<p>Hi, I'm a high school student here in the US (currently sophomore) and my parents and I were in talk about medical school ( I plan on becoming a doctor someday). They think it would be a good idea for me to go to Pakistani Aga khan university right after graduation and save on several years. Howver, I'm worried about whether or not it's accredited here in the US (as I would want to do my residency back here) and the rigor and the teaching and effectiveness. I do like that it would save me time and money but I don't want it to 'handicap' my oppertunities. Do you think it's a good idea? I'd actually like to hear from someone who possibly went out of country to do medical school and came back for residency. Is it more difficult to get a resicdency and job in the US if you go to a university like Aga khan or does it just depend on scores in the end?</p>
<p>Also, If I do plan to apply there, will I have to do IB first to be considered (because my school does offer the program and I would take it if it helped)? And scores on certain tests?</p>
<p>And how difficult are the entance exams (I know I have to take one for physics, biology, and chemistry) and getting in?</p>
<p>Please someone reply soon.</p>
<p>If you graduate from a medical school that is outside the US, you will be considered a foreign medical graduate.</p>
<p>FMGs cannot practice in the US until they have passed all US medical licensing requirements and complete a US medical residency.</p>
<p>The agency that handles that process is:</p>
<p>[ECFMG</a> | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates](<a href=“http://www.ecfmg.org/]ECFMG”>http://www.ecfmg.org/)</p>
<p>FMGs are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to residency placement. They match at a much lower rate than do graduates of US medical schools and tend to match into less competitive specialties.</p>
<p>See the 2011 data here:</p>
<p>[NRMP:</a> Data and Reports](<a href=“http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html]NRMP:”>http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html)</p>
<p>One additional thing to consider is that in the next 5 years there will be as many as 14 new US medical schools are opening. This means there will be even fewer slots for FMGs in residency programs. (US grad get first shot at the available openings before FMGs are considered.)</p>
<p>It is accredited, but it will be an enormous disadvantage. Some specialties will be all but closed to you, and even if you manage to get a residency in a less competitive specialty it will likely be in a less than ideal program. It used to be much easier for fmgs, but the number of us schools is increasing and the number of residency positions is not. Unless you have a significant interest in practicing in pakistan I would not do this.</p>
<p>If time is an issue consider a 6/7 year bs MD dual degree program.</p>
<p>It almost never works to try to game the system. Or else everyone would be doing it. Foreign med schools are shorter, cheaper, and easier to get into. We aren’t suckers for doing it the US way ;)</p>
<p>The data is provided by the NRMP. It is very difficult to come back to do your residency here after having attended a foreign med school. Foreign med schools generally do not teach towards the USMLE and often are not familiar with the USMLE (since each country has its own boards). Consequently, the pass rates for FMG are low (~60%). You must pass Step 1 and Step 2 in order to try to match. Of the ones who do enter the match, only around half match anywhere. The other half do not secure a residency position. Of the 50% who do get into residency, it is often in the “undesirable”/lower paying specialties. And even then, FMG’s are often relegated to low tier academic or community hospital residency programs. There are always isolated exceptions but, if you are going to go abroad for med school, you need to be prepared for the possibility of never returning.</p>