advise me

[Andhrite]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi!

I am from India. I am 30 years old. After 10th standard, I finished XI and XII standards with Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and English as subjects with English as medium of instruction. I have finished my B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1997 from India with 69.5%. I am one among the top five rankers and topped in class in gynecology and obstetrics. As you would be aware that BAMS is a 5-1/2-year medical course including 1 year of internship recognized by Medical Council of India, but this does not deal with modern medicine (allopathy). It deals with Indian medicine (traditional medical system), but in our program, we also deal with the modern medicine (allopathy), as we are asked to describe the allopathic aspects in the term paper to gain more marks. On the whole, we are familiar not only with Indian Medicine but also with modern medicine. We have history, anatomy, physiology, forensic medicine, pharmacology, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, general medicine, ENT, surgery, etc. as contents of the course. Except pharmacology, we will be reading theory part of allopathy along with our Indian medicine for every subject, but our practical experience related to modern medicine is somewhat limited, as we were taught what we are allowed to do legally. On the whole, I want to convey that we can practice our system individually, but should work as assistants if we want to work in the realm of modern medicine.

After I finished my BAMS, I was into that field for 2-3 years, during which time I learned MTP (abortions), tubectomy to name a few. I also used to assist in major operations in gynecology and obstetrics. At this time, the concept of medical transcription has entered into India (outsourcing from US), at which time I started my career as instructor teaching medical terms to the trainees, after which I became editor and quality controller in the same. Right now, I started my own business of medical transcription and running a small unit.

We have applied for emigration to Canada and received the file number. It may tentatively take a period of 1-1/2 years, ie by 2008 January, for me to get Immigration Visa to Canada. Upon reaching Canada as permanent resident, I want to give priority to pursuing medical education there. As far as my knowledge, I would not get a chance to enroll myself into the graduate program directly. Hence, I want to pursue undergraduate medicine program. For that, I am preparing for MCAT now, as MCAT is valid for 5 years and preparing for MCAT there might be difficult for me. I also wrote TOEFL and got 260.

I will be highly obliged if I could get answers for my following queries.

1. I want to know what is the minimum GPA required to get admission into medical colleges in Canada. Will my GPA be sufficient to get admission into it?

2. I know whether my BAMS degree carries any advantage or disadvantage over others?

3. It may take two more years to get our immigration Visa. Meanwhile, can I get admission into any other medical college in US so that I can finish half of the course by the time I get my visa, at which point I can transfer my course to Canadian medical college?

4. I heard that competition is very less in Newfoundland Medical University and moreover there is reservation for its residents. Then, if I opt Newfoundland as our destination, will I be eligible for reservation?

5. Are there any fair chances for me to get admission into the medical college if my MCAT score is around 30? If I do not have fair chances, then I want to look into other options. What will be the best options available considering my educational background?

 

[retroviridae]

Hi!

I am from India. I am 30 years old. After 10th standard, I finished XI and XII standards with Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and English as subjects with English as medium of instruction. I have finished my B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1997 from India with 69.5%. I am one among the top five rankers and topped in class in gynecology and obstetrics. As you would be aware that BAMS is a 5-1/2-year medical course including 1 year of internship recognized by Medical Council of India, but this does not deal with modern medicine (allopathy). It deals with Indian medicine (traditional medical system), but in our program, we also deal with the modern medicine (allopathy), as we are asked to describe the allopathic aspects in the term paper to gain more marks. On the whole, we are familiar not only with Indian Medicine but also with modern medicine. We have history, anatomy, physiology, forensic medicine, pharmacology, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, general medicine, ENT, surgery, etc. as contents of the course. Except pharmacology, we will be reading theory part of allopathy along with our Indian medicine for every subject, but our practical experience related to modern medicine is somewhat limited, as we were taught what we are allowed to do legally. On the whole, I want to convey that we can practice our system individually, but should work as assistants if we want to work in the realm of modern medicine.

After I finished my BAMS, I was into that field for 2-3 years, during which time I learned MTP (abortions), tubectomy to name a few. I also used to assist in major operations in gynecology and obstetrics. At this time, the concept of medical transcription has entered into India (outsourcing from US), at which time I started my career as instructor teaching medical terms to the trainees, after which I became editor and quality controller in the same. Right now, I started my own business of medical transcription and running a small unit.

