English medical schools..

[nicolew42179]

Just curious. I am a US student extremely interested in going to medical school in England, but I am getting mixed responses. Some people say that it is extremely difficult to get in, others say that it depends on the school. I know about the foreign student cap, but I need some advice. I have a bachelors in Chemistry and am currently finishing my masters in Molecular Biotechnology, and my g.p.a. is in the 3.2 range. my undergrad g.p.a. was 3.65. I am looking at London schools, and Oxford. What are my chances of getting in? Any advice from anyone? What schools accept more foreign students? Thanks.

[azskeptic]

Originally Posted by nicolew42179

Just curious. I am a US student extremely interested in going to medical school in England, but I am getting mixed responses. Some people say that it is extremely difficult to get in, others say that it depends on the school. I know about the foreign student cap, but I need some advice. I have a bachelors in Chemistry and am currently finishing my masters in Molecular Biotechnology, and my g.p.a. is in the 3.2 range. my undergrad g.p.a. was 3.65. I am looking at London schools, and Oxford. What are my chances of getting in? Any advice from anyone? What schools accept more foreign students? Thanks.

http://www.escapeartist.com/studying...chools_UK.html

From what I've read you would have a better chance at Irish medical schools and in many ways perhaps a better education.

the British students have a similiar forum to valuemd at:

http://www.medschoolguide.co.uk/

[avs]

i understand where you are coming from as i am trying to do what you are doing but the other way around. i graduated from the UK last year and have done my intern year and am just doing a year of general training in sydney australia.

i think it is easier you think to get into medschools in the UK and don't believe that the training is better in ireland, like most universities the onus is always on the students to learn rather than be spoon fed like schoolchildren and as a result it is what you make of it. I went to Uni in Nottingham which i would thoroughly recommend as it has a very good course and is a very nice place. Oxford has possibly the best reputation of all universities in the UK and may be tricky to get into depending on which college you apply to. London schools vary but Imperial College and University College there have the best reputations. But I have worked with doctors who have qualified from most universities in the Uk and there is generally an pretty good standard amongst all of them. The best thing you should do is to phone the admission tutors of the Universities and just ask them to be honest and what they think about mature (over 21) foreign students. I think you should have a pretty good response.


On the contrary what are the chances of UK grads getting residencies in the States. I keep hearing about Foreign grad friendly places - but where are these places. I actually want to do Ophthalmology and i understand this is pretty competitive. I need to know if i apply will i be banging my head against a brick wall.

If you need any more info let us know and if you would be able to answer any questions of mine i would also be grateful.


cheers


avs

[islandFEVER]

..........

[redshifteffectz]

Originally Posted by avs

i understand where you are coming from as i am trying to do what you are doing but the other way around. i graduated from the UK last year and have done my intern year and am just doing a year of general training in sydney australia.

i think it is easier you think to get into medschools in the UK and don't believe that the training is better in ireland, like most universities the onus is always on the students to learn rather than be spoon fed like schoolchildren and as a result it is what you make of it. I went to Uni in Nottingham which i would thoroughly recommend as it has a very good course and is a very nice place. Oxford has possibly the best reputation of all universities in the UK and may be tricky to get into depending on which college you apply to. London schools vary but Imperial College and University College there have the best reputations. But I have worked with doctors who have qualified from most universities in the Uk and there is generally an pretty good standard amongst all of them. The best thing you should do is to phone the admission tutors of the Universities and just ask them to be honest and what they think about mature (over 21) foreign students. I think you should have a pretty good response.


On the contrary what are the chances of UK grads getting residencies in the States. I keep hearing about Foreign grad friendly places - but where are these places. I actually want to do Ophthalmology and i understand this is pretty competitive. I need to know if i apply will i be banging my head against a brick wall.

If you need any more info let us know and if you would be able to answer any questions of mine i would also be grateful.


cheers


avs

avs,

couple of questions for ya...how hard was it for u to get your internship in Sydney? Which hospital are you at? Are you doing an opthamology internship?? Any info you have regarding internships in Australia would be greatly appreciated.

As for your question regarding Opthamology in the US that is definitely not a FMG friendly residency. I highly doubt that you will be able to get in without some high scores on the USMLE or some connections somewhere.

Best of luck mate,

RSE.

[avs]

it is very easy to get a job in sydney in a major centre if you apply early enough. Just don't expect them to want to keep you longer than a year or two. They have a shortage of juniors therfore are very happy to have you as an intern or early resident but to stay longer than that becomes very tricky. The major centres in Sydney include Royal North Shore Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, St Vincents and Royal Prince Alfred, all are big tertiary referral centres with good reputations. Just look up their numbers on the net and give them a call

I am doing a year incorporating, emergency, ICU, and surgery. Opthalmology posts are hard to come by as they are few and are filled by australians.

I am actually a US citizen that has trained and lived most of my life in the UK. With good USMLE Step 1 scores, an average step 2 score and a reasonable CV which would include some Ophthal research is it still impossible for me to get onto an ophthal residency post, please give me an honest opinion as like i said earlier i need to know if i will be banging my head against a brick wall.


cheers avs

[Rwl22]

As for your question regarding Opthamology in the US that is definitely not a FMG friendly residency. I highly doubt that you will be able to get in without some high scores on the USMLE or some connections somewhere.

Best of luck mate,

RSE.[/quote]

There was actually one guy from Saba who got an opthalmology residency last year. So it CAN be done. But He had to have had pretty sick scores.

[redshifteffectz]

Originally Posted by avs

it is very easy to get a job in sydney in a major centre if you apply early enough. Just don't expect them to want to keep you longer than a year or two. They have a shortage of juniors therfore are very happy to have you as an intern or early resident but to stay longer than that becomes very tricky. The major centres in Sydney include Royal North Shore Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, St Vincents and Royal Prince Alfred, all are big tertiary referral centres with good reputations. Just look up their numbers on the net and give them a call

I am doing a year incorporating, emergency, ICU, and surgery. Opthalmology posts are hard to come by as they are few and are filled by australians.

I am actually a US citizen that has trained and lived most of my life in the UK. With good USMLE Step 1 scores, an average step 2 score and a reasonable CV which would include some Ophthal research is it still impossible for me to get onto an ophthal residency post, please give me an honest opinion as like i said earlier i need to know if i will be banging my head against a brick wall.


cheers avs

In the US definitely you will be banging your head on the wall; a lot of US grads can't even get into ophto...which is why i'm coming to my next question. I have been told and seen many international students here applying for two year RMO contracts which I'm told virtually guarantees u a PR...can you shed some light on this?

Thanks.

[pitman]

Originally Posted by avs

Oxford has possibly the best reputation of all universities in the UK and may be tricky to get into depending on which college you apply to.

Best overall uni probably, but several Brit med student friends have told me the med school itself is not considered tops for UK. Not that any of them think it's bad, just not as good as, say, Cambridge or Edinburgh, and a few others. Of course Americans don't know that (and Cambridge I think still doesn't accept non-EU students, not sure about Edinburgh).

BTW Oxford on their site somewhere says they want a 3.5 in one of a list of acceptable biomedical degrees for int'l student.

I think the only advantage to doing an Atlantic Bridge school instead is that you'd get better USMLE prep help (if not at least b.c. you'd be surrounded by N. Americans to help you), although a disad. might be a slight stigma due to common perception they're 2nd Chance schools.

-pitman

[islandFEVER]

..........