Reapplying to U.S. Schools?

[gigi]

Hi Folks,
I'll be starting AUC next semester and I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience reapplying to U.S. schools after a semester or two at AUC? Are the professors at AUC friendly and usually willing to write letters of recommendation when you reapply?

[rnagy54]

For most US programs that actually accept foreign medical students, you have to wait until the third year when starting clinicals to transfer. Most want to see how you do on the USMLE step I before they even open your application. Look forward to seeing you down here soon.

Ryan

[gigi]

Thanks Ryan but I'm not looking to transfer, I plan on reapplying and starting the first year over in a U.S. med school.
I've heard different views on the professors at AUC so I just want to make sure they and the administration are helpful with your reapplication given the letters of rec and transcripts and what not.

[altereeggoo]

no offence, but why wouldnt you just go to a cheaper instituition and work on some upper-level sciences, then try and ace the MCAT? Rather than spending a lot of money going through a year of a foreign med school?

[gigi]

None taken. I kind of already did that this year and all it got me was one wait list position and a few schools who still haven't made a decision on my application yet.
I've spoken to an admissions counsler at one of the schools I applied to and we both agreed that if I get into a US med school next fall AUC would have been a good preparation for my first year and would show the admissions committee that I could handle medical school course work and if for some chance I don't get in I could finish med school at AUC without having wasted a year.

[altereeggoo]

thanks for sharing. if you have a weaker than average GPA and/or MCAT then I personally would work on strengthening this first, before spending a lot of money...

Just my 2 cents. Best of luck gigi. Hope it all works out...

[gigi]

Thanks but the thing is, my GPA isn't really weaker than average and I my MCAT score is just over average. Regardless, the money isn't really a problem, in fact, it's already spent on AUC since I've already made my decision. Having my application be under consideration for this long at U.S. schools is better than having been outright rejected which would have happened if my numbers were that bad.
Can anyone give me any info regarding my original post on the faculty's/administrations helpfulness when reapplying to U.S. schools?

[Ditch Doctor]

Thanks but the thing is, my GPA isn't really weaker than average and I my MCAT score is just over average. Regardless, the money isn't really a problem, in fact, it's already spent on AUC since I've already made my decision. Having my application be under consideration for this long at U.S. schools is better than having been outright rejected which would have happened if my numbers were that bad.
Can anyone give me any info regarding my original post on the faculty's/administrations helpfulness when reapplying to U.S. schools?

I have heard of anecdotal stories of people doing that. But, here's the problem: let's say everything goes perfectly, you get here in May and you do well and reapply to a US school and get accepted. By the time you actually finish 2 semesters it would be January, and you've missed most deadlines, so it would probably be 2 years until you matriculate; you'd be halfway through 3rd year of medical school. Let's say you could matriculate next fall, you'd be just finishing 4th semester and are only 4 months away from being a 3rd year student. And then start all over again? Anyway, that's best case scenario. Worst case scenario is you come here do two semesters then reapply and get rejected. Then you're back to square one. There is not really enough time to do this practically.

This is one of those "sounds good in theory" ideas. SGU, Ross, AUC, SABA will all get you wherever you want to go, provided you work you butt off. Unless this is simply a "US school feather in your cap" thing. Then good luck. Oh, yeah it will take you about 7-8 years to graduate medical school, too. Have fun, whew... four is plenty for me.

[AUCMD2006]

like all others it depends on the professor. for the most part if they see you work hard, show up for all labd, volunteer on some community stuff i would bet dr loukas and dr behrish from first semester would be good candidates to ask for letters from but you have to impress them....

[microphage]

Thanks but the thing is, my GPA isn't really weaker than average and I my MCAT score is just over average. Regardless, the money isn't really a problem, in fact, it's already spent on AUC since I've already made my decision. Having my application be under consideration for this long at U.S. schools is better than having been outright rejected which would have happened if my numbers were that bad.
Can anyone give me any info regarding my original post on the faculty's/administrations helpfulness when reapplying to U.S. schools?

