foreign chinese students get in?

[Chankovsky]

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I have a friend who is in China, and she wants to get into medical school here. The truth is, I 've never heard of foreign students from china ever getting into a U.S. medical school. Part of the reason why may be because the number of spots are limited, and also because she cannot borrow from the federal government or the bank because she's not a resident here. Has anyone heard of cases where something like this has happened?

 

[exmike]

I have a friend who is in China, and she wants to get into medical school here. The truth is, I 've never heard of foreign students from china ever getting into a U.S. medical school. Part of the reason why may be because the number of spots are limited, and also because she cannot borrow from the federal government or the bank because she's not a resident here. Has anyone heard of cases where something like this has happened?

I have heard of it happening, but you need government sponsorship, i.e. through the chinese govt. Unless she has some special situation, its probably all but impossible.

 

[jxu66]

It is almost impossible for foreign students to get into US medical school. Unless she has special talent and has a lot of money, that's going to be difficult.

It is better for her to get MD in China. Then try to pass part I and part II. I know a couple of Chinese doctors did that. But that's hard as well since they teach different materials and Chinese doctor tends to not have very good English skills. But it is possible.

 

[CalBeE]

I have to say it's hard to do that if she did her undergrad or other academic work in China. U.S. Med schools are not familiar with the grading system in foreign schools, and are very hesistant about accepting people that way. She'll have to take at least a year of college/graduate school work in the U.S. to demonstrate her abilities.

Also, effective communication will be a big issue. I know some elite students from well-known Chinese Universities are very fluent in English, but I'm not sure if that's the case for your friend. From my experience, it's often heavy accent, not grammar or vocab, that makes it hard to understand what someone's saying.

 

[Chankovsky]

well, she is from an elite school; and her english is just fine - at least on paper - I'm not sure about her verbal. So you guys think she has no chance of getting into a US medical school?

 

[exmike]

well, she is from an elite school; and her english is just fine - at least on paper - I'm not sure about her verbal. So you guys think she has no chance of getting into a US medical school?

unfortunately, if she makes it to the interview part, her inability to communicate smoothly and effectively (which is critical to patient care) will probably be the nail in the coffin.

I think its widely known that overseas educated people are very good at grammar and syntax but terrible at verbal communication b/c they're basically only tested on paper.

 

[jlee9531]

well, she is from an elite school; and her english is just fine - at least on paper - I'm not sure about her verbal. So you guys think she has no chance of getting into a US medical school?

many schools will flat out not take international students. others a very small amount. she needs to be extremely exception and wealthy to obtain an acceptance here. oh yeah her mcat score needs to rock too.

 

[Newquagmire]

unfortunately, if she makes it to the interview part, her inability to communicate smoothly and effectively (which is critical to patient care) will probably be the nail in the coffin.

I think its widely known that overseas educated people are very good at grammar and syntax but terrible at verbal communication b/c they're basically only tested on paper.

your friend would have to be very fluent, but it's not impossible.

 

[CalBeE]

well, she is from an elite school; and her english is just fine - at least on paper - I'm not sure about her verbal. So you guys think she has no chance of getting into a US medical school?

No one says no chance. It's just that she shouldn't hold her hopes too high.

I applied as an int'l student, btw, in case my signature isn't obvious.

 

[jxu66]

Either 1) do very well on MCAT and hope to get into a school like UT southwestern, Baylor or one of private schools. All other UT schools won't even take foreign students at all.
or 2) pass part 1) and 2) and try to get a residence in US.

Either road is very difficult.

Like I said before, I know a couple of famous Chinese doctors did 2) in Dallas. One of them is famous Lung transplant surgery in China. He came here and take part 1) and 2) in his 40s. Because he is famous, he got residence at UT southwestern. Last year, he just became president of new VIP hospital in BeiJing. Wow, that doctor was inspiring.

 

[exmike]

your friend would have to be very fluent, but it's not impossible.

okay nail in the coffin was a bit extreme, but yes, she'd have to be very stellar. I agree with other posters. She should get her MD in China and work her way through the boards in the states if she really wants to practice here.

 

[Newquagmire]

okay nail in the coffin was a bit extreme, but yes, she'd have to be very stellar. I agree with other posters. She should get her MD in China and work her way through the boards in the states if she really wants to practice here.

well hey, she could always learn the 1" punch a la bruce/kill bill 2.

 

[exmike]

well hey, she could always learn the 1" punch a la bruce/kill bill 2.

If she could break three boards in one punch I think she's golden. 😛

 

[CalBeE]

If she could break three boards in one punch I think she's golden. 😛

haha...that's really smart.

By the way, do you know that they just added a Step 2A or something after Step 2? I was told it involved clinical stuff.

 

[Newquagmire]

haha...that's really smart.

By the way, do you know that they just added a Step 2A or something after Step 2? I was told it involved clinical stuff.

yeah, patient actor/resses i believe. to see how you handle "real life" diagnosis instead of how you are on paper/mc questions.

