My D is a dual US/Canada citizen. She has been accepted to both US and Canadian undergraduate colleges. Her goal, slice age 8 has been to be a physician. While this may change in due course (!) thus far we are full steam ahead toward this goal. She seems to have the academic acumen for maths and sciences.
Q. Are there any benefits/drawbacks to doing an undergraduate degree in Canada, apart from it being much cheaper?
When it comes to med school there are much fewer places in Canada. Would a US med school have any problem with an applicant from a top tier Canadian school? Vice versa?
Even as a dual/Canadian citizen if you are not a resident of a particular province admission to a Canadian medical school would be very unlikely. In some cases if the undergraduate degree was obtained in that province she may be considered a resident for medical school admission in that province.
The US and Canada have a harmonized medical education system. All medical schools in Canada are fully accredited by LCME, the US based accrediting board. Graduates are not considered “foreign” medical school graduates in the other country.
US medical schools of course fully recognize undergrad degrees and premed courses from Canadian universities. The lack of grade inflation in Canada may cause her to have a lower GPA than at some US colleges.
Of course planning for medical school it is wise to minimize undergrad student loans or avoid dipping into college savings accounts.
Thank you. We had already thought of the provincial residency requirement, and would be darn sure she was “domiciled” in the province of her school.
“The US and Canada have a harmonized medical education system.”
I have had doctors in the US who graduated from a Canadian medical school, and who then did their residence in the US. Apparently this is not all that uncommon. Of course the advantage is that medical school is much less expensive in Canada, and doctors are paid more in the US.
One advantage of undergrad in Canada is that admissions is simpler in the US, and more predictable. Of course there is also the cost savings.
But fewer faculties of medicine in Canada, yes? So entry will be more competitive …