Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience living on an island while attending medical school. Every country, island, medical school, and student experience is different. This is not meant to discourage anyone from attending a Caribbean or international medical school. Wherever you are accepted may be the opportunity that allows you to pursue your dream of becoming a doctor. Pray about your decision, do your research, and choose the path that is right for you.
However, getting into medical school is only one part of the decision. You also have to consider the life you will have to live while becoming a doctor.
I Always Wanted to Study Abroad — Until Studying Abroad Became My Life
The funny thing is, I wanted to leave the United States years before I actually did.
I made five-, ten-, and fifteen-year plans, and studying abroad was part of the vision. While earning my master’s degree, I thought God might open the door for me to spend a semester in Costa Rica. Then the pandemic happened, and instead of leaving the country, I packed everything and moved back home.
Looking back, I can see how that delay worked in my favor. If I had experienced living abroad earlier, I may have approached medical school differently. But by the time the opportunity came, I had already gone through enough in my journey to understand that opportunities do not always come when — or how — we expect them to.
So when I was accepted to medical school outside of the United States, I went. My ultimate goal was not to live on an island. My goal was to become a doctor.
I did not want to take the MCAT over and over again. I did not want to continue being told to earn another degree while trying to make myself more competitive for a U.S. medical school. I was exhausted by the process. This was the door that opened for me.
I also know that I would not have made it there without God. I was accepted with only two weeks to get to the island, and I had no idea how I was going to fund it. I put up a Facebook post explaining my situation, and people gave. I was able to raise approximately $5,000 in that two-week window, which is what made it possible for me to actually get there. I had prayed about where else I should apply, and I learned about Caribbean medical schools after coming across information in a premedical Facebook group.
For me, faith was a major part of getting there. But faith did not mean that the transition would be easy.
Vacationing on an Island Is Not the Same as Living on One
When most people hear “the Caribbean,” they think of vacation. Beautiful beaches. Warm weather. Resorts. Excursions. Local food. Relaxation.
But vacationing somewhere and living there as a medical student are two completely different experiences. When you go on vacation, you have usually prepared yourself to experience something different. You research restaurants, activities, excursions, and places you want to visit. You arrive expecting an adventure.
When you move somewhere, you have to build a life there.
- You need groceries.
- You need transportation.
- You may need healthcare.
- You need access to your money.
- You need a place to live.
- You need a way to receive packages and replace everyday items.
- You may need to get home quickly during an emergency.
And as a medical student, you are not spending every day on the beach. You are studying, attending class, preparing for exams, and trying to survive one of the most demanding educational experiences of your life.
That is why I believe students considering an international medical school should evaluate more than the school itself. You also need to evaluate the life surrounding the school.
1. Culture Shock Is Real
Before medical school, I never thought deeply about how much my environment affected me.
I had lived in the United States all my life. I was accustomed to having a car, driving where I wanted, eating at my favorite restaurants, shopping at familiar stores, ordering something online and receiving it quickly, and having access to doctors and medical services close to home. I did not realize how much I depended on those conveniences until I no longer had them.
Moving to another country meant adjusting to medical school and adjusting to an entirely different way of living at the same time. That can be a lot.
Medical school already requires you to adapt to an enormous amount of information, long study hours, exams, and academic pressure. Adding culture shock, homesickness, transportation challenges, financial stress, and limited access to familiar resources can make the adjustment even harder.
A beautiful environment does not automatically mean it will be the best environment for you.
Before choosing a school, ask yourself:
- What kind of environment helps me function at my best?
- How will I get around?
- What healthcare is available?
- How expensive is it to fly home?
- What does housing cost?
- How expensive are groceries?
- How will I receive packages?
- What activities are available outside of school?
- How long will I be required to live there?
- What happens if I experience a medical or family emergency?
These questions may seem small when you are focused on getting an acceptance letter. They do not feel small once you are living there.
2. You May Miss Conveniences You Never Realized You Needed
There were things I never knew I needed until I was without them.
A mall. Target. Walmart. My favorite restaurants. My favorite Starbucks drink. Chick-fil-A. The ability to get in my car and go somewhere whenever I wanted.
Now, before you laugh at me, hear me out. Sometimes it is not really about Target or Chick-fil-A. It is about what those things represent: familiarity, routine, comfort, and access.
When almost everything in your life changes at once, even the smallest familiar thing can feel significant.
There were times when I missed certain foods so much that I started learning how to make them myself. I made Starbucks-inspired drinks. I made copycat Chick-fil-A sandwiches. I cooked meals I missed from home. I basically became a chef because if I wanted it badly enough, I had to figure out how to make it myself.
Living abroad will teach you how resourceful you can be. But it can also show you how much a sudden loss of familiarity affects you mentally and emotionally.
