she did not excel on the English portion of the test, she did do very well in the Science and Math portions, and St. George’s was willing to average everything together. She said letters of reference are very important in the application process. And she told students that volunteer work at a hospital or with a private physician also looks good. “It shows you are willing to give something of yourself.” She said international students need a U.S. citizen or a US Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) with good credit to co-sign with them for private loans. That U.S. citizen or US Permanent Resident also needs to have a job and she said, “the debt becomes theirs and yours.” She said St. George’s provides many scholarships and she advised the students to “look to your home government for support”.
Kanarek said that once a student starts classes the “work load is greater,” but “it is do-able”. She said “Reading is constant and it will be for 10 years, even as a doctor”.
She was amazed at how much of Caldwell College she took with her to St. George’s. “Caldwell College not only gave me the foundation, but also the guidance and support.” And she told the students, “It will give you some strengths when you leave this campus.”
There are different types of medical schools to consider—M.D. Medical Doctor), D.O (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), Podiatry and Chiropractic Medicine, said Kanarek.
Recently named “Resident of the Month” at St. Michael’s, she will be there until 2008 and then it is on to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson for the next 3 years to finish training in anesthesiology.
Oh sure, years of schooling are a lot of sacrifice. Kanarek can not sugar-coat that, but as she told the Caldwell students, “I encourage you. It seems hard, but it is do-able. It is hard.” And, “If I could, I would do it again.”