HKU MBBS Questions

[unoplayer]

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I'm doing undergrad at Berkeley and want to get my med degree from HKU because I want to practice in HK and because it is much cheaper. I'm considered a local applicant and can speak but not read Cantonese, so I can't apply to CUHK. I have a few questions about doing med school at HKU:

1. Does prestige of your undergrad school matter a lot for non-JUPAS applicants with an undergrad degree? How much am I at a disadvantage compared to people from Harvard, Yale, etc?

2. Do I have to take the MCAT? How about science courses?

Because of scholarship opportunities and other concerns about being a doctor, I don't plan on quitting undergrad after my second year to attend HKU, but I may consider it if there is a large difference in my chances of receiving an offer and if I have to take the MCAT and/or science courses.

3. Is the grading pass/fail? If so, how many students fail out of school, and what determines what specialties students get?

4. Is dermatology the most competitive field there, too? If not, how competitive is it relative to other fields?

5. For the people who have done their undergrad in the US, how difficult are the classes at HKU compared to those in the US? I know that Hong Kong's high school science education is a lot better and that the students are very hardworking, two things that make me nervous when considering to study for a medical degree there.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[yoni120]

I suggest that you go to the TaiWan for schooling,the Med-Technolagy in TaiWan is better than the Hongkong or the mainland.You'd not better come to seek for studying in china,especially do study the Med.

 

[CalNJMBBS2009]

To answer your questions:
1. It matters, but probably not as much as you think. I don't think Cal students are at disadvantage when compared to Harvard and "the one across the bay"....As long as you are not doing community college, you will be fine.

2. MCAT: no
Science courses: not specified, but they do look at your Biology and Chemistry grades, I think

IMPORTANT (your other point in 2): Make sure you want to become a doctor FIRST before you apply. It is a huge commitment to return to HK.

3.Grading is Distinction/Pass/Fail (you can find it in the curriculum). I don't too many people fail out of med school, but you have to work very hard to pass.

4. Not really. I suggest you do some research on HK medical field too....Ophthalmology and Ob/Gyn are prolly hotter than dermatology

5. People in HKU Med school are pretty smart AND hardworking. Expect yourself to compete with students who are capable of getting 3.9 at Cal

BTW, you are a local applicant if you hv HKID card.

Good luck and Go Bears!~