International applicants

[antoshka]

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Hello.
I have a somewhat complicated case and hope to get some advice.
I transferred to University of California Berkeley 6 months ago. My major is chemical engineering and previously I was studying in Kazan State Technological
University (Russia). I completed two years of studying in Russia and completed 3
physics, 4 math, 2 organic chemistry and 2 inorganic chemistry classes there (all are semester courses). I also was studying in University of California, Los Angeles during 2 summer sessions (summer'04 and summer'05). My GPA's are:
1) Kazan State Technological university (70 units earned): 4.0/4.0
2) University of California, Los Angeles (12 units earned) 3.7/4.0 (I finished my biology courses in UCLA)
3) University of California, Berkeley (18 units earned): 3.93/4.0 (took math54, chem120A (physical chemistry), engineering45, chemical engineering140 and history 121A). I think my Berkeley GPA will stay at this level.
I am planning to sit for April MCAT (several practice MCAT's that I took gave the score range of 35-37) and I think I can also improve the score on MCAT.
I am volunteering at a local Berkeley hospital, doing research (in the department of chemical engineering), serving as a counselor for AIChE (American association of chemical engineers) and I also did some volunteering and research in Russia. My drawbacks are:
1. I am an international student (neither citizen, nor permanent resident)
2. By the time I will apply to medical schools I will be lacking 1 biology course and 1 English course (all of them I am taking during summer'06 in Berkeley)
3. Most of my pre-med requirements are completed in Russian university
(My financial situation allows me to pay for medical school by myself).
My questions are:
1. Do you think it is possible to get into any of the America medical schools for me?
2. Do I need to retake my premed requirements here?
3. How can I increase my chances of getting in?
I will be very thankful to hear any suggestions.

 

[Beau Geste]

I am pretty sure that most US schools (especially state schools) require permanent residency or citizenship. I could be wrong, but the ones in IL, WI, MO, and IN for sure do.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Hello.
I have a somewhat complicated case and hope to get some advice.
I transferred to University of California Berkeley 6 months ago. My major is chemical engineering and previously I was studying in Kazan State Technological
University (Russia). I completed two years of studying in Russia and completed 3
physics, 4 math, 2 organic chemistry and 2 inorganic chemistry classes there (all are semester courses). I also was studying in University of California, Los Angeles during 2 summer sessions (summer'04 and summer'05). My GPA's are:
1) Kazan State Technological university (70 units earned): 4.0/4.0
2) University of California, Los Angeles (12 units earned) 3.7/4.0 (I finished my biology courses in UCLA)
3) University of California, Berkeley (18 units earned): 3.93/4.0 (took math54, chem120A (physical chemistry), engineering45, chemical engineering140 and history 121A). I think my Berkeley GPA will stay at this level.
I am planning to sit for April MCAT (several practice MCAT's that I took gave the score range of 35-37) and I think I can also improve the score on MCAT.
I am volunteering at a local Berkeley hospital, doing research (in the department of chemical engineering), serving as a counselor for AIChE (American association of chemical engineers) and I also did some volunteering and research in Russia. My drawbacks are:
1. I am an international student (neither citizen, nor permanent resident)
2. By the time I will apply to medical schools I will be lacking 1 biology course and 1 English course (all of them I am taking during summer'06 in Berkeley)
3. Most of my pre-med requirements are completed in Russian university
(My financial situation allows me to pay for medical school by myself).
My questions are:
1. Do you think it is possible to get into any of the America medical schools for me?
2. Do I need to retake my premed requirements here?
3. How can I increase my chances of getting in?
I will be very thankful to hear any suggestions.

You've asked a ton of questions, but I'll try to be brief. Based on what you've posted, with a strong MCAT, it may be possible to secure entry into a U.S. medical school. However, I see a few issues.
1. Prereq's. There is absolutely no flexing this requirement and you are most likely at a significant disadvantage if you apply with them 'in progress' or missing - based on the rest of your application being of the non-standard, non-cookie cutter ilk.
2. Funding. It will be very, very hard to pay for this unless your have an independent source of financial aid. Without at least a green card, you will be ineligible for all the usual loans. There are a few private loans and a few scholarships, but they’re monstrously hard to secure.
3. International status. I make no bones about this one. In itself this is a huge hurdle to overcome and you most likely won't get your first-choice school. Are you mobile?
4. Some schools will insist on all of your prereq's being completed in the U.S. Are you willing to repeat physics, chemistry etc in the U.S. if you really have to? Your GPA from overseas as a stand-alone entity (as nice as it is!), sadly, will not be counted on the AMCAS form for applying to U.S. medical schools. Is there any way you could transfer those credits into a degree-awarding program to obtain a U.S. degree? That is, will you stay at Berkeley and graduate with an undergraduate degree?
5. Some state schools do take internationals, but you will pay the out-of-state tuition rate (>30K per year) for all four years. Coupled with living expenses, this could get pricey.

I am not a member of any admissions committee so take this with a grain of salt but, with 60-90 credits completed at a U.S. institution, many foreign-educated undergrads (myself included) have gained admission to U.S. schools. It’s hard but it does happen. Good luck!

