Another "What should I do" thread...

[PeterJH]

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25 y/o Canadian currently finishing up masters in biomedical engineering in the UK. Graduated from canadian university in bioengineering with a 76% average (I'm assuming thats around 3.3-3.4 GPA). Have taken, Chemistry I/II, Physics I/II, O.Chem I, and Math (no Bio I/II or O.Chem II). I only did well in O.Chem I and Math. I'd definately have to redo Chemistry and Physics. What are my options?

I've looked into some SMP programs and you need to have completed all the prereqs which I haven't.

I've looked at postbac programs (ex. Georgetown) but they say you can't have taken more than half the prereqs and you can't repeat courses you've already taken.

I really want to do the MD in the US (basically as I know I don't stand a chance in Canada, and wouldn't mind working in the US afterwards anyways).

Here's what I'm assuming my only two options are:
1) Go back to my uni in Canada and repeat/finish the prereqs, write the MCAT and then apply after a year or two.
2) Go abroad to somewhere like Australia where there are no prereqs and hope to land a residency in the US afterwards?

Any other options I can take in order to get into med school in the US?!? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! Would repeating/finishing the prereqs at my old uni in Canada be a good idea?!?

 

[Maxprime]

If you want to practice in the US, you really want to go to a US medical school - you will have much better residency options.

Take your classes at a post-bacc program or just take courses as a non-degree seeking student.

 

[PeterJH]

Should I take a post-bacc program in the US or Canada?!? Would it be good to do the post-bacc at a university in the US which has a potential med school to apply to afterwards or is that not necessary?

Also, what is the difference between a post-bacc program and taking classes on your own at a university?

 

[montessori2md]

I guess, my question is, can you do a post-bacc in the US?

If the answer is yes, you could get accepted to a US University under some sort of circumstance, you have a bevy of options awaiting you:

1) enroll as an undergraduate at a decent US university (a large state school or a well-respected private, not necessarily talking Ivy), finish your prereqs and eventually obtain a US BA or BS (undergrad degree) if that's necessary.

2) if you have a degree from a CA school, apply to a master's program here in the US, and while enrolled, complete the pre-reqs. Typically master's students are permitted to take undergraduate classes, and sometimes pay less for them (I'm from a liberal arts background, so the equivalent, in my previous life, would have been to take, say, Mandarin Chinese classes).

3) also if you have a degree, There is the "SMP" or "special masters program" category here in pre-med world, but I wouldn't necessarily do that, unless you have some hope of using that if you couldn't get into medical school.

I think a good pre-health advisor would suggest that, whatever you choose, you choose with not only medical school in mind, but also a back-up plan in case you are not accepted, even if it's just a way to kill time while waiting to reapply. So, if it were me, I'd go do a master's in biochem or organic, and then I could kill time doing research or doing a PhD. Or I'd do an undergrad program that included pre-reqs to apply to physicians assistant programs, etc.

I also think you should consider cost. There is some hope that with a traditional master's program, you could receive grants in exchange for teaching. Graduate tuition is typically higher than undergraduate tuition.
You might consider which states you'd want to live in during medical school, and explore whether you could establish in-state residency (I have NO idea on that one).
Good luck!

 

[MeowMix]

As you already know, your chances are slim for getting into med school in Canada, but it's cheaper than the US! Can you increase your chances by passing yourself off as a francophone?

Only some US med schools will accept you, as a foreign student without a green card or citizenship. As a non-resident or citizen, you can never establish residency for in-state tuition purposes. You can probably get in somewhere (DO schools are particularly open to Canadian students), but it will be EXPENSIVE without scholarships, and you will not qualify for govt loans. You can always hope the loonie keeps rising for the next year or two, but that's a difficult plan.

It's a whole lot easier to go to med school in Canada and residency in the US than the other way round. And if you ever want to go home to practice, Canada does not recognize the US license as valid; you have to repeat residency. Also, there are additional problems for DO grads in Canada.

I recently met a good Canadian student from Toronto who chose the Caribbean route for med school, and now is going into US residency. THis is another viable but expensive option; you might not have to repeat your prereqs, however, which would be a bonus.

There is no easy path for you, unfortunately!