Frankly, what are my chances?

[Silentiger]

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I'm an international student (Lebanese) with a GPA of 4.0 and an MCAT score of 40S (12 VR - 14 PS - 14 BS). I need to know if there is any hope for me to attend an elite US medical school. The thing is that many people have tried to discourage me on the basis of my nationality but some others say that my scores are pretty competitive nonetheless. Can anyone tell me, with brutal honesty, what they think my actual chances are?

 

[RayhanS1282]

I'm an international student (Lebanese) with a GPA of 4.0 and an MCAT score of 40S (12 VR - 14 PS - 14 BS). I need to know if there is any hope for me to attend an elite US medical school. The thing is that many people have tried to discourage me on the basis of my nationality but some others say that my scores are pretty competitive nonetheless. Can anyone tell me, with brutal honesty, what they think my actual chances are?

Okay...I gotta know if you are joking. A 4.0 and 40S and you are not sure about your credentials? Where did you go to as for undergrad? I don't think your nationality should matter (ideally). The only thing that can be a sticking factor is immigration. I think you have to be a permanent resident or a citizen before you can apply to medical schools. I am really not familiar with foreign students policy for med school.

T-minus 2 posts before someone writes troll.

 

[Silentiger]

The only thing that can be a sticking factor is immigration. I think you have to be a permanent resident or a citizen before you can apply to medical schools.

That is exactly it. I'm neither of these two.
I've submitted my Amcas application two weeks ago and have tried to pick schools that do not place much importance on the "international" factor but I honestly don't know.

 

[RayhanS1282]

That is exactly it. I'm neither of these two.
I've submitted my Amcas application two weeks ago and have tried to pick schools that do not place much importance on the "international" factor but I honestly don't know.

Try looking onto the school websites. Or you can simply e-mail the admissions at the schools you are intested in and ask them, since phone calls can be expensive.

 

[Silentiger]

Oops, I just noticed that thread about "what are my chances threads". But the thing is that there is no information anywhere about how the "foreign" element factors in (except when some schools specifically say they don't accept international students). I need to learn from other people's experience or else I'll have to go through some really rough months before rejection/acceptance comes.

 

[63768]

i don't see how it's a problem if you have a firm grasp of english, as demonstrated by your posts and the 40S. you've got to be joking.

 

[Silentiger]

i don't see how it's a problem if you have a firm grasp of english, as demonstrated by your posts and the 40S. you've got to be joking.

well I hope you're right because you wouldn't believe how discouraging some people can be. I've been lead to believe that a foreign student has to get a 43 or more to be considered seriously by schools such as Harvard or Duke (where I really want to go). I actually was the least excited of the bunch at the MCAT results party me and my friends had yesterday because I was the only one planning to go to the US.

 

[Law2Doc]

T-minus 2 posts before someone writes troll.

I'm not buying the OP's post at all. It is inconceivable to me that someone outside of the US is so picky and concerned about "elite" schools, when there other 140+ US allopathic schools which are all better than anything in the OP's country. That and the high verbal and WS score for a non-US educated person -- I suspect troll.

 

[greendot]

I'm not buying the OP's post at all. It is inconceivable to me that someone outside of the US is so picky and concerned about "elite" schools, when there other 140+ US allopathic schools which are all better than anything in the OP's country. That and the high verbal and WS score for a non-US educated person -- I suspect troll.

I'd also suspect that with a 40S and 4.0, the OP would be able to figure out how to dig up this information for himself.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

a 43 MCT is two away from perfect. DOUBT IT!

 

[coco]

I don't think he's (maybe it's a she) a troll. It really is hard to find out all this information when you don't have good advisors or good resources to help you out. And it's not true that the 140+ med schools are better than any in Lebanon. They have one of the best medical schools in the world there, American University of Beirut, whose graduates are really well known so I can see where he's coming from.
There are some schools I believe, like Tufts and George Washington that do accept international students. Do you have a copy of the MSAR? You should look into it to see whether they accept international students. And to be honest (this is just my opinion), I don't think you'd have any trouble getting in to those schools that do accept international students. A 40 is absolutely amazing and congrats on that!!

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't think he's (maybe it's a she) a troll. It really is hard to find out all this information when you don't have good advisors or good resources to help you out. And it's not true that the 140+ med schools are better than any in Lebanon. They have one of the best medical schools in the world there, American University of Beirut, whose graduates are really well known so I can see where he's coming from.
There are some schools I believe, like Tufts and George Washington that do accept international students. Do you have a copy of the MSAR? You should look into it to see whether they accept international students. And to be honest (this is just my opinion), I don't think you'd have any trouble getting in to those schools that do accept international students. A 40 is absolutely amazing and congrats on that!!

