alternatives to carribean?

Started by bluedm2010
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bluedm2010

Full Member
10+ Year Member
can anybody tell me what would be some good med schools outside of the US that meet these criteria:

1. NOT carribean
2. easier admission than the US
3. spend a portion of med school years in the US
4. able to practice medicine in the US

thanks!😎
 
bluedm2010 said:
can anybody tell me what would be some good med schools outside of the US that meet these criteria:

1. NOT carribean
2. easier admission than the US
3. spend a portion of med school years in the US
4. able to practice medicine in the US

thanks!😎
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Although I'm not sure why you're asking this question, I want to warn you that the downfalls of attending a carribean school applies to other international medschools as well.
 
Nothing meets these requirements. Can you imagine if there was an alternative? It'd spread over SDN like wildfire.
 
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend anything abroad. It is entirely feasible to get your medical degree abroad, and come to the US later, but I think the risk is too high.

That said, and to address your question, I've gotten flyers for the School of Medicine and Ochsner Clinical School at The University of Queensland. My advisor also recommended looking into them. The first two years are in Australia, the second two in L.A.

I know a bunch of EU countries leave open spots for American applicants, but I don't think they rotate in the US. I know Israel has a few programs where there are US rotations. I firmly believe, if one is going the FMG route, Caribbean >>> everything else as far as matching is concerned.

I hope that helps.
 
Might I suggest Puerto Rico...
No, their four schools are notCarribbean.
They are all LCME approved. Graduates enter the match as US MD graduates.
Average MCAT scores are in the 23 range with GPAs around the low end of average for US schools.

You probably need to know some Spanish.
 
NurWollen said:
Might I suggest Puerto Rico...
No, their four schools are notCarribbean.
They are all LCME approved. Graduates enter the match as US MD graduates.
Average MCAT scores are in the 23 range with GPAs around the low end of average for US schools.

You probably need to know some Spanish.
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I'm sorry I've read on this site before the program is in English and Spanish. Majority wise in Spanish. I could be wrong.

http://www.md.rcm.upr.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=88
 
Oz isn't a good option right now because they increased the # of med spots but not internships (thats what they're called there)....international grads get last priority and until they figure it out there's a big risk of you not getting one. That means you can't finish becomming a doctor there and it's very very difficult to come back to do your residency (I've spoken to a few people who have done this and they said its an awful process and you're stuck with family medicine...if you're even that lucky).
So basically until they sort things out (which maybe they have now because I was looking about a year ago), you can get abour $200 000 in debt and not actually have anything useful to show for it. Some people are still doing it and counting on everything being straightened out by the time they're done in 4 years. I was also told Queensland is a bad choice because that state (or province or whatever) has more grads and it goes state by state for internships. I was told Flinders in Adelaide is a good one in case you're still interested.

It sucks cuz Oz is an awesome place and it would be great to go to school there and even live there imo.

Good Luck!
 
Sinfest said:
I believe you are correct. Fluency in Spanish, along with a connection to Puerto Rico, are pretty much required.
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Agreeing with you, I've always been told to consider PR schools no differently than state schools with in-state bias.

Also agreeing with you, I have also heard that it is 100% Spanish.
 
taylormade2006 said:
Agreeing with you, I've always been told to consider PR schools no differently than state schools with in-state bias.

Also agreeing with you, I have also heard that it is 100% Spanish.
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I have heard you can get by with minimal Spanish for the 1st two years, giving you time to be fluent by the time clinicals come around.

UPR is the only public school in Puerto Rico and has a strong in-state bias. However, Ponce, San Juan Bautista, and Universidad Central del Caribe are private and accept non-puerto ricans.

I am fluent in Spanish, but what might keep me from applying are the unusual prereqs. 12 credits of behaviorial sciences (????)
 
NurWollen said:
Actually I just checked their websites... it looks like Spanish fluency is required. But not anything about PR residency... UCC even has travel info for non-residents.
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The fluency is required because pre-clinicals can be taught in either english or spanish (at the whim of the instructor) and most choose the spanish route. Likewise, tests can be written in english or spanish.

At the end of the day I didn't feel my spanish speaking skills were strong enough to probably get me through the 2nd day of school.

