4 questions about Oz

[nwhilk]

edited but see below

[Khush311]

Hi, and thanks, everyone, for such great posts! I'm an American who has been lurking but really found a lot of great stuff, so decided to post. I really appreciate all the hard work and helpful advice people have given here (and on other forums like SDN).

I just had four questions please:

1. Theoretically, is it possible to apply to all the graduate (MBBS) medical programs in Australia? I understand ACER only accepts three, but some accept direct applications (e.g. Flinders), so was curious.

2. Any recommended books or other material to help study for the GAMSAT? Actually, I may have to take the MCAT, simply because there's just so much study material readily available to Americans. But if there are some solid GAMSAT prep books or other resoures easily obtainable for Americans, I'd like to reconsider. I was a non-science major so understand the GAMSAT will be better suited for someone like me.

3. What residencies are considered "difficult" for the USA? From what I understand, it seems like it's quite possible for IMGs educated in Australia to return to the USA for their residencies. "Except," people often indicate, "for the most difficult residencies." So I wonder which residencies are usually considered the most difficult ones? I believe the only one I've seen used as an example is surgery.

4. On the other hand, I've always thought so highly of Australia, and could see myself living there permanently. It'd be a difficult decision, to be sure, because of friends and family, but I'm definitely open to the possibility. That's why I'm considering applying for Permanent Residency perhaps during my first year of medical school if I'm fortunate enough to be accepted somewhere. So, assuming an American international student like me is able to get Permanent Residency in Australia during medical school, will that affect: (a) my financial aid (i.e. will I lose Stafford loans from the American government or private loans); or (b) my place in the MBBS program (i.e. will the school throw me out)?

Thanks again, everyone!


If you are from a nonscience background then GAMSAT is definetly for you as it relies more on problem solving than actually memorizing which harmones do what like the MCAT. Saying that you must (absolutely must) have a strong grasp of chem, ochem, and physics... as those are problem solving type subjects and not memory subjects like biology can be. Saying all this you have to do some research into seeing if you can actually write the gamsat and if they will accept it in substituion for MCAT (I always thought Gamsat could only be written by nz, prs, and cit... but i could be totally wrong).
If you go to the medprep site (google it), they offer a free gamsat stimulation (its oly half the gamsat, but it gives u an idea of the type of questions).
Material wise: there isnt as much prep material out there as there is for MCAT... but you can easily interchange the two and use MCAT practice questions (just ignore the stand alone questions because there are none in the gamsat).
Hope I havent confused you more. :)

[nwhilk]

Thanks so much Khush! I really appreciate your help re: the GAMSAT. I found out I can indeed take it as an American student instead of the MCAT, so that's my plan now. I want to ask more about the GAMSAT to others, too, stemming from your helpful ideas, so I'll make a new thread on the main page. If you could, I'd appreciate anymore feedback or advice or anything else you might have over at the new thread please? Thanks again!

[USIMG2011]

I am applying to an Australian GEMP program, I will try to answer a few questions.
I applied through ACER and selected two programs, one offered me an interview.
Second, you can take the MCAT to study in Australia, you need at least a 24 overall, most schools require 8's on all sections.
Third, once you go outside of a US or Canadian school, it gets harder to get into a competitive specialty. There are occasions where IMGs have gotten into some very competitive fields but it is often harder to do this. Primary care fields are generally doable from most good foreign schools. One disadvantage of Australia is that some residency programs require you complete clinical rotations in the US before you can apply.
Fourth, most Australian schools will rescind your acceptance as an international student if you get PR before you start studies. From what I heard its harder to get in as a local, I am not 100 percent on this. But I am certain that most schools will kick you out if you get PR before or while you are in school(check with each one before you apply). Staying in Australia is not easy, I have done a lot of research on this. International students can work in rural areas or in certain understaffed hospitals. There is a rule stating that you cannot get a provider number to bill the Australian insurance fund for 10 years if you were a former international student which is why you will be limited to the aforementioned locales. There are a few American doctors working here, but the majority of them finished their training in the USA and work on a contractual basis. Even if you are able to stay, it will be hard to get into specialty training programs as the vast majority of doctors in Australia are primary care providers.
The main advantage of going to Australia is that living conditions are somewhat similar to the West Coast of America(many people here drive smaller cars, live in wooden houses, and consider a large order of chips(french fries in the good old USA) a meal). The more established Australian schools are recognized for licensure by all 50 US States. If you go to one of the newer programs you might have issues with US licensure. A disadvantage is that the teaching does not directly prepare you to pass the USMLE so you have to study on your own. I also had the notion that I would want to stay in Australia but living here for more than 6 months I have changed my mind. You can get a similar lifestyle living in the Southwest or in Florida.