I still don't buy it (nor do I believe Am U of Beirut is considered "one of the best in the world" by anyone outside of the region 🙄) . But honestly if this person was so bent on going to one of the US elite schools, they are not going to have any interest in the other schools you listed or those others in MSAR.

 

[juiceman311]

I don't see why your friends took the MCAT if they weren't planning on attending US med school, I thought the MCAT is for American (/Canadian) MS's? I may be wrong?

 

[coco]

Wow I sense all this hostility all of a sudden. I only mentioned those schools because unfortunately my MCAT wasn't great enough for me to even consider so called elite schools so I wouldn't know about their international student policy but I recently had an interview at GW and they mentioned that they do accept int. students. So I was just trying to help out. And isn't Harvard in the MSAR? and Duke? and all those ivy league schools? Obviously he is interested in these schools and they are in the MSAR so I don't know what you're trying to say...

Juiceman, the MCAT is required for a lot of foreign universities which is why his friends took it even though they're not planning on coming here to school. The MCAT is offered in 9 foreign countries (I might be a little off on the number but that's what I remember reading).

 

[RayhanS1282]

Juiceman, the MCAT is required for a lot of foreign universities which is why his friends took it even though they're not planning on coming here to school.

I did not know that.

It's nice to know that the MCAT is a global tool of torture. I'll be sleeping good tonight 😀

 

[Law2Doc]

Wow I sense all this hostility all of a sudden. I only mentioned those schools because unfortunately my MCAT wasn't great enough for me to even consider so called elite schools so I wouldn't know about their international student policy but I recently had an interview at GW and they mentioned that they do accept int. students. So I was just trying to help out. And isn't Harvard in the MSAR? and Duke? and all those ivy league schools? Obviously he is interested in these schools and they are in the MSAR so I don't know what you're trying to say...

No hostility intended, but you misunderstood my post -- the OP indicated that he already knew which schools he was interested in (the so called elite schools -- with Harvard and Duke in particular), in which case the MSAR doesn't help him/her much. Obviously these schools are in there too, but what's the point of the MSAR if you are only interested in a couple of schools and you already know which ones. If the OP were asking about US schools at large that were receptive to internationals, then sure the MSAR is a good reference. But that wasn't the OPs post. Similarly when the OP is talking Harvard and Duke, I don't see the point of giving names of what the OP would likely deem non"elite" schools. Suggesting that the American Univ of Beirut was better than the non"elite" schools (let alone best in the world) was an odd statement, too. Either way, I still think the OP is likely a troll.

 

[stherling]

to the OP: most private medical schools (which will include most elite schools) in the US will accept international students, IF you did at least 3 years of your undergrad in the US or Canada. If you studied elsewhere, then my understanding is that they won't consider your application. Of course, there are always exceptions, depending on your undergrad school, etc. also, many of the school's websites have FAQs where they deal with this question. if not, email the admissions office. you'll get a straight answer and won't have to deal with all this hostility on SDN. 🙂

 

[panorama]

I'd also suspect that with a 40S and 4.0, the OP would be able to figure out how to dig up this information for himself.

exactly!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

You will need to plop down $200,000 cash in an account handled by the school before you can matriculate into a medical school. That's because you are ineligible for US loans. Are you rich? (and by rich, I mean $200,000 cash-on-hand kind of rich...)

 

[dajimmers]

Where is this 4.0 GPA from? As posted above, some of it (depends on the school) needs to be at a US institution. And you do need the cash on hand.

But I too feel I am responding to a troll. Complaining about a 40 is hogwash- sure I'd prefer a 43, but there's like 10 people in the world that have it. It's like getting mad that they passed you over for the Nobel this year...

 

[Saluki]

One of my friends is a student from Malaysia and an absolute genius. She decided to go to grad school in Chemistry instead of medical school because if you're a foreign student you have to prove that you have the money to pay for all four years of school on hand. So, I'd say the problem is not acceptance but finances...

 

[coco]

Where is this 4.0 GPA from? As posted above, some of it (depends on the school) needs to be at a US institution.

I think this here might be the problem.

