5th pathway?/USMLE?/an international degree

[dakay7]

i am an american/hungarian citizen studying medicine at semmelweis university in budapest, hungary. i am currently enrolled in the first year and plan to finish my studies here in budapest. my questions are about returning to the states after i complete my studies. what do i need to know about the 5th pathway program? i do not have a graduate degree from an american college, i came here straight from high school. will it be a problem for me to return to america during my final years in medical school? will i be able to take the USMLE exam during the later years of my studies here in budapest? during the 5th and 6th year, will i be able to be apart of the 5th pathway program in the united states? when returning to the states, will i come across any problems that cannot be fixed without passing an exam? what problems will i come across in the future? thanks.


alex

[Miklos]

i am an american/hungarian citizen studying medicine at semmelweis university in budapest, hungary. i am currently enrolled in the first year and plan to finish my studies here in budapest. my questions are about returning to the states after i complete my studies. what do i need to know about the 5th pathway program? i do not have a graduate degree from an american college, i came here straight from high school. will it be a problem for me to return to america during my final years in medical school? will i be able to take the USMLE exam during the later years of my studies here in budapest? during the 5th and 6th year, will i be able to be apart of the 5th pathway program in the united states? when returning to the states, will i come across any problems that cannot be fixed without passing an exam? what problems will i come across in the future? thanks.


alex

Just quickly.

1) 5th Pathway. You are not eligible for the fifth pathway program, as you do not meet their requirements. See http://www.nymc.edu/depthome/fifth.asp for info.
Completed an accredited American college or university, undergraduate or premedical, with work of a quality acceptable for matriculation in a U.S. medical school.
However, you may be eligible for a year of clinical training, in place of your sixth year at NYMed. You'll have to contact them for details.

2) As long as you successfully complete the Semmelweis program, and complete the ECFMG requirements including the USMLEs (see www.ecfmg.org) and obtain a standard ECFMG certificate, you can compete for residency positions in the US.

3) You can take Step 1 as soon as the university certifies you to; you'll need three years before you are ready. (For an additional charge, you can take it in Budapest.)

4) Besides the academics, the problems you will encounter are the same as for other IMGs. You will face difficulties competing for competitive specialties and/or locations. Licensure is also more difficult, so you'll have to contact the state medical boards in states that interest you to ensure that your program meets their requirements.

Feel free to post if you have additional questions.

Miklos

[azskeptic]

PR runs a program for 5th pathway students from other schools.

Dean

[Miklos]

PR runs a program for 5th pathway students from other schools.

Dean

:?:

I'm not sure I understand. Who runs a program for other schools?

[azskeptic]

PR runs a program for 5th pathway students from other schools.

Dean

:?:

I'm not sure I understand. Who runs a program for other schools?

other schools graduates

http://www.fifthpathway.com/pr.html

[m4ttjabz]

other schools graduates

http://www.fifthpathway.com/pr.html
Ponce requires that one complete the premed curriculim requirements in the US or a US territory as well, plus you have to be fluent in Spanish as well.

[azskeptic]

other schools graduates

http://www.fifthpathway.com/pr.html
Ponce requires that one complete the premed curriculim requirements in the US or a US territory as well, plus you have to be fluent in Spanish as well.

Bottom line appears to be that there are limited slots for 5th pathway students in the US? NY's program and PR's program can't be taking too many students..how do the UAG students do it? alternative to 5th year is to stay in the country and do the internship requirement there I would guess? interesting issue.

[Miklos]

Bottom line appears to be that there are limited slots for 5th pathway students in the US? NY's program and PR's program can't be taking too many students..how do the UAG students do it? alternative to 5th year is to stay in the country and do the internship requirement there I would guess? interesting issue.

I think that's not the limiting factor.

IMO, it is:

1) Fifth pathway grads do not appear to do better (if at all than) well prepared ECFMG certified grads; see the statistics on how they fared on the match.

2) The number of students who can do a Fifth pathway is limited. Most USIMGs come from Carib. schools. This system is set up for students who go to places like UAG or European schools where a social service year/internship is required.

3) You have licensing problems above and beyond ECFMG certified USIMGs. Some jurisdictions do not accept the Fifth pathway.

4) It is not cheap. You have to pay above and beyond your med school tuition.

5) There are other much cheaper, easier ways of getting clinical experience.

Miklos