Windsor University School of Medicine Verified TRUSTED Business REVIEW: Windsor University School of Medicine is undergoing Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions. CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programmes of medical and other health professions education. The accreditation process assures that medical, and other health professions schools meet standards of structure, function, and performance and assures society and the health professions that graduates of accredited schools meet the education requirements for further training and the health care needs of the general public.
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STATEMENT FROM WINDSOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE:
1. I did not work for almost four years - $50,000.00x4 is $200,000.00 Our students who come to our institution do not have time to work. Having said that, students who travel overseas normally do not have a work permit to work in the country of study. Also, if a student does not work while studying, the onus is not on the institution to pay for the time loss by the student.
2. I paid WUSOM close to $70,000.00 for tuition, hidden fees, re-take exams, traveling etc. The total amount Ms Sexton has paid to date to Windsor is $36,670.00 this consists to $23,960.00 in tuition; $8,220.00 in extra housing above the allocated $1000 per semester housing included in our then fee structure applicable to all students and $ 900.00 in retake exam fees paid towards failed subjects and $ 590.00 towards registration. Since Windsor is based in St Kitts it is reasonable to assume one has to travel to St Kitts and we do believe it is justifiable for Ms Sexton to claim travel expenses
3. For the hotel, I stayed in - another close to $12,000.00 This is pertaining to housing which has been addressed in 2nd point.
4. Spent about $4,000.00 for taking the Board- STEP 1 USMLE Ms Sexton was sponsored once to take the USMLE Step 1 exam which to date we do not believe she has attempted the exam. There is a registration fee of $800.00 which is applicable to each and every student charged by and payable to ECFMG the governing body that conducts the exam and certifies students. Windsor does not charge that fee and is not responsible for her claim of $4000
5. Spent another $6,000.00 for FALCON physicians review All students, whether US or International medical graduates take review courses on their own. No institution is responsible for the finances of these review courses.
6. I have used all my saved money from 401K ......every little penny, which by now would of been significant amount of money.
If you were to do the math of the account that the student has given (not that we are saying this is correct), you will quickly realize that there is a discrepancy that the amount is being claimed
7. Spent over $43,000.00 during my undergrad education. Now I have to pay back $ 458.00 per month to re-pay student loan (which is an enormous financial burden for my family.
The student undergraduate studies were not conducted at Windsor University School of Medicine, therefore WUSOM cannot be held responsible for those.
8. I have "lost" career growth for all these years, promotions, raises etc........literally waste of time.
There are students who finish all the studies but are not able to get position as desired. The onus is not on the institution to find the job for a student. We also need to keep in mind, that this particular student have not even finished the program and graduated.
NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED
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More about corruption at Windsor University School of Medicine, St Kitts WI
Everyone’s dream is to be a professional: a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant.
With a dream to become a doctor, I went back to school in my late 40s, finished my prerequisites and in 2009 applied to Windsor Medical School in St. Kitts, WI and was accepted.
The initial excitement disappeared fast, almost as soon as we (I took my 9 year at the time son with me) arrived at Bradshaw Airport in Basseterre. The buses promised to pick up and take us to the places to live were not there. There was only chaos, disorganization and confused people.
Finally after being in the heat for three-four hours a bus arrived. A lot of future students were driven for hours around the island like cattle. At 9-10 pm after complete exhaustion, my son and I were dropped off at some apartment complex near Royal St. Kitts and Marriot. We did not know where we were, where the school is or anything else. The place was disgustingly dirty. There no sheets on the bed, the pillows had stains, there was no toilet paper We had to use our towels to be able to sleep on the beds. Our understanding was that on the next day someone will pick us up and take us to Windsor for early registration. It did not happen. I did use my computer to e mail someone from the school, but no one answered me. Both my son and I were so afraid. In the early afternoon, without food, without knowing anything or anyone, we walked to the nearest taxi station and were taken to Windsor. I went straight to the administrator Ramesh Mulkanoor. Very upset and with tears in my eyes, I told him we need a decent place to live. He acted like he is doing me a favor and with a few telephone calls arranged our relocation to Bird Rock Beach Hotel.
I naïvely thought that the saga is over, but alas …….this was just the beginning.
First, the housing was not free, as promised before we went to the island. According to my statement, I was charged by the hotel and also some surcharges from the School ($500.00 USD per month, plus some fabricated housing application fee of $100.00 etc). Time this two years.You do the math….and this is just for housing.
