Medical College in India

<p>My parents want to send me to India for my medical college. First, then want me to complete about 1-2 years of undergraduate school here in the United States. I just want to know if anyone had any advice for this situation or know anyone who has been in this situation before. My parents are kinda set on it mainly because its easier to get into school there as an NRI compared to the United States. There are other benefits too like it takes less time ect. I apparantly have to take a test after completing my education in India upon coming back to the United States and then its pretty easy to get my residency since im a US citizen/resident. I just wanted to know if anyone had any advice. Thanks.</p>

<p>Well, I know there are hundreds of people that have doen it, and are very successful, but I suppose just consider whether you'll be able to adjust in India, whether you'll be able to come back to the US, and consider if you got stuck in India....would you be able to stay? or would it be asking too much from you.......</p>

<p>Yeah i see what ur sayin. I havent really seen adjusting as a huge problem cuz I've been there several times and also i know the language ect. I have a lot of family in India too so hopefully that will help the situation. I think I'll be fine coming back to the US but whats this about gettin stuck there? Have you known anyone whos been in that situation? Did people that you've known who've graduated from Indian Medical schools like it there or have trouble in India ect.?</p>

<p>Well, the people I know that went to Med Schools in India were all Indian.....they all liked the experience. They just complained about the lack of efficiency...day-to-day differences....allergies..etc You know? India is making leaps of advancement but it's not the US. </p>

<p>Lol, and I only distantly (friend's bro) know someone who got stuck in India after med school. His parents were so keen on the idea when he was in high school simply because they wanted to get him hitched with an Indian girl there. I've heard of one other guy that had that happen to him, but I think he ditched the girl and went to Australia.</p>

<p>Also--the stuck thing--it's getting harder for foreign students to get accepted in the US.</p>

<p>Feel free to ask more questions if you want....</p>

<p>For anyone, regardless of US citizenship status, going to a foreign medical school makes getting a residency position MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more difficult. </p>

<p>For starters, the passing rate (on the first try) for USMLE Step I for IMG's is only about 65% compared to about 93% for US second years.</p>

<p>Second, many residency programs simply refuse to consider IMG's. Others may only consider them if they are actual citizens/residents of the country that they completed their medical education in. Even if programs don't have explicit policies that doesn't put you on the same playing field as US seniors in the match. </p>

<p>This thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=186406%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=186406&lt;/a> is a long discussion on the relative advantages/disadvantages of going abroad for medical school. The last page or so has some data on match for IMG's vs. US Seniors.</p>

<p>So even if I am a US citizen I'll still be automatically excluded from some residency programs in the United States. Also could you explain more abt the USMLES?</p>

<p>Yes, even as a US Citizen, going to a foreign med school will limit your opportunities automatically. And please look at the stats in the thread I listed above.</p>

<p>USMLE (United States Medical licensing exam) is a series of 4 tests:</p>

<p>Step 1: taken by US med students after they've completed their 2nd year. Most med schools require passing before moving on to third year and the clinical training rotations. The exam basically tests the entire amount of material learned in the first two years. Every single med school in the US is "teaching to the test" and explains why the passing rate is so high. </p>

<p>Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK): Usually taken in the fall of the 4th year before starting on applications for residency, but can be taken any time during the fourth year. Most med schools require at least attempting Step 2 CK and CS for graduation - with some requireing passing CK for graduation. The CK is much like Step 1 in terms of similar format and content.</p>

<p>Step 2 Clinical Skills: This is a test in which you travel to a major city in the US and "see" patients. The patients are actors who have standardized diseases which you must diagnose and come up with an appropriate treatment plan. You are also graded on your "bedside manner" and how well you interact with the patients. Do you do a proper physical exam? Do you take an appropriate history? If you watch Grey's Anatomy, this is the exam that Alex failed.</p>

<p>Step 3: Much like steps 1 and 2CK. Done usually in the first or second PostGrad Year. Usually required as part of state licensure. You cannot take this exam until all parts of steps 1 and 2 have been passed (though they can be passed in any order).</p>

<p>"So even if I am a US citizen I'll still be automatically excluded from some residency programs in the United States. Also could you explain more abt the USMLES?"</p>

<p>totally.......think of white lies.......it's the same situation as those.......just you're not lying hahah</p>

<p>hi,i would like to know if its a good idea to study in india by finishing the mbbs and come to the us to do ur md ,wouldn't u be able to still do residencies?</p>

<p>Yes, it's possible.</p>

<p>do u know the cost of studying in india,if so is it possible that i can get a loan as im an indian citizen .also is it good to study in the u.s or india?is studying in india difficult or moderate meaning its possible .</p>