I was browsing and reading several other forums and stumbled into this idea which after doing a lot of searching at several medical schools in the US, seems open for discussion.

The spots are usually quite limited so its improbable but certainly not impossible. Usually, the spots open up, are usually in the third year (clinical year).

Some of the requirements I have read are:

In order to be considered as a transfer applicant you must:


Be a citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States.
Currently be enrolled, and in good standing, at an LCME accredited medical school or a foreign medical school listed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Have completed all your pre-med prerequisites in an accredited college in the United Sates or Canada.
Meet all entrance requirements expected of applicants into the first-year class, including having taken the MCAT.
Take and pass USMLE Part I by August 1 of the year in which you plan to enter New York Medical College.

If given an opportunity to transfer from an Intl Medical school into a USMD during a third year, would you take it?

Are there any disadvantages to this move?

It will be very difficult for you to transfer because of deadlines. Keep in mind that for admission to a US school during third year, you should apply by October or so of the preceding year, depending on the school. Now, at that time, you cannot take the USMLE yet, because you haven't covered your basic subjects. So ASSUMING you do well on your USMLE 1 during your summer break in April, by the time you get your score, it is definitely too late for you to apply for a transfer for the year starting august of same year.

SO.... unless you are extremely confident in your USMLE passing skills and fill out applications before you take the USMLE, i dont think there is a way.

For Phil. schools it is almost impossible and never heard of a success story. Remember, even Caribbean students who are on the same sched as US students ,their top students rarely make it back to a US school.