International students studying in the United States going to Med-School : A myth ?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>I am an International student currently studying in a top public university. I have taken up ECE (Electrical and Computer engineering) with Pre-Med. Although becoming a doctor has always been my number one priority, the thought of me not getting in to med-school scares me. ECE was an interest that I developed through a few years in the school computer club and is now a backup plan for me. </p>

<p>My parents have saved up money for me to attend my undergrad institution. But then where would the money for med-school come from ?. Taking up loans in such an economy is frightening! </p>

<p>I have a series of question which I would like to ask people on this forum and I would be glad if someone would help me out through this phase of tension. </p>

<p>1) I did a bit of research on which schools take up internationals as med students and there were about 10-15 universities each accepting an average on 4-5 students. What should I be working towards to be one of those 4-5 students ?. (please refrain from using sarcasm) </p>

<p>2) Is aid a possibility or is loan the only option ?. </p>

<p>3) Are there any tips that anyone of you would like to mention, for me to do during my undergraduate course ?. </p>

<p>4) If I do not get in to a med-school in the US, what would be the options open to me (other that going to engineering) to pursue Medicine with a Pre-Med in the US ? </p>

<p>Also, I am a Permanent resident of Canada (I have an Asian Passport). Will a Pre-med in the US allow me to pursue Med school in Canada if US does not work out ? </p>

<p>Thank you all in advance</p>

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<p>BUMP </p>

<p>Anyone ??</p>

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<p>Bump again !</p>

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<p>This is on the wrong forum, I’m moving it to the PreMed Topics forum.</p>

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<p>1) I did a bit of research on which schools take up internationals as med students and there were about 10-15 universities each accepting an average on 4-5 students. What should I be working towards to be one of those 4-5 students ?. (please refrain from using sarcasm)</p>

<p>The same things anyone else would. You simply have to be the best instead of just really good. Obviously, being one of those few students is going to be nearly impossible but obviously a few pull it off. Just do what any applicant would do but shine above the rest. That will look different for each individual. The fact that you have to ask “how” here usually tells me you’re not going to be one of them, although it does show motivation.</p>

<p>Basically, you need to be at the top of the game to even have a small chance. Overall, 144 of over 1100 international applicants were accepted last year.</p>

<p>2) Is aid a possibility or is loan the only option ?.</p>

<p>Loans… you’re not a US citizen, so they’d be private loans and whatever your country will help with.</p>

<p>3) Are there any tips that anyone of you would like to mention, for me to do during my undergraduate course ?.</p>

<p>Take tough classes and get straight-As. Know your pre-reqs and be in the top 8% at minimum (i.e., get at least a 34+). The average accepted student from Canada has a 34 on the MCAT. Realize that because you are from an Asian country and not Canada, you probably need to do better than Canadian applicants for serious consideration; however, MCAT score breakdowns do not include non-Canadian students, so this is the closest comparison population available (i.e., foreign students from Canada). It is important to note that the average Canadian applicant gets a 30 on the MCAT (85th percentile) and is rejected 90% of the time! In other words, when I say you must be in the top 8% of internat’l applicants, I am not speaking of all internat’l students but of the cream of the crop. You need to be at the top of a very select group.</p>

<p>4) If I do not get in to a med-school in the US, what would be the options open to me (other that going to engineering) to pursue Medicine with a Pre-Med in the US ?</p>

<p>Sure… go attend med school in your own country. It’ll be FAR less expensive AND easier to get into.</p>

<p>Also, I am a Permanent resident of Canada (I have an Asian Passport). Will a Pre-med in the US allow me to pursue Med school in Canada if US does not work out ?</p>

<p>Sure, but Canada would be at least as hard. Canadian residents often come to the US thinking it will be easier for them here b/c it’s so hard there. They invariably find out they were wrong and both countries’ medical schools are incredibly difficult to get into.</p>

<p>On a side note, keep in mind that if English is not your first language you will almost certainly find the verbal response (VR) section of the MCAT to be incredibly difficult. It is extremely difficult for even the brightest science students who speak English natively. I cannot imagine trying to compete if I had to take that test in my second language. It can be done but considering the score you are shooting for, this puts a very formidable barrier between you and a good score. If you are not already reading quite a bit, I would definitely suggest you start doing that. A 34 with a verbal of 8 (e.g., 13/8/13) is no better than a balanced 30 (i.e., 10/10/10) as it shows some critical weaknesses in your reading ability and brings to question your ability to succeed in med school and/or on the USMLE Step 1. Even you speak English natively, I’d suggest you try and get in some serious reading – perhaps one classic text every couple of weeks – to help strengthen your reading comprehension and speed.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the help. </p>

