A Few Questions

[athlete18]

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I am a undergrad 2nd year student in the United States. I applied to the atlantic bridge program for the 6 year medical degree at UCD, RCSI, and NUIG (hoping to get a year off the 6 year program if accepted). I currently have a 3.94 GPA, solid EC's including being an NCAA athlete while maintaining an incredible GPA, am majoring in Biochemistry, but only have a 83% high school GPA (in Canada) as i didn;t apply myself or mature as a student until university . So far I have taken gen bio, gen chem, organic chem, inorganic chem, calc, biomed ethics.. etc. I am confident in my ability to get accepted into an Ireland medical school, but am wondering if I should proceed with my application or finish my bsc and apply to an American med school. I am a canadian studying in the US, and as a result I would most likely only be accepted into a private med school in the states which would be around the same price as going to Ireland. I feel that I would rather travel and experience Europe as opposed to proceeding in the States. If accepted it would be cutting off a year of the process of becoming a doctor. Yet, I am worried about how difficult it is to go back to the states for the future. I have searched the site and have seemed to get multiple opinions of the topic. Looking for someones input who has been through school in Ireland on my situation.
Thank you for your time.

 

[JohnSnow]

Going to medical school in the United States or Canada essentially guarantees you that you will get a residency. It will also increase your chances of getting a competitive residency.

The Irish schools have a very strong reputation. But if you graduate from one you're still considered an IMG which ultimately ranks you behind all US graduates (MD & DO) when it comes to the residency match.

As you already said the benefits of Ireland include starting sooner (and therefore graduating earlier) and getting to experience a new culture and live in Europe while receiving a first-rate medical education.

You sound like a good student so you should thrive in Ireland and find your way back to the US or Canada as a doctor (but you may not land the most competitive residency). Just be sure to remember that there are no guarantees with Ireland (unless you're an EU citizen) but there are with the North American universities.

 

[athlete18]

Thanks for the reply! I plan on going into family medicine, and hopefully owning my own practice if everything works out. I know with my determination, and study habits I should be able to do well in Ireland. The fact of the matter is that I've already applied, paid the application fees, etc. and I will have to think long and hard on the pros and cons of my situation. I would love to go to med school in Ireland, and in the end, I am prepared to go anywhere in order to be a physician, be it in the states (my first choice), canada, or another country around the World. I really appreciate the good solid information. If there is anyone else who can explain there opinion on my situation let me know what you think!

 

[Lbgem]

Thanks for the reply! I plan on going into family medicine, and hopefully owning my own practice if everything works out. I know with my determination, and study habits I should be able to do well in Ireland. The fact of the matter is that I've already applied, paid the application fees, etc. and I will have to think long and hard on the pros and cons of my situation. I would love to go to med school in Ireland, and in the end, I am prepared to go anywhere in order to be a physician, be it in the states (my first choice), canada, or another country around the World. I really appreciate the good solid information. If there is anyone else who can explain there opinion on my situation let me know what you think!

FM isn't that competitive of a field; in fact it tends to rank at the bottom (i.e. not competitive), and I believe it's filled with something like 50-60% IMGs. Most people change their mind when they actually go into rotations/see what they like so don't set your standards to FM/not study as hard and then decide later you want a more competitive specialty.

I find it a little weird - you're a sophomore in college and applying to med school now? If you really wanted to experience Europe, but want to practice in the States/Canada, then go to a med school in US/Canada. Spend the summer before traveling Europe.

Some of my classmates have had time to travel a little bit, but most have not had time. Maybe during breaks, but again you can do that in a US med/Canadian med school and it would make your life a lot easier if that's where you ultimately want to practice.

JohnSnow is on the money. So just wanting to travel around Europe etc/ alone is not a good enough reason to come to Ireland imo esp for someone that wants to ultimately practice in N. America.

 

[athlete18]

I find it a little weird - you're a sophomore in college and applying to med school now?.

Yes, I am a sophmore in college, and I am doing very well? I don't understand how this is odd to you? I am sure you are aware that there are 3 schools in Ireland that have a six year program, and some students are given the right of passage to skip the the 1st year of six.
Obviously you attend an Irish medical school, what made you decide to go to Ireland over a North American school?

 

[macstjo]

Yes, I am a sophmore in college, and I am doing very well? I don't understand how this is odd to you? I am sure you are aware that there are 3 schools in Ireland that have a six year program, and some students are given the right of passage to skip the the 1st year of six.
Obviously you attend an Irish medical school, what made you decide to go to Ireland over a North American school?

It's because most people apply at the end of either college undergrad or highschool, so yes, it is odd to almost everyone here.