My school is not listed on IMED. Should I leave?

[sarahz]

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I just started here 2 weeks ago and haven't yet paid tuition (very expensive school). It's new and the highest year is 2nd year/5, but all of the students I talk to have negative opinions of the school. Besides being unorganized, I thought that it wasn't terribly bad. I'm wondering if it would be safer to leave now or if I should stay with the notion that they are new and can get on the FAIMER/IMED list? They said they're WHO accredited, but according to this site, http://www.who.int/hrh/wdms/en/, they're not listed. I just don't want to be here for 5 years and then down the road realize the degree is useless...can someone please help, or inform me if there is another list of WHO accredited schools? I've been searching for hours and I think that's a complete list, but I'm not entirely sure.

Thanks so much.

Edit - I did find it on this website, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_schools. But it's still not listed on IMED. I emailed IMED and they said it was just a matter of paperwork, if it's approved by the national govt (and hence by WHO), then they just need to send the paperwork. So if anyone has been in or is knowledgeable about this situation, is this a process that takes years, months, needs to be done now if I want to take the USMLE in 3 years? Should I be meeting with the deans of the school now?

I can't take the USMLE unless the school is listed on IMED, right? Please correct me if I'm misinformed.

I'm a US Citizen and I'm 19 years old, and can easily study in the states. I just came here to be closer to my family. However if I'm going to be missing out on a lot by not studying in the states, then perhaps I should go back? My parents were IMGs a long time ago and they said it's all very do-able to read overseas, study a lot, then practice in the states, but am I being dumb for choosing this school over schools in the states?

 

[Winged Scapula]

I just started here 2 weeks ago and haven't yet paid tuition (very expensive school). It's new and the highest year is 2nd year/5, but all of the students I talk to have negative opinions of the school. Besides being unorganized, I thought that it wasn't terribly bad. I'm wondering if it would be safer to leave now or if I should stay with the notion that they are new and can get on the FAIMER/IMED list?

That is up to you and your goals whether or not to leave.

They said they're WHO accredited, but according to this site, http://www.who.int/hrh/wdms/en/, they're not listed. I just don't want to be here for 5 years and then down the road realize the degree is useless...can someone please help, or inform me if there is another list of WHO accredited schools? I've been searching for hours and I think that's a complete list, but I'm not entirely sure.

WHO does not accredit schools.

Edit - I did find it on this website, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_schools. But it's still not listed on IMED. I emailed IMED and they said it was just a matter of paperwork, if it's approved by the national govt (and hence by WHO), then they just need to send the paperwork. So if anyone has been in or is knowledgeable about this situation, is this a process that takes years, months, needs to be done now if I want to take the USMLE in 3 years? Should I be meeting with the deans of the school now?

IMED would be the ones to ask about the length of time it takes to get on the list.

I can't take the USMLE unless the school is listed on IMED, right? Please correct me if I'm misinformed.

You can take the USMLEs. You cannot be ECFMG certified.

I'm a US Citizen and I'm 19 years old, and can easily study in the states. I just came here to be closer to my family. However if I'm going to be missing out on a lot by not studying in the states, then perhaps I should go back? My parents were IMGs a long time ago and they said it's all very do-able to read overseas, study a lot, then practice in the states, but am I being dumb for choosing this school over schools in the states?

You are dumb if you chose the school without trying to get into a US medical school. Times have changed since your parents did it. The doors are closing for IMGs/FMGs and it is becoming much harder to match; not impossible, but why make things harder for yourself if you don't have to? As the numbers of US medical students increase and the number of residency positions stays static, the foreign trained physician, especially one who may not be able to get ECFMG certified, will be at the bottom of the list when it comes to choosing residency.

Besides, going abroad without trying to get into a US school first will be seen by some US residency faculty as having a lack of common sense and judgement.

 

[dragonfly99]

I would say that yes you should seriously think about dropping out if you can get your tuition back.

I can't answer all of your questions about your school's accreditation. I can tell you that I basically agree with winged scapula although I think the way she expressed herself was a bit harsh. Are you aware that there are certain states in the US where it might be very difficult to get a license to practice on down the line if you are a FMG? California is one.

All the stuff is so much harder if you are an IMG, and you'll almost definitely be shut out of certain specialties in the US. For example, you won't be able to do dermatology or radiology or plastic surgery. It's hard when you are premed to know what you want to do. You might think you want to do family practice, where you could probably get a spot as an IMG, but later you might decide that you think radiology or ENT surgery is the coolest thing ever. If you want to practice in the US ultimately, then going to a US school is the way to go.

I respectfully disagree with your parents because as winged scapula mentions, it's not as easy as it used to be to come to the US as a FMG and just get a residency. It's not a just a matter of taking one exam (USMLE) and then you'll be able to get whatever residency you want. It will be much, much easier if you attend med school in the US. Have you thought about trying to get a spot in one of the US med schools that takes people through a 6 year program? (i.e. Miami or U of Missouri Kansas City). Or how about a US undergraduate college that has guaranteed admission or an early admission program to a US med school (lots of these exist - St Louis University, many others). You'll have to go to undergrad for a couple of years, maintain a certain GPA, etc. But it's doable.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'm sorry if I came across as harsh.

The comment "you are dumb" was in response to your query if what you were doing is dumb. I should have chosen a more empathic response although I would not have changed the intent of my message.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

One thing that WS and DF99 didn't mention is that even if you continue in your current school and it gets IMED listed, it's still a new school. No one in the states will have heard of it, and most good programs will not take a risk on graduates of an unknown school.

It sounds like the school is new enough that the clinical rotations haven't been worked out yet. This is a really big risk, and could end you up nowhere. You would want some (usually 2-3 or more) US rotations, and there is no way to know if that's going to happen for you.

I'm assuming that at 19, "studying in the states" = college. Personally I think that bypassing college to go directly into medical school is a mistake, although I certainly understand that it is much more economical to do so.

Remember that admission to US medical schools is fierce. There is no guarantee that you will get in. But the road you are on is potentially catastrophic -- an expensive foreign MD that might be worthless in the US for anything.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree the OP is on a potentially catastrophic course.
Yes, the 3rd and 4th year clinical rotations are VERY important. It's also just overall best to do your schooling in the US if that is where you will be practicing. Otherwise you are asking the residencies to pick you even though you are an unknown quantity, and so is your medical college. Why should they do that when they have load of other well qualified US citizens who went to schools in the US that they are familiar with.

I don't think going to med school at a young age is necessarily "a mistake". I didn't go until I was 25, but I believe there are 18 or 19 year olds who definitely know that's what they want to do. I think if you are one of those people, then maybe looking into accelerated programs in the US is a better option that just bailing and going abroad.

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

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