Big Medical/Life question

[mohammadz]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have a few medical school questions I was wondering if this nice community could help me out with.

I was wondering if it would be better to study in Pakistan or in America?

If I study in Pakistan, Would America or Europe think of me as a inferior doctor or not even recognize me as a doctor? (My dad was a engineer in Pakistan but when he came to the USA, he was not recognized as a engineer.)

Would Hospitals like it more that i studied from America/Pakistan? (I guess the second question is like that.)

Should I finish 4 years of college here and then go to Pakistan and study as a doctor? (My parent's say that I wont have to waste my time with the 4 years and can go directly to med school over there, but I don't really believe them.)

Is there any financial aid I can get if I study in Pakistan?

I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I'd like to make lot's of money when I became a doctor, so what type of doctor makes the most money?

P.S. My main plan was to go to community college then U.C. Davis but im not really sure now.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I have a few medical school questions I was wondering if this nice community could help me out with.

I was wondering if it would be better to study in Pakistan or in America?

If I study in Pakistan, Would America or Europe think of me as a inferior doctor or not even recognize me as a doctor? (My dad was a engineer in Pakistan but when he came to the USA, he was not recognized as a engineer.)

Would Hospitals like it more that i studied from America/Pakistan? (I guess the second question is like that.)

Should I finish 4 years of college here and then go to Pakistan and study as a doctor? (My parent's say that I wont have to waste my time with the 4 years and can go directly to med school over there, but I don't really believe them.)

Is there any financial aid I can get if I study in Pakistan?

I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I'd like to make lot's of money when I became a doctor, so what type of doctor makes the most money?

P.S. My main plan was to go to community college then U.C. Davis but im not really sure now.

I don't know if you're trolling, but I'm going to go along with it anyways in case you're not and make a decision you'll come to regret later on in life.

1. If you do your residency/get your license in Pakistan, no, they will not recognize you as a doctor here in the U.S, you won't be able to practice. (By the way, did you know your dad just has to take a really easy test to be licensed as an engineer here?). Of course U.S hospitals would prefer someone who trained in the U.S.

2. It is true that you don't have to have a college degree to start medical school in Pakistan. However (here comes the most important part of all of this) it won't matter in the long run. The chances of you getting into a U.S residency after finishing medical school in Pakistan is virtually zero. Keep in mind that you NEED a U.S residency to practice in the United States. Essentially you will graduate with an MD that isn't really worth anything in this country. If you want to stay in Pakistan and be a doctor there, then I guess it's fine if you go to school there. If you want to live HERE and be a doctor, you really MUST go to med school here.

3. Financial aid would be up to Pakistan. If you mean would the U.S give you financial aid, not if you're not a citizen/green card holder.

4. Doctor's don't make that much money compared to how much they work (and their salaries are probably going to decrease in the coming years too). And when you take into account malpractice insurance/work hours for specialists, they really all make the same amount. I will say what's been said a thousand times here. If you're in this for the money DON'T DO IT, you will regret it 10 years from now.

 

[NeuroChaos]

Agree with Lucius on all points.

Just a small addendum to # 2.

2: You can get an MBBS from Pakistan and practice in the U.S. after passing the USMLEs. Passing USMLEs is the biggest hurdle. I have known people who took 5+ years just to pass the test. So if you are already in the U.S., take advantage of the opportunitites available. Get an MD here, you will be recognized as a Doctor in the entire world!!!

4. There willl more than enough money once you are a physician. Quit worrying about money at this point. As long as you work hard, you will have plenty to live a comfortable life.


Can you go directly into a 4-year college? Y waste your time in CC?

 

[TopSecret]

I have a few medical school questions I was wondering if this nice community could help me out with.

I was wondering if it would be better to study in Pakistan or in America?

If I study in Pakistan, Would America or Europe think of me as a inferior doctor or not even recognize me as a doctor? (My dad was a engineer in Pakistan but when he came to the USA, he was not recognized as a engineer.)

Would Hospitals like it more that i studied from America/Pakistan? (I guess the second question is like that.)

Should I finish 4 years of college here and then go to Pakistan and study as a doctor? (My parent's say that I wont have to waste my time with the 4 years and can go directly to med school over there, but I don't really believe them.)

Is there any financial aid I can get if I study in Pakistan?

I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I'd like to make lot's of money when I became a doctor, so what type of doctor makes the most money?

