Is this the same as studying medicine in the Caribbean? How risky would this be?

[Dhooy7]

I saw this online. I was just curious about how studying medicine in Mexico would work. It would just be appealing to pay $20,000 total for medical school. Would this be the same or even worse studying in the Caribbean?

I guess I better start learning Spanish lol. $20,000 only. Anyone ever hear of people get licensed in another country and come to US? Arizona man turns to Mexico to study medicine and avoid debt

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[Osteosaur]

If you're having trouble learning medicine in English, why would you try and learn it in another language? Sounds like another barrier you don't need if you already failed classes.

Your school is letting you repeat the year. Don't give up on yourself just yet. Sorry your family isn't being more supportive. Use this time to relax and address why you might have failed.

 

[Dhooy7]

My parents are just like what are you going to do differently to make it any easier? They know things don't come easy.

 

[Ho0v-man]

It’s like going to the Caribbean. Your best chance of becoming a doctor is repeating at your school. The only better part here is the debt load. Med school is still hard no matter where you go.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Yes it's like the Carib. Yes it's a terrible idea.

 

[Goro]

I saw this online. I was just curious about how studying medicine in Mexico would work. It would just be appealing to pay $20,000 total for medical school. Would this be the same or even worse studying in the Caribbean?

I guess I better start learning Spanish lol. $20,000 only. Anyone ever hear of people get licensed in another country and come to US? Arizona man turns to Mexico to study medicine and avoid debt

Don't even think about it.

 

[canquito]

I saw this online. I was just curious about how studying medicine in Mexico would work. It would just be appealing to pay $20,000 total for medical school. Would this be the same or even worse studying in the Caribbean?

I guess I better start learning Spanish lol. $20,000 only. Anyone ever hear of people get licensed in another country and come to US? Arizona man turns to Mexico to study medicine and avoid debt

Foreign licensure doesn't really matter, ECFMG certification does. Save UCLA's program, The International Medical Graduate Program (IMG) - UCLA Department of Family Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, I don't see why any other residency program would value foreign licensure without ECFMG certification.

Back in the day when the fifth pathway program existed, Mexico was a viable route. Because this pathway no longer exists, studying in Mexico with the intention of returning to train and practice in the US is generally a bad decision with two possible exceptions that may make this plan slightly less crazy: UNAM and Monterrey. (I won't even consider UAG's IMG program as a Mexican school because it neither values students' education or safety nor prepares physicians adequately.)

Universidad Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) is generally considered to be the best Mexican school with a great reputation professionally and academically. Think of it as a public IVY school; all of Mexico's Nobel laurates are UNAM alumni. Its yearly tuition is equivalent to 1 American cent per year and has a ~7% acceptance rate. On a tangentially related note, even its vet school is accredited by the AVMA.

Monterrey has two private medical schools, El Tecnologico de Monterrey (El Tec) & Universidad the Monterrey (UDEM), that participate in the VSLO network. However, their private status makes them among them most expensive universities in the country. For El Tec, the total costs of studying for six years add up to north of 80k USD and UDEM is not too far behind. The sticker price of medical education is ostensibly lower in Mexico, but you have to consider the additional year of social service where graduates have to essentially work as interns, often in underserved communities, to finalize their degree. La Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) is a public med school in Monterey with a solid national reputation, but it only offers international exchanges with European schools.

With entire curriculums that are not designed to prepare you for the USMLEs, instruction and clinical experience conducted all in Spanish and perhaps native Mexican tongues, and a 3 three-year attending salary opportunity cost if you defy the odds by matching into a US residency, the possibility of studying medicine in Mexico with the intention of returning to the US is something that really cannot be well justified.

 

[thepoopologist]

The whole question isn't really about price or location, it ultimately boils down to whether you stand a chance at matching even if you end up being the worst graduating student in the class. There is nothing easy about the process, and if you find an easy step (unknown mexican medical school with rotations of varying quality) it means the next step is 10x harder (matching to a program in the US). You want a shortcut that actually results in a job in the US practicing, go the NP route.

 

[Splenda88]

Yes it's like the Carib. Yes it's a terrible idea.