 

[antoshka]

Thanks for the feedback. Regarding some of the issues:
2. Funding (let us not consider financial aspect at this point - I have a very good sponsor inside the US and I also can get a secure loan (with the help of an American cosigner)
3. Looking at statistics in MSAR (medical school admission requirements) the acceptance rate of international students ranges from 5 to 20% depending on the school (and there are at list 40 schools that will consider foreign applicants). I will be very happy if I can get into at least 1 school (the location does not really mean anything to me).
4. I am ready to retake all my premed requisites (and spend 2 more semesters in my present school). However, I was accepted to Berkeley as a transfer student and all my previous coursework (from Russia) received credit. 100% that I will get B.S. in chemical engineering from Berkeley. So I think this is a degree-awarding program. My plan is to graduate in Spring of 2007. However if I do not gain admission into any medical school I will consider taking post-Bac or independent research (while retaking my prereqs) or applying to a M.S. program.
5. My present financial situation allows me to pay the full tuition for four years in any of the US medical schools.
Again, thanks for your feedback.
And if anybody has some practical advice (except getting American residency) please send it to me since I am really dedicated to getting into medical school.
What should I do to increase my chances?

 

[Beau Geste]

Thanks for the feedback. Regarding some of the issues:
2. Funding (let us not consider financial aspect at this point - I have a very good sponsor inside the US and I also can get a secure loan (with the help of an American cosigner)
3. Looking at statistics in MSAR (medical school admission requirements) the acceptance rate of international students ranges from 5 to 20% depending on the school (and there are at list 40 schools that will consider foreign applicants). I will be very happy if I can get into at least 1 school (the location does not really mean anything to me).
4. I am ready to retake all my premed requisites (and spend 2 more semesters in my present school). However, I was accepted to Berkeley as a transfer student and all my previous coursework (from Russia) received credit. 100% that I will get B.S. in chemical engineering from Berkeley. So I think this is a degree-awarding program. My plan is to graduate in Spring of 2007. However if I do not gain admission into any medical school I will consider taking post-Bac or independent research (while retaking my prereqs) or applying to a M.S. program.
5. My present financial situation allows me to pay the full tuition for four years in any of the US medical schools.
Again, thanks for your feedback.
And if anybody has some practical advice (except getting American residency) please send it to me since I am really dedicated to getting into medical school.
What should I do to increase my chances?

Since there are schools that take international students, you should check with those schools specifically to see whether they accept foreign coursework as pre-requisites. Even though your courses transfer to Berkely, they may not be accepted at the med school.

Other than that you seem like you have a pretty good plan. Good luck!

 

[yyd]

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[dr.z]

I am pretty sure that most US schools (especially state schools) require permanent residency or citizenship. I could be wrong, but the ones in IL, WI, MO, and IN for sure do.

It's true most state schools require it, but there are few exceptions. Most private schools are fine, except there are some exceptions as well. You have to check with MSAR or call each school.

 

[antoshka]

My father was not an oil king...actually none of my family memebers were. Those are my personal funds. )))
What do you mean by the PhD root: first getting into PhD program and then applying to a medical school or just applying to M.D./Ph.D.?
And, again it does not necessasrily mean that if someone has money to go to school it is his family's money...)))

 

[antoshka]

MSAR stats':
Yale's admission rate for internationals=15% (a little bit better than for residents)!

 

[myan]

So how is your med school search?

I am an international student too. I am wonder if you can be so kind to share the information of med schools which accept international students.

Thanks you all very much

 

[antoshka]

starting with those in California (although they do accept applicants the acceptance rate is =5-6%)
1. Stanford
2. UCLA
3. UCSF
4. UCSD
5. USC
the best way to find others is to rebiew MSAR (medical school admission requirements) book. But as I know from internationals being accepted all of them were superior (3.9-4.0 GPA MCAT's in high 30's, significant volunteer/research experience))) where are u currently studying?

 

[stookie]

What about students who are currently being sponsored for LPR status? Are the still considered international students or would they have to wait it out until they get their papers in order?

 

[antoshka]

If you are not resident/citizen (you do not have any legal documentation/it is being processed) you are not...byt the way are there any current medical students on this forum who got in as internationals? )))

 

[stookie]

If you are not resident/citizen (you do not have any legal documentation/it is being processed) you are not..

Not what?

 

[travelbug73]

Folks,

Here's a list of schools, based on my interests, that I found (either from their website or by calling the school) which accept international students without a greencard. Of course, even these schools require that you complete at least a year or two (depends on the school) of course work in the United States if you obtained your degree in a foreign country. All prereqs etc still apply. Please free to add to this list if you know of a school that I have missed or delete from the list any school you know for sure that does not accept internationals. Also, I do not know the stats of incoming students or the percentage of international students accepted. I shall work on those and post later.

Baylor
Case Western
Duke
Emory
Northwestern University
University of Alabama, Birmingham
University of Miami
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
UT- Southwestern
UT- San Antonio
Washington University (St. Louis)
Vanderbilt
Wake Forest
UCSF
Stanford
UCSD
University of Chicago, Pritzker
Yale

I have seen international students being accepted to University of Kentucky and UT Houston, but I do not know their PR status.

 

[travelbug73]

Posted by moomoo1 in the pre-allo forum that I copied here, hope that's ok.

http://www.fiu.edu/~preprofc/International_Students_School_Policies.htm

 

[stookie]

What about D.O. schools??

 

[travelbug73]

What about D.O. schools??

This list includes D.O. schools as well