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Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I am an international student. I plan on studying in the United States in preparation for a medical career. However, there is a problem...</p>

<p>On the Yale Website, I read that very few medical schools accept international students. Even those that accept international students require you to pay full tuition fees in escrow. As we all know, medical school is very expensive. Furthermore, there are limited scholarships for international students.</p>

<p>It seems I am in a bit of trouble, what do you advice me to do?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for all responses. :)</p>

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<p>Yale’s website is correct. Very few US medical schools accept international students. Of the those that do only maybe 4 or 5 offer need-based funding to internationals. Those few are among the most competitive medical schools in the US. </p>

<p>If you will be applying for a MD/PhD program your options may be a bit better, but still not great.</p>

<p>If you want to see a list of admission policies for all US medical schools: </p>

<p>[NAAHP:</a> Medical School Admission Policies Towards Non-U.S. Citizens](<a href=“Home - NAAHP”>Home - NAAHP)</p>

<p>The information is somewhat dated, but things have not changed significantly since the list was created.</p>

<p>If you want to eventually practice in the US, your best option might be to remain in your home country and study medicine there. Once you’ve completed your schooling, you can apply for a US medical residency and come to the US to complete your medical training.</p>

<p>This organization handles all foreign medical graduate certification and residency placement.</p>

<p>[ECFMG</a> | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates](<a href=“http://www.ecfmg.org/]ECFMG”>http://www.ecfmg.org/)</p>

<p>Their website will explain the process.</p>

3

<p>OP, will your home country pay for your education? Perhaps in exchange for a service contract back home?</p>

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<p>The sad fact is if you aren’t from a wealthy family then, as an international student, you are in a bit of a bind in terms of US medical schools. This may be one of those rare circumstances where your situation might compel you to stay in your country for medical school and then try your hand as an foreign medical graduate applying into the US for residencies. Getting into a US medical school, even if you can pay, is VERY difficult as a foreign applicant. Only a handful of non-US students are accepted to MD and MD/PHD programs.</p>

5

<p>Have you checked Tulane University about their premed program? I think if you have stellar stats, you can talk to the adviser about international student admission. I believe that they did make a decision recently that they accept internationals. I’ve attached a discussion link about their program: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tulane-university/1097014-tulanes-fast-track-medical-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tulane-university/1097014-tulanes-fast-track-medical-program.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Be cautious though about their policy. </p>

<p>True that internationals are not accepted as frequently (in fact the number is quite low), so try to choose a major that you can fall back on.</p>

6

<p>Tulane does accept some international students; however:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>[Tulane</a> University - Information for International Students](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/financialaid/hsc/som/som-international.cfm]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/financialaid/hsc/som/som-international.cfm)</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for your replies. One of the posters asked me if my country will pay for my education in exchange for a service contract. The answer to this is no. I do not plan on practicing in my home country until much later in my life.</p>

<p>As for WayOutWestMom, thank you so much for your links. I actually found the links very informative. I read that Harvard Medical School is more clement than most other medical schools. Furthermore, Yale Medical School requires proof of payment ability on a year-by-year basis. I also read that international students are eligible for merit scholarships.</p>

<p>So this leaves me to one conclusion, it is very (extremely) difficult but not impossible either.
I have one question though… Are there factors that could make admission easier? Let’s say for instance I want to apply to Yale Medical School, and I was a premed at Yale College with stellar grades, ECs, and MCAT scores, does this give me a boost in the admissions process?</p>

8

<p>Re: Yale undergrad being a boost for Yale Med school. Certainly not a negative, but will provide only a minor (very, very small) advantage when it comes to admission to Yale Med school which receives application from the very best students from all over the US. </p>

<p>Last year accepted 20 out of 350 international applicants. </p>

<p>For all students: Yale’s average GPA 3.78; average MCAT 36.</p>

9

<p>Frankly, every little advantage you can get will help you as an international. If you have a choice between Yale/Harvard/etc or a public school, I’d recommend the former unless you are getting a major tuition waiver from the public. This is contrary to my typical advice, and you run the risk of being buried in debt.</p>