Why Start Medical School (MD) in January?

Trade your winter coat for a white coat and pursue your passion in Barbados. Your dream of becoming a doctor could be closer than you think.

student receiving white coat

Start Practicing in 2030

Missed your fall application deadlines? Don’t wait 8 more months to start your medical degree journey. Start your MD program in January 2026 and you could meet the requirements for Match Day by March 2030. Be residency-ready (and start practicing!) as early as summer 2030. Waiting until the fall pushes your residency start to 2031.

Advantages to Starting in January

Beat the competition: Apply for admission in January and increase your chances of securing a spot in medical school, as September is typically the most competitive time to apply. Just imagine, by February, you could be in the community, working alongside physicians to care for patients.

Extra Time for Exams

A January start gives you a unique advantage. Students who begin in January and stay on track with the program have more time and flexibility to prepare for the USMLE® 2 CK exams. You may also have extra time to schedule clinical electives and participate in extracurricular activities. 

Prep for Residency

Begin in January to focus on residency interviews without the stress of academic obligations. Starting then may allow you to finish your elective rotations just after NRMP® registration opens, giving you the opportunity to dedicate time and energy to preparing for your interviews. 

When Do You Want to Start?
2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Spring Summer Fall Spring Summer Fall Spring Summer Fall Spring Summer Fall Spring March Summer May July 1
START RESIDENCY
Medical Sciences
January Start
5 Semesters Completed in Barbados

Prep for USMLE® Step 1

Clinical Sciences
Core Rotations*

8 Months Until Residency

Elective Rotations**
Medical Sciences
May Start
5 Semesters Completed in Barbados

Prep for USMLE® Step 1

Clinical Sciences
Core Rotations*

2 Months Until Residency

Elective Rotations**
Medical Sciences
September Start
5 Semesters Completed in Barbados

Prep for USMLE® Step 1

Clinical Sciences
Core Rotations*

Residency after Graduation

Elective Rotations**
Leave Barbados
Match Day
Graduation
January Program Highlights
  • Start sooner, practice sooner: Get an 8-month head start over students who wait to begin in the following fall. This translates to becoming a licensed physician and starting your career sooner.1
  • Head start on residency prep: Students who start in January and proceed through the program on schedule have more flexibility and time to study for the USMLE® 2 CK exams. You may also have more time to schedule clinical electives and take part in extracurricular activities.
  • Prepare for residency interviews without added academic distractions.  A January start could put you in a position to end your elective rotations shortly after NRMP® registration opens2—giving you the space and time to focus on acing your residency interviews. 

1Students must successfully pass all courses prescribed in the Ross Med preclinical and clinical curriculum without failing or repeating any courses.

2 Actual curriculum timeline, including core and elective rotation completion, may vary.

May Program Highlights
  • Accelerate your medical career: Start med school immediately after completing your undergrad. With a May start date, you can skip the traditional waiting period .
  • Beat the competition: Apply for admission in May and increase your chances of securing a spot in medical school, as September is typically the most competitive time to apply.  
  • Increased flexibility for certain exams and electives: May starters might have more flexibility in scheduling Step 2 of the USMLE® as there may be less competition for testing slots during the summer months. Additionally, some clinical rotations have summer intake dates, making scheduling potentially smoother for May starters.  
September Program Highlights

Begin your medical journey with a fresh perspective. Our September start date gives you the time during the summer to relax, rejuvenate, and prepare for the rigorous demands of medical school.

  • Benefit from a structured and predictable academic calendar that is similar to the traditional medical school timeline.
  • Increase your student network from the start. September typically our largest incoming class size of the three start terms. Connect with like-minded students from around the world, fostering lifelong friendships and expanding your global perspective.
Please note: The above example is for sample purposes only. Actual curriculum timeline, including core and elective rotation completion, will vary.
*All students must complete 48 weeks of core rotations. Each core rotation is either 6 or 12 weeks in length.
**All students participate in 42 weeks of elective clerkships. Each elective rotation is between 4 - 8 weeks in length.

How to Apply

Complete your Ross Med Application OR upload your AMCAS®/AACOMAS®/TMDSAS/OMSAS application. You can return at any time to edit and review your application, however changing application types will require starting a new application. You can track your application and status within the My Ross Med Community Portal. 

We review applications year-round, so start your application today.

Why Ross Med?
 


Accredited

Ross Med is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP, www.caam-hp.org).


Scholarships Available

More than $140 million (USD) in scholarships and grants have been awarded to students since 2020. Let us invest in you.


Find Purpose in Paradise

Complete your first two years on our Barbados campus before returning to the U.S. for your clinical rotations within our network of 29 affiliate hospitals.