I have heard of anecdotal stories of people doing that. But, here's the problem: let's say everything goes perfectly, you get here in May and you do well and reapply to a US school and get accepted. By the time you actually finish 2 semesters it would be January, and you've missed most deadlines, so it would probably be 2 years until you matriculate; you'd be halfway through 3rd year of medical school. Let's say you could matriculate next fall, you'd be just finishing 4th semester and are only 4 months away from being a 3rd year student. And then start all over again? Anyway, that's best case scenario. Worst case scenario is you come here do two semesters then reapply and get rejected. Then you're back to square one. There is not really enough time to do this practically.

This is one of those "sounds good in theory" ideas. SGU, Ross, AUC, SABA will all get you wherever you want to go, provided you work you butt off. Unless this is simply a "US school feather in your cap" thing. Then good luck. Oh, yeah it will take you about 7-8 years to graduate medical school, too. Have fun, whew... four is plenty for me.

I would hate to have to repeat first year or 2nd year... It's almost stressful as it is. Why relive it?

[gigi]

Ditchdoctor- thanks for that input but that whole time scheme isn't really an issue and the 'feather in my cap' isn't the case either :roll: . I wouldn't be missing any deadlines, I'll be reapplying through AMCAS in the summer during my first semester and have my secondaries finished by the fall.
The reason I'll be reaaplying is that AUC doesn't have rotations in my city and I'd like to remain active in a project I'm involved in here.
Many thanks to rrod for finally answering my question. Are there a lot of opportunities for community involvement in May and do 1st semesters have time for that?

[Newlywed]

You have more time in 1st then 2nd and there are tons of things to get involved in!!! The profs will help you out and write recs as long as you put the time in. Good Luck it seems you have a long journey ahead of you but you seem happy about it so thats all that matters!!! Best of luck!!!!!!
J

[Ditch Doctor]

I wouldn't be missing any deadlines, I'll be reapplying through AMCAS in the summer during my first semester and have my secondaries finished by the fall.


And Fall would be your second semester. Doing secondaries during class might prove to be very difficult if you want good grades.

Anyway, doing secondaries then would mean you matriculate the following fall, *if* you get in. Which is a very big if since you have applied twice to no avail and the only change on your transcript would be that you started medical school in the Caribbean. You probably wouldn't have any grades yet- at least until secondaries. Then you would only have two 'real' grades GA, Biochem.

By the time you matriculate you would be almost finished with your second year here. We do the first 2 years in about 20 months, so by the time you would matriculate as a first year student you would be 4 months away from being a 3rd year student and ready to start clinicals. You could just transfer at this time into the third year.

Also, would you fly home in December, Jan, February for interviews? Assuming you are applying to more than one school, that could severely impact your grades. But not impossible.

This program that you're trying to stay in, you'll be gone from it for over a year; I know it can be tough to let go, but, at the risk of sounding like Dad, sometimes we have to make tough choices.

<<Insert scene from Karate Kid where Mr Miagi talks about walking down left or right sound of road and getting squashed like a grape, but dub in "medicine" instead of "Karate">>

Anyway, all I'm saying is good luck with this scheme. You sound like your set in this idea, so I hope it works out for you. You might be able to keep with it and get into a school that way, it just seems like you're going around your elbow to get to your butt. I'm sure you've made an appointment and talked to the Dean of Admissions (not just the admission counselors- who don't have a say about your application at most institutions) for exit interviews at the schools you're trying to get in. And if he/she thinks it will help, then by all means do it.

Good luck. Personally, I would shoot myself in the eye if I had to repeat the first two years all over again. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, if you do, then good luck!

[AUCMD2006]

i don't think i'd be able to do the two years over again even if i goty in a US med school...maybe if it was ivy league (yea right) even then it wouldn't be an easy choice...that just goes to show how draining med school is.

[microphage]

i don't think i'd be able to do the two years over again even if i goty in a US med school...maybe if it was ivy league (yea right) even then it wouldn't be an easy choice...that just goes to show how draining med school is.

