<p>I am currently set to go to University of Oregon this fall where I plan to do premed. Last night I was chatting with friends though, and realized that I could potentially go to college in Australia. My situation is this: My grandparents live in Cleveland, Queensland (quite close to University of Queensland), and I am an Australian citizen. I still have to look into applying, but I'm guessing that as a citizen of Australia I could go there relatively cheaply, then afterwards I would possibly come back America and practice. College in Australia would start in January, so I would have some time off during which I could work or travel. This part would be awesome. </p>
<p>Then in January I would go to the University of Queensland and begin a combined medical school program. All of this is contingent upon being accepted of course. After medical school I would either practice in Australia or here in America. </p>
<p>Is University of Queensland is comparable to American medical schools, and would it offer me the same opportunities? I would probably go through residency there as well, then come back later in life. As an American citizen, could I come back to America to practice without facing any obstacles (as in, I wouldn't be an IMG, would I)? </p>
<p>Should I pursue this? I think I want to, but I don't know whether it would be a good career choice.</p>
<p>IMG stands for International Medical Graduate. Anyone who did not graduate from an American or Canadian medical school is, in the US, considered an IMG. Being an IMG has nothing to do with your citizenship. So yes, if you went to medical school in Australia, you’d be an IMG. </p>
<p>Whether or not this is a good career choice is really up to you. My advice is, if you want to practice in Australia, go to an Australian school. If you want to practice in the US, go to a US medical school.</p>
<p>Thanks Shades_children, I guess I was wrong about the IMG thing. I had previously asked the same thing about Canada, and did not know Canada is an exception.</p>
<p>In my brief experience with Australian medical education, I’ll tell you that new graduates of Australian medical schools are not as well prepared as US grads. I spent a month in Adelaide doing a cardiology rotation and I definitely knew more than my first year intern…and there were a surprising number of things I knew that my second year resident did not.</p>
<p>I know many people (Canadians primarily) who attend UK med school programmes and plan to return to Canada to practice. Not sure if the commonwealth thing allows for more flexibility, but why not call several OZ med schools and ask them about placements in the US, tell them you want to keep your future options open.</p>
<p>I know a surgeon from South Africa who essentially had to redo in the US years of training to qualify and that was sad</p>