But I too feel I am responding to a troll. Complaining about a 40 is hogwash-

I don't think he was complaining about a 40, but more about whether with this 40 he has a chance of attending the med school of his choice here in the US. He is at a disadvantage and in his case, his 40 might mean nothing to some adcoms if he hadn't studied in the US for a minimum number of years.

 

[DrMassacre]

-_-

 

[synapse lapse]

You know you can always apply MSTP as an international so you won't have to pay for the med school portion. I have an international friend who is doing this. He had a 38 4.0 or something like this, goes here to UTSW.

 

[MissMary]

Well, I spoke to my pre-health advisor about this (b/c I had a friend who was an international student) and according to her, your only option is applying to the reseach program as the previous post states. She said that no international students have gotten into a US med school REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCES/GRADES while she has been at NYU. Her predessor had also told her the same. She said that she has had students with proof of adequate finances in bank accounts and they still would not let them in. So I would seriously consider the research program or getting a Masters first. I would love to say something more positive, but I truly believe that this is your best bet. It would be unfortunate for you to devote all this time and money on apps and not get the results you deserve. Congrats by the way on your scores.

 

[MissMary]

Well, I spoke to my pre-health advisor about this (b/c I had a friend who was an international student) and according to her, your only option is applying to the reseach program as the previous post states. She said that no international students have gotten into a US med school REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCES/GRADES while she has been at NYU. The advisor before her also told her the same thing. She said that she has had students with proof of adequate finances in bank accounts and they still would not let them in. So I would seriously consider the research program or getting a Masters first. I would love to say something more positive, but I truly believe that this is your best bet. It would be unfortunate for you to devote all this time and money on apps and not get the results you deserve. Congrats by the way on your scores.

 

[Silentiger]

Well, I spoke to my pre-health advisor about this (b/c I had a friend who was an international student) and according to her, your only option is applying to the reseach program as the previous post states. She said that no international students have gotten into a US med school REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCES/GRADES while she has been at NYU. The advisor before her also told her the same thing. She said that she has had students with proof of adequate finances in bank accounts and they still would not let them in. So I would seriously consider the research program or getting a Masters first. I would love to say something more positive, but I truly believe that this is your best bet. It would be unfortunate for you to devote all this time and money on apps and not get the results you deserve. Congrats by the way on your scores.

This was exactly what I was worried about. You don't get this kind of information from the schools' websites because they never formally admit it. Thanks MissMary, you've been very helpful.
By the way I'd like to reply to a few points that have been raised:

- I'm most certainly not a troll but am most glad that my stats are good enough to be considered one. Yes, but seeing people calling you a troll as a reply for your few first posts is sure to give you a fuzzy feeling. It reminds me of why It took me so long to post anything on these forums after I initially registered. To the guys concerned, you've been a great help; your accusations were exactly what I needed.

-I am a student of the American University of Beirut (which is accredited and considered non-foreign) and it is indeed far better than the majority of US schools. It is the leading school in the Middle East and any arab person with a lot of money and good credentials dreams of going there. However it's not as good as elite American Schools which have always been a dream for me. In addition, for the person who asked why my friends took the Mcat: The Mcat is the most important factor in any person's application to a Lebanese Medical School. If you payed a little more attention to the options you have while registering you'd notice there are two test centers outsited of the US: in Qatar ad in Beirut. Plus, we are really good at it. Our science scores fall mainly in the 10-14 category but we get crushed by english (usually in the 5-9 category) so the schools make sure they give it less importance.

-I don't get why I was refered to as an OP. what's an OP?

-For those who think that a person with my stats should be able to dig up the informartion by himself, I'd like to say that they have discovered my secret: I'm a dummy! I don't know what "webtites" are and get frustrated when I have to use the telephone because I can't work out all the numbers. the Mcat is such a cruel test that it would give a 40S to a dummy (and not to mention a 12 in VR for a person who's third language is english! Argh The injustice 😡 ). Honestly I don't think this kind of doubtful attitude would get you far in medicine. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[themadchemist]

I still don't buy it (nor do I believe Am U of Beirut is considered "one of the best in the world" by anyone outside of the region 🙄) . But honestly if this person was so bent on going to one of the US elite schools, they are not going to have any interest in the other schools you listed or those others in MSAR.

I think that this obsessive Americentrism is obnoxious. I don't know whether the American University of Beirut is a good school or not, but I'm not in a position to say that it isn't. And apparently, at least one person outside of the region does think it's a good school.