I looked into these schools because the underserved population I will probably be serving one day will most likely consist of a good portion of spanish speakers.
 
One classmate of mine interviewed at a puerto rico school and told me that professors either lecture entirely in spanish or english, its up to them. So fluency in spanish is definitely needed for classrooms and not just clinical stuff.
 
bluedm2010 said:
can anybody tell me what would be some good med schools outside of the US that meet these criteria:

1. NOT carribean
2. easier admission than the US
3. spend a portion of med school years in the US
4. able to practice medicine in the US

thanks!😎
Click to expand...

I think singapore may have something.
 
christine121 said:
Oz isn't a good option right now because they increased the # of med spots but not internships
Click to expand...

Except that this program has their students do all of their third and fourth years in the US so that they can get a residency in the US

To the OP, Israel and Australia do offer programs, but understand that the Ochsner program has an average MCAT of 28, and Ben Gurion has an average MCAT of 29.

academics.ochsner.org/uploadedFiles/Education/.../UQprogramfacts.pdf
http://www.gs.columbia.edu/postbac/ben-gurion-university-negev
 
bluedm2010 said:
can anybody tell me what would be some good med schools outside of the US that meet these criteria:

1. NOT carribean
2. easier admission than the US
3. spend a portion of med school years in the US
4. able to practice medicine in the US

thanks!😎
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the principal of "the better the school, the harder it is to get in" seems to apply most of the time.

Now, to answer your questions.

1. NOT carribean
Anywhere else in the world other than the Caribbean.
2. easier admission than the US
Varies. Too many schools in too many different countries looking at too many different things. Try narrowing your criteria and looking into the individual requirements of each individual school.
3. spend a portion of med school years in the US
Now here's the tricky part. Some schools have clinical programs based in the US. Others will let you rotate in the US as long as you can prove equivalency and arrange your own rotations. The Caribbean schools, Sackler and Technion in Israel, UQ-Ochsner in Australia, Polish medical schools affiliated to Hope Medical Institute, etc have programs tailor-made to US applicants in which US students can complete all/the majority of clinical rotations in the US. Our Lady of Fatima in Philippines gives a select few a chance to rotate in affiliated hospitals in the US. Some schools in the Philippines will let you rotate in the US so long as you arrange them on your own (or with the help of an agency) and can prove equivalency when it comes to receiving credit for them.
4. able to practice medicine in the US
Attending any medical school which is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED - https://imed.faimer.org/) will make you eligible to get certified by the ECFMG. However, passing the USMLE, gaining residency, getting licensed are all different stories.

Some good schools which do not allow you to rotate in the US include UK and Irish medical schools, Weil Cornell in Qatar, Duke-NUS in Singapore etc, but admission is quite competitive.

And as many have said earlier, it is a whole different ball game once you step out of the US, no matter where you attend medical school.

Check out the foreign schools section here and also http://www.valuemd.com for more info.
 
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Here's an alternative nobody that I havent seen mentioned before:

http://www.medschool.cm-uj.krakow.p...alerie2&akcja=rozwin&grupy_kod=2&kod=7&kod2=7

It's one of the premier and oldest universities in Poland located in Krakow, one of the greatest cities in the world!!! (im biased)

While i never did my full research about the program, all the classes are in english and you can do rotations in Cali, and they also have some sort of residency match plan having to do with Cali. I met two med students doing clinical rotations while volunteering in the ER here in chicago, and they had nothing but good things to say about the school. Hope this helps! 👍
 
atown16 said:
Here's an alternative nobody that I havent seen mentioned before:

http://www.medschool.cm-uj.krakow.p...alerie2&akcja=rozwin&grupy_kod=2&kod=7&kod2=7

It's one of the premier and oldest universities in Poland located in Krakow, one of the greatest cities in the world!!! (im biased)

While i never did my full research about the program, all the classes are in english and you can do rotations in Cali, and they also have some sort of residency match plan having to do with Cali. I met two med students doing clinical rotations while volunteering in the ER here in chicago, and they had nothing but good things to say about the school. Hope this helps! 👍
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I see a lot of mixed things about the Polish medical schools... the programs themselves seem ok if you are self motivated... but I haven't been able to find any grads (other than polish nationals or people with polish ancestry) practicing here in the US.

