<p>I'm an Indian student (class of '10) currently living and studying in one of the toughest (study pressure and grading-wise) in Dubai. </p>
<p>I am extremely keen on studying Medicine in the US, but have been told by many people (mainly those in the year above me - ie. the class of '09) that it is beyond difficult to get accepted into the MD Program after Pre-med for American citizens, let alone international students.</p>
<p>However, I have recently discovered that a large number of universities offer BS/MD and/or BA/MD accelerated programs for Medicine. Looks good to me, but is there a possibility I could be accepted into top-notch programs such as those at UCLA/Baylor-Rice/Northwestern? And, can I apply early decision to any BS/MD or BA/MD programs?</p>
<p>PS.
My creds are as follows:</p>
<p>SAT I - 2370 (have as yet to do SAT IIs and APs - AP English tmo!) and will have completed eight O Levels and three AS Levels this year</p>
<p>Grades - The equivalent to A+s in everything except in an advanced, self-study A Level Bio Course (Grade: B) (+ can speak French fluently)</p>
<p>Extra-curricular activities - In-school sports (been on the swim team for the past seven years), Public Speaking (secretary of a Toastmasters-affiliated club; have won a couple of awards), work in a high-up position in the student gov't, am doing volunteer work for a children's drama course (coming on one year now), a library and have volunteered at a centre for disabled children in the past.</p>
<p>In-clinic exposure - Spent about a week and a half shadowing doctors at a top-class hospital in India</p>
<p>Kilachand, even I wanted to opt for the same pursuits that you are choosing but after a few research and reccomendations from others I too found out that its really onerous for an international to get in to a med school. Plus, chances that you get scholarships are very slim.(You can ask for the figures if you have a USEF in Dubai). You either have to have a greencard. </p>
<p>I thus changed my path and am aiming for chemical engineering (coz it squares with my interests).</p>
<p>However, if you are hellbent into getting a medicine degree, I feel you should finish all your bachelors and masters in your home country or any other(xcpt US) and try for your specialization there.
Also, what may students do is that they apply under medicine school of universities like Cornell University,U.S.A branch in Qatar. You get scholarships there, but competition is tough (with scores 2370 you can easily get in), and get an American degree. I guess, they also have placement services back to USA for top-notch students thereafter. Google whatever I told you and find out more.</p>
<p>And hey I am really impressed by your SAT score. My friend would you bother to give me some tips and reccomendations for my SAT preparation for October… Thanks in advance…</p>
<p>Um, lol. Practice, practice, practice? Study the vocab lists (Princeton if you’re rushed, Barron’s if you’ve got time - which you seem to). Do as many practice tests as you can (give priority to the Princeton SAT Book, but Barron’s and Kaplan’s are good too), and focus on the sections on which you score the most poorly (essay-writing not excluded). It’ll get you conditioned to responding to the types of questions they ask. Also, read over the question explanations (for all the qs) at the end of each test and revise most, if not all, of the questions you answered incorrectly the day before the exam.</p>
<p>And, chill once you’re in the examination room. It all depends on how well you take the actual test. Pray that it all comes together and you do the best you possibly can. :)</p>
<p>Well you can always do pre-med along with bio tech…pre med isn’t a major, its just a track, in most cases. For admission purposes to undergrad, you can totally not mention pre med on your application!</p>
<p>You would definitely be accepted into one of the many BA/MD programs offered in the U.S., and since you seem confident you want to be trained as a physician, I think this would be a great route for you. (There are many discussions of these programs on collegeconfidential.com)</p>
<p>Hm. So, might I have a shot (how small is inconsequential, :P) at the top BS/MD programs, such as those in UCLA or Northwestern with my stats? (Also editor in chief of the school newsletter, if that counts for anything! xP)</p>
<p>Sorry if I keep rambling on - I’m completely lost. -.-</p>
<p>And are the programs in UCLA/UCSD/Baylor-Rice/NW/Brown necessarily the best?</p>
<p>Just chiming in on the financial front. As you should be aware, med school fees are high and no aid is available for internationals. Hence, you would need to have the full amount of fees in cash, to be put in escrow, as required by the medical schools.</p>
<p>Your stats look good and I think you have a fair shot at them (those programs are very competitive), just remember that the cost is incredibly expensive with virtually no aid for internationals, and BA/MD programs will likely summon you to the US for interviews (just be prepared for that expense). Also I’m quite sure it’s not guaranteed that one can practice in the US after a US medical degree (immigration + exam stuff) so unless you’re a citizen/greencarder make sure US medical qualifications are acceptable for Indian medical board licences too, since presumably becoming a doctor is more important than working in the US.</p>
<p>If you start out in a less prestigious program, you will be guaranteed to be allowed to enter the medical school it is affiliated with, but it is likely you can still apply to a few different more prestigious medical schools if you want to - and if you don’t get into them, you will be guaranteed admission to the medical school affiliated with your joint program.</p>
<p>Righto. Since one can apply to a large number of unis in the US (as opposed to the 5-only in the UK), I think I’ll apply for undergrad programs in BioChem as well as for the integrated programs and see where my chips fall, lol.</p>