I also take issue with the suggestion that all 140+ schools in America are better than anything in the rest of the world. Honestly, you've got to be kidding me. There are excellent medical schools outside of the United States, which, while they might not be Harvard, are certainly better than a lot of schools in America.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have so many doctors coming in from other countries and doing excellent work here.

I was at a medical conference in Chennai, India (yes, Indians know about medicine, too, which might explain why so many of them come here to practice medicine after studying there) and heard a talk by the British cardiac surgeon who implanted the longest lasting mechanical heart ever. He works at Oxford.

And France's healthcare system is one of the best in the world. I think it's not a big leap to imagine that they must have some good doctors and most of those doctors were probably trained in France.

America's a great place and most of the best medical schools in the world are here. But seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute American superiority.

 

[jennkhoho]

I think that this obsessive Americentrism is obnoxious. I don't know whether the American University of Beirut is a good school or not, but I'm not in a position to say that it isn't. And apparently, at least one person outside of the region does think it's a good school.

I also take issue with the suggestion that all 140+ schools in America are better than anything in the rest of the world. Honestly, you've got to be kidding me. There are excellent medical schools outside of the United States, which, while they might not be Harvard, are certainly better than a lot of schools in America.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have so many doctors coming in from other countries and doing excellent work here.

I was at a medical conference in Chennai, India (yes, Indians know about medicine, too, which might explain why so many of them come here to practice medicine after studying there) and heard a talk by the British cardiac surgeon who implanted the longest lasting mechanical heart ever. He works at Oxford.

And France's healthcare system is one of the best in the world. I think it's not a big leap to imagine that they must have some good doctors and most of those doctors were probably trained in France.

America's a great place and most of the best medical schools in the world are here. But seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute American superiority.

Wow! nobody has anything nice to say on here. is it the competitiveness of trying to get into medical school? but come on... we all want to be doctors and doctors, of course, all work together in the end.

the comment i don't like... "But seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute American superiority." we must take pride in what we do or what we do would be worth nothing. you take pride in your schools, as do we. the person who started this thread stated that they graduated with a 4.0 from their school and that his school is "awesome." excuse the lack of a better term. it is 5am, working a 12h third shift and i could sure use some sleep.

 

[jennkhoho]

also, we have reasons to be be proud of our medical schools. obviously because there are people that want to come over here so badly.

 

[Law2Doc]

I think that this obsessive Americentrism is obnoxious. I don't know whether the American University of Beirut is a good school or not, but I'm not in a position to say that it isn't. And apparently, at least one person outside of the region does think it's a good school.

I also take issue with the suggestion that all 140+ schools in America are better than anything in the rest of the world. Honestly, you've got to be kidding me. There are excellent medical schools outside of the United States, which, while they might not be Harvard, are certainly better than a lot of schools in America.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have so many doctors coming in from other countries and doing excellent work here.

I was at a medical conference in Chennai, India (yes, Indians know about medicine, too, which might explain why so many of them come here to practice medicine after studying there) and heard a talk by the British cardiac surgeon who implanted the longest lasting mechanical heart ever. He works at Oxford.

And France's healthcare system is one of the best in the world. I think it's not a big leap to imagine that they must have some good doctors and most of those doctors were probably trained in France.

America's a great place and most of the best medical schools in the world are here. But seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute American superiority.

You've got reading comprehension problems. There's a difference between saying US allopathic med is best in the world and saying it's better than Am U of beirut. The latter is what I said, and stand behind that statement, (although I certainly wouldn't make the same claim with respect to many European schools). This was in response to a poster who indicated that American University of Beirut was among the "best med schools in the world". If you look at their website they only claim to be one of the best in the "region" (significant difference). You are obviously reading something into these posts that isn't there -- sounds like you have some chip on your shoulder about the US. BTW most of the foreign physicians coming to the US are doing so to fill unfilled residencies, not because they are being recruited for their expertise - there is a healthcare shortage here (everywhere, actually)..."seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute "ANTI -American" superiority" -- and try not to read into posts things that simply arent there. 🙂

 

[MoosePilot]

I think that this obsessive Americentrism is obnoxious. I don't know whether the American University of Beirut is a good school or not, but I'm not in a position to say that it isn't. And apparently, at least one person outside of the region does think it's a good school.

I also take issue with the suggestion that all 140+ schools in America are better than anything in the rest of the world. Honestly, you've got to be kidding me. There are excellent medical schools outside of the United States, which, while they might not be Harvard, are certainly better than a lot of schools in America.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have so many doctors coming in from other countries and doing excellent work here.

