<p>Hi.</p>
<p>I hope that I can get some help regarding my predicament and I'd appreciate any responses.</p>
<p>I have just finished serving in the British Armed Forces and am looking to go to College in the US since:
1) my girlfriend lives there and we are becoming very serious as a couple;
2) I would eventually like to go to medical school in the US and be able to practice there. I understand that doing my undergraduate studies in the US means that my chances are raised very slightly from practically zero in comparison to studying abroad.</p>
<p>My High-School equivalence is very poor but that was over 10 years ago. I have grown up and realised what I want from life and want to show the Colleges that too.</p>
<p>My questions are:
what do you think my best route into college is as a mature student?
Should I complete some sort of high school equivalence in the UK, ie. IGCSEs?
If I were to complete APs or something similar, what would you recommend I complete them in? Considering I don't really need APs for Premed since I need the general classes for MCAT and I am planning on majoring in Physics I'm not really sure what would be suitable, if anything.
I guess I have a similar question about SAT Subjects. Are there any courses you really recommend me taking in my situation?</p>
<p>I realise that I have a lot of questions and I will definitely follow up on any advice on here and email colleges directly to see what they say.</p>
<p>Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>So…first things first. There are no general classes for the MCAT or the SAT. Both are aptitude tests, one for admission to undergraduate colleges and one for medical school. Although there are things you need to have studied, and there are test-prep courses to help you do well on the test, there are no ‘MCAT classes’.</p>
<p>Leaving aside the other questions (visas, finances, location, career goals, etc.) in practical terms a mature student applicant with no recent or useful qualifications is going to be best off taking advantage of the unsung hero of the US educational system: the community college. They will take you, no matter what. And if you successfully finish the 2 year program (typically with a B average), in most states you will be automatically be qualified to be admitted to that state’s university. After 2 years more years (possibly less, if you go year round and are motivated), you will have an undergraduate degree. The medical schools admissions requirements website (MSAR) details the specific courses that each medical school requires (typically biology, regular and organic chemistry and physics) you will need to take as an undergraduate. Those courses will teach you all you need to know for the MCAT. </p>
<p>You would want to start planning for medical school almost from the beginning, researching which schools, their requirements, making sure that you get top marks in everything but especially in the required courses, finding ways to get experience in medical settings, and by third year of undergraduate preparing for applications, MCAT, interviews, etc. </p>
<p>It is typically an 8 year journey (4 undergraduate, 4 medical), followed by a year of indentured servitude (as an Intern) and some years of residency in your medical specialty. Although community college is very good value, and state universities are by US standards not expensive, by the time you add on medical school you are looking at a massive investment. </p>
<p>None of this is meant to be at all discouraging- just realistic.</p>
<p>I think you’re crazy to want to study medicine in the US considering the fact it’s a graduate degree, the added cost and the likelihood of no financial support. There are so many more opportunities for mature students returning to study in the UK. There are access courses, foundation years, the Open University, specifically designed access to medicine courses as well as the new 24+ loan (which is written off if you successfully pass your degree) which can be used to fund GCSEs, A levels or any other college qualification. There is also a much larger tradition of admitting older students which means 1. universities are likely to take your past non-academic work experience into account and 2. you wont be the only older student on campus.</p>