Over seas graduate

[docfiliboy]

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all right, heres my story. ive got a bacelor's degree out of the country. When i came back to the states i had it evaluated and they stated that it was the equivalent of a US degree. BUt the grades they converted them to was atrocious. I think i should take additional upper science and minor courses. right? Will medical schools accept an evaluated over seas degree w/c is equivalent to a US degree?

 

[sunnyjohn]

Um , how bad? Are you like <3.0? BCPM? WAY below the norm??

 

[docfiliboy]

Um , how bad? Are you like <3.0? BCPM? WAY below the norm??

not really way below the norm.. they didnt even put a GPA on the transcript. But right now im taking a non-degree program (Echocardiography) currently have a 4.0 and will be out on my externships next month but my out of the country bachelors i dont know. All they put were letter equivalents.. As, Bs and Cs....i plan to take more minor subjects and upper division science courses at local University.. I really slacked back in college.. i never really put forth the work that i am now.. college was all girls, booze and pool. damn..

 

[ntmed]

All they put were letter equivalents.. As, Bs and Cs.

You can still compute your GPA from this. You described the grades as "atrocious". If your GPA is below 3.5, especially if it's below 3.2, you probaly want to do the following.

1. Retake the core premed courses that you did poorly in (below B, maybe below A for some).

2. Enroll in a non-thesis masters program in biology.

Unfortunately, an echocardiography program, which sounds like a program to train techs, is probably going to do little to improve your acadademic standing or help you get into medical school. Find a decent university with an active premed program, and talk to a premed advisor to determine what your best course of action should be.

 

[sunnyjohn]

not really way below the norm.. they didnt even put a GPA on the transcript. But right now im taking a non-degree program (Echocardiography) currently have a 4.0 and will be out on my externships next month but my out of the country bachelors i dont know. All they put were letter equivalents.. As, Bs and Cs....i plan to take more minor subjects and upper division science courses at local University.. I really slacked back in college.. i never really put forth the work that i am now.. college was all girls, booze and pool. damn..

Where are you taking those Echo classes? At a Community college? If you are taking those classes for credit (and not as contin. ed) they will go in your cumulative GPA if this is a 2 year or 4 year college or uni. Meaning, do well 'cause you certainly don't want your Echo grades pulling you down. For purposes of GPA calculation AMCAS will place these classes under "Health Sciences (HEAL)" subheading "Allied Health".


-------------
How to Calculate Your GPA
To calculate your semester GPA (grade point average) follow these easy five steps also called DMAAD.

Determine the point value for each grade earned (remedial courses don't calculate into GPA).

Multiply the point value by the number of credits. This will give you your quality points.

Add the total number of credits earned.

Add the total quality points.

Divide the total quality points by the total number of credits earned to get your GPA.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
After completion of a course, you are issued a letter grade. Most letter grades have a numerical point value.
To compute your Grade-Point Average, multiply the number of quality points (shown for the letter grade on Grade Conversion Chart below) by the number of credits for that course. Divide the total number of points earned in all courses by the total number of credits.

Grade Conversion Chart
Grade /Quality Points
A /4.0
A- /3.7
B+ /3.3
B /3.0
B- /2.7
C+ /2.3
C /2.0
C- /1.7
D+ /1.3
D /1.0
D- /0.7
F /0.0


If you dont have + or minus grades, don't worry.

If this is too much work, here are two easy calculators. Just plug in your info and it will do the work for you.

http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/counseling/academic/grading/gpa_calculator.html

http://www.laurasmidiheaven.com/Tools/GPACalculator.shtml

 

[docfiliboy]

Thanks alot guys.. that sets things a little bit in perspective now. Im taking the echocardiography classes to get clinical experiences in the bag. And as of now its great. We work hand in hand with Cardiologist and pulmonologists in the diagnosis of cardiovascular and pulmonary related pathology. Unlike x ray techs or any other types of techs.. were not mere picture takers. The Cardiovascular Sonographers know as much about the complicated Pathology and physiology of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems as the Physicians.

The cardiologists ask us what our opinion and assesment is of the pathology at hand. And were attending hours of pediatric cardiac conferences. So I think the clinical experience im getting from it is essential. Though i will take your advices and take the core premed classes once again and some minor classes.. (psych, literature.. etc.) Its a 16 month course at a private institution (associates degree) , so i thought what the hell. I'll keep my neurons going by doing this for a while and in the process slowly do my premed requirements. I'll keep my GPA in check too. thanks alot guys.. its tough when you just moved in from another country.. its a whole set of new rules.. anything else you guys can offer me ill be glad.

 

[FoughtFyr]

The Cardiovascular Sonographers know as much about the complicated Pathology and physiology of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems as the Physicians.

As friendly advice, I'd stay far away from statements like this. It isn't true and will not be well recieved by admissions committees. I do agree that cardiovascular sonographers are talented folks who know an awful lot, but they don't quite reach the physician level.

- H

 

[docfiliboy]

As friendly advice, I'd stay far away from statements like this. It isn't true and will not be well recieved by admissions committees. I do agree that cardiovascular sonographers are talented folks who know an awful lot, but they don't quite reach the physician level.