Well, OP will only be 20k + COL in the red (probably ~ 60k since Tijuana has a low COL)...

 

[Dhooy7]

I'm scared I cannot fail any courses next year. I cannot afford failing out with tons of debt and no degree. People online think I should go PA because its shorter and dont need to get BSN. This is a really tough decision

The whole question isn't really about price or location, it ultimately boils down to whether you stand a chance at matching even if you end up being the worst graduating student in the class. There is nothing easy about the process, and if you find an easy step (unknown mexican medical school with rotations of varying quality) it means the next step is 10x harder (matching to a program in the US). You want a shortcut that actually results in a job in the US practicing, go the NP route.

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[Ho0v-man]

I'm scared I cannot fail any courses next year. I cannot afford failing out with tons of debt and no degree. People online think I should go PA because its shorter and dont need to get BSN. This is a really tough decision

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Then don’t fail out. You’re getting defeated before you even try. You’ve gotta change your perspective. You’re in a unique situation when you think about it. You know exactly what you’re getting into. You know how and what owned you this past year and you (should) know how to prepare for it. That’s more than most your new class can say. Instead of looking for weird loopholes to circumvent the situation, you need to focus on dealing with what’s right in front of you. For instance there’s absolutely no reason you should walk into first semester without knowing the sketchy micro and pharm Zanki cards that were covered in your M1 cold. That will save you a ton of time. Same with path and immuno. You have B&B, you have lecture slides, and you have time. Looking through your posts I’m thinking you spent too much time on board review resources when you should have been eating and sleeping your powerpoints. You need to see a learning specialist and maybe psych to make sure nothing on those fronts are slowing you down. Not trying to be mean and maybe I’m way off base here, but you post history reads like someone trying to game the system of just rote memorizing this stuff. In first year, I came to rely a lot on my friend who was repeating M1 because he knew exactly what to expect every block. Your goal should be to be that person.

If you’re looking for an easy way out then save your money and don’t come back. Seriously, if you’re already looking for a way out, it might not be for you and that’s okay. You might be great at something else that we all suck at. But it doesn’t get easier so how bad do you want it?

 

[Dhooy7]

Then don’t fail out. You’re getting defeated before you even try. You’ve gotta change your perspective. You’re in a unique situation when you think about it. You know exactly what you’re getting into. You know how and what owned you this past year and you (should) know how to prepare for it. That’s more than most your new class can say. Instead of looking for weird loopholes to circumvent the situation, you need to focus on dealing with what’s right in front of you. For instance there’s absolutely no reason you should walk into first semester without knowing the sketchy micro and pharm Zanki cards that were covered in your M1 cold. That will save you a ton of time. Same with path and immuno. You have B&B, you have lecture slides, and you have time. Looking through your posts I’m thinking you spent too much time on board review resources when you should have been eating and sleeping your powerpoints. You need to see a learning specialist and maybe psych to make sure nothing on those fronts are slowing you down. Not trying to be mean and maybe I’m way off base here, but you post history reads like someone trying to game the system of just rote memorizing this stuff. In first year, I came to rely a lot on my friend who was repeating M1 because he knew exactly what to expect every block. Your goal should be to be that person.

If you’re looking for an easy way out then save your money and don’t come back. Seriously, if you’re already looking for a way out, it might not be for you and that’s okay. You might be great at something else that we all suck at. But it doesn’t get easier so how bad do you want it?

My mom is actually trying to talk me out of it. I need to reconsider this all. I tend to do more route memorization as it's harder to connect things together.

I'm not looking for an easy way out. I need to really think this out logically.

 

[Splenda88]

My mom is actually trying to talk me out of it. I need to reconsider this all. I tend to do more route memorization as it's harder to connect things together.

I'm not looking for an easy way out. I need to really think this out logically.

If you did ok in the MCAT, you definitely can connect things together.

 

[ciestar]

From my understanding, PA isnt easy to get into either. Many want a substantial amount of clinical experience to even be competitive. That, and Ive read that candidates looking at PA as a “backup plan” isnt warmly received either.

