Advice from Americans in UK Medical schools

[abh5h3]

Hello, so I have been doing a lot of research and wanted to get some advice from Americans who have applied to UK medical schools, more favorably, those who have been accepted.

About me: Im a junior undergraduate studying Biology. My GPA is a 3.72, and my science GPA is probably somewhere in-between a 3.5-3.6. I am in undergraduate research, in leadership positions of my organizations, volunteer at a hospital, shadow regularly, and am going on a global medical bridge this summer to Africa. I studied abroad in England my sophomore year, and as a result, am not taking the MCAT this year because I was too overloaded with fitting it in and all the pre-reqs you should have before taking it. Essentially, I want to take the UKCAT and apply to UK medical schools this year, while still preparing to apply to american medical school during my senior year.

My Questions that I cant find on the internet:
First of all, the UK grading system is different from the US, so I am interested in knowing what someones GPA (and UKCAT score) was when they got accepted or even an interview for a UK Medical school. Additionally, based on my GPA and experience, do you think I have a favorable chance of getting in/ which schools do you think I would have the best chance of getting into in the UK. Along the same lines, does anyone know the ratio of international student that apply to medical school in the UK compared to those who get accepted? Where is this ratio more favorable? Which UK schools accept the most International students? Also, does the rule where you can only apply to 4 medical schools also apply to international school? Last, when do interviews usually run (what months)?

Answers to any of the questions would be greatly appreciated.

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[Law2Doc]

Hello, so I have been doing a lot of research and wanted to get some advice from Americans who have applied to UK medical schools, more favorably, those who have been accepted.

About me: Im a junior undergraduate studying Biology. My GPA is a 3.72, and my science GPA is probably somewhere in-between a 3.5-3.6. I am in undergraduate research, in leadership positions of my organizations, volunteer at a hospital, shadow regularly, and am going on a global medical bridge this summer to Africa. I studied abroad in England my sophomore year, and as a result, am not taking the MCAT this year because I was too overloaded with fitting it in and all the pre-reqs you should have before taking it. Essentially, I want to take the UKCAT and apply to UK medical schools this year, while still preparing to apply to american medical school during my senior year.

My Questions that I cant find on the internet:
First of all, the UK grading system is different from the US, so I am interested in knowing what someones GPA was when they got accepted or even an interview for a UK Medical school. Additionally, based on my GPA and experience, do you think I have a favorable chance of getting in/ which schools do you think I would have the best chance of getting into in the UK. Along the same lines, does anyone know the ratio of international student that apply to medical school in the UK compared to those who get accepted? Where is this ratio more favorable? Which UK schools accept the most International students? Also, does the rule where you can only apply to 4 medical schools also apply to international school? Last, when do interviews usually run (what months)?

Answers to any of the questions would be greatly appreciated.

I think you are omitting the biggest question of all, what you do after med school. Coming back to the US as an IMG isn't a low hurdle.

 

[abh5h3]

I appreciate your concern, but I already have thought it through. If I go to medical school in the UK I plan on practicing in the UK, ie living there and not coming back to the states.

If for some reason I want to try and come back and practice in American, which I don't think I will, there is a test you have to take for you to be able to practice in the US.

If you know the answer to any of my questions listed, that would be much appreciated.

 

[abh5h3]

Also, I wanted to ask, since I will have an undergraduate degree before being medical school, can I apply to a school for the 4 yr program and 5 year program, with this still counting as apply to '1 of the 4 medical schools?.' If I cant, would my chances increase by applying to the 4yr-post grad program opposed to the five year? I would prefer graduating in 4yrs, but am not opposed to 5.

Last question: I really do not understand how residency work in the UK. Can someone please explain this?

 

[Medstart108]

Hello, so I have been doing a lot of research and wanted to get some advice from Americans who have applied to UK medical schools, more favorably, those who have been accepted.

About me: Im a junior undergraduate studying Biology. My GPA is a 3.72, and my science GPA is probably somewhere in-between a 3.5-3.6. I am in undergraduate research, in leadership positions of my organizations, volunteer at a hospital, shadow regularly, and am going on a global medical bridge this summer to Africa. I studied abroad in England my sophomore year, and as a result, am not taking the MCAT this year because I was too overloaded with fitting it in and all the pre-reqs you should have before taking it. Essentially, I want to take the UKCAT and apply to UK medical schools this year, while still preparing to apply to american medical school during my senior year.

My Questions that I cant find on the internet:
First of all, the UK grading system is different from the US, so I am interested in knowing what someones GPA was when they got accepted or even an interview for a UK Medical school. Additionally, based on my GPA and experience, do you think I have a favorable chance of getting in/ which schools do you think I would have the best chance of getting into in the UK. Along the same lines, does anyone know the ratio of international student that apply to medical school in the UK compared to those who get accepted? Where is this ratio more favorable? Which UK schools accept the most International students? Also, does the rule where you can only apply to 4 medical schools also apply to international school? Last, when do interviews usually run (what months)?