I was at a medical conference in Chennai, India (yes, Indians know about medicine, too, which might explain why so many of them come here to practice medicine after studying there) and heard a talk by the British cardiac surgeon who implanted the longest lasting mechanical heart ever. He works at Oxford.

And France's healthcare system is one of the best in the world. I think it's not a big leap to imagine that they must have some good doctors and most of those doctors were probably trained in France.

America's a great place and most of the best medical schools in the world are here. But seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute American superiority.

How does knocking on the American University of Beirut constitute obsessive Americentrism?

I believe there's not a big quality difference between most US medical schools, so if you acknowledge Harvard is one of the best medical schools in the world, then to me you're also saying the rest of the US medical schools are among the best in the world. If any foreign medical schools are better than the lowest tier American schools, then it's a small difference, because there's not much difference between US schools. The accreditation is too strict.

 

[docbill]

Silentiger, (OP = Original Poster, Aka the person that asked the first question)

Welcome to SDN. Where one person asks a question. You get some answers that appear to be good. Then you get some hostile poster (AKA: A$$ hole) that turns the whole directions to $hit.

Some don't realize that SDN is a wealth of information that is superior to google or looking at schools' website. At least one person on here can answer your whole question or parts of it.

ANYWWAYYYYY:

Here is the fact:

1) Your stats are EXCELLENT.

2) You went to one of the BEST schools in the world outside the US.
(even though I believe the AUB is considered a US school. AUB med school requires the MCAT for admission. www.aub.edu)

3) You speak 3 languages (Arabic, French and English)

4) As long as you have some other extra curricular activity to put on your list. Volunteering, student government, sports, working with UNO with refugees etc... your application will look nice.

5) I assume since you went to AUB, you can afford to pay US tuition of 40,000$.

6) Apply to private schools only. A good one that you may want to consider is Duke University. IF you plan to do an MD/PhD, I would apply to some state schools that offer tuition and stipend. Some schools with even offer scholarships for those with excellent stats.

7) Apply fast/also secondary applications. The deadlines is coming up fast.

Good luck

 

[docbill]

Well, I spoke to my pre-health advisor about this (b/c I had a friend who was an international student) and according to her, your only option is applying to the reseach program as the previous post states. She said that no international students have gotten into a US med school REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCES/GRADES while she has been at NYU. The advisor before her also told her the same thing. She said that she has had students with proof of adequate finances in bank accounts and they still would not let them in. So I would seriously consider the research program or getting a Masters first. I would love to say something more positive, but I truly believe that this is your best bet. It would be unfortunate for you to devote all this time and money on apps and not get the results you deserve. Congrats by the way on your scores.

Good Point. Are you sure that the AUB would not be considered as a US institution.

 

[Silentiger]

3) You speak 3 languages (Arabic, French and English)

6) Apply to private schools only. A good one that you may want to consider is Duke University. IF you plan to do an MD/PhD, I would apply to some state schools that offer tuition and stipend. Some schools with even offer scholarships for those with excellent stats.

How did you know I spoke French?

Anyway, it's really comforting to hear that Duke might be a possibility. It's the one that I actually want.

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[Silentiger]

Good Point. Are you sure that the AUB would not be considered as a US institution.

The AUB is in fact considered a US institution. One of the rare one in the region.

 

[docbill]

well let see... Lebanon is a Francaphone country.

 

[Silentiger]

well let see... Lebanon is a Francaphone country.

Yes but I didn't know this was known outside of Lebanon and France. Plus half the population here doesn't know how to speak French. I was lucky enough that my parents sent me to a French school.

 

[gujuDoc]

I don't see why your friends took the MCAT if they weren't planning on attending US med school, I thought the MCAT is for American (/Canadian) MS's? I may be wrong?

AUSTRALIA takes MCAT SCORES AS WELL.

So you are wrong on that one. So do Carribbean schools.

 

[gujuDoc]

How did you know I spoke French?

Anyway, it's really comforting to hear that Duke might be a possibility. It's the one that I actually want.

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.

Probably because a lot of Lebanese people speak French, English, and Arabic.

I know the same is try with Syrians that I've known too.

Off topic: I love me some Lebanese food.

I think you'll have no problem getting into a US school as an international student as long as the rest of your application profile is good. But as others have said, consult an MSAR.

