Thread: Medical School Sofia, Bulgaria

I am thinking about this school but I dont know the quality of the school. Is it good, can the professors handle their english well? I am bulgarian but I live in Sweden and most of family is still in Bulgaria, thats why I want to study there. Someone with usefull information that can help me?

Yes, there is additional cost with agencies, and I am quite dismayed to read that the school would be working through them. I thought we were past that nonsense, but I guess not. Yuck.

I still maintain that it is better (and cheaper) to fly here and apply than to work with an agent. I have yet to meet a satisfied customer here in Sofia. And, as I have stated as nauseam in this forum -- if you are an American, you should have a pretty damn good reason for wanting to come to Bulgaria to make it worth your while. There are currently a load of better options in the EU. Remember that Sofia does NOT have approval in all 50 states, there are no student loans, and none of these things are even being addressed at this time. If you have specific questions feel free to ask.

I don't hate Sofia, but at present there are much wiser EU paths for your medical education, especially if you are North American.

Thanks for your usual enlightening response. For (me) a US citizen, who will be returning to the US, I believe that all the English-language programs in (for example) Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine carry the same value. From what I have been reading and hearing, none of these English programs really cares about value and quality, especially given how the laws of those countries are drafted so as not to allow these graduates to be able to practice in those countries. Of those three countries, I had always viewed Bulgaria as the most serious, but I have come to realize that they are all about money – just look at how Sofia is now directing students to agents. As many will tell you, the paying students in these programs seldom “fail” and regardless of “poor performance” remain in the program, progress, and eventually graduate. This is not the case with the so-called parallel native programs.

So based on what you wrote, if one were to travel to Bulgaria, can the application, processing, and acceptance be achieved in a short period (such as a week)?

Thanks for your usual enlightening response. For (me) a US citizen, who will be returning to the US, I believe that all the English-language programs in (for example) Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine carry the same value.

Well, not exactly. Romanian and Bulgarian degrees have automatic EU acceptance, which may not matter directly for US training/practice but still can help in some regard. Ukraine does not have automatic EU acceptance, although it is still possible to receive it. In addition, in the Ukraine you would have no recourse (i.e. with the EU) if things get thoroughly jacked up. It's hard enough in E-EU to get things put straight half the time, I honestly can't imagine managing it in a non-EU country. The very thought gives me gas.

From what I have been reading and hearing, none of these English programs really cares about value and quality, especially given how the laws of those countries are drafted so as not to allow these graduates to be able to practice in those countries.

That is not uniformly true. There are better (Cluj is supposed to be good, for example) and worse programs in Romania, for example, and the same goes for Bulgaria. And you actually CAN practice in Bulgaria with a diploma from the English program, but you need to pass all of the Bulgarian State Examinations (in Bulgarian). The English degree is recognized in the EU, as well.

There are some outstanding teaching departments here in Sofia. Gastro was excellent. Neurology was great. Endocrine was solid. Infectious Disease was really good. Psychiatry was well done overall. On the other hand, there are some really bad departments, too, in which you end up teaching yourself or scheduling time in other clinics with people who know what the hell they are doing.

Of those three countries, I had always viewed Bulgaria as the most serious, but I have come to realize that they are all about money – just look at how Sofia is now directing students to agents. As many will tell you, the paying students in these programs seldom “fail” and regardless of “poor performance” remain in the program, progress, and eventually graduate. This is not the case with the so-called parallel native programs.

I would venture to say that some of this crap happens in the "parallel native programs" (a well-coined phrase, I must say) as well. I have said it before, and I'll say it again... the OPPORTUNITY for a good medical education exists here in Bulgaria. However, it requires a lot of legwork and extra effort to achieve it.

I just completed my last exam before starting EU internship, and the profs failed a classmate (rightfully so, I am sorry to say). I don't think that it will be a skate through the State Graduation Exams during internship by any stretch of the imagination. The word is that the state examiners failed a couple of (really crappy) students five or six times in a row a few years ago, and never did let them pass because they didn't know a bloody thing. The idea may actually be to milk the students for 6 years of tuition, and if they have busted their butts and learned the material then they can graduate, and if not... well, that's too bleeping bad, Skippy, you should have actually read something and not spent the entire six years smoking pot and picking your nose with a stick.