- H

Ok.. ill accept that. But i wasnt trying to prove that sonographers were beyond physicians. I was just stating that sonogrophers work well and hand in hand with cardiologists and they know the CV system well but not beyond the MDs. People who they really rely on for clinical diagnosis. And i wasnt planning to convey any of this adcoms.. The clinical experience im getting from it though is good and im well exposed to different things. OF course physicians are and will always be beyond sonogrophers... Thank you for the friendly advice.. any other advice would be appreciated..

 

[docfiliboy]

ok ok....i see what you meant.. point taken sir. I apologize for the statement. Physicians will always be beyond sonogrophers..

 

[Scottish Chap]

all right, heres my story. ive got a bacelor's degree out of the country. When i came back to the states i had it evaluated and they stated that it was the equivalent of a US degree. BUt the grades they converted them to was atrocious. I think i should take additional upper science and minor courses. right? Will medical schools accept an evaluated over seas degree w/c is equivalent to a US degree?

The World Education Services will do a course-by-course evaluation and this will tell you exactly how many 'credit equivalents' plus the grades you would have in the U.S. From there, figure out what additional classes (plus prereqs.) you need to take. As well as having a foreign bachelors degree, 99% of U.S. schools are going to ask for 60-90 credits, completed in the U.S., and those credits should normally include your prereqs. A couple of schools I applied to asked for 60 U.S. credits on top of my foreign undergraduate degree and one asked for 90 credits. Only U.S./Canadian students need the full 120 credits.

Until you have that info. from WES, taking upper-level courses and/or graduate courses will not help you. PM me for more info. if you're still stuck. The following threads should help you in the interim:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=1814169#post1814169
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2093924#post2093924
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2592987#post2592987
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2595614#post2595614
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2569442#post2569442
Best of luck!

 

[MDHub]

I would also verify with the medical schools that you will be applying to and with AMCAS whether they will accept the credit hours from your undergraduate college. It is my understanding that credit hours for coursework done at either a US or Canadian school would be accepted. Otherwise, you need to take 120 credit hours at a US accredited college to be able to apply for medical schools in this country.

All the best.

 

[daffy]

The World Education Services will do a course-by-course evaluation and this will tell you exactly how many 'credit equivalents' plus the grades you would have in the U.S. From there, figure out what additional classes (plus prereqs.) you need to take. As well as having a foreign bachelors degree, 99% of U.S. schools are going to ask for 60-90 credits, completed in the U.S., and those credits should normally include your prereqs. A couple of schools I applied to asked for 60 U.S. credits on top of my foreign undergraduate degree and one asked for 90 credits. Only U.S./Canadian students need the full 120 credits.

Until you have that info. from WES, taking upper-level courses and/or graduate courses will not help you. PM me for more info. if you're still stuck. The following threads should help you in the interim:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=1814169#post1814169
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2093924#post2093924
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2592987#post2592987
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2595614#post2595614
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2569442#post2569442
Best of luck!

This is the right way of doing it! Thanks Scottish for posting!
Get it evaluated class by class with credit hours and grades.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd transffer all those credits to US schl and take the additional classes to get a degree from here. This souldn't take too much time b/c you most likely have many classes that are acceptable towards the degree reqs.
If your transcript was evaluated to US BS/BA degree you might consider a MS/MA (of course I dont know how much time you want to spend on this).

A bit more info - AMCAS will let you fill out the classes from overseas but it will not show grades and hours - the only advantage to you is that schls will see what classes you've taken. Call each and everyone schl you want to apply to and ask them what their specific reqs are regarding foreign degrees.

Best of luck
Let me know if I can be of further help
daffy

 

[docfiliboy]

thanks alot guys! all of you are making my path clearer now. but i have a whole bunch of other questions.. ill get back to all of you later tomorrow.. i still have to study for an exam im taking tomorrow.. ill get back to yall soon tom. thanks to you all..

 

[docfiliboy]

all right guys,

I've read through the threads that youve recommended and i've crossed out some of the major problems others have been facing. Like citizenship, i'm a US citizen (newly naturalized). But i obtained my degree from the philippines. I had it evaluated by Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants in Miami. It stated that my Philippines Degree is equivalent of the US degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States. So Question 1: I don't have to get another degree, correct?
I'm currently taking allied health courses and have a 4.0 gpa and will be out on my externships this July (just so i can cram in a few more clinical exps) and work a little bit in the field.
Question 2: will this help?
I dont plan to apply to med school till maybe 3 years from now though.
BUt my undergrad numbers suck (the evaluated ones, dont ask) so what do you guys think? i should take pre meds courses over along with a few more minor subjects right? (psychology, english, literature.. etc.)
My concern is i dont want to do another bachelors.. its too time consuming. 🙂

 

[Scottish Chap]

all right guys,

I've read through the threads that youve recommended and i've crossed out some of the major problems others have been facing. Like citizenship, i'm a US citizen (newly naturalized). But i obtained my degree from the philippines. I had it evaluated by Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants in Miami. It stated that my Philippines Degree is equivalent of the US degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States. So Question 1: I don't have to get another degree, correct?
I'm currently taking allied health courses and have a 4.0 gpa and will be out on my externships this July (just so i can cram in a few more clinical exps) and work a little bit in the field.
Question 2: will this help?

