Hello All,
I'm an international student applying to US medical schools. I have got my Bachelor's degree from a foreign school in Biomedical engineering and Master's in BME as well from a US school. I'm currently working in research in the US.
My AMCAS GPA: undergrad- 3.66,(16 credits only coz the foreign classes were only regarded as P/F)
BCPM- 3.50, graduate- 3.31
AACOMAS GPA: undergrad- 3.71(129 credits), sGPA- 3.71, graduate- 3.35, overall- sGPA- 3.65, cGPA-3.64
MCAT- I have taken three times, the best score was 2nd time- 24(10,6,8).
Research- I have been working in research for 2.5 years now (1.5 as a student and 1 yr full-time) and have 3-4 research publications.
I applied to a approx. 13 DO schools and got only one interview and wasn't accepted. I have been waiting for response from 7 more schools but, starting loose hope as the cycle is about to end.
I have been thinking about a few options and not sure which is best for me:
1. Retake the MCAT this May and try harder and get 30+ score to have better chances at US MD or even DO schools.
2. Go to a caribbean med school and graduate in 2018 than waiting one more year and possibly graduate from a US school in 2019 if I get admitted next cycle.
I have a lot of others factors to consider as I m not a regular US student applying to med school.
1. I will be considered OSS for ALL med schools in US as I'm not a US citizen. and I will have to apply for a private loan as I'm not eligible for federal loans or any govt. funding. So, whether I go to a US school or caribbean, I will have to get a private loan.
2. After I graduate from a US med school, I'm not sure in which category I will fall under as I'm not a US citizen as far as the residency goes so, I have no idea about the stats of US graduate who is not a US citizen. Also I will need a sponsorship for my residency like IMGs.
3. I'm torn between US DO and Caribbean MD school, as I feel both of them have quite comparable residency match stats as long as allopathic match is concerned. None gets into top residency programs even for primary care residency like US MD grads.
I'm leaning towards Saba Med school coz of their relatively low tuition than most of US MD and DO school. and I feel it will eliminate the whole DO vs. MD dogma which to some extent still observed.
Any suggestions from above or beyond are welcomed!!
I'm an international student applying to US medical schools. I have got my Bachelor's degree from a foreign school in Biomedical engineering and Master's in BME as well from a US school. I'm currently working in research in the US.
My AMCAS GPA: undergrad- 3.66,(16 credits only coz the foreign classes were only regarded as P/F)
BCPM- 3.50, graduate- 3.31
AACOMAS GPA: undergrad- 3.71(129 credits), sGPA- 3.71, graduate- 3.35, overall- sGPA- 3.65, cGPA-3.64
MCAT- I have taken three times, the best score was 2nd time- 24(10,6,8).
Research- I have been working in research for 2.5 years now (1.5 as a student and 1 yr full-time) and have 3-4 research publications.
I applied to a approx. 13 DO schools and got only one interview and wasn't accepted. I have been waiting for response from 7 more schools but, starting loose hope as the cycle is about to end.
I have been thinking about a few options and not sure which is best for me:
1. Retake the MCAT this May and try harder and get 30+ score to have better chances at US MD or even DO schools.
2. Go to a caribbean med school and graduate in 2018 than waiting one more year and possibly graduate from a US school in 2019 if I get admitted next cycle.
I have a lot of others factors to consider as I m not a regular US student applying to med school.
1. I will be considered OSS for ALL med schools in US as I'm not a US citizen. and I will have to apply for a private loan as I'm not eligible for federal loans or any govt. funding. So, whether I go to a US school or caribbean, I will have to get a private loan.
2. After I graduate from a US med school, I'm not sure in which category I will fall under as I'm not a US citizen as far as the residency goes so, I have no idea about the stats of US graduate who is not a US citizen. Also I will need a sponsorship for my residency like IMGs.
3. I'm torn between US DO and Caribbean MD school, as I feel both of them have quite comparable residency match stats as long as allopathic match is concerned. None gets into top residency programs even for primary care residency like US MD grads.
I'm leaning towards Saba Med school coz of their relatively low tuition than most of US MD and DO school. and I feel it will eliminate the whole DO vs. MD dogma which to some extent still observed.
Any suggestions from above or beyond are welcomed!!