<p>@apumic - U have sent you a visitor message. </p>

<p>Bump</p>

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<p>Are you a resident of one of the provinces? My DD was actually qualified as a resident of BC for UBC med school admissions, but NOT a PR or citizen. In your case with the PR, you need to check the provincial residency requirements. If you are a resident, than apply there for sure. I think Canadian & US med schools are both difficult for admissions and the biggest difference would be where you can get a residency and then practice after med school.</p>

<p>In the limited research we did it seemed easier for a student of a Canadian med school to gain a US MD license than the other way around, but we did not finish that research once we learned she could not apply</p>

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<p>@somemom - I have no idea about the residency laws. My parent’s and I were approved for the Permanent Resident status in Canada (after 2 years of waiting and lengthy paperwork) just last year in January. Then the embassy issued a visa on our passports and we had to land in Canada with in a year. Once we landed in Canada, we each got our PR cards (there is no specific province mentioned in it). </p>

<p>As far as colleges are concerned, my undergrad education per year would cost about 6-8K (Canadian Dollars) as compared to 25-35K as an international student. [The cost only includes tuition]</p>

<p>I have absolutely no idea about med/grad school admissions and where would a Pre-med place me in admissions to a med school in UK/US/Canada.</p>

<p>I will tell my parent’ to look in to it.</p>

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<p>OP, Are you studying in US or in Canada?</p>

<p>I do not know how it (i.e., in-province or out-of-province status) works in Canada. But, in Texas at least, whether a student is a resident of the texas state is somewhat independent of whether he is a citizen or permanent resident of the united states. A person can be a “foreigner” (in terms of his citizenship or permanent resident status) but is categorized as a texas resident as far as the in-state/out-of-state tuition is concerned. </p>

<p>I know it is strange, but it is the (texas) state, not the US federal government, which funds the public university and medical schools. Whoever pays the money has more influences on how the system works. I do not know the details, but it seems to me (not 100 percent sure though) that even some illegal immigrants may go to public colleges with an in-state tuition here, as long as they have been studying in any high school here for at least 3 years.</p>

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<p>In BC as I recall, there was something about having lived and attended school there for 5 years qualifying as a resident, you should check your province and find out the rules. Also figure out what would happen if you attend university in the US whilst your parents are Canadian residents, will you still qualify?</p>

<p>I know quite a few kids who go to various MD programmes in the UK, usually they are accepted to a 7 year situation, but I do not know, yet, how or where they get residencies and how they come back to North America to practice.</p>

<p>You have some research ahead of yourself as to all the ramifications of your choices.</p>

<p>Be sure you fully understand your place of residence and the schools there. If you have not lived in Canada long enough and you leave the Province for university, there may be some rules about qualifying as a local resident.</p>

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<p>Let me clarify a few things first. </p>

<p>I am an Indian citizen (I have an Indian Passport). I got my US (F-1, Student visa) and currently studying the United states for my undergrad. I also have a Permanent residency status in Canada (According to which, if I spend 3 years in Canada - I will be give citizenship and a passport). </p>

<p>So by the time I finish my undergrad, my parents would have already be Canadian passport holders with residency in Ontario (Toronto). </p>

<p>All I could get on the internet is that in the United states a few universities accept international students for Med-School and almost all of them provide no aid. Most of them ask the student to show the four years of tuition to be put up in a bank before their arrival or set up an escrow account. </p>

<p>So my option would be to take up student loans from a bank and study. </p>

<p>Now, If US for med-school does not work out what would be my options in Europe and Canada ?. Considering the fact that I have already finished my Pre-med in the US </p>

<p>1) Will I have to start over in UK and Canada ?. What and which universities should I be considering and what would their requirements be ?</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, I will not qualify for the Canadian Forces recruitment plan. As I just read their website </p>

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<p>Why are you doing med school in the US
Isnt it faster, easier, cheaper, and quality-wise better to finish it in india, and do PG in the US?</p>