 

[ciestar]

I agree with some above posts. Your defeatist attitude is doing you no favors and is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You have MONTHS to get it together. You already know what will be covered so spend the time learning it all in the interim. Meet with your learning center and figure out a plan to best lay all of this out. Clearly your need to memorize every little thing isnt working. Stop doing it.

 

[Ho0v-man]

From my understanding, PA isnt easy to get into either. Many want a substantial amount of clinical experience to even be competitive. That, and Ive read that candidates looking at PA as a “backup plan” isnt warmly received either.

They typically don’t take med school drop outs but I’ve read anecdotes of it happening.

NP though? Just fog up a mirror.

 

[Dhooy7]

I tried using videos to help understand and get a big picture. Once I started needing to attend all the letures it was much harder for me to keep on schedule.

 

[Ho0v-man]

My mom is actually trying to talk me out of it. I need to reconsider this all. I tend to do more route memorization as it's harder to connect things together.

I'm not looking for an easy way out. I need to really think this out logically.

And I’m sorry if that came off as an attack as that was not my intent. Ignore your mom. This is your life. You’re a grown up. Figure out what you want. For what it’s worth, my mom said I couldn’t handle the intensity of nursing school.

 

[Goro]

I tried using videos to help understand and get a big picture. Once I started needing to attend all the letures it was much harder for me to keep on schedule.

I still believe that you would have been better off taking the LOA and fixing what's broken.

 

[Dhooy7]

The school told me that I couldnt. There wasnt enough time to take LOA.

I still believe that you would have been better off taking the LOA and fixing what's broken.

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[Dhooy7]

By time I noticed there wasnt enough time to take LOA I was told. I'm frustrated with this whole situation.

I still believe that you would have been better off taking the LOA and fixing what's broken.

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[deleted1005514]

You and I have talked before, but I’m going to go through your post point by point.

1. Anyone who repeats a year due to grades can’t fail anymore classes. You're not the first, you won’t be the last. I know repeating students who came back and did so well they were asked to be tutors.

2. Presumably you have a bachelor’s degree, correct? So if medicine doesn’t work out for you, you still have a degree, just not a medical degree. No more catastrophizing about that please.

3. PA is not a backup plan for MD/DO. It would probably take you at least 2 years to get into a PA program because of the extensive clinical hours requirement, and as many have said, they don’t like to be used as backup. Med school is Mexico is not a backup plan...step back and think what you would tell a friend if they asked you for advice about that. If you need a real backup plan to hold on to, consider epidemiology (MPH), perfusion, or NP. All these take time and more school/$$. Your best bet is to stay put and systematically work through your difficulties in med school, until you’re either successful or

4. You’ve probably been given more advice on this forum than most, but I’m starting to see a pattern that has me a little worried about you...you’re panicking, and grasping at whatever you think will save you. I understand! It’s so hard not to run around trying everything when you feel like nothing is working, but you’re changing too much too fast. You’ve been given great advice on what to cover coming back, and not going into medical school blind is a gift and an opportunity.

I second the recommendation of a learning specialist and possibly a therapist or someone who can talk you down when you start the crazy cycle again. I think some professional advice and accountability would help you focus on one thing at a time until you’ve addressed your problem areas. Until you do this you’ll have trouble no matter what program you end up in.

Dhooy, we all care enough about you and your future to come here and write out lengthy advice. Your mom cares about you and your future too. Whether she’s trying to protect you in a way that’s detrimental is for you to decide. Personally, I would take all this advice, go see those learning and psych professionals, and then go spend some time ALONE, thinking through my options, and making the decision that’s best for me.

 

[Dhooy7]

I have a degree that I cannot do much with. Bachelors of Science in Human Biology with Health Science emphasis. My family is getting to me.

You and I have talked before, but I’m going to go through your post point by point.

1. Anyone who repeats a year due to grades can’t fail anymore classes. You're not the first, you won’t be the last. I know repeating students who came back and did so well they were asked to be tutors.

2. Presumably you have a bachelor’s degree, correct? So if medicine doesn’t work out for you, you still have a degree, just not a medical degree. No more catastrophizing about that please.

