rituritu said:
Hello everyone,
I have no medical background. I recently have looked into applying to med school. It's something that I've always wanted to but never had the courage. I don't have any of the premed requirements. I recently discovered that a few programs accept students without premeds. I have a friend in Belize and I am considering applying. I just need advice. What are my options if I want to go asap?? Is going to a school that has only been open for less than ten years a safe route? My friend who is there loves it and had the same dilemma as me before she left. I just want to make the best decision. Any advice is greatly appreciated. thanks
The most important issue is being able to be licensed in a state. Going to any foriegn medical school has it limits. However, if your like me and others who have made the decision to go to a foriegn medical, you'll do your research before packing your bags and heading out of the country.
You'll have to deal with people mocking you, thinking your less than them and some medical boards not accepting you upon graduation. I personally made the decision that if I could only be licensed in one state, it is well worth the price. This is just me. Others think I'm crazy when there are other options such as applying to a DO school or going to a caribbean medical school that has more state licensing options.
You'll have to look into the quality of education you'll recieve. It is important for you to understand that most foriegn medical school do not train their physician to take the USMLE or ECFMG. If you choose a foriegn medical school that is intended on educating their student to practice in that country, they can care less about the USMLE or ECFMG. However, if you attend a foriegn medical school that is intended on sending their students back to the US, they tend to focus on passing the USMLE/ECFMG.
Another issue you may want to look into is finding out if you graduate, can you practice medicine in that country? Does the school offer rotations in that country? Is the school accredited in that country? Does the school have teaching hospitals affliated with the school? The list can go on about financial aid, housing, transportation, ect.
I have found that the less years the school has been in operation, the more risk is associated with it. Medical boards are coming down hard on US foriegn medical graduates. This is true for schools that the boards feel are not comparable to that of the US medical school education requirements. For example, some states require that all pre-med work be down before being accepted into medical school. Other require that the graduate be abel to be licensed in the country they graduated. Other require that students have a certain amount of time at the main campus. Some have banned schools all together. These are just few of the issues you'll have to face.
By no means am I trying to say you should not go. I'm only trying to say you need to fully understand this before going aboard.
Hope this helps.
