applying to the US from the UK...

[melamela]

I have a bachelors from Cambridge in Natural Sciences (specialised in pharmacology), graduated 10 years ago and have been working in finance/banking since.

Thinking of applying to medschool in the US.

First question...MCAT in 4 weeks what is the chance of me getting a decent score with just a month study!?!? any top tips?

Second question...what is the attitude in the US to older graduates? are there any in particular who are "mature friendly"?

Third question...anyone have any idea what the visa situation is?

cheers
Melanie

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[doublepeak]

I have a bachelors from Cambridge in Natural Sciences (specialised in pharmacology), graduated 10 years ago and have been working in finance/banking since.

Thinking of applying to medschool in the US.

First question...MCAT in 4 weeks what is the chance of me getting a decent score with just a month study!?!? any top tips?

Second question...what is the attitude in the US to older graduates? are there any in particular who are "mature friendly"?

Third question...anyone have any idea what the visa situation is?

cheers
Melanie

Do not take the MCAT in August, especially because you haven't taken science courses recently. It tests your science knowledge, not just your aptitute. It tests 1 years worth of university level inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics on the test. If you haven't taken these courses recently they will likely look heavily on your MCAT scores for proof that you still remember the information...and it may be wise to take some courses. For US students the deadline to register for August has even already passed but I don't know about international sites. You probably should not even apply for this "cycle" of applications (for the 2006 entering class). Applications were available at the beginning of June and anyone taking the August MCAT is at a disadvantage in applying because most schools have rolling admissions. On the MCAT's website you can take a free full length practice MCAT, so that would be helpful in guaging where you are.

Most schools are very open to nontraditional (that is what we call it when someone has not gone in straight from undergrad) applicants. Most consider it as a positive unless you are much older (40+).

I don't know anything about visas. However, some schools flat out say that they do not accept students who are not US residents/citizens/or have certain visas (some do not even accept people out of a certain state!). I suggest purchasing the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) book, found at www.aamc.org for around $25US, that spells out the process for applying to medical school in the US and requirements and contact info for each school. The AAMC supervises the centralized application service, AMCAS, and gives the MCAT

If you ask on the "pre-allopathic" or "pre-osteopathic" forums, people may know more information pertaining to international students and visa requirements.

If you know any information for the reverse (US student trying to go to the UK) please let me know. I am going to post my situation in another thread.

 

[melamela]

I agree with you, having read more about it in the last 24 hours I am guessing I would have to look to sitting it in April instead.

The bigger issue seems to be with the requirement for the english and physics courses at undergrad which I haven't done. I am not sure how sympathetic universities would be. I guess I should contact them direct.

For applying to the UK check out www.medschoolguide.co.uk it has everything you could want to know and has been extremely helpful. Also www.ucas.ac.uk which is the application system through which ALL students applying for undergrad in the UK have to go through, if you view it by course you can see the full list of medicine courses in the UK. You are only allowed to apply to a maximum of 4 med schools so you have to choose carefully.

What I would say is that in the UK the vast majority of people go straight from school into medicine as undergraduates, and follow a 5 year course. Recently, due to a lack of doctors on the NHS, there has been a move towards Graduate Entry Programmes (GEP). These are 4 year courses and for the most part you already have to have an undergraduate degree in some kind of science, normally at the biology/biochemistry end of the spectrum, but some require you to sit an entrance exam (it varies from uni to uni) at which point they look at your success in that rather than in your previous academic life.

The only problem with GEP is that many only take UK residents, and the competition is fierce (30-50 applicants per place). Despite being qualified to apply for the GEP programmes I am choosing to go for 5 year programmes, as most take 20%+ of mature/graduate students and some even more (some less), again the forums on the medschoolguide will give you lots of info.

Best thing to do is call the admissions offices they are very helpful.

If you are going for entry in 2006 then applications open 1 September and close 15 October (apply online at UCAS, this includes personal statement and reference).

Any questions let me know.
Melanie