WAMC International Student / Foreign Degree - 4.00 GPA

[Docspire]

Hey everyone,

Forgive if the formatting is incorrect. I have a rather unique situation and would be grateful for any input. I am a UK citizen, born and raised. Did my Undergraduates degree at the University of Cambridge in Biomedical Science. Due to being an International Student, I know my options and chances of admission are already limited, especially given that I did my undergraduate degree in the UK and the lack of schools which offer funding for Internationals with no green card.

After extensive research the only medical schools that accept a foreign degree (with no US pre reqs) which offer either full need based funding or at least limited funding to all admitted students regardless of citizenship are; Yale, Stanford, Vanderbilt & Howard. So only 4 choices & all very difficult programs to get onto, for everyone. Despite this I am determined to try my luck. I know there isn't a one size fits all application because so there are so many factors which play a part, but I am determined to pursue my medical education in the USA, for a number of reasons. If I took the MCAT and hypothetically got a top score (518+ etc - I have done 6 Full Length Mocks with my lowest score being a 521), given that these schools do accept foreign degrees (no pre reqs at an American institution needed) & I meet their eligibility criteria, what are my actual chances of being competitive or getting an interview. It goes without saying that International Students make up a very small proportion of admitted students but if I do meet their requirements then there's at least a chance, right? Places like Yale, Howard, Stanford etc promote diversity and accept UK degrees so along as I have sufficient EC's & a top MCAT score do you think I should shoot my shot since they take a holistic approach to reviewing applicants regardless of citizenship?

I know the chances are slim and the only places that accept people in my position are Yale, Stanford etc which makes an already tough spot, even tougher. Obviously studying for the MCAT takes months and months of intense preparation so I want to know if you guys think it's really worth taking the MCAT and if I get a great score, sending in an application, for someone in my shoes? Interested to hear peoples thoughts.

• cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 4.00
• MCAT score(s) and breakdown: Am yet to sit, done 6 FL mocks with lowest score being a 521).
• State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): UK
• Ethnicity and/or race: White British
• Undergraduate institution or category: University of Cambridge
• Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): 450 hours of hospital working as a healthcare assistant part time, 40 hours shadowing primary care physician at family practice, 20 hours shadowing cardiac surgeon, 30 hours volunteering in Emergency Department assisting nurses and doctors, 200 hours working nursing homes with dementia patients, also had a full time job working clinical admin directly on hospital wards interacting with patients and leasing with Drs, Nurses etc.
• Research experience and productivity: 350 hours working across two labs, one in neurological science and the other in cardiac no pubs
• Non-clinical volunteering: 150 hours of working with disabled people helping with daily tasks doing grocery shopping etc. 75 hours working in local charity shop for the British heart foundation, 50 hours working at homeless shelter
• Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc): Set the Cardiothoracic Surgery society at the Uni with a friend and ran activities/meetings for that, 400 hours as Biology/Chemistry tutor teaching high school students and fellow undergrads, part time lab assistant as biomedical scientist (200 hours)
• Relevant honors or awards: Finished top of my class at Cambridge and was asked to represent the college at Science conventions
• Employment: medical receptionist, years of customer service type jobs, hospitality
• Other info: I am not from a wealthy family. I have been brought up by a single mum with 2 other siblings and am the only person in my family to go to be able to go to University.

Any questions or more info needed then please ask. Obviously with my citizenship and situation I am already limited in schools I could even apply for. I appreciate there may be a few comments asking why don't I just study medicine in the UK and I could, that would certainly be the easier option but I don't too do that just because its the easier and more simpler option. For many reasons I want to study medicine in the states and build a career there, rather than go to medical school in the UK to then have to apply for residency as a non-us IMG. Do you think it is worth sitting the MCAT or will a top score not matter given everything. Cheers.

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[KaiBuzz]

Hard to comment without an MCAT score. That being said, a 4.0 from a top university is impressive but your EC’s aren’t.

 

[Docspire]

Hard to comment without an MCAT score. That being said, a 4.0 from a top university is impressive but your EC’s aren’t.

Is that due to the amount of hours, or the actual ECs themselves?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you moved to the United States? Are your clinical experiences in the US or still in Britain?

You do have to answer the obvious question that you raised about why you didn't decide to go to medical school in the UK given your record (you get no bonus points for taking a harder path because medical education is already very difficult). Are you looking into Canadian or Australian schools?

What is your ultimate goal for pursuing medicine as a career?