So based on what you wrote, if one were to travel to Bulgaria, can the application, processing, and acceptance be achieved in a short period (such as a week)?

Yeah, I think that the bulk of it could be managed in a week, but you might need someone to help you follow up. I was only here for a few days, but a classmate assisted me greatly in my application endeavor (arista29, you are the best!). You would DEFINITELY need some help from a student/faculty member in finding where to go and the correct people with whom to speak, because it's not a fast or smooth process in any case.

If I were doing this again I would apply to the (English) EU schools in this order:
1) Ireland and UK
2) Poland (50-state approved schools first, then others further down the list)
3) Czech Republic and Slovakia
4) Hungary
5) Balkans (Bulgaria and Romania)
6) non-EU (Ukraine, Serbia, etc.)

I would put Croatia in there, and up on the list, if they were EU -- which they will be soon -- and higher if they were 50-state approved.

If you speak an EU language, then it's a whole new ballgame if you can get accepted to a W-EU school. That would be a great option, with automatic 50-state approval.

I think there should be a new thread here as parts of this one is sound ridiculous.
Here's my comment on the nature of this thread: For especially raggangsta.

Firstly, I don't give a rat's you-know about raggangster secret papers and website or whatever. His english alone should give you a clue to the quality thereof of anything he does. We do study in English you know. I am not sure how people manage without Bulgarian OR English.

Handouts for exams? Your special stash I suppose? I recommend textbooks personally. The big medical ones. With lots of words preferably.

And as far as the freaky girls of Bulgaria and your opinions as to the nature of the country…if you are not Bulgarian or from a Bulgarian family maybe it’s best to keep these type of opinions to your private conversations.

Nah, I’ll pass on your fb group. I have no idea who you are and I don’t care.

Stop posting stupid things on the Bulgaria forum please.

I nearly attended Sofia for medicine. I ultimately decided to go to Ross University in the Caribbean but Sofia was my 2nd choice!

I'm sure everyone attending Sofia will have a great time! If you're ever in the Caribbean hit me up!

Ross (or Big 3/4/5 Carib) trumps MU-Sofia by a lot. At Ross you've got 50 state approval, a program that is two years shorter, USMLE preparation, federal student loans, US clinical experience throughout years 3 and 4, and (as much as Carib students will complain) at least some semblance of organization.

You are in a much better situation at Ross than at MU-Sofia. Especially with the bomb about to drop in 2015/16 with the equalizing number of US grads and PGY1 positions? Heck, depending on when you started, you might actually end up with a US residency for your trouble. I don't think that will be the case for most North Americans opting for MU-Sofia from here on out, no matter whether they study in English or Bulgarian.

Good luck at Ross!

Hi, I have a question regarding the admission- I don't know, maybe there is sth wrong with my computer (although I don't think so), but Sofia Med Uni website in english is a sort of a joke- except from admission documents that I have to submit I didn't find any informations about dates of exams, list of topics to learn, basically all the 'windows' that I try to open are blank! I cannot even open the registration form, so how can I submit all the documents... I emailed them, but if you have any idea how can I get all useful admission info I'll be grateful to hear from you guys.

There is not likely anything amiss with your computer, the website is a joke. Sorry about that, but that's kind of Balkan standard.

What exam information are you looking for... the admissions exam, or the exams for the school year? You simply will not get the latter in advance.

You will not receive an answer to any email most of the time. Bulgarians seem to mistrust email, perhaps as a result of their time as part of the East Bloc. (Even people who you know well and who genuinely like you will often not respond to an email, even to confirm receipt. I do not understand it, and it makes me crazy, but it's the reality.)

I would recommend calling the Dekanat office and asking to speak with Ms. Ivanova. She speaks fair English and might be able to assist you.

Thank you very much, I will call the students office. You are right about the emails- I've sent them one in september (last year), with no answer of course.
What about the topic list for admission exam- I'm pretty sure they had one on their website, but it's gone... Does anyone has it?

I have heard that there were some changes with regard to the entrance exam over the past couple of years. That would also be a good question for Ms. Ivanova, if you can reach her... or a more recent matriculant. Good luck.