International student applying while on OPT

[lemontree52]

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Hi all, I've posted a couple questions before, but I've changed my mind a bit and would really like some input from fellow international students or people knowledgeable about these issues.

Grades: I'm a 4th year US college student majoring in biochemistry. I started at a community college, and then transferred to a 4-year college. So far, all my grades have been A's or A+'s, except an A- in a non-science general education class (English Literature) I took while at community college. I guess that would make my GPA around 3.99. Haven't taken the MCAT yet. Very confident in the science portions, a lot less in the verbal/psych/sociology ones.

Research: Co-authoring a paper (and possibly another one) that's coming out possibly next year the earliest. Not very special I'd say, especially because I won't be able to put this on my application.

Volunteering: Not much besides tutoring. Would really like to do but never had the time.

Extracurriculars: Also not much.

I will be graduating the end of this semester. Do you think it's a good idea to apply while on OPT? I plan on taking the Jan 2016 MCAT (studying during summer) and volunteering + working (not sure if I can get a job) in the meantime. If I end up not getting a job but only volunteering (+studying for/taking the MCAT) for a year, does this look bad on my application?

Or do you think I should just give up and go home (because my chance is slim, etc.)? I wanted to go back to my home country but I've recently realized that I'd really like to go to med school here.

Thanks!

 

[xmukurox]

There aren't many medical schools that accept international students, and their tuition is very expensive. It is also hard for international students to get loans, and you will need a citizen to co-sign. International students aren't qualified for any financial aids offered by public universities. If money is not your problem, I suggest you work on ECs and more volunteers before applying.

I was an international student while working on my prerequisites. I could not work due to F-1 limitations. I took a break on volunteering for a whole year due to uncertainty that I may not apply for medical schools in the U.S. I looked into medical schools in my country and other countries that I might be able to go.

It is going to be a very difficult battle. If your resolution is strong enough, go for it.

 

[lemontree52]

Thanks for the reply. So are you no longer an international student now? Did you volunteer in the US for an entire year on OPT after graduation? I was thinking because I won't be able to apply this coming cycle, I will have to wait another year, but I don't know if I will be able to stay after my OPT ends.

 

[xmukurox]

Thanks for the reply. So are you no longer an international student now? Did you volunteer in the US for an entire year on OPT after graduation? I was thinking because I won't be able to apply this coming cycle, I will have to wait another year, but I don't know if I will be able to stay after my OPT ends.

No, I am currently adjusting my status. I volunteered for 7 months during my OPT, and I was still making a decision on medicine then.

Good luck. You will need a lot of it.