US or foreign med school?

[oltrepo]

Hello Everyone,

I am waiting on responses from 2 US med schools. Although I know it can go either way I want to ask if anyone feels that going to med school abroad or caribbean turned out to be a better choice for them.

I am a US and Italian citizen and the idea of traveling during clinicals and being in a multicultural enviornment appeals to me. I would like to travel and see medicine through a different perspective from the one that dominates the us healthcare system. Am I being foolish to choose foriegn over american or do some of you feel the same way?

thanks,

Ettore

[dt]

Originally Posted by oltrepo

Hello Everyone,

I am waiting on responses from 2 US med schools. Although I know it can go either way I want to ask if anyone feels that going to med school abroad or caribbean turned out to be a better choice for them.

I am a US and Italian citizen and the idea of traveling during clinicals and being in a multicultural enviornment appeals to me. I would like to travel and see medicine through a different perspective from the one that dominates the us healthcare system. Am I being foolish to choose foriegn over american or do some of you feel the same way?

thanks,

Ettore

Italian citizenship. Why not consider studying in Europe? With so many countries in the EU, you have quite a few schools you can apply to, and most likely can work anywhere in Europe.

[oltrepo]

I already looked into that, but unfortunatly to get EU status in many of the EEA countries you have to be a resident there for at least 3 years before paying EU rates. otherwise it would cost a lot more compounded by the lengtheir time to get the degree. (6-7 years.) Italy of course would be a logical choice but after visiting the University of Bologna I saw that the different system would be another challenge added to this journey that i would rather not consider at this point in my life.

I guess schools like AUC that allow you to do clinical in the UK would be a good balance between the two.

thanks for the adivce.

[WantMD]

If you are planning on coming back to the U.S. for licensure, a U.S. school is your safest bet.

A good second option is a school teaches in the a countries native language and whose program is geared toward education of doctors for their own country. i.e. Italian, French, German, Australian...etc... This option makes it easier/possible to licence in "difficult" states such as California.

The third good option is the "Top 3" caribbean schools : St. Georges, Ross and AUC. These schools have people licenced in all 50 states.

The fourth good option is other "good" carib. schools that are not in the top 3 such as SABA.

All of these options will get you to an M.D.

Here's my advice: IF you can get accepted to a stateside school, GO FOR IT!!! Travel on your own, explore the world later when you join "Dr.'s without borders".

I'm going to SABA, but if UCLA or USC calls, I'm changing my mind!!!

Good luck!

WantMD :-)

[stephew]

go us if you get in simply because you can then practice anywhere; not so if trained elsehwere- or at least do residency in the us.

[jguru2]

given the chance, u should consider US schools more than foreign schools

[redshifteffectz]

Originally Posted by stephew

go us if you get in simply because you can then practice anywhere; not so if trained elsehwere- or at least do residency in the us.

Actually that's not true. from what i've seen having a US degree can be a hinderance in certain countries. Esp. asian ones. and it's no breeze to practice in Australia and NZ with a US degree...bottom line get a degree where u think u will end up. it will avoid u a lot of hassle in the end

[GeorgeMD2B]

If you have a choice between a US med school or an international one, you're better off going to the US school, because there will be fewer barriers for you to practice medicine. Most people only go offshore if they didn't get into a US school. The next best alternative is a Canadian medical school if you don't get admission in the US. Medical training in Europe varies across the different countries there and there could be some difficulty adjusting to the US system when you return.