3. The Cost of Living Can Be Higher Than You Expect
Before moving, research the actual cost of living, not simply the tuition. Depending on the country, school, and lifestyle, expenses may include:
- Housing and utilities
- Groceries
- Transportation
- Flights
- Shipping and customs fees
- Phone service and international communication
- Healthcare expenses
- School supplies
- Emergency travel
- Restocking items from home
Housing can vary significantly depending on whether you live alone, have roommates, live near campus, or need to pay utilities separately. Groceries can also become expensive, especially when imported products cost more than they would in the United States.
Then there is transportation. If you do not have a car, you may depend on taxis, buses, walking, or other transportation options. A small transportation expense does not seem like much until you are paying it repeatedly.
For someone accustomed to having a car and being highly independent, that adjustment can be frustrating.
4. Getting Home May Be Expensive and Time-Consuming
One of the biggest adjustments for me was realizing that I could not simply go home whenever I wanted.
Depending on where you live in the United States and where you attend school, getting home may require multiple flights, a full day of travel, and a significant amount of money. For me, a trip home could cost hundreds — or even more than a thousand dollars — depending on when I traveled.
That changes how you experience breaks. A short break is not necessarily a relaxing vacation when part of it is spent traveling, recovering from travel, trying to see everyone you love, and preparing to leave again.
Students who live closer to their school may have a completely different experience from students who live thousands of miles away.
Before choosing a school, look at actual flight routes and prices. Ask yourself: if I needed to get home tomorrow, could I?
5. Shipping Is Not the Same as Ordering Something Back Home
If you are accustomed to ordering something and seeing it at your door a day or two later, prepare for a possible adjustment. Depending on where you live, receiving items may involve:
- International shipping fees
- Longer delivery times
- Customs fees
- Additional transportation to retrieve packages
Something inexpensive can suddenly become much more expensive by the time it reaches you.
That is why I eventually began stocking up when I returned to the United States. I would bring multiple suitcases and purchase supplies that were cheaper or easier to find at home.
You learn very quickly that “I’ll just order it” may not be the simple solution it once was.
6. Even Food Storage Can Be Different
Humidity was another adjustment.
Back home, I could leave certain foods on the counter without expecting to see mold shortly afterward. In a humid environment — especially in a space without great ventilation — I learned that food storage required more attention.
That may sound minor, but living somewhere new involves learning dozens of small things that locals may already understand. You are not simply moving. You are learning an entirely new way to live.
7. Healthcare Access Matters
Before moving to another country, research the healthcare system available to you. Some questions to consider include:
- Where would I go for routine medical care?
- What would I pay out of pocket?
- What does my student health insurance actually cover?
- Does my U.S. insurance work internationally?
- What happens if I need a specialist?
- What happens during a serious medical emergency?
- Would I ever need to travel elsewhere for care?
- Can I afford an emergency flight home if necessary?
My experience made me realize how much I had taken easy access to healthcare for granted. Depending on your location and insurance, you may find yourself paying out of pocket, waiting until you return home for certain appointments, or traveling with medications and supplies you might need.
This is not something to figure out for the first time during an emergency. Research it before you move.
8. You Need a Financial Plan Beyond Tuition
One of the greatest lessons I learned is that you need money to live as a student in another country.
Financial aid may cover your education, but that does not automatically mean every expense in your life will be covered. You may still have:
- Bills in the United States
- Housing expenses abroad
- Transportation costs
- Groceries
- Flights
- Emergency expenses
- Credit card payments
- Shipping expenses
- Healthcare costs
Your school’s estimated cost of attendance may not perfectly reflect your actual lifestyle or financial obligations. That is why budgeting matters. Credit also matters. Banking matters. Emergency savings matter. Even the type of credit card you use can matter, because some cards charge foreign transaction fees.
Before moving internationally, consider researching:
- A credit card without foreign transaction fees
- International banking access
- ATM and withdrawal fees
- How financial aid refunds are distributed
- Emergency savings
- Your existing monthly obligations
- How much cash you realistically need between disbursements
Medical school is already stressful. Financial instability can make it significantly harder.
9. Losing Independence Can Affect You More Than You Expect
This was one of the hardest adjustments for me.
In the United States, I had a car. If I wanted to go to the gym, I went. If I wanted food, I drove to get it. If I needed something from the store, I got in my car.
When I moved, my ability to move around freely changed. Suddenly, I had to consider whether a taxi was available, how much it would cost, whether I could walk somewhere, or whether going somewhere was worth the effort.
Eventually, I stopped trying to go as many places. My world became smaller.
For someone who values independence, that can affect your mental health more than you might anticipate. This is why transportation should be part of your school decision. Do not simply ask, “How will I get to class?” Ask, “How will I live my life?”
10. Homesickness Can Affect Your Mental Health
Not every decline in a medical student’s mental health is caused by grades. Sometimes you simply miss home.
You miss your family. You miss your routines. You miss your favorite places. You miss being able to get in your car. You miss familiar food. You miss seasons. You miss holidays feeling like holidays. You miss being able to see the people you love without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to get there.