3. PA is not a backup plan for MD/DO. It would probably take you at least 2 years to get into a PA program because of the extensive clinical hours requirement, and as many have said, they don’t like to be used as backup. Med school is Mexico is not a backup plan...step back and think what you would tell a friend if they asked you for advice about that. If you need a real backup plan to hold on to, consider epidemiology (MPH), perfusion, or NP. All these take time and more school/$$. Your best bet is to stay put and systematically work through your difficulties in med school, until you’re either successful or

4. You’ve probably been given more advice on this forum than most, but I’m starting to see a pattern that has me a little worried about you...you’re panicking, and grasping at whatever you think will save you. I understand! It’s so hard not to run around trying everything when you feel like nothing is working, but you’re changing too much too fast. You’ve been given great advice on what to cover coming back, and not going into medical school blind is a gift and an opportunity.

I second the recommendation of a learning specialist and possibly a therapist or someone who can talk you down when you start the crazy cycle again. I think some professional advice and accountability would help you focus on one thing at a time until you’ve addressed your problem areas. Until you do this you’ll have trouble no matter what program you end up in.

Dhooy, we all care enough about you and your future to come here and write out lengthy advice. Your mom cares about you and your future too. Whether she’s trying to protect you in a way that’s detrimental is for you to decide. Personally, I would take all this advice, go see those learning and psych professionals, and then go spend some time ALONE, thinking through my options, and making the decision that’s best for me.

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[PunkRockMD]

I have a degree that I cannot do much with. Bachelors of Science in Human Biology with Health Science emphasis. My family is getting to me.

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I almost hope that this is a troll thread at this point, because otherwise I don't feel your attitude and ability to take and process information is conducive to being a physician. @pagingdoctormom gave you basically ALL of your options at this point and this is what you respond with? You need to spend some time speaking to a mental health professional and I truly hope that you are able to take their advice much more willingly than you've taken ours.

 

[Alkaidius]

I almost hope that this is a troll thread at this point, because otherwise I don't feel your attitude and ability to take and process information is conducive to being a physician. @pagingdoctormom gave you basically ALL of your options at this point and this is what you respond with? You need to spend some time speaking to a mental health professional and I truly hope that you are able to take their advice much more willingly than you've taken ours.

To be fair I’ve been in a similar family situation. You tend to put more weight in their words even though in the back of your mind you know something is off. And I never got complete relief until I came to the doctor for what was apparently psychosomatic abdominal pain from stress which went away rather quickly when the doctor basically said “your family’s wack, bro.” Family toxicity is probably the most dangerous because it pierces deep in that regard. But yeah, before he has any sort of confidence to pursue med school further, he needs someone to take him off that hamster wheel he’s been running on in his head.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I realize the conversation has moved on, but the linked article at the top has to be one of the worst pieces of reporting I have seen. I honestly wondered if it was some paid advertisement.

Carlos is going to discover that he will NOT be a CV surgeon. He's also going to discover that going to a no-name medical school in Mexico will be much worse than going to a known Carib school. The article suggests that he's saving all sorts of money. I hope it works out for him.

 

[Epilepsy365]

ANKIng Sketchy Micro, Sketchy Pharm, and Pathoma hard.

Knowing these resources cold should decrease your ppt lecture slides study time by about 40-50%. Good luck and grind through it.

You will need to do this through the first two years of medical school. It gets better from there. Trust me on that.

 

[NurWollen]

I realize the conversation has moved on, but the linked article at the top has to be one of the worst pieces of reporting I have seen. I honestly wondered if it was some paid advertisement.

Carlos is going to discover that he will NOT be a CV surgeon. He's also going to discover that going to a no-name medical school in Mexico will be much worse than going to a known Carib school. The article suggests that he's saving all sorts of money. I hope it works out for him.

Yeah, I hope it works out for him too. I have some rather wonderful colleagues who went to med school at some "no-name" places in various parts of the world, so it's easy to assume that people can make it. Probably is survivorship bias. I only know and interact with the ones who made it. And I'm in peds, which is a far cry from anything surgical in terms of competitiveness.

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