We have applied for emigration to Canada and received the file number. It may tentatively take a period of 1-1/2 years, ie by 2008 January, for me to get Immigration Visa to Canada. Upon reaching Canada as permanent resident, I want to give priority to pursuing medical education there. As far as my knowledge, I would not get a chance to enroll myself into the graduate program directly. Hence, I want to pursue undergraduate medicine program. For that, I am preparing for MCAT now, as MCAT is valid for 5 years and preparing for MCAT there might be difficult for me. I also wrote TOEFL and got 260.

I will be highly obliged if I could get answers for my following queries.

1. I want to know what is the minimum GPA required to get admission into medical colleges in Canada. Will my GPA be sufficient to get admission into it?

2. I know whether my BAMS degree carries any advantage or disadvantage over others?

3. It may take two more years to get our immigration Visa. Meanwhile, can I get admission into any other medical college in US so that I can finish half of the course by the time I get my visa, at which point I can transfer my course to Canadian medical college?

4. I heard that competition is very less in Newfoundland Medical University and moreover there is reservation for its residents. Then, if I opt Newfoundland as our destination, will I be eligible for reservation?

5. Are there any fair chances for me to get admission into the medical college if my MCAT score is around 30? If I do not have fair chances, then I want to look into other options. What will be the best options available considering my educational background?

anyone who comes to the US from India and wishes to repeat medical school (as you know you would have to do since Ayurveda doesn't count here) or do medicine for the first time, has to retake some of the undergraduate courses required for medical school. I think your best bet is to enroll in a post-baccaulareate pre-med program. Usually takes 1-2 years and you finish all the pre-med requirements without having to repeat an entire bachelor's degree. Try to get into the best one you can: Harvard, University of Virginia, I think Hopkins, and many others, don't know about Canada). Then you can apply like a regular applicant to med school in Canada or US.

 

[Andhrite]

anyone who comes to the US from India and wishes to repeat medical school (as you know you would have to do since Ayurveda doesn't count here) or do medicine for the first time, has to retake some of the undergraduate courses required for medical school. I think your best bet is to enroll in a post-baccaulareate pre-med program. Usually takes 1-2 years and you finish all the pre-med requirements without having to repeat an entire bachelor's degree. Try to get into the best one you can: Harvard, University of Virginia, I think Hopkins, and many others, don't know about Canada). Then you can apply like a regular applicant to med school in Canada or US.

Thank you for your immediate response.

In my case, I have finished 10+2 (higher secondary after class X) with Botony (2 years), Zoology (2 years), Physics (2 years), Inorganic chemistry (1 year), and organic chemistry (1 year) - all the courses with lab work as well as English (2 years). Now I want to know whether these can be considered as pre-med courses or not. The above-mentioned courses were the pre-requisite courses for medical courses like ayurvedic and allopathic medicine. Expecting an immediate reply from you.

 

[priyanka]

Thank you for your immediate response.

In my case, I have finished 10+2 (higher secondary after class X) with Botony (2 years), Zoology (2 years), Physics (2 years), Inorganic chemistry (1 year), and organic chemistry (1 year) - all the courses with lab work as well as English (2 years). Now I want to know whether these can be considered as pre-med courses or not. The above-mentioned courses were the pre-requisite courses for medical courses like ayurvedic and allopathic medicine. Expecting an immediate reply from you.

Hi there!

I did my 12th grade in India, Bombay. Took the boards and the CET exams for the Med school, because I was planning on going to Med school there. but then when we recieved our visas, my family decided that they'd rather have the kids study in the US. So we come here. Still having medicine in my mind, I get told that EVERYTHING I did in india until 12th grade was disregarded. Because its hard for them to account it in the GPA. Its hard to convert marks or percentages into GPA, just because they can't estimate how competitive you are as compared to the other students in the US. SO whatever you did in India doesn't matter, on the 12th grade level. So, the answer to your question, unfortunately is that no, whatever you did in India will NOT count as pre requisites for your science classes. However, I dont know if there is a possiblity that you can take USMLE steps for ayurvedic schools as well? or is it just for MBBS people? I would say that if you're getting a good job with your degree in india itself, there is really no point in coming to the US, just for the sake of its glamour. Its not all that, as it sounds from a distance. You'll be wasting your life's work. I dont know if you care or not. There is a website, i cant remember on top of my head which might be more helpful to you, in determining your chances and options of what you can do, if you really want to come to the US.