For me, it was a culmination of factors. Medical school was difficult, but being far away from home added another layer.
Some students may adapt quickly and absolutely love island life. Others may struggle. Neither experience should be assumed. The important thing is to understand yourself before you move and build support once you arrive.
11. Holidays and Seasons May Feel Different
If you love seasons, moving somewhere that feels like summer throughout most or all of the year may be an adjustment.
While my family was experiencing changing seasons back home, I was living in a completely different climate. Christmas felt different. Thanksgiving felt different. Even the passing of time felt different.
Your school’s academic calendar may also differ from what you are accustomed to. Depending on the institution and country, U.S. holidays may not be observed in the way you expect.
Review the academic calendar before enrolling. Find out:
- How long are the semesters?
- How long are the breaks?
- Which holidays are observed?
- How often can I realistically travel home?
The answers may matter more to you than you think.
12. Your Academic Schedule Can Affect Other Opportunities
Medical school does not exist in a bubble. You may want to attend conferences, participate in professional organizations, shadow physicians, network, or attend events in the United States.
Depending on your school’s schedule, attendance policies, location, and the cost of travel, participating in those opportunities may be more difficult. A conference that requires a short domestic flight for one student may require international travel, additional lodging, and significantly more money for another.
Before choosing a school, consider the professional opportunities you hope to pursue outside of the classroom. Then ask how realistic it will be to access them.
13. Research Accreditation and Residency Outcomes Carefully
If you are considering an international medical school, do your research.
Accreditation, eligibility requirements, licensing pathways, financial aid options, and residency outcomes are important factors and can change over time. Do not rely solely on social media, one student’s experience, or a school’s marketing materials.
Research the current requirements that apply to:
- The school
- The country where the school is located
- The states where you may eventually want to practice
- Your intended residency pathway
- Current licensing and certification requirements
Look at the school’s outcomes and ask questions. At the same time, do not allow fear to consume you. Research gives you information. Faith helps you move forward once you have done what you can.
Questions I Wish More Students Asked Before Moving Abroad for Medical School
Before choosing a school, I would ask:
- How long will I have to live outside of the United States?
- What is the true cost of housing?
- What is the true cost of groceries?
- How will I get around without a car?
- How much do taxis or other transportation options cost?
- How expensive are flights home?
- How long does it take to get home?
- What happens if I have a family emergency?
- What healthcare is available locally?
- What does the student insurance actually cover?
- What happens if I need specialized medical care?
- How does shipping work?
- Are there customs fees?
- How long are semester breaks?
- Which holidays does the school observe?
- Can I attend conferences or professional events?
- What are the school’s attendance requirements?
- What financial aid options are available?
- What emergency savings should I have?
- What are the school’s current accreditation and residency outcomes?
- Most importantly: can I realistically see myself living this life while also trying to succeed in medical school?
So, Why Did I Go?
You may be asking: if living on an island was so difficult for you, why did you go?
Because that is where I was accepted. And for me, the bigger goal was becoming a doctor.
I had already spent years navigating the premedical process. I did not want to keep taking the MCAT indefinitely. I did not want to keep adding degrees to prove that I was capable of pursuing medicine. An opportunity opened, and I took it.
That does not mean every part of the experience was easy. It does not mean I loved everything about living abroad. It means I understood that sometimes the path to where you are called to go does not look the way you imagined it would.
I needed faith for this journey. Applying was one thing. Getting accepted was another. Finding the money to go was another. Actually moving to another country was another. And then I had to learn how to live there.
I believe God directed my steps, but I also learned that being called somewhere does not mean you will never struggle there. Sometimes you can be exactly where you are supposed to be and still have to learn how to adapt.
Would I Make the Same Decision Again?
Do I regret attending medical school on an island? I cannot give that question a simple yes or no.
My primary goal was never to live on an island. My goal was to become a doctor. I chose the route that gave me the opportunity to pursue that dream. That route came with experiences I did not anticipate, sacrifices I did not fully understand beforehand, and lessons I could not have learned from a brochure.
But everyone will have a different experience. You may move to an island and absolutely love it. You may adapt faster than I did. You may live closer to home. You may have more financial resources. You may enjoy a slower lifestyle. You may discover that island life is exactly what you needed.
My experience does not have to become your experience. But I do want you to make an informed decision. Do not only research how to get into medical school. Research the life you will have to live once you get there.
If you choose to go, make your new environment feel as much like home as possible. Build community. Create routines. Learn the culture. Prepare financially. Research healthcare. Find ways to maintain your mental health. Bring pieces of home with you. And remember why you went.
Sometimes, you have to keep the main thing the main thing. For me, the main thing was becoming a doctor. And while the journey looked nothing like I expected, I learned that getting the opportunity you prayed for and learning how to live with the reality of that opportunity can be two very different things.