Follow your dreams or take the safe path ?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Dear CC member's,</p>

<p>I am an International student and I have always wanted to be a Doctor, but due to the very low chance of internationals to get in to med school in to the US. I am now heading to a Tier 1 university in the US (where I can change my major). I am now going in to Mechanical engineering. </p>

<p>I am a very good student and I am a hardworking student. But I just feel I shouldn't be taking a chance. I spoke to my H.S counselor and she tells me that there is still a chance that I can get in to a med school with a engineering degree, But then pre-med would prepare me in a much better way for med school. </p>

<p>I am very much confused what to do. What should I be doing ?. </p>

<p>Please help me out.
Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>Premed is not a major. It is a set of classes required for med school application. You can major in anything you want, and still fulfill premed requirements.</p>

<p>It will be hard to keep a high GPA (which is important for medschool admissions) being a premed in engineering major, but if that’s your dream - go for it.</p>

3

<p>Thanks a lot for the info. But how many or what extra courses should I be taking other than the engineering ones. I am just concerned that I might mess up both my degrees.</p>

4

<p>There’s a pre-med forum on this site. I suggest that you take a look at it. You can also get info from the college you attend once you matriculate. It is probable that it has a pre-med adviser.</p>

<p>You would only get one degree.</p>

5

<p>I hate to see anyone give up on their dream. </p>

<p>Have you considered a biomedical engineering program.</p>

6

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<p>Is there some reason why you can’t apply to medical school in you home country and fulfill your dream that way?</p>

7

<p>I don’t understand how you think you are taking the safe path, and why you cannot work on being a doctor. You can take premed courses at any college and apply to medical schools. The important thing is to take those courses; you can be any major as there are only about a half dozen required courses, and to get good grades learning the material well. You then take the MCATs and if you do well on those exams, you stand a good chance of making it into a medical school.</p>

8

<p>Another couple of points: numerous med schools will not accept students without citizenship/green card, and money for med school is not readily available (as it is for grad school in engg). You may want to plan on going for an MD/PhD which has a better chance of funding and may also have more open doors for internationals…</p>