MD Need Guidance on Transferring into a U.S. Medical Program after Studying Abroad

[Emily_N_C]

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Good morning,

I hope everyone single one of you is doing well. I seem to be stuck in an obstacle, and I am not quite sure what to do.

I’m a U.S. citizen, born and raised in California, and I’ve completed 8 semesters of medical studies at the University of Guadalajara (UDG) or known as also: CUCS. in Mexico. My university is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and has a FAIMER ID, so I believe it meets global standards for medical education. However, due to safety concerns in Mexico, I had to move back to Los Angeles. Initially, I had planned to continue my studies there, but now I’m exploring the possibility of transferring into a U.S. medical program.

Here’s where I’m at:

• I have completed the equivalent of 8 semesters of medical studies.
• My university is recognized in the World Directory of Medical Schools and holds a FAIMER ID.
• I’m fully committed to taking any additional courses that might be required to meet U.S. medical school curriculum requirements.
• I’ve reached out to a few schools, but so far, not many accept transfers after completing multiple semesters abroad.

I’m starting to feel like I won’t be able to become an MD, and I’m uncertain about what my next steps should be. A few physicians I’ve spoken to have reassured me that I will be able to find a program and that our country is in need of medical professionals, but I’m not sure what path to take or where to look for clear answers.

If anyone has any advice, resources, or has been through a similar situation, I would greatly appreciate any help. How have you navigated transferring into a U.S. medical school after studying abroad? What options might I have? How do I find programs that will accept me, or at least advise me on what steps to take next?

Thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide.

 

[opabiniafan]

It's nearly impossible to transfer between US MD schools (you have to restart as a M1) as is - it'll probably be exponentially more difficult for you if you're trying to transfer your credits from an international medical school

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Unfortunately, you might find this task to be essentially impossible. This has nothing to do inherently with you or your school as this is difficult even for US medical students wanting to transfer to another US medical school. Now trying to transfer from a school not accredited by LCME or COCA (US accrediting bodies for MD and DO schools) from a different country where your education was done in a different language and with likely a different curriculum, I think it’s safe to say, it is not going to happen. It might be easier trying to start over and apply properly to US medical schools if this is still what you want to do.

 

[Dral]

I think it will be hard for a school to just accept the classes as equivalent despite the designation of the school. As others have suggested, you may need to reapply in the states. On the good side, if you can show your transcript stating that you did well in your classes, that would give extra confidence to schools that you could handle the curriculum which in turn could possibly increase your chances of an acceptance.

Have you done any post-high school time in a college/university in the United States?