I need some advice

[rocky316]

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Ok, I'm just finished my first year of life sciences here at the University of Toronto, and am looking at the MSTP in the U.S as a viable option. The problem I have is that I don't know what steps I need to take in order to make this happen.

For instance, when should I take my MCAT. Most are advised to take the April sitting the year before I apply, but I don't intend to apply until I'm in my fourth year, yet I still want to take the Mcat in August of next year. This gives me one more year before applications go out so I can always write it again if I want. Is this advisable to do?

Also, since I'm a Canadian citizen, am I at a disadvantage during the application process? Should I try to obtain a greencard before I begin applying, or will schools not really care?

Lastly, I just wanted to know what you guys thought of the reputation that the University of TOronto has down in the U.S. It's Canada's best school, but what do you people think of it?

Thanks alot guys

 

[Lactic Folly]

I took my MCAT after second year, and plan to enter medical school after four years. I think it was the optimal time for me - first year sciences still fairly fresh, more time to study in summer, and it didn't conflict with final exams in April. If you're ready, go for it. MCAT scores take a few years to expire in most cases, so the earlier writing shouldn't be a problem..

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by rocky316

Also, since I'm a Canadian citizen, am I at a disadvantage during the application process? Should I try to obtain a greencard before I begin applying, or will schools not really care?

The MSTP is not an option for you. You must be a US citizen in order to receive funding from the NIH. On the other hand, you can apply for MD-PhD positions but will have to find private funds for your schooling.

For instance, look at U of Iowa's requirements:
http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/mstp/apply/eligibility.html

 

[Lactic Folly]

Don't quote me on this, but I've heard Yale funds up ~two international MD-PhDs.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by Lactic Folly
Don't quote me on this, but I've heard Yale funds up ~two international MD-PhDs.

These may be private funds but it cannot be NIH MSTP funds.

 

[DarkChild]

correction - you can get NIH funds if you're a green card holder/permanent resident.

 

[Neuronix]

Several schools, including Penn, WashU, Yale, Hopkins, and more have a few slots that are completely paid for with private funds. These students do not have to apply separately for these funds and these students are identical in every other way to MSTP students. BTW, DarkChild is right, you only have to have a green card to get funding from the US government.

To the op, take the MCAT when you're ready. It will take 3 years for your scores to expire, so you could apply 1 or 2 years after you take the MCAT. I took mine in August the year before I applied so that I could study all summer for them. You will need a high GPA (3.8+), a high MCAT (34+), and solid research experience to get into one of those slots.

Good luck!

 

[surge]

Originally posted by Neuronix
Several schools, including Penn, WashU, Yale, Hopkins, and more have a few slots that are completely paid for with private funds. These students do not have to apply separately for these funds and these students are identical in every other way to MSTP students.

Ditto.

There are at least 17 schools that do this.
This is my exact situation, so I looked into it extensively before applying. I applied to 15 out of the 17 schools.
Yes, being an int'l student goes against you, but does in no way mean you cannot do MSTP in the US (true, technically the funds are not going to be NIH, but at many MSTP schools even American citizens are funded by additional private funds - WashU is a great example: only about a dozen slots are actual NIH money, all the others [20+] are private [and as a student no one knows whether they're actually on NIH or private money]).

 

[canadagirl]

Remember, Canadian schools have MD/PhD programs too! Of the 21 grads of the U of Toronto program listed here, 5 are listed as currently being in the US. That's a pretty high percentage, given the assumption that most Canadian grads would prefer to stay in Canada.

 

[rocky316]

I know UofT has a good MD/Phd program, but I would really like to go to the U.S one day to practice medicine. I'm just trying to figure out what school would be good for me down there.

 

[canadagirl]

Yeah, that's cool. I was just pointing out that Canadian grads DO have the option of practicing in the US as well if they wish 🙂