Hope this helps.
-priyanka

 

[retroviridae]

yep, as Priyanka said 10+2 is equivalent only to US high school education. So you will be considered as having done no undergraduate work other than your Ayurveda. And no, the Ayurvedic degree is not recognized to take the USMLE.

 

[Andhrite]

Hi there!

I did my 12th grade in India, Bombay. Took the boards and the CET exams for the Med school, because I was planning on going to Med school there. but then when we recieved our visas, my family decided that they'd rather have the kids study in the US. So we come here. Still having medicine in my mind, I get told that EVERYTHING I did in india until 12th grade was disregarded. Because its hard for them to account it in the GPA. Its hard to convert marks or percentages into GPA, just because they can't estimate how competitive you are as compared to the other students in the US. SO whatever you did in India doesn't matter, on the 12th grade level. So, the answer to your question, unfortunately is that no, whatever you did in India will NOT count as pre requisites for your science classes. However, I dont know if there is a possiblity that you can take USMLE steps for ayurvedic schools as well? or is it just for MBBS people? I would say that if you're getting a good job with your degree in india itself, there is really no point in coming to the US, just for the sake of its glamour. Its not all that, as it sounds from a distance. You'll be wasting your life's work. I dont know if you care or not. There is a website, i cant remember on top of my head which might be more helpful to you, in determining your chances and options of what you can do, if you really want to come to the US.

Hope this helps.
-priyanka

Hi!

Right now, my plan is not to go to US. My family has decided to go to Canada. Our application for Canada immigration is in the process. I know that I have to start a new life there that too from a scratch. As I have 1-2 years to reach Canada, I want to prepare ground to establish myself in Canada. First of all, I want to make it clear that trying to get into medical school is one of my options. My next option is pursuing hospital administration. I am still searching for options open to me in Canada, preferably in medical field. If you are in medical field, can you tell me what options are available in the medical field considering my background? I heard something like physician assistant. How will it be? I want the options to be very competitive and should have an assured future. I am ready to work hard. I think there is nothing wrong in giving a fair trial.

If it is possible, I want to give top priority to medicine. At the same time, I do not want to run behind impossible things. But, I am getting confused day by day, as there is no clear picture regarding international admissions into medical schools. My basic doubt is that if US and Canada medical schools do not entertain international candidates, then why are they conducting MCAT outside US and Canada?

Right now, my plan is to write MCAT in India. I recently finished TOEFL and got 260. I am planning to have my credentials (course-by-course) evaluated by WES so that I will come to know credit points and GPA. If I get good score in MCAT, then I will try to finish some pre-med course if it is required. Don’t you think it is worth spending 1-2 years more for medicine? Tell me your opinion regarding this? If I do not get good score, I will look into other options. What are the other options I can consider?

 

[Andhrite]

yep, as Priyanka said 10+2 is equivalent only to US high school education. So you will be considered as having done no undergraduate work other than your Ayurveda. And no, the Ayurvedic degree is not recognized to take the USMLE.

Hi!

I do not want to continue in Ayurvedic lines anymore. I want to change my field, but prefer to be in medical field. Atleast in Canada, I want to enter into some competitive courses. Can you suggest me few options open to me in medical field? Please read the reply I have given to Priyanka and tell your opinion regarding my future plan? I want to know your opinion on other options like hospital administation and physician assistant?

 

[retroviridae]

Hi!

I do not want to continue in Ayurvedic lines anymore. I want to change my field, but prefer to be in medical field. Atleast in Canada, I want to enter into some competitive courses. Can you suggest me few options open to me in medical field? Please read the reply I have given to Priyanka and tell your opinion regarding my future plan? I want to know your opinion on other options like hospital administation and physician assistant?

I would NOT take the MCAT until you have retaken those courses either in US or Canada. If you want to go to med school, or even PA school, you will have to take these courses again at a University here. It is extremely difficult to get into a US med school if you did not graduate your BS in the US. Being foreign has nothing to do with it. PA is a good career, hospital admin is a good career. Those are masters courses you could get in without having to redo courses here.