 

[Docspire]

Have you moved to the United States? Are your clinical experiences in the US or still in Britain?

You do have to answer the obvious question that you raised about why you didn't decide to go to medical school in the UK given your record (you get no bonus points for taking a harder path because medical education is already very difficult). Are you looking into Canadian or Australian schools?

What is your ultimate goal for pursuing medicine as a career?

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I haven’t moved the states, I am still in England. So not ideal however I understand that the med schools I mentioned accept student visas.

My research experience 350 hours in neuroscience and cardiac + 40 hours shadowing family care physician was undertaken in the States. The rest of what I have listed was in Britain.

I am absolutely able to answer that question with conviction. In addition to believing that the American medical education system is the best in the entire world, especially in terms of specialised clinical training, I want too seek the opportunity to become an innovator of my desired field and take advantage of the the highly personalised mentored training pathways the US medical education system provides. In the NHS, you are just a small cog in one big machine, where the consultant Drs likely don’t even know your name. Whilst being forced to do 2 years of foundation training completely unrelated to your chosen speciality, which could be better spent actually training in the field you have chosen to pursue. On top of that, the NHS was ranked 36th out of 37 countries for access to treatment. I want to work in a health service where I can provide the very best care to my patients without having my hands tied by issues out my control. Because ultimately, it’s the patients who suffer from this. I can’t accept a lessening patient experience due to years of underfunding by the government etc. British Medical schools are very good and the Drs are very well trained. But the health system is in disarray. I want to be part of a modern, high quality and patient focused healthcare system which in turn will make me a better physician and allow me the opportunity to flourish.

 

[chilly_md]

Howard would be a waste of an application fee as you do not fit their very specific mission. You would need to consult MSAR to see how many international students matriculated to Yale, Vanderbilt and Stanford. Many international students who are accepted attended school in the US, and often at the undergrad of the medical school they ultimately matriculate to. That does not apply to you, so chances are very slim, especially since you are limiting yourself to those 3 schools.

 

[CleverMunk]

I would recommend doing at least 1-2 years master in the us before applying since most schools that accept international students (which is already a limited list) require the last 90 hours to be completed in the us/ a degree from the us or Canada. make sure you read through the requirements on your list carefully when applying

 

[CleverMunk]

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I haven’t moved the states, I am still in England. So not ideal however I understand that the med schools I mentioned accept student visas.

My research experience 350 hours in neuroscience and cardiac + 40 hours shadowing family care physician was undertaken in the States. The rest of what I have listed was in Britain.

I am absolutely able to answer that question with conviction. In addition to believing that the American medical education system is the best in the entire world, especially in terms of specialised clinical training, I want too seek the opportunity to become an innovator of my desired field and take advantage of the the highly personalised mentored training pathways the US medical education system provides. In the NHS, you are just a small cog in one big machine, where the consultant Drs likely don’t even know your name. Whilst being forced to do 2 years of foundation training completely unrelated to your chosen speciality, which could be better spent actually training in the field you have chosen to pursue. On top of that, the NHS was ranked 36th out of 37 countries for access to treatment. I want to work in a health service where I can provide the very best care to my patients without having my hands tied by issues out my control. Because ultimately, it’s the patients who suffer from this. I can’t accept a lessening patient experience due to years of underfunding by the government etc. British Medical schools are very good and the Drs are very well trained. But the health system is in disarray. I want to be part of a modern, high quality and patient focused healthcare system which in turn will make me a better physician and allow me the opportunity to flourish.

Also, have you considered attending medical school in England and then just taking the board exams and applying for residency? I feel like this will be cheaper

 

[Unsweet_Tea_Enthusiast]

I would recommend doing at least 1-2 years master in the us before applying since most schools that accept international students (which is already a limited list) require the last 90 hours to be completed in the us/ a degree from the us or Canada. make sure you read through the requirements on your list carefully when applying

This is a great idea. Being a doctor will anyway be a long pathway, so why limit your chances? Taking gap years in America is extremely normal (with most students taking 1 or more years off before matriculation, IIRC), so I would suggest you take a year or two, do a master's program, and improve your ECs. This will most definitely let you apply to and potentially get into highly competitive programs.

Also, have you considered attending medical school in England and then just taking the board exams and applying for residency? I feel like this will be cheaper

I agree here too, and lots of people do this. All you need to do is take the USMLE boards as you finish up the curriculum in the UK. If research/innovation is your concern, PSTP programs have built-in, protected research hours that would allow you to do research during your residency.