Australia does not seem to be a very attractive place to study medicine.

a) they charge you a pooh pooh load of money as an international student, just as much, or even more than some American/Caribbean schoools.

b) extremely difficult to get a PR, so you cant even practice in australia right after you graduate

c) hard to get loans

d) harder to go back to the US (especially if your a Canadian)

e) PBL not that respected around the world

I dont get why people just dont go to Caribbean schools or apply to DO schools if their ultimate goal is the US or Canada. And if you do plan to stay and practice in Australia, like i said, it's really difficult, especially considering the fact that most IMGs attend the 4 year programs rather than the 5 or 6 year programs, which are not as well respected. In terms of money, Australian GPs average around 70-90K, whereas in the US one can make a lot more money and get taxed less. I know medicine isnt about the money, but how the hell are u suppose to pay your loans.

Yeah, and for those that want to practice in a rural area in Australia for 5 years and then getting your PR, yeah.....you wont be making more than $45,000(australian) a year.

Conclusions: Australia charges ppl international fees for a meager education, i think you could get more bang for your buck going to India, Pakistan, Phillipines, etc, any asian country with a well respected MBBS program, since your considered an IMG whereever you come from (by the way, most IMG doctors in the US are from India). Australians make it hard for you to practice in their country despite the fact that you have an Australian education. So yeah, if you wanna go to US or Canada, then the best choices are clearly:

1. US or Canadian Med Schools
2. US DO schools
3. Caribbean or Israel
4. India, pakistan, england, ect (countries with well respected MBBS programs)
5. Australia or Eastern Europe (last choice)

Im from New York, but ill be applying to Indian and Pakistani schools since I cant afford the caribbean (and im latin by the way, so dont think im biased towards these places).