International Students?

[geek666]

I am an international student currently in the process of applying to medical school and I was just wondering if there are any foreign students, either in medschool already or applying, who are familiar with our chances of getting in to a US med school? They say they let in 130 students last year (most of which had permanent residency status). Anyone know their stats i.e. MCAT scores, GPA, etc?

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[Mystique]

I can't provide you w/ much insight, but I would imagine that the avg. GPA and MCAT would be higher for foreign students (for US applicants the averages are around 3.6 and 29-30). I have a question for you. You said schools let in 130 "foreign" students most of which had permanent residency status. What exactly do you mean by that? Did they acquire this status after coming here to the states OR were they permanent residents of the US prior to applying. If one is a permanent resident at the time of application, you're pooled in w/ all the other US applicants; you're not considered a "foreign" student. Anyways, I think I'm overanalyzing what you've written. Sorry, I can't provide you w/ any info.

 

[geek666]

I think international students are comprised of those that don't have greencards period, and those that have permanent residency status but aren't US citizens. Only a guess.

 

[justDOit]

If you are a permanent resident, you are granted a green card; thereby having a green card or being a permanent resident is the exactly same thing. MSAR 2003 states that ?the 2001 entering class at U.S. medical schools included 181 students who were not US citizens or permanent residents.? MSAR also emphasizes ?1 Many public medical schools limit enrollment to states residents [the state where you reside], 2 state residency statues require that applicants be either US citizens or permanent residents, 3 many private medical schools require international applicants to document their ability to independently finance a medical education, 4 many countries impose severe restrictions on exportation of currency, 5 federal financial aid resources generally require either US citizenship or permanent residency, 6 many medical schools require completion of premedical coursework at a US college or university?Private medical schools are more likely to accept international students than public ones.? Your best option is to call the schools where you want to apply and ask them if they accept international students and what the average grade for international student is. Make sure you do well in your classes, and have at least grades that are the average for American applicants. I am sure this has been mentioned before, but comities will look favorable upon international students who have good grades because they have to overcome so much to succeed in their studies. Getting good grades is the easiest part of the application because if one cannot succeed academically, medical schools may question how well you will do in med school- whether you are American or international student. But having a bank account with enough money to pay for your studies is definitively the hardest. If you cannot prove you have that money, INS will not grant your visa. And after 9-11 INS will be even stricter before granting someone a visa. It is not impossible. 181 made it in 2001, and that?s a lot of international students going to med school. Again I would call the schools and ask them directly. Good luck!

 

[Original]

JustDoIt is right on target.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

geek666: did you take MCAT? What are your stats?

 

[geek666]

Well, I graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Psychobiology (GPA: 3.88) then took a year of dental school at UCSF (GPA: 3.69)before realizing I wanted to pursue medicine. Took the MCATs...didn't fare to well (VR 8, BIO 10, PS 12). But I'm hoping it's enough to get in somewhere. I applied to roughly 23 schools from all tiers, all private except Penn State . I concerned because my MCAT isn't above average. The rest of my application is fairly strong though, but I've got my fingers crossed.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

did you apply for 2003? Did you do research/volunteering? what other ECs do you have?

 

[geek666]

One and a half years research in Nuclear Medicine during college and I've been volunteering in various clinics i.e physical therapy, family clinics, dental clinics since my first year at college.

 

[geek666]

Oh, and yes, I already turned in my primary application on June 12th. As far as EC's go, used to play tennis for HK during high school, play the drums, and am an avid BJJ practitioner.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

did you finish HS in US?

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

with these stats you will deffientely get in somewhere. Where did you apply? You did not pick 'em randomly, did you?

 

[geek666]

I completed high school in Hong Kong. As far as choosing med schools, first I choose all private schools, screened for schools that don't let in foreigners period, selected those few state school that let in a fair number of out-of-staters (international included), then by geography cause my girlfriends heading over to the east coast to pursue her Phd. I didn't go further west than Ohio or south of Atlanta.

 

[Original]

You sound good to go.

 

[Original]

You sound good to go.

 

[relatively prime]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Original:
•You sound good to go.•••••It's different for international students. If he/she weren't an international student, then yes, she/he would be "good to go"... but international students get screwed in admissions. Like s/he said, less than 150 get accepted each year! Even international students with 4.0s and 38s have cause to worry.... seriously...

note: "international student" = no green card, no permanent residency... if you have a green card then it doesn't matter, it's like having citizenship except you can't vote

 

[justDOit]

Geek, it seems you are on the right track- you are applying mostly to private schools from all tiers. You should definitively get in somewhere; your stats are very good. Your MCAT is not that bad as you think, you got an 8 in the Verbal section, but med schools will not make a big deal out of it because you are an international student. A lot of Americans struggle to do well in the verbal section. Dont worry. Let us know in the future if you get any interviews and how they went, do well in your interviews and you will get in somewhere. Good luck

 

[relatively prime]

I don't think you guys get it... it's insanely hard to get in as an international student!! Even if this guy had a 4.0 and 38 his chances would still be uncertain.