It was very hard to study at the hotel. Internet was constantly malfunctioning, during the weekends there were loud church services and the next day we had exams. But again, the owner of the hotel, Mr. Richards, was a local lawyer and he was getting his “piece of the pie”. The hotel was very shabby and run down, so they have to compensate with money from the American and Canadian Windsor students.
The” free” c afeteria food on campus consisted every single day of curry rice or lentils and Johnny cakes(local “specialty”), but the lines were always so long, you could never get it.
And the academics…..oh, the academics.
According to Dr. Gaddam, the founder and president, in the fall of 2009, there was the greatest number of enrollment. Even the biggest lecture hall could not accommodate all the students. Some had to stand up. The professors were rude and with condescending attitude towards the students. I remember once during neuro-anatomy lecture, Dr. Sunderash, was “cursing” us never to become doctors.
Just before our first final exam during the first semester, one of our classmate was robbed at a gun point. Nobody investigated or did anything about it. Again, the hash, hash is needed because the island needs the students money. Police did not even care if someone gets killed.
Before going to St. Kitts, I read about the island’s crime- very low, they say. This is a lie, complete lie. To attract more students and tourists, the government falsifies data and statistics. Indeed, Basseterre is the murder capital of the world.
The previous prime minister of St. Kitts, Denzil Douglass was a very good friend to Dr. Gaddam. The prime minister was at the opening ceremony of the newest facility at Windsor. Most likely you can guess why. The students are great economical boost on the island, known only with tourism and a lot of poverty.
But let’s continue with the exams.
First semester almost everyone passes all the classes and the exams…..until they “hook” you up. The grades are always 60(I will elaborate later), which in US is not a passing score, but in Windsor it is.
Any subsequent semester, you fail one or two classes, than three and so on. The first retake is $100.00, the second $250.00 …and the” price” is going up and up. By this time you are so involved and have spent so much money, that you want to go on and finish.
The examinations are copied from previous years and the material taught is irrelevant with the exam questions. Now, thinking back, I am certain not only nobody cared, but most likely it is done intentionally. Yes, more retakes equates more money.
Some Healthcare professionals had the right to enroll in a HCP program. Of course, as anything in Windsor, this came with a price- $1000.00 USD more per semester. This allowed us not to go to one of the US sites for the fifth semester. The right to study at home come with the price, of course.
Wouldn’t you love to make money just like that!?
We never had pathology or microbiology labs. Once, I remember some officials from the Caribbean were visiting. There was such a huge “frenzy” to set up a lab and find everyone a white lab coat to wear.
Dissection lab we had twice and both times the professor was dissecting, not students because we only had one cadaver.
Knowing that my academic preparation is poor, I spent additional $6,000.00 for two months FALCON review in Dallas as preparation for STEP1-first part of the Medical Board ( this by the way is another scam-people from FALCON come to the island and enroll almost everyone).
I purchased and did Q banks after Q banks, I studied 12-14 hours a day, but alas.
Unfortunately after five unsuccessful attempts and another $4,250.00 for the Board, I gave up trying.
If this is only me or my personal failure, I would accept it. But it is not.
Very few of my classmates passed STEP1. As a matter of fact, nobody that I know pass.
I have made numerous of requests for my transcripts, but was told by the office, that because of “break of education”(whatever that means), I need to pay money(a few thousands to get my transcripts that I already paid for???!!!!). And remember, I mentioned that the passing grades is 60. So it would not be passing in US anyhow. Again, everything is meticulously calculated against you. Scam and shame on you, Windsor.
Here is in synopsis what Windsor did to me and my family:
Used all mine and my family 401K and savings to pay for education that is not worth anything and there are no results
Used my time and effort
Deprived my family and myself of good future
Drained my account and caused a lot of hardships for me, my husband and our son
Now I have to pay $458.00 per month for my undergrad student loan(which is over $43,000.00 USD)
On July 3rd of 2014 there was an announcement from Windsor that the owner/president- Dr. Gaddam has passed away at the age of 52. Honestly I doubt that. Because of all the corruption and money laundry and the investigation associated with it, he probably staged his death and is somewhere in Monte Carlo enjoying a good retirement.
So, if you dream of becoming a doctor, find an alternative way- not Windsor.
Spare yourself or your parent’s aggravation, money, danger, time and effort. Do not pay for mediocre education.
Windsor is not a medical school, it is a business. It is a money making machine and you have small if any benefits from it.