P.S. My main plan was to go to community college then U.C. Davis but im not really sure now.

There won't be much money in medicine in 7-8 years.

 

[mohammadz]

Agree with Lucius on all points.

Just a small addendum to # 2.

2: You can get an MBBS from Pakistan and practice in the U.S. after passing the USMLEs. Passing USMLEs is the biggest hurdle. I have known people who took 5+ years just to pass the test. So if you are already in the U.S., take advantage of the opportunitites available. Get an MD here, you will be recognized as a Doctor in the entire world!!!

4. There willl more than enough money once you are a physician. Quit worrying about money at this point. As long as you work hard, you will have plenty to live a comfortable life.


Can you go directly into a 4-year college? Y waste your time in CC?

Thanks for all the information everyone, also the reason im going to cc for 2 years is that its cheaper and both first 2 years at uc davis/cc make you do the same classes. So im just saving my money up right now.

And what do you mean there wont be much money for medicine in 7-8 years?

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Thanks for all the information everyone, also the reason im going to cc for 2 years is that its cheaper and both first 2 years at uc davis/cc make you do the same classes. So im just saving my money up right now.

And what do you mean there wont be much money for medicine in 7-8 years?

Make sure you try not to take any premed classes at the CC and save them for when you're in Davis (med schools like that more apparently).

Socialized medicine? It's kind of hard to explain, and explaining it would definitely lead to a flame war (probably too late now anyways).

 

[TopSecret]

Thanks for all the information everyone, also the reason im going to cc for 2 years is that its cheaper and both first 2 years at uc davis/cc make you do the same classes. So im just saving my money up right now.

And what do you mean there wont be much money for medicine in 7-8 years?

Medicare is supposed to go insolvent by the year 2017.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Medicare is supposed to go insolvent by the year 2017.

Who's going to pay for residencies 🙁

 

[mohammadz]

gah >.< now im not sure what I want to be...

 

[BennieBlanco]

gah >.< now im not sure what I want to be...

you probably won't ever be sure. All you can do is talk to lots of people in the profession and read a bunch.

That is it.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER DECIDE upon a career with money as your #1 goal. You will not be happy once you make the money, you may be OK going up the mountain but once you are there you will get depressed.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I have a few medical school questions I was wondering if this nice community could help me out with.

I was wondering if it would be better to study in Pakistan or in America?

If I study in Pakistan, Would America or Europe think of me as a inferior doctor or not even recognize me as a doctor? (My dad was a engineer in Pakistan but when he came to the USA, he was not recognized as a engineer.)

Would Hospitals like it more that i studied from America/Pakistan? (I guess the second question is like that.)

Should I finish 4 years of college here and then go to Pakistan and study as a doctor? (My parent's say that I wont have to waste my time with the 4 years and can go directly to med school over there, but I don't really believe them.)

Is there any financial aid I can get if I study in Pakistan?

I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I'd like to make lot's of money when I became a doctor, so what type of doctor makes the most money?

P.S. My main plan was to go to community college then U.C. Davis but im not really sure now.

dude, no question. USA baby. USA

 

[TopSecret]

Who's going to pay for residencies 🙁

High income earners who do not have reliable tax shelters like in the corporate world.

 

[TopSecret]

dude, no question. USA baby. USA

Plus, you won't be harassed by the FBI for possible terrorist activities.

 

[musafirah]

this is classic. good job guys, scaring him into not wanting to be a doctor at all

 

[TopSecret]

this is classic. good job guys, scaring him into not wanting to be a doctor at all

Better to find out now than later when you're more than $200,000 in debt and trying really hard to profit from the misfortunes of the sick who are in no position to pay for your services.

 

[MDtobe31311]

Don't go to Pakistan! The conditions there are horrible, and they won't be getting any better. My cousin was born and raised here in the U.S. and she's at med school there now and absolutely hates it. Her teacher mispronounces everything, and my cousin is worried that no one will understand her once she starts to practice here lol. To come to the U.S. and get a residency, you need an AMAZING USMLE score. She knows that practicing in the U.S. with her Pakistani degree will be hard but with her family situation she had no choice.

