U.S. High School -> German University

[ErdbeerJoghurt]

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Hello, everyone -


I just joined this website, in hopes of finding help about studying medicine in Germany. Before posting this, I looked through almost all of the existing topics related to my own questions, but I wanted to get a better idea of what to do in my case.

Right now, I'm attending an American high school (in my 11th year; junior year), and I have to stay in the U.S. for two more years in order to obtain my high school degree. I was born in Bulgaria, which is part of the EU, and I lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, so I have a U.S. citizenship as well. I've been taking German for the past two years, and I'm going to take it for two more years. I don't think being fluent in German is going to be easy, but it's definitely something I have to be, as far as medical schools go (since I read in previous posts, that there aren't any English medical courses in Germany). I'm probably going to give myself a gap year once I move to Germany, just to get to know the language and the people better. It's going to be extremely difficult to get up on my feet once I get there, but I'm sure I can make it happen.

No one at school can help me out, not even my counselor or my German teacher, so I'm glad I found this forum. I'm going to try to stick to questions of my highest priority.

First of all, what do I have to transfer my high school degree into? Is it even possible to transfer it?

Can I get into a university with just my high school degree, or do I have to do something in addition to it? (Hopefully, it won't be necessary to attend college in the U.S. for a semester or two, because I want to move as soon as possible.)

I've been quite interested in Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität for a while now, but I wanted to know how selective they are, and if it's even possible for someone like me to get in.

I know I might seem like just an ordinary kid in your eyes, but I'm a person with dreams, too. I know most people look forward to studying and living in the U.S., but for me, I'd do anything to go back to Europe. I know that when I tell people that I'm moving to Germany to become a cardiovascular surgeon, they don't take me seriously. But other peoples' opinions don't matter in this case.

All I would like to ask for, is some advice about university procedures, when it comes to a student, such as myself. Being an EU citizen is not everything, obviously, but I'm sure it helps out a ton. Just some honest answers is all I'd like. You can even tell me that it's not possible to get to where I want - that's okay. It'd be nice to see what I have to face when I move to Germany, without any sugar-coating.


Thank you in advance.
🙂

 

[hamsterfeet]

Hello!
My knowledge of entry to medical school in Germany is somewhat limited , but see if this helps.
Your high school diploma won't be exactly equivalent to a German high school diploma (German Arbitur-their high school exam). You will most likely be required to do a preparatory course in Germany , and/or you can try to do 2 years in an America college to be at the level the German universities required you to be.
Getting into med school is pretty competitive, you're going to compete with a lot of really good students for the position, but if you're a good student and know your German well, then is not impossible to get in. You will need something like a C1 level in German to be even considered.
There are some post here that can tell you how to apply, and some universities offer this information in English in their websites. You just have to look.

 

[ErdbeerJoghurt]

Thank you very much for the useful information, hamsterfeet! 🙂

Just one thing I'm still not clear about:
-Are you talking about a preparatory course that teaches German (in order for it to match my high school diploma)?

I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to find something pertaining to preparatory courses offered in Germany, through DAAD.

Thanks again!

 

[hamsterfeet]

Thank you very much for the useful information, hamsterfeet! 🙂

Just one thing I'm still not clear about:
-Are you talking about a preparatory course that teaches German (in order for it to match my high school diploma)?

I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to find something pertaining to preparatory courses offered in Germany, through DAAD.

Thanks again!

The preparatory courses teaches you science (I believe Biology, chemistry, etc) and you must already know German in order to take it (I'm not sure how fluent you must be though).
You can try to take German classes at the Goethe-Institut while you still high school. You still have a lot of time.

 

[ErdbeerJoghurt]

Oh, perfect - then those preparatory courses will definitely help me out with medicine.

You can try to take German classes at the Goethe-Institut while you still high school.

I wanted to ask if it was even available in the U.S. or perhaps online, but I found out my answer from the official website. I know I still have time, but I don't think my schedule can handle extra courses. I believe the best option for me, would be to just study at the Goethe-Institut when I get to Germany. It's completely fine with me if I take a gap year (or two, which is more likely), because I think it'd be better for me to adjust before I start applying for universities and attending college-level classes. I'm guessing I can't apply for a university before I've completed those two years of preparatory classes, but like I said, that's A-okay with me. 🙂

 

[Tomate]

Hey guys,
I want to study in the United States as plasmatic surgeon, right now I am visiting the 9th grade of the "Realschule". I want to start college(in the States) after the 10th grade. I could get a 1,3 school report.
(My English is not very well, so i decided to learn more and buy books🙂)

Are there any special things I should have?

Best regards.

 

[MossPoh]

The very few Germans I know who did undergraduate in the U.S. for an actual degree moved here and finished high school or graduate from Gymnasium and had parents move here around the same time, so they decided it'd be fun. You'd have to finish your high school equivalent and get accepted into a college/university here in the states, which may require SAT or ACT as well. (I'm not sure about the rules). After that, you do your bachelors and apply to medical schools for another four years of study. After THAT, you can start thinking about specialty.

 

[Tomate]

Ehm, Yes.
That I knew already. My sister was as an Au Pair for two years in US. She got some connections. I will ask her more.

Thanks! But before I think of going there I will learn here in Germany more of English and medicine.

Best regards.

 

[hamsterfeet]

Hey guys,
I want to study in the United States as plasmatic surgeon, right now I am visiting the 9th grade of the "Realschule". I want to start college(in the States) after the 10th grade. I could get a 1,3 school report.
(My English is not very well, so i decided to learn more and buy books🙂)

Are there any special things I should have?

Best regards.

