Will Medical Schools Accept U.S. Citizen with International Degrees?

[brandon_kun]

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Hello,

I am a graduating high school senior stuck at a fork on this wonderful road to medical school.
I am trying to decide whether to:

• Stay in US-based university for my undergraduate degree then apply to a US-based medical school as most people do

OR

• Study abroad in Japan through the Monbukagakushou (MEXT) Scholarship for my undergraduate degree then upon return to the US, apply to a US-based medical school

Some things to know:

• I am a born American citizen
  
• I have a pre-paid 4-year tuition in my state (Florida)
• In the MEXT Scholarship the Japanese government pays for my entire education and then some.
  
• Semi-fluent in Japanese
• Japanese accreditation of their universities is fickle considering the government is pretty centralized with its hand in all levels of education and its approval.

The only question holding me back from choosing to go through Japan is whether American medical schools will accept a US student holding international degrees. I have talked to my high school counselors and they don't know how to help me decide on this. The medical schools I've emailed are slightly vague on the issue and refer to facts that it's harder for international applicant to even be accepted to medical schools but they don't elaborate on what an international applicant is.

Any knowledge or advice is accepted please.

Thank you 🙂

 

[AlteredScale]

Hello,

I am a graduating high school senior stuck at a fork on this wonderful road to medical school.
I am trying to decide whether to:

• Stay in US-based university for my undergraduate degree then apply to a US-based medical school as most people do

OR

• Study abroad in Japan through the Monbukagakushou (MEXT) Scholarship for my undergraduate degree then upon return to the US, apply to a US-based medical school

Some things to know:

• I am a born American citizen
  
• I have a pre-paid 4-year tuition in my state (Florida)
• In the MEXT Scholarship the Japanese government pays for my entire education and then some.
  
• Semi-fluent in Japanese
• Japanese accreditation of their universities is fickle considering the government is pretty centralized with its hand in all levels of education and its approval.

The only question holding me back from choosing to go through Japan is whether American medical schools will accept a US student holding international degrees. I have talked to my high school counselors and they don't know how to help me decide on this. The medical schools I've emailed are slightly vague on the issue and refer to facts that it's harder for international applicant to even be accepted to medical schools but they don't elaborate on what an international applicant is.

Any knowledge or advice is accepted please.

Thank you 🙂

Save yourself some trouble and attend a US university. Travel abroad to Japan while in undergrad.

 

[Yazo]

The Monbukagakushou scholarship seems interesting.
Is it too late to apply for? GPA requirements?

 

[Medstart108]

Most importantly do you meet the pre-reqs? If you don't then don't go. If you can't manage to meet hte pre-reqs adequately that will be a concern. Second of all you will need to have your grades converted through the WES. Japan is a bit interesting because I don't know how they grade, if it was the UK or Canada for instance then you can be more assured of the grading but not too sure about Japan.

While it does sound really interesting to study in Japan if you really want to improve your chances of US medical school its better to find a US uni that will allow you to do a JYA or JSA in Japan.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello,

I am a graduating high school senior stuck at a fork on this wonderful road to medical school.
I am trying to decide whether to:

• Stay in US-based university for my undergraduate degree then apply to a US-based medical school as most people do

OR

• Study abroad in Japan through the Monbukagakushou (MEXT) Scholarship for my undergraduate degree then upon return to the US, apply to a US-based medical school

Some things to know:

• I am a born American citizen
  
• I have a pre-paid 4-year tuition in my state (Florida)
• In the MEXT Scholarship the Japanese government pays for my entire education and then some.
  
• Semi-fluent in Japanese
• Japanese accreditation of their universities is fickle considering the government is pretty centralized with its hand in all levels of education and its approval.

The only question holding me back from choosing to go through Japan is whether American medical schools will accept a US student holding international degrees. I have talked to my high school counselors and they don't know how to help me decide on this. The medical schools I've emailed are slightly vague on the issue and refer to facts that it's harder for international applicant to even be accepted to medical schools but they don't elaborate on what an international applicant is.

Any knowledge or advice is accepted please.

Thank you 🙂

AMCAS, the most commonly used MD application service, doesn't accept foreign transcripts. You would be obliged to take 30-90 additional semester hour credits in the US or Canada to generate a GPA by which you could be considered by med schools. This year AACOMAS (for DO schools) stopped taking foreign transcripts. Most Texas schools use a third system (TMDSAS), but I don't recall their policy.

 

[deleted688154]

Speaking as an exchange student in East Asia. Do. Not. Do. It.

Unless you have spent a significant time living in Japan before or are Japanese-American and have extended family in Japan. Don't do it.

Going from the States to anywhere in Asia is hard. It's hard and not in the "oh this will pay off in the long run" kind of way but in the depressing kind of way. There are FEW exceptions where the culture really fits with that person but in order to find out you would have to have lived there for an extended amount of time. Instead of committing to 4 yours do an exchange, see if you'll like it.

tld;r long term travel isn't as exciting as you think it is. take it from someone who has lived in four countries.

 

[brandon_kun]

@Yazo - The application is still being accepted until June 3rd. You can find the application on the website of the Japanese Consulate General that serves your region. One major prerequisite is you have to either be recommended by the Consulate General of your region or recommended by the Uni you're applying to. Good time to start making friends. 🙂 GPA requirements aren't noted (but are implied as semi-strict) as it more matters on your strength as an applicant. But do consider that they do expect a grade-wise strong applicant that will provide a strong return on the government's investment in you.
Here's the webpage with the websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions : http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html
Find your region and they will have the application in their What's New section on the front page.

@everyone else - Thank you for your input. Some of those pitfalls about applying to med school and GPA conversion nightmare will be majorly considered in these next months of mine. I will most likely stay within the US and probably do a study abroad program offered by my university.

Thank you 🙂

 

[biryani86]

AMCAS, the most commonly used MD application service, doesn't accept foreign transcripts. You would be obliged to take 30-90 additional semester hour credits in the US or Canada to generate a GPA by which you could be considered by med schools. This year AACOMAS (for DO schools) stopped taking foreign transcripts. Most Texas schools use a third system (TMDSAS), but I don't recall their policy.

My wife finished a BS in Pharmacy in India, and wanted to give the DO pathway a shot. She's got a research background here in the states, with publications, and is planning to take her MCAT's this year. Does AACOMAS accept community college credits here as "higher education"? We were thinking to just transfer some of her credits, so she has ~60, and then apply.

 

[Catalystik]

Does AACOMAS accept community college credits here as "higher education"?

Yes.