Hello everybody, I am european student (did the IB) and would really like to study medicine in the US since this is where I would like to practice. Unfortunately, I didn’t take my SATs so I couldn’t apply to college in the US. I did however, apply to McGill university in Montreal and got accepted. I know it is quite difficult to get into medical school in the US if you aren’t American or a resident in the US so I would like to study in the US as soon as possible so I can become a resident. I am thinking to transfer to a college in the US from McGill, how hard would that be? Would I need to take the SATs? Or should I complete undergraduate at McGill and then apply to medical school in the US, and how hard would that be?
Coursework from Canadian colleges & universities is accepted by all US med schools as fulfilling admission requirements.
Should you decide to transfer to a US college, SAT/ACT scores will be required unless you have already completed 4 semesters of coursework at McGill.
Becoming a US citizen or permanent resident is a long and involved process. It takes more than just living in the US to establish eligibility for PR status.
Please read about the process here:
Medical practice opportunities in the US are down. There are far more practice opportunities worldwide and you can have a far greater positive impact on your patients.
Thank you @WayOutWestMom, so if I was on a student visa at an american university would I be considered a resident? If I graduated from an american university would have a higher chance to get into medical school than if I graduated from McGill?
If you are on a student visa in the US, the chances of being admitted to a US medical school are VERY slim. The fact that you are living in the US at the time of application would not improve your chances.
@MCB0710
No, living in the US will not qualify you for resident status. You will still be considered an international applicant for med school since you will still be a legal citizen of your home country. Having a student visa does not change that fact.
To be considered a resident for admission purposes you must legally immigrate to the US and obtain US citizenship.
Whether you graduate from McGill or from a US college will not change your chances of gaining admission to a US medical school. In either case, they are quite poor.
Only between 50-200 internationals are admitted each year to all US med schools combined. Most of those are Canadians since Canadians are considered for admission at more schools than are other international students. Additionally the Canadian government provides loans to its citizens who attend med school in the US.
Since you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, if accepted, you must be able to prove you have sufficient funds to pay for your medical education in the US. Around $250,000 -$350,000 for the 4 years.
Thank you everyone for your replies! If I did medical school in McGill would trying to get into a residency program in the US be just as hard or harder than getting into medical school in the US?
It’s probably just as difficult to get a US residency. Most top residency programs and competitive specialties will simply not consider internationals for residencies. They don’t want to go thru the hassle of getting visa for you. Additionally only 39 states will authorize medical licenses for internationals. (A valid medical license is a basic requirement of your residency contract.)
Most residency programs that do accept internationals will only do so under a J1 visa which requires you to return to your home country at the end of your training and stay there for a minimum of 2 years before you can apply to re-enter the US or practice medicine here.
McGill and other Canadian medical schools are similar to US medical schools in that only a tiny number of international applicants are accepted.