You're going to need a course-by-course evaluation with a breakdown of grades and credits separately, for every singly course on your transcript and a final overall GPA. If Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants did not do that, you'll need to have it done elsewhere. Once at this stage, you'll have to contact specific schools and ask them what their requirements are. Most are going to ask for 60 credits taken in the U.S. (assuming they will accept your foreign undergraduate degree and they should with the appropriate professional evaluation which you don't seem to have yet). The composition of those 60+ credits may include prereq's, new science subjects at the undergraduate level or a higher degree (M.S., Ph.D.)...depending on what specific medical schools ask you for.

I dont plan to apply to med school till maybe 3 years from now though.BUt my undergrad numbers suck (the evaluated ones, dont ask) so what do you guys think? i should take pre meds courses over along with a few more minor subjects right?

How badly? If it's >3.3, you'll be fine. If not, you might want to think about using a service that is more widely recognized (I mean that with the utmost respect). I had to know all the minutia before I applied when I was in your shoes and I've never heard of Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants.

My concern is i dont want to do another bachelors.. its too time consuming. 🙂

If you contact schools and do the research for your specific situatuion, you won't need one. This is hard enough for U.S. citizens with a U.S. degree and it's harder for you. While I don't want to give you false hope, I will say this: try not to be too discouraged; just recognize that this is not going to be easy and that winning a place in a U.S. medical school will be worth the effort you invest making yourself presentable to the admissions committee. Remember, the MCAT may be a great equalizer.

 

[docfiliboy]

You're going to need a course-by-course evaluation with a breakdown of grades and credits separately, for every singly course on your transcript and a final overall GPA. If Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants did not do that, you'll need to have it done elsewhere. Once at this stage, you'll have to contact specific schools and ask them what their requirements are. Most are going to ask for 60 credits taken in the U.S. (assuming they will accept your foreign undergraduate degree and they should with the appropriate professional evaluation which you don't seem to have yet). The composition of those 60+ credits may include prereq's, new science subjects at the undergraduate level or a higher degree (M.S., Ph.D.)...depending on what specific medical schools ask you for.


How badly? If it's >3.3, you'll be fine. If not, you might want to think about using a service that is more widely recognized (I mean that with the utmost respect). I had to know all the minutia before I applied when I was in your shoes and I've never heard of Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants.


If you contact schools and do the research for your specific situatuion, you won't need one. This is hard enough for U.S. citizens with a U.S. degree and it's harder for you. While I don't want to give you false hope, I will say this: try not to be too discouraged; just recognize that this is not going to be easy and that winning a place in a U.S. medical school will be worth the effort you invest making yourself presentable to the admissions committee. Remember, the MCAT may be a great equalizer.

Ok. well, hopefully in 3-4 years ill have all this cleared up. Actually my transcript was evaluated but with no GPA. Evaluated with the number of credits and letter equivalents. What service do you recommend? I know it wont be easy.. i guess ill just keep on trying. If worst comes to worst then i'll contemplate other options (PA, Nurse Practitioner) or maybe just stay with my current pursuit.. Cardiovascular Sonography. But ill give it my all. I know i have the capacity and neurons for this. Its just this situation im in that puts me at a disadvantage. Thanks scottish chap.. any other words of wisdom and advice are greatly appreciated.

 

[pmpndaflip]

I had a friend who grad with a BS in Biology from De La Salle in philippines. She still had to take the pre reqs (bio, anatomy, micro, etc...) in order to get into the nursing program for a community college. Sooo you probably have to take the pre-reqs for medschool over, not to mention take the mcat as well..good luck......BTW you should really call the admin office (med school of your choise) and ask them about your specific situation so you will get a definite answer. I'm sure they'll answer any questions you may have and advise you in the best course of action to take. 👍

 

[docfiliboy]

I had a friend who grad with a BS in Biology from De La Salle in philippines. She still had to take the pre reqs (bio, anatomy, micro, etc...) in order to get into the nursing program for a community college. Sooo you probably have to take the pre-reqs for medschool over, not to mention take the mcat as well..good luck......BTW you should really call the admin office (med school of your choise) and ask them about your specific situation so you will get a definite answer. I'm sure they'll answer any questions you may have and advise you in the best course of action to take. 👍

thanks alot. I know, thats what i'm planning to do. It's not a problem, taking them over. Just as long as i get to med school somehow. I know its gonna be a long and winding road but hey, its all worth it. I started med school back home in the Philippines and succesfully passed my first year. But as we all know. The philippines isnt in too good of a shape, economically. So we all moved back up here to the US. Doctors were taking crash courses in nursing just to get a chance to come here to the United States and earn enough dough for their families. Sad really. Anyway, thanks alot! Anymore advice from anyone else is greatly appreciated! 🙂