Top 10

1. Harvard University

2. Johns Hopkins University

Washington University in St. Louis

4. Duke University

University of Pennsylvania

6. University of California San Francisco

7. Columbia U. College of Physicians and Surgeons

8. Stanford University

University of Michigan Ann Arbor

10. Yale University

After you finish medical school you can go wherever you want. Just because you are not going to Italy right now doesn’t mean you never will. I would suggest staying in the states for college.

My suggestions, you can study abroad for a semester, a summer, or a year through the university that you choose. Or even better, take a year off before you go to college or after you finish your undergrad before you start med school to travel around the world. Remember being independent is a state of mind not a geographical location. I know it’s hard to see and feel that right now still under the control of your parents.

1) Take an extended foreign trip BEFORE you attend medical school. Look into high school foreign exchange programs, or just plan an extended getaway somewhere after you graduate. You might find that this cures your itch to get out of the country, then you’ll be ready to follow your father’s advice.

2) If you’re dead set on going to medical school outside the country, and if you consider yourself a top-tier candidate, then you might as well look into the distinguished medical schools outside the US. I’m not an expert on the subject, but I imagine that Europe probably has some great medical schools. Do some research and talk to some doctors about it. You may find that this suggestion keeps both you and your father happy. The language barrier is a problem that you will need to be prepared to deal with, and the school probably would not accept you anyways unless you passed some sort of language proficiency exam. Ideally, you should look to attend a school where the language used is one that you’re already fluent in.

3) If you’re dead-set on getting out of the country for med school, but don’t think that you’d be a good candidate for one of the top foreign medical schools, then look into some of the foreign medical schools closer to home. For example, I have a friend who is attending medical school in the Caribbean (..Aruba, I think). It wasn’t terribly difficult for him to get accepted, and he’s enjoying the experience because he gets a foreign experience, but doesn’t have to learn a new language.

You can become independent simply by moving out of your house. I’d save the world traveling until your education was complete. Once you obtained your MD, you might want to consider doing something with Doctors Without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/)

But, if nobody can persuade you, then here’s where you need to start researching foreign medical schools: http://imed.ecfmg.org/

Good luck with your decision and future!

Also, there are many international universities around the world that cater to foreign students. You might pick a country and check into those universities.

In addition, some universities in Europe have courses that you can take in English, so you can major in something other than English.

As far as applying to those schools, you apply to them the same way you would when applying to schools in the US.

Good luck!