So, normally I would be very for UC Berkeley as I live in the US/believe it has greater prestige. I was accepted into the UCB College of Chemistry. However, I was accepted into Imperial College’s medicine program, which would allow me to be a licensed doctor after six years. Since I am out of state at UCB, the price is around the same [I think the difference might be a few thousand dollars]. I was wondering what were some considerations I should make? From my understanding, Berkeley is a bit better known, but I was wondering whether it would severely affect me in the future…
Note: RIP HYPS
Addendum: I realized now that another concern I had was that at UCB I would be able to take math classes/possibly double major, which really interested me. At Imperial, I’d be kind of stuck in Medicine. On the other hand, I would be able to apply for a PhD within the Medical program, which would be super cool.
Have you looked in to how easy it is for MD’s from foreign med schools to get a US residency position?
My understanding is that it isn’t easy.
If you were deadset on medicine, there are plenty of BS-MD programs in the US.
I honestly don’t know how difficult it is. Is it much more difficult than coming from a US medical school? I also can’t apply to a BS-MD program at this point as it’s a bit late for that… I was hoping that Imperial’s relatively high prestige would help account for the fact that it’s not in the US.
No, it’ll be very different - either you become a doctor through Imperial or go through the US process. If you become a doctor at Imperial you’ll need to go through exams in the US and it’s not easy.
Prestige has nothing to do with Med school admissions. For an OOS student, attending a CA university can be the death of pre-med dreams since it’s the most competitive state for med school, with insufficient spaces for California residents.
Have you been admitted anywhere else? How important is med school to you?
@artloversplus @mom2collegekids
@MYOS1634 I’m pretty interested in Med School and really liked the option to get a Ph.D. at Imperial (as medicine there is an undergraduate degree). I did not get into any of my other top choices 
Yeah, going to Berkeley seemed like it’d require a bit more work for four years but would be less troublesome later if I attend a US med school.
“Prestige has nothing to do with Med school admissions.” When you say this, does it apply to obtaining a residency as well? I thought they’d consider that for IMGs.
High board scores are what will matter most for a good residency and all medical students must take them no matter where they attend school. Go to Imperial for the sure thing. As long as Imperial is a recognized school in this country, and I am certain that it is, you will not be at a disadvantage after graduation.
@rjkofnovi, please state what experience you have with qualifying for residencies from foreign medical schools. I ask this because you give advice despite not knowing much about how foreign medical school grads would even obtain residencies in the US.
^^^Fair enough question. My niece graduated with a medical degree from the AUC in St Maarten and got an excellent residency at an American hospital. It didn’t hurt that she scored a 275 on her Step II boards. The Cleveland Clinic granted her an interview based on those scores and the interviewer said he had to meet the person who got that high of a score. Granted it helps to go to a US school, but hospitals are loaded with doctors from all over the world. Imperial College in London is not exactly a slouch university, so I assume the OP should not be at any disadvantage assuming he/she does well. I suggest the OP check out the Student Doctor Network website for better insight or the foreign medical threads here on CC.
@rjkofnovi, thank you for the info.
Mind saying when that was, though?
My understanding is that, as residency positions are subsidized by state governments, med schools or hospitals themselves, or some other way, there are now or soon will be more American med school grads than residency slots (increase in residency slots has not kept up with increase in American med school grads), so the future doesn’t look good for grads of foreign med schools, and even if they do find a residency slot, it would likely be in a less desirable specialty.
Note also that Caribbean med schools train their students for US residencies and tests.
I very much doubt Imperial does.
Medicine => PHD at Imperial is an excellent path that will be recognized.
But you have to pick that path now.
Basically, UCB (which means 80% odds of making it into a US med school) or Imperial (100% sure but not in the US) .
Tough.
@MYOS1634 Basically, yeah. It is a struggle to decide :l. Well, either way, I think I have to accept the UCB application and withdraw once my VISA is passed, so I have a bit of extra time. I’m kind of leaning toward going to Imperial and trying to do well on the USMLE.
^^^Two years ago PurpleTitan.
Half of Cal students who try for med school get in, I think.
But I’m not sure how well Imperial medicine would prepare you for the US.
That’s after BRUTAL weedout (at Cal).
It seems to be when I’m seeing listings of interns at hospitals all over the country, there is a large percentage who have gone to foreign medical schools. I also see many foreign born doctors on staff at these same hospitals. Does anybody else notice this or is it just me?
Well there’s a decent amount. I think 42% are accepted for residency? It’s definitely not the 92% of US grads.
Do you want to practice medicine in the UK? The NHS is a whole different animal.