Moving to PK for college?

<p>Hi everyone! So I am US high school student and currently a senior. I have applied to many great colleges all over the country and have been accepted into them as well. I have all As and am a pretty good student overall. I want to go to medical school and become a doctor which will probably take up 10 years residency included. I am fine with that time length however my parents are not. They say it's too long and now they are pressurizing me to move back to Pakistan (where I was born in and lived 10yrs) for college. They claim that that way the process will be faster and that I could become a doctor at a younger age. </p>

<p>Now I don't really know much about the Pakistani school and college system (since I've been in the US since 6th grade) but this sounds kinda superficial to me. And even if I do get an MD in Pakistan wouldn't I still have to do some sort of studies again in order to practice in the US?</p>

<p>If anybody here knows anything and is familiar with this process or familiar with the Pakistani college system please share I will be really grateful. What will be the best choice to make at this point? Should I give up my college acceptances in the US and move to Pakistan for college?</p>

<p>Well, it is beyond doubt that Pakistan has world renowned medical courses, but idk. There is more to college that just a great degree. The college experience is, in my humble opinion, just as great a factor. Mull over where you think you will be a better fit. Much better to stay in America and work happily for 10 years rather than toil over here in Pakistan in an environment that you think does not suit you. In the end, the decision is up to you. Good Luck!</p>

<p>Thanks for replying. To be completely honest I wouldn’t mind going but the thing that bothers me is whether the facts are true. I don’t want to go to Pakistan and fail and never be able to become a doctor or maybe be able to become one but never be able to practice in US (since I don’t think I would want to stay in PK long). I just want to know which option is quicker and more sufficient.</p>

<p>In Pakistan, MBBS takes 5 years. You won’t be able to practice in US unless you pass their medical license examinations which are called USMLE and get residency. Preparing for these exams might take you 2 years. So, if you get a match for residency, you will need another 3 years. So, a total of 10 years. So, if you consider time factor, there is really no difference at all. On the other hand, money is a big factor since, Pakistan medical schools are much cheaper than US med schools. However, the quality of education differs. US schools are much better than Pakistan schools, though there are few med schools in Pakistan which are very good and you can get a quality education there. I hope it helped. Let me know if you need more help.</p>

<p>SAT456 thank you so much! I was really torn in between my own desires and my parents. And that’s what I thought as well which is why I was hesitant. I think I am going to try and convince my parents to let me get an education here. After all I am more familiar with the system and how things run.</p>

<p>@Astudent2014 … Many of my friends and relatives passed usmle the year they graduated, and they were off to usa without wasting their time on usmle prep. Actually they prepared for usmle during their mbbs years!</p>

<p>BUT again… us schools are much better than pakistani schools… thats why we all are applying there :P</p>

<p>See if you can get into Aga Khan, and if you can, then it is definitely worth coming here. Otherwise, there are other options which aren’t bad like Army Medical College and Rawalpindi Medical College, they have good names too.</p>

<p>However, if you come here, you’ll have to be careful. Getting a residency is getting more and more difficult these days and I’ve heard cases of people coming abroad from India and other places and not getting residencies here in the US. So if you study from abroad, you have to make sure you’re absolutely the best of the best or else you may not receive as much consideration from potential employers, who would obviously prefer those who have studied from the US no matter where from. </p>

<p>So I’d say keep that in mind because nowadays even some people who study here can’t find jobs so people who come from abroad will have to show something extra to be able to get them. I’m not trying to scare you but I just wanted to point this out, because we’ve all heard of successful cases like BHhazy told us but we also hear of those cases in which people were unsuccessful. </p>

<p>Hope everything goes well for you</p>