In College Now, but Thinking about Med-School

[arahman]

I am in college now with about 30 credits and I am thinking about going to Med school.

I was just going to choose to do pre-Med and MD program at a school in the Carib, but I hear thats a "No No."

Should I fulfill my Pre-Med requirements in the states and then move on to Carib or what...

Help me out thanks

[stateofequilibrium]

If you've only taken 30 units worth so far, DEFINITELY TAKE YOUR PREMED COURSES IN THE US! Do as WELL AS YOU CAN! TAKE THE MCATS! TRY US FIRST!

Thus endeth the sermon.

[gawtti]

Do your best where you are. Ace the MCAT and apply to a US med school. BEST OF LUCK!!!!!! 8)

[arahman]

What should I be taking as Pre-Med requirements?

Do I need to take Pre-Med before taking the MCATS and trying the colleges in the states?

Thanks in advance guys.

[stateofequilibrium]

What should I be taking as Pre-Med requirements?

Do I need to take Pre-Med before taking the MCATS and trying the colleges in the states?

Thanks in advance guys.

Premeds:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Organic Chemistry
<Biochemistry> <- Requirement for only some schools.

and YES you should take them before the MCATs because those are the subjects the MCAT tests you on.

[wolfvgang22]

Some med schools also require Trigonometry and some even require Calculus (Texas Tech med school). You also need your basic English pre-req courses at most schools.
You will need 90 hours of undergrad college hours to be considered for licensure as a physician in most states, and you will be a more competitive applicant for med schools anywhere if you have a bachelors degree, not to mention a degree to fall back on if you don't make it to med school due to unforseen circumstances like illness, loss of financial aid, etc. I know many biology teachers like me who never made it to med school because of cancer, etc.

Although I'm proud to be attending med school in the caribbean, it is definitely a more rocky and potentially limiting path than being a US med student. The caribbean is by and large a second chance for those of us who blew it when we had our chance in pre-med, and everybody knows it, including the Program Directors who will look you over when you apply for your first job - a residency position in the specialty of your choice.

[Nimitt]

The previous poster is correct. Most of us applied in the sdtates once or twice before we eve considered the carib. I am graduating from SGU this year and have nothing bad to say about the carib schools. I did really well in med classes and on Step 1. But financial its more of a burden than the US schools especially if you get into a US state school. YOu are barely 1 year into your undergrad. Take your premed courses and remeber that alot of the carib schools require a undergrad degree to get accepted (SGU does for sure).

Nimitt
4th year
SGU SOM