By husband was an international student when he applied so I saw all the statistics... and they are NOT PRETTY!! My husband had a 3.9 (from an ivy) and a 37 MCAT (with 11 in verbal) and he still applied to D.O. schools!!

It's SO NOT TRUE that medschools are going to overluck an 8 verbal because he's an international. Medical schools might overlook an 8 if a person's native language isn't English as long as that person is A US CITIZEN!

Even private schools tend to only accept 1 or 2 international students or of the hundreds that apply.

I'm assuming that the OP wants the truth and the truth is that International students have a hell of a time getting into medical school. Yes, he may have a slim chance... but that's all an international student with an 8 verbal can hope for.

 

[justDOit]

Relatively, even US citizens with 4.0s and 38s should worry if their communication skills suck; communication skills is one of the reasons why people with low MCATs and GPAs get accepted-they do well in their interviews,it also depends on what schools they are applying to, and what their ECs are. It is very relative!

 

[relatively prime]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by justDOit:
•Relatively, even US citizens with 4.0s and 38s should worry if their communication skills suck; communication skills is one of the reasons why people with low MCATs and GPAs get accepted-they do well in their interviews,it also depends on what schools they are applying to, and what their ECs are. It is very relative!•••••One question: have you seen the stats for International students?

 

[relatively prime]

Let me give you some... these private schools were chosen randomly... (However, most are from teh the top 50... which actually tend to be nicer to international students.).

Harvard: acceptance rate: 4.5%
accept. rate for international: 1.5%

U.Penn: acceptance rate: 5.8%
accept. rate for international: 0%

Cornell: acceptance rate: 3.7%
accept. rate for international: 0%

Jefferson: acceptance rate: 6.1%
accept. rate for international: 3.5%

Minnesota: acceptance rate: 16.5%
accept. rate for international: 7%

Stanford: acceptance rate: 3.2%
accept. rate for international: 0.5%

NorthWestern: acceptance rate: 9.7%
accept. rate for international: 3.4%

Mercer: acceptance rate: 9.7%
accept. rate for international: 0%

 

[lola]

it does look like the rates are lower for international students, but it's hard to know how meaningful these numbers are since we have no idea how many international students apply or what their stats are.

 

[geek666]

Thank you, Relatively Prime, for your most sobering remarks concerning the plight of international students applying to medical school. Having someone close to you having gone through the process probably makes you the best source of information concerning these matters. I was wondering whether you could fill me in on how your husband fared in the end (without sounding to prying)? Which schools did he apply to? Interviews? Acceptances? Particular experiences? Oh, and if you could, what other credentials does he have? I am only too aware of how steep a hill it real is and I just want a realistic view of my chances? Thanks a bunch.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

bump

 

[shekspere]

relatively prime, what school did your husband end up attending (just curious). SInce he married you isn't he now a US citizen?

 

[onboard]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by shekspere:
•relatively prime, what school did your husband end up attending (just curious). SInce he married you isn't he now a US citizen?•••••I am international, and I got in this year. Things are certainly must harder for us not only in terms of GPA and MCAT but also we have to give constant explanations due to our non-greencard status.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by shekspere:
•relatively prime, what school did your husband end up attending (just curious). SInce he married you isn't he now a US citizen?•••••I think her husband ended up at Johns Hopkins.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by relatively prime:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Original:
•You sound good to go.•••••It's different for international students. If he/she weren't an international student, then yes, she/he would be "good to go"... but international students get screwed in admissions. Like s/he said, less than 150 get accepted each year! Even international students with 4.0s and 38s have cause to worry.... seriously...

note: "international student" = no green card, no permanent residency... if you have a green card then it doesn't matter, it's like having citizenship except you can't vote•••••Relatively Prime is on point, but one thing you'll need is some confidence too. It's true that it's harder for international students to get in, but if you're ok academically and have great communication skills, and apply to the right kind and # of schools, then chances are that you'll get in somewhere. An international student here on SDN got into 11 of the 10 top schools he applied to. I'm an international student (NO green-card) and I also got into a few places this year with a 33S MCAT and a 3.8 Ugpa. It's hard but very possible.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

Original: how can one get into 11 out 10 top schools? Did he get into one of the schools twice? <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]:
•Original: how can one get into 11 out 10 top schools? Did he get into one of the schools twice? <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> •••••My bad <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> . You know what I meant.

 

[geek666]

Just curious "original", but which schools did you apply to and what sort experiences did you have while interviewing? Also, do you know whether it would be better to apply within the US or outside? I'm sort of having visa difficulties currently and may end up applying from Hk. I worried that this fact alone may deter schools from trying to make contact with me or even offer interviews considering the logistics of it all. Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[geek666]

Onbaord, nice to hear from another international student. I was wondering whether you could disclose your credentials and stats and whether you could elaborate more on what sort of explanations we are supposed to give regarding green card issues? Thanks.

 

[Original]

geek666,
enable your PMs.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

me too..

 

[Original]

Spidey,
I just sent you a PM, but geek666 is yet to enable his PMs.

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

Thanks!