<p>I am currently a high school junior. I have a very high gpa, good sat scores, and a long list of extracurrluars (like most of the people here). I am very interested in studying abroad for college. I am interested in becoming a doctor.</p>
<p>I really like the schools in the UK and looking for a wonderful adventure. I think that this would be a wonderful opportunity. I have a long list of reasons why I really, truly want to do this.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone has any schools or colleges they could recommend in the UK. I know of Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Bristol, and some others. I have done some research into this. But, I know how selective Oxford is, especially for medicine. </p>
<p>So, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. And if you went to any of the schools in England, especially Imperial, what are your opinions, etc. of it.</p>
<p>thanks so much. Have a wonderful thanksgiving all!!</p>
<p>I can't speak specifically to Imperial, but I can tell you a little about UK universities :)</p>
<p>As you probably know, in the UK you specialise right from the start, so you would be studying nothing but medicine for the next 4/5 years. </p>
<p>All medical schools in the UK are very competitive - particularly because you can only apply to 4 (and you can't apply to both Oxford and Cambridge). They may have concerns taking a high school student from the US, because your science curriculum is significant different from ours - e.g. they may recommend you take a foundation year, or even a whole Biomedical Sciences undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>You should also note that for medicine, UK universities have quotas imposed by the government as to how many non-EU students they can take - at Oxford, for example, they can only take 7 per year. </p>
<p>I think your best bet would be to email the medicine admissions people at Imperial (for example) and ask them if they will accept US high school qualifications. If they don't, chances are other top UK universities won't either, unfortunately. </p>
<p>If they won't accept you for medicine, however, it doesn't mean you can't study medicine-related courses in the UK. There are literally hundreds of other biomedical science related courses on offer, and you could always apply for a Graduate Entry medical degree, which is specifically designed for those who have an undergrad degree in a medicine-related subject.</p>
<p>Oh yes, thought of something else - check UCAS</a> Home Page for course listings. UCAS lists all undergraduate degree programmes available in the UK, and it might be a useful place to start. :)</p>
<p>Just remember that if you qualify as a doctor in the UK you won't be able to practice in the US without taking a lot of tests again. I am not studying medicine so I don't know exactly how it works, but American medical students are pretty rare here, and I suspect that's the reason (that and the quota of overseas students, as mentioned by Laylah). Have you thought about enquiring at US medicial schools if an UK BA in Biology/Biomed sciences would qualify for entry to a US medical school? This might be a good option for you. It would be easier to get in as there is no quota in these subjects. then you could qualify as a Dr in the US as normal, without any of the conversion problems.</p>
<p>As Laylah said, there are some 4 year graduate medicine programmes in the UK too. However, many of them (inc Oxford) accept no foreign (outside EU) students at all.</p>
<p>Note there is basically no such thing as financial aid for overseas undergraduates in the UK.</p>
<p>cupcake-- what if an american student received an undergrad degree in chemistry, biology, etc. from a school in the UK- could they be accepted in a 4 year graduate medicine program or would they still be considered foreign?</p>
<p>I just wanted to thank-you all for all of your advice. Cupcake, thank-you for that great advice. I think I am going to consider that more as an option. I really would like to study abroad for a long period of time, and I want to become a doctor. However, I have heard that getting a degree in another country would look somewhat bad giving that impression that I couldn't get into school in American anywhere (which is not the case, as least for college so far). </p>
<p>Does anyone have any knowledge or has seen or any views on the University of Bristol or Imperial College in London?</p>
<p>I used to go to University College London (very good medical programme there also, actually), and know a few people from Imperial (and I've been there a few times, used the library a couple of times etc.).</p>
<p>Academically, Imperial is excellent for the sciences, engineering and medicine. That goes without saying. Socially, it leaves a little to be desired, partly because there are many more men than women on campus, and you should realise that the college experience in the UK is nothing like it is in the US. For example, after your first year you will likely have to move out of university accommodation and into a regular flat in London. This is expensive.</p>
<p>Without wanting to seem too partisan, I am partial to University College over Imperial College for an undergraduate education (I had offers from both in chemical engineering, and chose UCL). They are both excellent in medicine, but UCL has a much broader and more interesting student body in my opinion.</p>
<p>Rankings for British universities in medicine:</p>
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cupcake-- what if an american student received an undergrad degree in chemistry, biology, etc. from a school in the UK- could they be accepted in a 4 year graduate medicine program or would they still be considered foreign?
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I haven't a clue! That's what I was trying to say. I suspect it would be ok but do enquire at US medical schools first. Some UK schools do a course called "biomedical sciences" (which qualifies you to work in hospital labs basically. It's part of the UK National Health Service training system) from which many people seem to enter graduate medicine courses in the UK, so might possibly be good for the US. I just don't know, and I think it would be best to enquire at US medical schools directly than pay $$$$ for a course that is not valid.</p>
<p>circumlocution2: Yes, you could be accepted into a 4 year graduate medicine program either in the US. As I understand it, it's a little bit more difficult than graduating from a US university, but certainly possible. I transfered from the UK back to the US for several reasons but your concern was one of them.</p>