 

[riceman04]

This was exactly what I was worried about. You don't get this kind of information from the schools' websites because they never formally admit it. Thanks MissMary, you've been very helpful.
By the way I'd like to reply to a few points that have been raised:

- I'm most certainly not a troll but am most glad that my stats are good enough to be considered one. Yes, but seeing people calling you a troll as a reply for your few first posts is sure to give you a fuzzy feeling. It reminds me of why It took me so long to post anything on these forums after I initially registered. To the guys concerned, you've been a great help; your accusations were exactly what I needed.

-I am a student of the American University of Beirut (which is accredited and considered non-foreign) and it is indeed far better than the majority of US schools. It is the leading school in the Middle East and any arab person with a lot of money and good credentials dreams of going there. However it's not as good as elite American Schools which have always been a dream for me. In addition, for the person who asked why my friends took the Mcat: The Mcat is the most important factor in any person's application to a Lebanese Medical School. If you payed a little more attention to the options you have while registering you'd notice there are two test centers outsited of the US: in Qatar ad in Beirut. Plus, we are really good at it. Our science scores fall mainly in the 10-14 category but we get crushed by english (usually in the 5-9 category) so the schools make sure they give it less importance.

-I don't get why I was refered to as an OP. what's an OP?

-For those who think that a person with my stats should be able to dig up the informartion by himself, I'd like to say that they have discovered my secret: I'm a dummy! I don't know what "webtites" are and get frustrated when I have to use the telephone because I can't work out all the numbers. the Mcat is such a cruel test that it would give a 40S to a dummy (and not to mention a 12 in VR for a person who's third language is english! Argh The injustice 😡 ). Honestly I don't think this kind of doubtful attitude would get you far in medicine. I hope I'm wrong.

Actually there are test centers in England as well. How do I know????.....well while studying abroad in England a couple of people in my program were planning on taking the MCAT there during spring term.

Quick question:

There are great medical schools all over the world. Why choose the US? Obviously you are not the only international student (I am excluding canadians) who apply to schools here, but here is my chance to ask a foreigner.....So I am taking it!

Also isnt that school owned by Cornell, or is that some other school in the middle east?

 

[riceman04]

Probably because a lot of Lebanese people speak French, English, and Arabic.

I know the same is try with Syrians that I've known too.

Off topic: I love me some Lebanese food.

I think you'll have no problem getting into a US school as an international student as long as the rest of your application profile is good. But as others have said, consult an MSAR.

Dont use slang....he might not be able to understand you. Remember they learn proper english.


But I dont really like much lebanese food....there is one thing I do like though....it looks like chicken kabobs....but I am not sure what it is.....it's good though!

 

[riceman04]

You've got reading comprehension problems. There's a difference between saying US allopathic med is best in the world and saying it's better than Am U of beirut. The latter is what I said, and stand behind that statement, (although I certainly wouldn't make the same claim with respect to many European schools). This was in response to a poster who indicated that American University of Beirut was among the "best med schools in the world". If you look at their website they only claim to be one of the best in the "region" (significant difference). You are obviously reading something into these posts that isn't there -- sounds like you have some chip on your shoulder about the US. BTW most of the foreign physicians coming to the US are doing so to fill unfilled residencies, not because they are being recruited for their expertise - there is a healthcare shortage here (everywhere, actually)..."seriously, get over yourself and your arrogant pre-occupation with absolute "ANTI -American" superiority" -- and try not to read into posts things that simply arent there. 🙂

No that person just has an inferiority complex....as do many people outside of the US (not including our brothers and sisters to the north).

 

[riceman04]

also, we have reasons to be be proud of our medical schools. obviously because there are people that want to come over here so badly.

Who????????????????????????????? And from where are they leaving????

 

[Silentiger]

Dont use slang....he might not be able to understand you. Remember they learn proper english.


But I dont really like much lebanese food....there is one thing I do like though....it looks like chicken kabobs....but I am not sure what it is.....it's good though!

I understand slang! I just wouldn't dare using it; you have to be an expert in a certain language to be able to ruin it properly. I'm just not there yet.

And by the way, I don't like Lebanese food either. But it's more of a saturation thing than anything else.

 

[Silentiger]

There are great medical schools all over the world. Why choose the US? Obviously you are not the only international student (I am excluding canadians) who apply to schools here, but here is my chance to ask a foreigner.....So I am taking it!

Also isnt that school owned by Cornell, or is that some other school in the middle east?

