Studying in Poland

[iza0iza]

Has anyone attended school in Poland, or the generel eastern europe area? If so can you tell me a little about your experience. And what I should be expecting.

Also besides canhelp and osap, what loan aptions are available to me?

[omniatlas]

I have heard there is a medical program where you spend the first two years in Poland completing your basic sciences, and the last two years at an accredited US medical school. Does such a program exist?

[iza0iza]

yes it does exist. I will be attending it next year. It is a six year program for high school graduates or those with no undergrad degree. It is really convenient cause you don't have to spend four years getting your undergrad degree, and than another four years in med school. You should look it up... I will be attending the Karol Marcinkowski University in Poznan Poland, it's also good because it is an English language program. Hopes this helps.

[iza0iza]

but you can not transfer to the states afterwards.. well i mean you can if you have good grades but you are not guaranteed that they will accept you ..

[Mitesh312]

Hey whats up,

I went to Highschool in the US....I started Medical school right after I finished High school and I went first to Hungary...I did 2 years there, but then transfered over to Katowice, Poland. I entered their 4 year program because I already had 2 years under my belt. Anyway, The school in Katowice is very easy to get through. But they do allow you to finish up your last two years...the rotations, in the states....which is a HUGE plus for IMGs that want to work in America. I just passed the USMLE Step 1...but let me tell you, it was an extreme struggle since I wasn't very well prepared...but it can be done. It all depends on how much your willing to study on your own. I start my first rotation (Internal Medicine) on May 5th at Wycoff Medical Center in Brooklyn New York which is a hospital thats affiliated with Cornell Medical School!!! Very nice. All the students that went to Katowice, Poland and rotated at Wycoff Medical center have been very successful and are doing residencies.

FAFSA and some other loans are available. The tuition is very cheap, and living costs are very cheap...even partying is cheap. Overall, Katowice isn't the nicest town in POLAND, but Krakow and Warsaw are very close train rides away. It's a great opportunity if you want to travel europe because this gives you the chance to do so.

[iza0iza]

when you went to school there did you do it in english or polish.. also why weren't you prepared for the USMLE... because you didn't study or because the classes weren't good... also .. what is on the USMLE test.. like what kind of questions do they ask and how do they mark them.

[Mitesh312]

I studied in English of course...but they require you to take Polish as a class...this is for your own benefit so that it's easier for you to get around the city. But I didn't really go to most of my polish classes...but I picked up enough to get around, plus many people can speak english. As far as me not being prepared, it's a combination of both, the classes aren't the best...but then again what do you expect for only $4000 a semester? And also I partied a lot and only studied when I really had to, in other words, I only studied for my finals. But it all comes down to this. Even though I was not prepared when I finished the first 2 years...I was able to come back to the states, take a kaplan course, and study a couple of months on my own...and took the USMLE and still passed. It's not easy to do, the USMLE Step 1 is known as the mother of all standardized exams and it's very difficult to pass. You really have to study hard. I studied 2 and a half months for 10 hours a day. It tests every single basic science medical subject....basically everything you learn in your first two years....this mainly includes:

Pathology
Physiology
Pharmacology
Microbiology
Immunology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Gross Anatomy
Embryology
Histology
Neurology
Behavioral Science and bio statistics/epidemiology

Anyway, the best part about going to poland... (besides the beutiful girls)... is that after you finish your basic science courses and pass the USMLE step 1 you get to do all your rotations in the states....thats a very very very big plus. It looks really good when you apply to residencies. I'm starting Internal Med on May 5th at Wycoff Heights MEdical Center.....It's affiliated with Cornell Med School.

[Mitesh312]

Also, about transfering back to that states....You are guaranteed a spot back in the states...either in new york, Ohio, or chicago....your choice......if you go to school In Katowice or Lublin.....these schools are affiliated with Hope Medical Institute....HMI....and they are the ones that have set up the connections between hospitals in the US allowing you to do your clinicals in the states. I think This is also true for the school in Warsaw but i'm not sure. Poznan is not affiliated with HMI so you don't have a guaranteed spot waiting for you in america....however, I do have a friend who goes there and it does seam like a better school. The city is very nice too.

I went to school in Katwoice....the name of the school is University Medical School of Silecia....they have both 6 and 4 year programs.

[iza0iza]

well the polish classes won't be a problem because I already speak polish fluently.. the school in poznan is affiliated with mercy college in NY too.. I dont know if you've ever heard of it. Do you know of any Canadian citizens who are doing their residency in the states.. i wonder if it is hard to get a residency.. becuase in Canada it is next to impossilbe for an IMG to get a match.. Canadians are crazy...!

[Mitesh312]

Hey, I did have a few classmates....well all of them where a couple years behind me but they were from canada...and I think a couple of them said they wanted to go back to Canada. I know that it takes a lot of time and the canadian boards are extremely tough. It's probably easier to just go back to America...many IMGs get residencies...it helps if you get good scores on your boards, and to have clinical experience in the states.

Thats great that you can already speak Polish. I found it very difficult. I thought hungarian was much easier. Anyway....let me know if you have any other questions.