Consider the whole package – You mention you have good scores, grades, extracurricular activities, but what about the necessary funds for medical school in the US, which has an average cost of $200,000. If you believe you have a good chance of getting accepted and have the necessary funds, then apply. If not, then you have the option to finish your medical degree in your country and go to the US for an internship or residency program. In order to practice in the US, your foreign credentials will need to be evaluated and you will need to take the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Check out http://www.usmle.org for more information.

Good luck!

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I currently attend the Medical University of the Americas in Nevis West Indies. Going aborad is a great option if you need to do it. As you likely know getting into a US medical school has become overly competative. But there are some good alternatives just be sure to bring your check book.

Consider going to a D.O. school first before you even consider leaving the US. If anyone tells you that there is any discrimination in being a MD vs. DO tell them they are right. Its harder being an MD. Because you are limited in the type of residencies you can do DO’s are accepted in both MD and DO residency programs. Its easier to get into thier schools. Once you get in to a DO school or for any US school its very hard to get kicked out. The good think about these places is that you will be in the good ol’ USA and you won’t have to worry about finanical aid. If you worry about getting in do a masters of biomedical science program at the school they will let you in after just extra year of study. Check out PCOM, LECOM, and a couple of other schools.

If you just can’t accpet the DO (Get over it.) But some people can listen so they go to the corporate Caribbean Medical school world. Most find them selves at St. Georges, Ross or AUC. If you go to one of these places make sure you are tough beacuse you need everything you got. Honestly, I wouldn’t go unless you know for sure that you are going to make it! These schools kick out about 50% in the first 4 month and one semester can set you back 20k thats a lot to loose. The DO thing is a lot saver! (P.S. if you come to the caribbean be ready to deal with more Indian and Pakistani people than you will ever see in your entire life!)

Then there is Europe. The UK is great. They take Americans with a 3.3 not bad. The problem is that the dollar is falling like a rock compaired to the pound and euro. So once again you are loosing your shirt. Be prepaired to owe a lot of cash. Also, you might be dissadvantaged when it comes to residency because you don’t have enought time in a US hospital. On the other hand you won’t get kicked out as fast as in the Carribean.

There are some great schools in Eastern Europe. They are cheap. I think Poland has some good ones. But honestly Eastern Europe is just above 3rd world. Also, you will have to learn a second language.

Lesser known Caribbean schools- I currently attend one myself. Its cheap $7,500 per semester (St. Georges=15k). I did this because I was not sure if I could make it at one of the bigger schools. The only problem is that you get no federal finaincal aid. So you have to have good credit or a great set of parents. (I have the latter.) Choose wisely the money you save in dollars is spent on research! You have to check on the state accrediations for schools. If they don’t have at least New York don’t go!

Then there is the tried and true method. Giving up and go to a PA school.

Just kidding…

Be patient you will be a doctor for a long time. Make a good decision.

It depends on the Med School. They’ll certainly note that you took courses abroad, but if they’re not relevant to Med School and you don’t fail any of them, they might not bother to factor them in. However, because you’ll want to apply to a wide variety of Medical Schools, do your best in those courses – you don’t want to lower your chances at ANY school just because some schools may have lower standards.

It’s definitely no easier in the UK – plus in the UK medicine is an undergraduate degree, not a postgraduate one. Not sure about the rest of Europe – but do you speak a foreign language to that sort of level? French universities teach in French, and so on.

I’d really recommend you qualify where you plan to work. It can be really tough getting foreign medical qualifications recognised.

When you finish medical school, where do you want to practice/ I’m Canadian, and I know that our system makes it really tough for foreign-trained doctors to come to Canada to practice. If the US is the same, you may have a really hard time getting set up when you come home.