UAG - medical school in Mexico

[KatieJune]

Hello,
Has anyone studied at UAG in Guadalajara or does anyone know anything about it? Information would be helpful. (I obviously know that its not as good as a US school). Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Iron Horse]

A good friend of mine's wife went there recently. While it was not cushy, she focused, did well, and is now a surgical intern and loving it. I believe they have students do rotations here in the US via NY College of Med? I know she had to arrrange a number of clinical experientials at various centers in the US after finishing in Mexico and I think it was five years altogether.

Hopefully others can offer more info.

 

[republicandr]

I work with two Mexico trained physicians (one from UAG). They are inspectors here in Washington State. It is very difficult to get licensed after training in Mexico. The classes are in Spanish, so your Spanish fluency needs to be college level+.

I know of two other people who trained in Mexico who practice medicine in the U.S. They had to work hard to get licensed. So, I guess it can be done if you are persistent enough. It is a five year program. I spent a few hours talking to one of these Mexico trained physicians and learned that after the fifth year you must practice in a rural community for one year (for free).

If you have the money, you will get into the school. It is relatively easy to get into the schools in Mexico (compared to getting into a US school) and there are so many physicians in Mexico that many of them end up doing something else for a living. The only ones who really earn a decent living are the ones who work in private medical centers.

The bottom line, you will be better off to go to a US school.

 

[LoneCoyote]

I got some information from a listserv I am on about a scholarship to go to UAG. From what the info they provided indicated they have a track for foreign students where they ease you into the Spanish if you are not already fluent. So you need to have some Spanish background but for the first year or two the classes are bilingual English/Spanish for the foreign students. You will leave as a bilingual physician and that seemed to be one of the goals of the foreign students program. It also indicated that there was a way for Americans to finish in four and skip the 5th year serving in a rural area. But they did not provide that much information and it sounded like it could be hard to do. Also, they siad something like U.S. students had to taker the initiative to meet dealines for Steps 1 and 2. That's about all the info I got out of the posting. I am sure there is better info to be had on their website. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[gower]

From about the 1960s to sometime in the 1980s or so, UAG was the prime non-US destination for US students not accepted to medical school. Sudents didn't desert it because it wasn't providing a good medical education, but because of the proliferation of English language Caribbean medical schools. Guad has has lots of graduates in US practice. You will have to learn Spanish, if you don't already know the language. And if you don't, learning it is a good idea. It is now the second language in the US.

Mexican medical students complete the medical education, but do not earn the medical degree until after completing two years of "social service", working as physicians in, usually, underserved Mexican communities. Since not having the medical degree after four years of study and leaving Mexico posed licensing problems for US graduates, several US medical schools developed something called "fifth pathway" programs, eventually permitting licensure. Since the large drop off in students going to Mexico, these programs have greatly diminished; Guad can tell you what ones may be available. Mt. Sinai in New York City may still have one.

Guad has a US office, in Texas I believe, but I don't have the address. Ask Guad for it; it is probably also in its brochures.

Guad always has a presence at meetings of the national association of premedical advisors. If you have a premed advisor, inquire there.

 

[Albah]

My father went to UAG back in the 80s and is now currently practicing in the US. Previous posts are right on about their information. It is difficult to get back to the US (more so now than in the past) but if determined, you will be able to.
I actually applied to UAG this year and was invited for an interview but declined it after accepted elsewhere. Guad. is a great city...i go every year since my family lives there, so environment-wise...it is a nice place to study.

Good luck!

 

[Albah]

I forgot to add....

In my opinion, I do not believe that UAG is inferior to US medical schools. I think that people believe it is worse because it is not US accredited and it makes it more difficult to obtain licensure. If it were not a good school, people would not be able to come back to the US and do their fellowships/residencies.

But don't worry, I am not saying to make UAG your first choice (unless you want to of course lol). I simply think it is an alternative that can be considered. Especially if you know Spanish and are willing to take the chance.

Good luck!!