Answers to any of the questions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm currently a 1st year in the UK came straight from high school in Canada so my situation is a bit different and i can't help you totally.

The deadline for applications is Oct 15 and interviews run anywhere from December until March.

Getting in as an international is very very difficult. The current situation in the UK stands that if you get into a UK medical school, you will be allowed to do at the very least your foundation years FY1 and 2 in the UK (this is equivalent to an intern year, you are paid). Most likely, you will be allowed to apply to specialize in the UK as well.

In the UK, medical schools are divided into schools that do PBL vs Traditional. PBL schools will use case based learning techniques while traditional schools will do more lectures

Also they are divided into Standard and Graduate Entry Medicine programs. Standard programs are 5 years with an optional intercalated "thesis" year which gives you a BSc (Hons) with it. GEM programs are 4 years and designed for graduates with a Bachelor's degree. Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL and St. Andrews have a 6 year degree awarding a BSc and a MBBS/MB ChB.

UK schools are also split into UKCAT focused, less UKCAT focused/not required, BMAT

BMAT is a biomedical admissions test which is required by Oxbridge, Imperial and UCL.
UKCAT is a medical test (similar to an IQ test although not really) which is used by the other 24-6 or so medical schools.
Depending on how you score on the UKCAT, you will choose different schools. Some schools use the UKCAT more heavily than others. Birmingham i know doesn't require UKCAT at all. I don't know the specific schools, you will have to do your own research for that.

The rule that you can only apply to 4 medical schools applies to everyone. So you have to pick your choices wisely.

Spots that are GMC supported (meaning you are allowed to do foundation years in the UK with potential to practice there) are capped at 7% of home/EU student spots.
Getting in as an international is very very hard. You are probably more likely to get a spot in a US medical school.

Avoid Birmingham and Manchester. These schools accept more internationals, but they have preference for internationals that come from countries that lack medical schools.
Avoid Oxford. They are notorious for accepting very few internationals. 2 years ago they accepted 2. Last year they accepted 1.

Apply to St. Georges, University of London. I think that school has probably the lowest standards (if there is such a thing) in the UK. St. Georges really values work experience so that will really go in your favor.

At St. Georges, there is an international program (that won't allow you to do your foundation years in the UK!!!) It is a 6 year BSc/MBBS program. You will do 2 years preclinical sciences, 2 years clinical in the UK, 2 years clinical in the US. This program is probably even easier than the standard St. Georges program, but it is designed for you to apply to the US and won't allow you to practice in the UK.

Its similar to St. Georges U of Caribbean, it is called INTO SGUL, indeed it shares the same name almost. It lasts 2 years longer (more tuition fees) and the preliminary hospital in the US is a pretty garbage one in maryland (not university affiliated). The program also is very new, so indeed things may change. They could partner up with a better hospital, or it could all go downhill. I would not recommend this program though especially if you don't like to gamble with your future

This all depends on where you want to practice. If you want to practice in the US only.

US MD>DO>UK MD=INTO SGUL (keep in mind this INTO SGUL started a year ago)

If you are willing to practice in the UK and the US, but still prefer US (i.e. you just want to be a doctor)

US MD> DO>UK MD

Either way, applying to the UK will require a lot more work and they have similar standards to US MD schools.

 

[Medstart108]

Also, I wanted to ask, since I will have an undergraduate degree before being medical school, can I apply to a school for the 4 yr program and 5 year program, with this still counting as apply to '1 of the 4 medical schools?.' If I cant, would my chances increase by applying to the 4yr-post grad program opposed to the five year? I would prefer graduating in 4yrs, but am not opposed to 5.

Last question: I really do not understand how residency work in the UK. Can someone please explain this?

Sorry for double post, but this will make it easier to read (not a block of text).

If you apply to the 4yr and 5yr program at the same school i believe this will count as 2. When you apply on UCAS, you are selected the program not the school. So if you decide to apply to 2 programs at the same school that counts as 2 not 1.

The GEM programs i mentioned in my previous post are more difficult to get into (some programs are said to have 60 applicants per place (consider that you are only allowed to apply to 4 programs. That is ridiculously competitive). There are fewer spots in those programs, fewer schools offer the programs (16) and a lot of people as you might imagine, decide they want medicine after high school.

I'm assuming you don't want to do a 6 year program that gives you another Bachelor's (pretty useless). In that case avoid Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL and St. Andrews standard programs. Cambridge, Imperial and UCL both have GEM programs that are 4 years however, so apply to those.

The specialty training process in the UK is

FY1
FY2

Then you apply for a specialty

Specialty Registrar 3 years for GP (FM) 6+ for specialists

After that you are called a consultant (attending) for specialists or GP for family physicians

UK physician hours are much better than the US. There are EU work hour rules and if you know the europeans you know that they don't work many hours

UK pay is also lower to compensate, however they tend to start off high but don't go up as fast as in the US.