I would recommend staying here. Take your general coursework at cc if you want to, but try to take as many science classes at UC davis as you can. It prob won't hurt you that you took a few science classes at cc though. There is an article on SDN about taking prerequisite classes at cc and how adcoms view it. That might help you out 🙂

 

[casillas]

your parents are probably right about the wasting four years thing. most countries outside the US do not need an undergraduate degree to go to medical school. you just go straight from high school to medical school. So if your plan is to go to med school there, might as well save yourself four years and go now.

I think where you study depends on what you want to do with the rest of your life. If you want to practise in pakistan or the area, then it makes perfect sense to study there. However, if you are unsure what you want to do after then i would say that a US medical degree will open a lot more doors for you in the future. Including going back to work there if you desire.

 

[LAman10]

all doctors make plenty of money. even with the oncoming salary decreases, physicians will still be able to support a family, live a comfortable lifestyle, etc. Now, as for which specialty earns the most money? I'm not quite sure, but I'm assuming it's something like neurosurgery. the thing is, the more money you earn, the more of your life you have to sacrifice (in extra residency years and as a physician), so it's a double-edged sword. you seem like the kind of person that cares a lot about your life (seeing as how you're considering going to pakistan to save 4 years of your life = dumb idea in my opinion). so basically, with your attitude, you'll probably end up being a PCP. we need more of those, which means you should stay in America. my honest opinion: go into business, where you *might* be rewarded with lots of $$ for your half-@$$ed approach to your career.

 

[fMRI]

Get an MD here, you will be recognized as a Doctor in the entire world!!!

Sorry, but what NeuroChaos claims here is WRONG. Just like IMGs need to pass USMLEs, American educated MDs need to pass equivalency tests (like the "USMLE" in the respective countries, whatever they are called) in most of Europe. It's not that a US "MD" is recognized without qualifying tests. 100% sure for England, France, Germany. Then add in language certification.

Please check your facts before you declare something followed by 3 exclamation marks.

Thanks.

 

[Nilf]

all doctors make plenty of money.

LIE. I know plenty of hardworking doctors in diverse specialties making less than 100K and still working over 50 hours/week.

even with the oncoming salary decreases, physicians will still be able to support a family, live a comfortable lifestyle,

If you think that living in a condo, driving 10 year old civic and being unable to pay for your kids education is your idea of comfort, then you might be right.

 

[LAman10]

LIE. I know plenty of hardworking doctors in diverse specialties making less than 100K and still working over 50 hours/week.



If you think that living in a condo, driving 10 year old civic and being unable to pay for your kids education is your idea of comfort, then you might be right.

don't be so naive. yes, for the amount of hours they work, doctors kinda get shafted (and will continue to) in regards to salary. but honestly, it's enough. you may know plenty of doctors with crap situations, but I know plenty more with really good financial situations.

 

[Quantum Mecha]

I have a few medical school questions I was wondering if this nice community could help me out with.

I was wondering if it would be better to study in Pakistan or in America?

If I study in Pakistan, Would America or Europe think of me as a inferior doctor or not even recognize me as a doctor? (My dad was a engineer in Pakistan but when he came to the USA, he was not recognized as a engineer.)

Would Hospitals like it more that i studied from America/Pakistan? (I guess the second question is like that.)

Should I finish 4 years of college here and then go to Pakistan and study as a doctor? (My parent's say that I wont have to waste my time with the 4 years and can go directly to med school over there, but I don't really believe them.)

Is there any financial aid I can get if I study in Pakistan?

I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to be, I know this sounds a bit selfish, but I'd like to make lot's of money when I became a doctor, so what type of doctor makes the most money?

P.S. My main plan was to go to community college then U.C. Davis but im not really sure now.

if you go to pakistan, you can "go directly to medical school", in the sense that you don't do a 4 year bachelors degree, but you will have to do a few years of "pre-med" before you go to medical school, so you may cut off one year, i am not 100% sure, but I am certain that you do not just go into medical school without any premedical studying

then after you are done, if you plan to return to the US, you will face a number of exams that you must pass to be granted the rights to practice in the US. unfortunately it seems that many doctors don't make it, and retake these exams until they pass...or don't.

all in all, I don't see what you gain by going to pakistan for medical school; better to just do it here. as others said, getting into a residency will be very difficult, as will be passing the exams

 

[Quantum Mecha]

I have known people who took 5+ years just to pass the test.

my father once met a taxi driver who was a doctor in pakistan...he tried many times to pass the exam and then just gave up.