Why choose the US? Well I'm doing my undergraduate work in an American University so that doesn't leave much choice. I could always stay here in Lebanon but I simply have to try to get into a top university if my grades and overall achievements allow me to. I mean I need the opportunity to evolve and see how far my potential gets me. Would you blame me?

By the way, there is indeed a school owned by Cornell in Qatar but I've been highly discouraged from going there. It doesn't seem to be accredited plus I've heard rumors of it being somewhere where old Cornell professors go spend their retirements I don't know how true they are though.

 

[stherling]

Silentiger, (OP = Original Poster, Aka the person that asked the first question)

Welcome to SDN. Where one person asks a question. You get some answers that appear to be good. Then you get some hostile poster (AKA: A$$ hole) that turns the whole directions to $hit.

Some don't realize that SDN is a wealth of information that is superior to google or looking at schools' website. At least one person on here can answer your whole question or parts of it.

ANYWWAYYYYY:

Here is the fact:

1) Your stats are EXCELLENT.

2) You went to one of the BEST schools in the world outside the US.
(even though I believe the AUB is considered a US school. AUB med school requires the MCAT for admission. www.aub.edu)

3) You speak 3 languages (Arabic, French and English)

4) As long as you have some other extra curricular activity to put on your list. Volunteering, student government, sports, working with UNO with refugees etc... your application will look nice.

5) I assume since you went to AUB, you can afford to pay US tuition of 40,000$.

6) Apply to private schools only. A good one that you may want to consider is Duke University. IF you plan to do an MD/PhD, I would apply to some state schools that offer tuition and stipend. Some schools with even offer scholarships for those with excellent stats.

7) Apply fast/also secondary applications. The deadlines is coming up fast.

Good luck

NOTE: most state schools will not admit foreigners into their MD-PhD/MSTP programs, regardless of where you went to school. unfortunate, but true.

 

[jebus]

I understand slang! I just wouldn't dare using it; you have to be an expert in a certain language to be able to ruin it properly.

Ha ha. You seem like a real cool person.
Were I in your position I would certainly pursue the MD/PhD route. You get added prestige, get paid to go to school for 7 years, and have more options available after your graduate education. The consensus seems that you'll have an easier time getting into an MD/PhD program because of the financial obligation (wow, that seems odd, doesn't it?). You can also drop the PhD part of the program following matriculation - it's a backwards way of getting into an MD program, some might say unethical. I would go for it. MD/PhD programs generally have 2 years of MD education, then 3-4 for a PhD, and 2 more years of clinical rotations. You could drop it before the research starts for a PhD. However, you will have to pay for a full MD education. I looked into it - I don't have the stats but people have done it before.
If you are applying this late in the application cycle you may have some trouble, but with your stats I think you'll have an excellent chance. I'm really jealous. Good work. And good luck!

 

[Monette]

well I hope you're right because you wouldn't believe how discouraging some people can be. I've been lead to believe that a foreign student has to get a 43 or more to be considered seriously by schools such as Harvard or Duke (where I really want to go). I actually was the least excited of the bunch at the MCAT results party me and my friends had yesterday because I was the only one planning to go to the US.

I think you are SOL for Harvard. Unless you plan on studying for a year in the US or Canada prior to applying (not matriculating), you will not be getting any love from Harvard.
http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=admissions
(Scroll to the bottom and you will find a section on International students)

Duke lists the profiles of its entering classes from 1999-2002 and there seems to have been a total of at least 10 foreign students (7 if you don't count Canada as foreign) admitted over the span of those four years (they don't stipulate how many were admitted in 1999, only that there were three foreign countries represented). They don't list the profiles of their classes from the past three years, so I don't know if they have changed their policies since '02, but according to the available information, even though the odds aren't exactly on your side, at least they won't toss your application before looking at it.
http://dukemed.duke.edu/StudentLife/index.cfm?method=StatsOnTheStudentBody

Hope this helps,
Monette

 

[Flopotomist]

to the OP: Mabruk an the MCAT/GPA - in truth, I don't think any of us are qualified to give you any real advice on your situation. If you were an American, the answer would be easy - with those scores, you are extremely competitive. However, I don't think those of us that read the pre-allo section really know what an international applicant's odds are. I would suggest reading the MSAR carefully, as well as contacting individual schools. From my limited understanding though, the financial aspect is the most challenging as I believe that many of the schools make you pay for all four years up front if you are an international applicant.