In order to start college in the States, you must complete certain requirements. First, you must get your high school diploma ,which I assume has to be equivalent to an American high school diploma, which has its own regulations. Also, you will have to take the SAT (you must know English fairly well, beyond just communication skills, to get a good grade). Then you can apply. Be aware, that if you come with a student visa, many (primarly state) schools will charge you tuition as a non resident ( you'll be surprise on the difference in tuition fees). Make sure that while doing your degree, you are covering required courses for medical school (ochem, Bio, etc), and courses that will help you with your MCAT.
As I stated before, if you come with a student visa, then getting into medical school can be difficult, just because many schools don't even consider applicants with student visas, and you must prove that you can afford med school.However, if you come with a resident permit, then you'll be fine (it also helps, since you can get loans for med school, and boy is expensive)

 

[autumnsoliloquy]

Hey ErdbeerJoghurt (yummy! my favourite flavour),

I hope my reply doesn't come too late, and I hope you are still interested in pursuing a medical degree here in Germany.

I'm in second year doing Humanmedizin in Frankfurt. First I'll answer all your queries.

You just have to go to your nearest German embassy and get your high school documents approved by the embassy. The next application deadline is on July, so while you're waiting, it's best if you start preparing for TestDAF. You need a minimum of 4 (out of the highest score of 5) for listening, speaking and writing in order to get accepted into any German uni. That's about C1 level. Or alternatively, you can fly to Germany and take DSH in any university. I took TestDAF because I didn't want to fly over with no guarantee of acceptance. After you've settled all that, go to uni-assist.de and follow instructions there. It's a centralised application system for foreign students a la UCAS in the UK.

Now about me.. I'm from Asia in general, but proficiency-wise I'd consider my first language English. I got accepted into a few universities and chose Frankfurt, but unlike most foreign students I skipped the Studienkolleg because I qualified for direct admission using my A levels grades.

At first it was okay, I could understand lectures and pass exams and function in society but as time went on, it got really difficult to pass orals exams. German was my third language and I'm hardly fluent when it comes to speaking, so let me tell you that medical school for a non-fluent foreigner is not going to be a picnic. This is not just about studying hard and giving up a social life -- it will take a while for your language skills to be really on par with what's expected. No one, not the professors, would exempt you for your language deficiencies even if you know your stuff.

Now I hope I haven't scared you off yet. I highly recommend you to attend a Studienkolleg (1 year) even if you get direct admission. I regret not doing that. Not only would you have a year to adjust to the city and the new culture, you can take your time to really be fluent. My problem was that I had to improve my German to the level of my English in order to survive, while at the same time trying to juggle my medical subjects. I'm even thinking of taking a gap semester to improve my German.

I share your dream, so I hope you achieve it too! If you have any more questions, just Private Message me.

 

[ErdbeerJoghurt]

autumnsoliloquy, I wish I could give you a big hug right now for your reply.

Up until this point, I did not have the slightest clue about the application process. I don't know how to thank you, but I just want you to know, that a pretty decently-sized rock has been lifted from my shoulders. I finally have a plan to follow through with, one which I know will help me out a ton.

Thank you, thank you, thank you~! 🙂

 

[MpXnpio]

Göttingen FTW!

 

[slight365]

autumnsoliloquy, I wish I could give you a big hug right now for your reply.

Up until this point, I did not have the slightest clue about the application process. I don't know how to thank you, but I just want you to know, that a pretty decently-sized rock has been lifted from my shoulders. I finally have a plan to follow through with, one which I know will help me out a ton.

Thank you, thank you, thank you~! 🙂

Then the search function might have escaped you, since I posted a fairly thorough tutorial on what to do and where to go, but like most good, valid information on this forum, it is lost because even spoonfed information is not spoonfed enough.

 

[Tomate]

In order to start college in the States, you must complete certain requirements. First, you must get your high school diploma ,which I assume has to be equivalent to an American high school diploma, which has its own regulations. Also, you will have to take the SAT (you must know English fairly well, beyond just communication skills, to get a good grade). Then you can apply. Be aware, that if you come with a student visa, many (primarly state) schools will charge you tuition as a non resident ( you'll be surprise on the difference in tuition fees). Make sure that while doing your degree, you are covering required courses for medical school (ochem, Bio, etc), and courses that will help you with your MCAT.
As I stated before, if you come with a student visa, then getting into medical school can be difficult, just because many schools don't even consider applicants with student visas, and you must prove that you can afford med school.However, if you come with a resident permit, then you'll be fine (it also helps, since you can get loans for med school, and boy is expensive)

Thanks very much!

 

[Katelena]

Greetings!!!
I'm in the process of completing my applications to various German Universities. I will graduate from an American High School with 8 AP credits in less than a month, and according to DAAD and Anabin combined with my SAT scores it should grant me direct admission to either a Science or Humanities degree program. I have sat in on classes in various gymnasiums, and have always been ahead of what the germans my age were studying, particularly in math and science. However, no one I have spoken to seems to think this is enough...at the International offices of the Universities I have visited they don't even think direct entry from an American High School is possible. I did visit the Zeugnisannerkennung Office in Munich and explained my situation, and they seemed to think it would be no problem. All I have to do is get my transcripts notarized at the embassy. Although I have now completed the DSD II exam and can speak German fluently, I would still like to do a year of Studienkolleg. I'm just extremely nervous regarding the feasibility of actually being accepted. Has anyone been successful in applying and getting into a German University directly after High School? I'm in the midst of writing the Motivationsschreiben... which is not like any of the typical essays your write for an American University application. Any advice????? Thanks in advance 🙂