I know I would never do it again. Not worth it... not even if tuition was paid for!!!!! Would it be easier? Yeah but thinking about spending 2 more years with rrod-like people... hummmmm


j/k dude... :wink:

[shyilguy]

Now why are you people raining on her parade.
she merely asked a question just answer that question as rrod did
She did not ask for career or life advise

[gigi]

now that's what i'm sayin', thanks shyliguy.

[gigi]

I'm sure you've made an appointment and talked to the Dean of Admissions (not just the admission counselors- who don't have a say about your application at most institutions) for exit interviews at the schools you're trying to get in.

Dude, what's your deal? You sound as if you work for AUC. And what do you mean by an exit interview?

[Scott1981]

im gonna be starting 4th semester soon. at the same time, a family friend who now sits on the admissions committe (where was he two years ago?....:P:) at a florida allo school can guarentee admission to the 1st year class in sept 2005.

god at that point.... i would be 5th semester about to finish up. i respectfully turned it down. after this far going through auc, finishing all my classes....... there is no way in hell that i would want to restart it all no matter where it was. i cant seem to fathem the idea of doing biochem and anatomy all over again. im done with that formaldehyde smell.

although i may be thinking diferently if i wanted derm...... but all im looking for is IM.

gigi,
if you are really looking for a tough residency then i would give this theory a shot. you have nothing to lose but time and money. but you said neither is important..... so go for it. the worst that can happen is that you get rejected but.........still become a doctor through auc. sounds good to me.

[Ditch Doctor]

Dude, what's your deal? You sound as if you work for AUC.

Dude, what's *your* deal, you sound as if you've never been to medical school before.

Oh, wait; you haven't.

What a way to not objectively listen to several people-that-are-more-informed-than-you-are's advice. You'll make a great surgeon.

And what do you mean by an exit interview?

Every school that rejects you should offer you the opportunity to have an exit interview. Basically, you meet with the Dean of admissions (could be someone on the admissions commitee if the Dean is really busy) and they personally review your application tell you what you need for your application to have a better chance.

Admission "counselors" can be surprisingly uninformed, and usually have zero say on whether you will get in a school or not. If you trust the one that told you to do this, then have at it.

[lsudoc1855]

Gigi,
Good luck on your situation. You should definitely go through with your idea of applying while at AUC. If you get in then you have a ton of options and if you don't, then you have AUC and you will still be a doctor. Don't let the people on this forum that say "I wouldnt go back to a US school even if they paid my tuition" fool you. First, they probably dont have the same oppurtunity that you do (MCAT and undergraduate GPA that could get them in to a US school). Second, I doubt they would pass up a chance to save a lot of money on tuition because caribbean schools are expensive. Further, it is easy to say "all I want is IM" when you really don't have much of a choice. The fact is that many medical students change their preference when it comes to residencies late in the game (during clinicals) and some even go on to do second residencies later in life. Increasing your options is never a bad thing. In addition, it will be tougher for an FMG to get a fellowship after residency (such as GI, allergy, or cardio if you go into IM) which may also be a plus of going to the US. I will leave you with the idea that one or two years in the big scheme of things is not a big deal at all. Follow your instincts and good luck.

[goldfish85]

"In addition, it will be tougher for an FMG to get a fellowship after residency (such as GI, allergy, or cardio if you go into IM) which may also be a plus of going to the US."

is it really? i thought that fellowships are based more on the residency + LORs and networking? I could be wrong but is this guy BSing?

[microphage]

"In addition, it will be tougher for an FMG to get a fellowship after residency (such as GI, allergy, or cardio if you go into IM) which may also be a plus of going to the US."

is it really? i thought that fellowships are based more on the residency + LORs and networking? I could be wrong but is this guy BSing?


everybody has their own opinions.. but wait... why not ask the people who are MDs instead of some anonymous person with one post to their credit.


(can u tell today was call day for me?)