 

[Newquagmire]

If she could break three boards in one punch I think she's golden. 😛

enjoy the sweet-corn fed beauties of cincy 👍

 

[Beth_yu]

Ask her to do her post bac for 1-2 years here or a master's degree here and then apply. I am sure she'll get in if she wanted to be an MD badly enough.
I, myself am taking 7 years to be one. Hopefully, I'll get in. If not I'll try and try again.

 

[NonTradMed]

I can only say this from what some of the chinese people in my parents' lab have said.

Many went to top medical school or top college back in China and then came here on visa to do grad school or to follow a spouse here. I know the few that managed to practice in the US spent YEARS prepping for the step 1 and 2 of the boards b/c they have to relearn everything in English. Now, most of these people are fairly fluent in English and lived in the US, but the language barrier for medicine was still immense. But then even if they finished the boards and got decent scores, they still have no guarantee of a residency as they are not US medical school graduates....so many just wait after they get their scores and hope a program will take them.

I know of no Chinese person who was accepted into medical school straight from China, but I have limited experience with foreign graduates.

If your friend really wants to go to med school here, the only way I can think of (short of finding a cure for cancer) would be come here for graduate school (which they will pay), get a job, work until you qualify for green card or citizenship or marry an American and get citizenship and apply to medical school.

Otherwise, she would need to go to med school in China---although if she's not already in med school as an undergraduate, I don't know how the Chinese school system will work in her case---and then come here for grad school and then try for the boards.

 

[CalBeE]

I can only say this from what some of the chinese people in my parents' lab have said.

Many went to top medical school or top college back in China and then came here on visa to do grad school or to follow a spouse here. I know the few that managed to practice in the US spent YEARS prepping for the step 1 and 2 of the boards b/c they have to relearn everything in English. Now, most of these people are fairly fluent in English and lived in the US, but the language barrier for medicine was still immense. But then even if they finished the boards and got decent scores, they still have no guarantee of a residency as they are not US medical school graduates....so many just wait after they get their scores and hope a program will take them.

I know of no Chinese person who was accepted into medical school straight from China, but I have limited experience with foreign graduates.

If your friend really wants to go to med school here, the only way I can think of (short of finding a cure for cancer) would be come here for graduate school (which they will pay), get a job, work until you qualify for green card or citizenship or marry an American and get citizenship and apply to medical school.

Otherwise, she would need to go to med school in China---although if she's not already in med school as an undergraduate, I don't know how the Chinese school system will work in her case---and then come here for grad school and then try for the boards.

I heard it is hard to get a residency if you have been practicing for a while in a foreign country. Know a Romanian girl's mom who tried to do that and didn't succeed, now she's doing real estate stuff instead.

 

[NonTradMed]

I heard it is hard to get a residency if you have been practicing for a while in a foreign country. Know a Romanian girl's mom who tried to do that and didn't succeed, now she's doing real estate stuff instead.

Yeah, it is hard to get a residency if you have a foreign MD. I've always thought this was just an artificial barrier created to prevent cheap foreign doctors from flooding the marketplace and decreasing salary, but I guess no one here should complain. 🙄

 

[jxu66]

I forget the link. But I saw somewhere in this forum that there are only 10 (+/-) accept foreign schools. Baylor and UT southwestern are two of them, Harvard has two spots open.

Ask her to complete part 1 and part 2 of USMLE (score above 240+), then try her lucky on one of family physician residency in here. Do we have a surplus of family residency in this country, right? I believe that she can take USMLE in CHina as well.

It is not easy. But I think that's possible. I know at least three or four Chinese doctors when I was in high school in Boston.

 

[Chankovsky]

That's what I was thinking, but I thought maybe you guys know more. I don't know, hopefully she'll get in if she really insists upon it.

 

[Chankovsky]

bump.........ssssssssssss

 

[junathon]

I have heard of it happening, but you need government sponsorship, i.e. through the chinese govt. Unless she has some special situation, its probably all but impossible.

I've heard that GW has a program that accepts med students sponsored by their host country. The catch is they will have to leave the US after they get their MD. I'm not quite sure if that's before residency.

 

[exmike]

I've heard that GW has a program that accepts med students sponsored by their host country. The catch is they will have to leave the US after they get their MD. I'm not quite sure if that's before residency.

that was what I heard too.

 

[Chankovsky]

what school is GW?

 

[pekq]

Many doctors practicing in the USA from China also have a PhD. They get their MD in China and then do a PhD here then match for residency. They are all doing rather well. It may seem like this is a long road but since MD programs in China is straight 6 yrs out of high school or something, it's really not that bad. The benefit of the PhD is that they can clear up immigration issues, build network and make themselves more competitive for an IMG during the match. Of course, you could also do a year or two of research and try from there.

 

[rocknroll985]

I have a friend who is in China, and she wants to get into medical school here. The truth is, I 've never heard of foreign students from china ever getting into a U.S. medical school. Part of the reason why may be because the number of spots are limited, and also because she cannot borrow from the federal government or the bank because she's not a resident here. Has anyone heard of cases where something like this has happened?

Find a white guy to marry, get a visa, then come study medical school here. Most white males get paid $100,000 to have an asian wife come to the United States.