I'll stick with DO, and maybe Puerto Rico.
 
NurWollen said:
I see a lot of mixed things about the Polish medical schools... the programs themselves seem ok if you are self motivated... but I haven't been able to find any grads (other than polish nationals or people with polish ancestry) practicing here in the US.

I'll stick with DO, and maybe Puerto Rico.
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I cant deny that, and I personally am first generation American with polish background, so thats why it appealed to me as a last resort. I do believe that somewhere within those pages they have an alumni directory where you may be able to contact someone and find more info as far as that is concerned. This may go without saying, but obviously attending this school carries the same risks as any international school.
 
TheSeanieB said:
I think singapore may have something.
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I was just in singapore.Singapore itself is the cleanest place you will ever go in the world, by a landslide. There is no gum or cigarette buds on the streets and the main part (most likely where the schools are) is very very developed (all new modern buildings)

However, i would not recommend going there as an American. Most habits that are common to american culture are highly frowned upon there and illegel. For example, it is illegal to talk about politics, sex, or religion. You will be arrested if you are heard talking about this. It is illegal to chew gum. Drinking is frowned up and thus, alcohol is VERY expensive. Talking loudly is also highly frowned upon

If you get caught with half a joint (marijuana for you kids who are sheltered), you get hung...no questions asked.

If the above habits dont sound like you, than by all means look into Singapore, it is beautiful, modern, and easily a first class country (TONS of money)
 
Personally, I think the OP is a troll. Hasn't reposted and in reality, this is a topic that has been covered many times before. If you want to practice in the US your best bet is to go to a US school, the distant second is Carib and many people make it back from the Carib, but some don't... Other countries, I think it's going to be even riskier, unless you're talking about Canada or GB...
 
drctother said:
I was just in singapore.Singapore itself is the cleanest place you will ever go in the world, by a landslide. There is no gum or cigarette buds on the streets and the main part (most likely where the schools are) is very very developed (all new modern buildings)

However, i would not recommend going there as an American. Most habits that are common to american culture are highly frowned upon there and illegel. For example, it is illegal to talk about politics, sex, or religion. You will be arrested if you are heard talking about this. It is illegal to chew gum. Drinking is frowned up and thus, alcohol is VERY expensive. Talking loudly is also highly frowned upon

If you get caught with half a joint (marijuana for you kids who are sheltered), you get hung...no questions asked.

If the above habits dont sound like you, than by all means look into Singapore, it is beautiful, modern, and easily a first class country (TONS of money)
Click to expand...

:wow: seriously?? they really do that??
 
Lukat said:
:wow: seriously?? they really do that??
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Yeah, I've heard about that too. They have a very strict drug policy. The country might sound pretty boring, but with their no gum laws and zero tolerance drug laws, I hear the cities are really clean there. It's probably a place most Americans can't handle though. Drugs. alcohol, and disturbing the peace are instilled in our American blood.
 
drctother said:
I was just in singapore.Singapore itself is the cleanest place you will ever go in the world, by a landslide. There is no gum or cigarette buds on the streets and the main part (most likely where the schools are) is very very developed (all new modern buildings)

However, i would not recommend going there as an American. Most habits that are common to american culture are highly frowned upon there and illegel. For example, it is illegal to talk about politics, sex, or religion. You will be arrested if you are heard talking about this. It is illegal to chew gum. Drinking is frowned up and thus, alcohol is VERY expensive. Talking loudly is also highly frowned upon

If you get caught with half a joint (marijuana for you kids who are sheltered), you get hung...no questions asked.

If the above habits dont sound like you, than by all means look into Singapore, it is beautiful, modern, and easily a first class country (TONS of money)
Click to expand...

I need to move to Singapore, this place sounds perfect for me. 😀
 
NurWollen said:
Does anyone have any idea how strongly puerto rico schools emphasize research?
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My guess is they will be more interested in why you are wanting to attend their schools rather than having research. I'm sure they get their fair share of applicants looking for a backdoor into allopathic medicine. If the research is aimed at the demographics of Peurto Rico (ie prevelant IDs that affect the island) I'm guessing it would then help, otherwise I'd spend my time being able to illiterate in both english and spanish as to why I want to attend school on the island.
 
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