Foreign Med school?

[GatorWell]

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I was disappointed with my MCAT score....I was exploring my options and found out that there are foreign schools that are easy to get into... what are cons and pros about these schools such as the one in Mexico or Carribean...

 

[bubbajones]

go to the other board bro they can help u there

 

[jennie 21]

Pros: Easy to get into.

Cons: Expensive. Higher USMLE fail rates. Inferior medical education--quality varies greatly depending on the school but in general, not as good as in the U.S. and possibly grossly inadequate. Classes may be taught in a foreign language. Harder to get a good residency in the U.S., esp. in competitive specialties.

Really do your research and carefully consider your options before you go this route. If you do decide to do it, make sure the school you go to is U.S. accreditted. Ross and St.George's are among the more respected foreign med schools. If you really want to be a doctor and can't get into a U.S. school, this route will get you there--just be aware of the downside. You have to decide if it's worth it, and if there's any chance you could get into a U.S. allopathic school, and if you would prefer foreign med school or osteopathic (another route, if allopathic is out of reach).

 

[NuMD97]

With all due respect, Jennie, no foreign medical school is accredited by the LCGME which is the overseer to the American and Canadian schools. What is required is that the foreign medical school be listed in the World Health Directory without which an American studying abroad will never be ECFMG certified, this being the governing body in Philadelphia that oversees all documentations of a person seeking postgraduate training in the US, who has studied in a foreign country. But I do agree with you in part: do your homework well if you plan on going the foreign medical school route. It's not as 'easy' nowadays to study abroad and come back successfully, as it was in its heydays back in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

[Lil IceBoy]

I think it is an option, but when it comes down to it, personally I had to consider whether or not I wanted to take that route. I mean you can spend another year or two improving your application, and that could help you get into a US school.

And from talking at my work, the pulmonary division at UCLA Harbor automatically discounts people from foreign medical schools. Most likely it's due to the head of the division there, but I don't think it's a far reach in thinking that there are others that also think similarly.

 

[bubbajones]

if your loaded with cash than i say go for it, but if your not stick it out in the states

 

[NuMD97]

For Lil Boy: Coincidentally UCLA Harbor just interviewed a foreign grad for an unexpected opening. Depends on supply and demand.

For Bubba: Oftentimes living in a foreign country is a fraction of what it would cost to go to an American medical school. But of course that is not its selling point, nor should it be the reason one considers going abroad to study medicine.

 

[raspberry swirl]

if i were you i'd check out osteopathic schools way before i'd ever go to a school abroad. you'd be crazy not to apply to at least a few osteopathic schools. besides, no one wants to take a year off and take the mcat again, or do a post bacc program, if they don't get in the first time around. why on earth would you want to waste another year or two of your life? medical training is long enough. and from what i hear, the schools abroad just don't have the credibility that schools in the states do.

 

[NuMD97]

Times change. There was a time when foreign grads were ranked ahead of osteopathic schools. And who is to say that "no one" wants to take a year off and do the MCATs again or a postbacc? Many, of course, do. Depends ultimately on what you want.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Moving to International Med forum...