Studying in Warsaw, Poland

[biogenscien]

I have been contemplating applying to the Medical University of Warsaw and would like to know experiences from US citizens attending such university. I spoke with someone from the university and they told me that I should apply for the 6-year program since I didn't get my Bachelor, the thing is that I do have all of my pre-med requirements except for O. Chem II which I had to drop this semester due to health reasons. I have over 90 hours of college classes but my GPA is very low and even embarrassing to me to say that I have a GPA of 2.5. I am 29 years old and I am mixed (white/black) so I am wondering about racism over there as well toward people who look mixed, I am light skinned but I do not look Caucasian.
When I spoke with the university representative they also told me that the medical program will be all in English, but I am a bit hesitant if all the terminology will be the same as in the US. Also, do students who attend such school will be able to pass the licence exams and will they be able to practice in the US?
Any information is highly appreciated.
Thank you

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[Agness]

You don't have to worry about racism, we have a lot of foreign students (most of arabic origin). At least not at university, i can't speak for population of warsaw. Terminology is similar, at least the one polish students are learning during english classes. Of course, you should be prepared for mandatory polish lessons - unfortunately most of nurses in poland do not speak english (for example, when i was doing something similar to observership in one hospital 3 students from english division came and i had to take care of them, even though i'm only second year (six year programme)) There should be no problem with passin USMLE exams, i reasearched that, because i'm interested in doing my residency in usa. All in all, you have nothing to worry about, poland is not such a bad country, and Warsaw University of Medicine is quite good🙂

 

[biogenscien]

You don't have to worry about racism, we have a lot of foreign students (most of arabic origin). At least not at university, i can't speak for population of warsaw. Terminology is similar, at least the one polish students are learning during english classes. Of course, you should be prepared for mandatory polish lessons - unfortunately most of nurses in poland do not speak english (for example, when i was doing something similar to observership in one hospital 3 students from english division came and i had to take care of them, even though i'm only second year (six year programme)) There should be no problem with passin USMLE exams, i reasearched that, because i'm interested in doing my residency in usa. All in all, you have nothing to worry about, poland is not such a bad country, and Warsaw University of Medicine is quite good🙂

Thank you Agness for the information, this will make it easier for me to apply to the WUM. One more question, are there older students in the 6 year program? I will be 30 years old when I start medical school and I am a bit distressed over the fact that I will be so old when starting.
I spoke with a lady in the admissions and she said that I can't apply to the 4 year program because I don't have a Bachelor, even though I have over 90 hours of classes and the pre-requirements for medical school. It is such a shame that they want me to take the 6 year program only because I didn't graduated from university. I do have an associate in science (2 year college degree), but no Bachelor.

 

[Agness]

i'm not sure about the average age in English Division 6 year program, but in polish 6 year program we have a lot of older students, who graduated a couple yeras ago as pharmacists, or paramedics, and decided they would like to be doctors. Hell, i heard a story about a lady who started in her 50' 🙂

I agree, that's a shame, but maybe you could try talking to the dean? Ladies from admissions know the rules, but dean can make an exception.

 

[bambi]

Sorry my comment isn't going to be helpful I was just wondering about something. 90 hours? We did 30 hours a week when I did my BSc, do you mean something else?

 

[biogenscien]

i'm not sure about the average age in English Division 6 year program, but in polish 6 year program we have a lot of older students, who graduated a couple yeras ago as pharmacists, or paramedics, and decided they would like to be doctors. Hell, i heard a story about a lady who started in her 50' 🙂

I agree, that's a shame, but maybe you could try talking to the dean? Ladies from admissions know the rules, but dean can make an exception.

Ah, that's a good tip. Thank you I will try to get in touch with the dean if possible. Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[biogenscien]

Sorry my comment isn't going to be helpful I was just wondering about something. 90 hours? We did 30 hours a week when I did my BSc, do you mean something else?

Well.. I don't know how different the hour system is in the UK from the US, but to graduate with a bachelor you need 120 +/- hours to graduate. Each semester is 12 hours worth of college classes, could be more or less depending on how many classes you take. 1 class can be 3 or 4 hours worth. Hope this explains what I mean. 90 + hours is usually 3 years worth of university work.

 

[uk00]

im from the uk and planning to apply to medical school at Warsaw. I'm hearing mixed things on racism. I think the last thing international medical school students would want is to feel uncomfortable. I have light brown skin and taking that Poland is dominantly white and not that used to people with different skin colour, its hard not to be skeptical.

The best thing is just to visit tho. The entrance exam is soon I think, so I'm going to visit soon but if there are people who are in the same boat as me studying or applying at Warsaw, it'd probably make things feel easier.

 

[biogenscien]

let me know how it goes! Good luck! 🙂

 

[oliverniv]

hello everyone.

i spent 5 weeks travelling in eastern europe this summer looking at potential medical schools. i think two very important aspects in choosing a city is the size and the amount of international students. language barriers being what they are, even though many young people in europe speak great english, the reality is that as a foreign student you are more likely to socialize with international students.

i recommend krakow in poland if you want to study in a large city.

i recommend pecs in hungary if you want to study in a small student city.

oliver
[email protected]

 

[travelseeker88]

Thank you Agness for the information, this will make it easier for me to apply to the WUM. One more question, are there older students in the 6 year program? I will be 30 years old when I start medical school and I am a bit distressed over the fact that I will be so old when starting.
I spoke with a lady in the admissions and she said that I can't apply to the 4 year program because I don't have a Bachelor, even though I have over 90 hours of classes and the pre-requirements for medical school. It is such a shame that they want me to take the 6 year program only because I didn't graduated from university. I do have an associate in science (2 year college degree), but no Bachelor.

So people who have graduated from uni and have a degree can do the 4 year program? are there any tests that have to be done beforehand or would that be omited if you already have a bachelor degree?

 

[sandyjay]

I completed my basic sciences at Carribean medical school and passed USMLE step1 this summer. I was all along throughout 2010 told that my entire Clinical training would be in the UK as I am a British citizen and wanted to get in to a F1 programme in 2013.This school has no problems of GMC approval for sitting the PLAB I am now told just a week ago that I would not be able to do Clinicals in the UK as the school's new US accreditations doesn't allow training outside the US. However due to recent developments its highly unlikely that I will be able to get a B1 visa and approval of stay in the US at the borders for the purpose of clerk ship training. To satisfy UK GMC registration requirements I have to have completed at least half of my medical course in the country that will grant me my medical degree?
So what are my chances of getting accepted into the Clinical program of the University of Warsaw 4 year English programme and doing all my clinicals in Poland so that I satisfy the requirements of the UKGMC of completing at least 50% of my medical course in the country which awards the medical degree?
I would be very appreciative of early replies. I am very upset with the Carribean medical school for misleading me this way. . There are a few international students still in basic sciences ( less than 1% ) who are in the same predicament 😕😕😕😕😕:cry::cry: