Germany or Eastern Europe

[staber]

Does anyone have experience with medical school in Germany? Applying there, studying there, having considered applying there...whatever. I have been accepted to the Charite in Berlin, and am considering going there (I speak German). The plus is that there are no tuition fees, and living expenses in Berlin are pretty low, but there are no federal loans (I'm from the US) available. The Charite is approved by the California Medical Board, so I assume it's a quality institution. I could probably get by by working on the side, borrowing a little bit from family, living VERY modestly. I'm just wondering though if it might be easier to just apply to a place in Poland or the Czech Republic, begin a year later, but not have all the headaches with figuring out how to finance it (these places you can get US gov. loans). That's my situation. But if anyone has any general thoughts/experience with studying/considering studying in Germany that would be greatly appreciated. For example, is it really realistic to expect to finish in 6 years and become a doctor right away? or do other things hold that up? i am open to living/practicing in Europe, but it would be nice to at least have the option of returing to the US to practice one day. Any advice?

[Zut Alors!]

Well, for Germany:

Pros
1) Free education
2) Charite is an awesome school, I'm envious; I'm actually curious how you got in, could you PM me about that?
3) Excellent location

Cons
1) Like you said, no federal loans

As far as education goes, you will no doubt get an extremely good education. German med school is no joke. Eastern Europe doesn't offer anything to you other than federal loans. To me, that's not enough to entice me if I was accepted into a German med school.

Maybe you could let everyone know exactly how you got into Charite, your educational background, citizenship, etc. In the past, people have asked how to get in and no one has had any firsthand experience; until now. So, please enlighten us! Did you take an entrance exam, or just pass the DAF or Goethe exam and show you HS grades?

[staber]

I took the DHS last year and got a good score (the standard German language test for university there). But you don't actually have to take this test until after you've been accepted, to demonstrate your language ability. As far as the admissions process goes, I don't know if it's different in other universities, but at the Charite anyway, the admissions process for non-Europeans is pretty simple (other EU citizens are treated like Germans in the admissions process). For the rest of us though, basically you just submit your high school grades and the application form to the central bureau for the processing of foreign applications (for all subjects, not just medicine). Then they take your grades, recalculate them into a German equivalent, send that equivalent to the university, and then the university takes the top 25 or whatever applicants. Basically it's pure numbers.
Yeah, I would love to study in Germany. I just really don't know if I can swing it--finance-wise.

[Zut Alors!]

If you take out private loans for living expenses, and compare them against Stafford loans (no compound interest in med school) for 6 years of tuition + living expenses, there is no comparison. You are still saving a ton of money in Germany.

So, what were your HS grades, if you don't mind me asking? I'm graduating from college this year, but I don't think they care if you have an advanced degree in Germany. It's all HS grades, correct?

[staber]

I had a 96 average (from 100) in high school, which they recalculated into German as a 1,2 (with 1,0 being the highest an 6,0 being the lowest).

The problem with private loans though is that if the US gov isn't willing to back a program (regardless of how good it is), then there aren't any banks who are either. I've alreadly looked into it, and it's rather discouraging.

[jcf]

Congrats on getting in, I know that many Germans are envious! Its actually pretty hard to get in. you can get in straight from High School (with Abitur), but only if you have REALLY good grades! Poeple with lower grades will eventually get in, but they literally have to WAIT until a spot becomes free for them. The education is pretty good and most Germans who dont get a spot for whatever reason go to Eastern Europe. Since it is all EU though, it does not much matter where within the EU you got your degree, you can (at least thats whay Ive heard) easily practice in other European countries. You will still be able to practice in the US if you take the board exams and during your studies in Germany you can most likely go on exchange to the US, meaning doing clinincal rotations there for example. I'd go for the German school and try to get private loans. And yeah, if u can get a 96 in High School you will most likely be able to finish the progam within 6 years;)
Good luck!

[jcf]

To Zut Alors and all the others interested:

Yes, so far Germany only cares about HS, but what you can do is send your HS and college transcript to Germany, they will then look at it and decide when you have reached the equivalent of an Abitur (the German high school degree, which is often equal to one year of University in the US depending on what classes you have taken during High school). Any classes that are "above what they think is needed for Abitur" could then help you get advanced standings! So you could directly apply to a Medical University and ask for advanced standings and maybe you will only have to do 4 or 5 years of med school;)

[rubayee]

hi there dear
i want to get clinical specialization in cardiology from germany.
can you please guide me that is it possible?
how much do i have to pay for that.
and what is the way.
kind regards
dr riaz

[staber]

Medical school in Germany takes 6 years. 3 in the classroom, 2 for clinical rotations, and 1 full time "praktisches Jahr." Then if you pass the exam (zweiter Teil der aerztlicher Pruefung) you are a doctor. From there you can then do further training/interning to become a "Facharzt" (specialist) in cardiology or whatever else. As far as I know there are no tuition fees for German medical schools (or most any German university programs). All the medical programs are in German though.