Importance of pre-medical studies?

[callez]

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Hello, Ive recently had a change of heart. I was about to start studying law, mainly because of my parents. Now I feel medicine is something I always wanted to do. I wonder; how important are pre medical studies? such as chemistry, biology and physics, for understanding and getting out the most of your 6 year Md education?

Im now considering either studying these subjects for a year/half a year and then apply to Romania, or the other option; go to Romania this year without pre-medical studies.

What would you suggest?

[Aviv Imanuel]

Depends on the state you want to get licensed in. 50 STATES, maybe 50 different requirements. Some states DO require some kind of pre-med education, bachelors, 90 credits hours, etc.

Good luck

Originally Posted by callez

Hello, Ive recently had a change of heart. I was about to start studying law, mainly because of my parents. Now I feel medicine is something I always wanted to do. I wonder; how important are pre medical studies? such as chemistry, biology and physics, for understanding and getting out the most of your 6 year Md education?

Im now considering either studying these subjects for a year/half a year and then apply to Romania, or the other option; go to Romania this year without pre-medical studies.

What would you suggest?

[POPO]

Im now considering either studying these subjects for a year/half a year and then apply to Romania, or the other option; go to Romania this year without pre-medical studies.

I think it's unacceptable that someone study in health sciences without knowing the basics of chemistry, and of cell & molecular biology. IMAO you should know what a cell is before to study medicine, and you should have some knowledges in physiology too.

If you try to practice in the US, I think it's mandatory for certain states to have all the premed courses done. Anyway, wherever you'll be in the US, and for whathever - residency or licensure - don't forget that you will be in competition with others who have premed + bacc or master or PhD.

[Baseball2000]

interesting...

[devildoc8404]

If you are applying for a 6-year program, all they will likely require is that you've had some science classes in high school. You will get the full complement of pre-medical sciences in the first two years of the curriculum, so there would be no need to duplicate your efforts. You just need to be willing to study your tail off to learn the material, and be smart and mature enough to do so.

Graduates from European 6-year programs are eligible to practice in the States, and the determining factor for whether you match in the US for residency will NOT have anything to do with whether or not you have pre-med studies or a bachelor's degree from the US... or anywhere else. If that were the case, no European grads would ever match in the States, because they start med school out of high school over there! Rather, residency PDs will look at your performance in med school, your USMLE scores (!!), your letters of recommendation, any research you have done, and your interviews.

OK, a graduate degree might (MIGHT) make you a mildly more interesting candidate, depending on the program, but the fact is that most MDs do not have an additional MS/MA/MPH or a PhD coming out of medical school.

(Also, is there any particular reason you would choose Romania? There are a ton of options in E-Eu; I recommend looking at all of them before making your choice!)

[Tipton]

Romania? Why Romania?

The best European options for US students would be either a "national" medical school with all US approvals or an approved English-language program. Find a program with a good track record of students doing well on Step 1 and graduates gaining Residency in the US.

[jameslynton]

Originally Posted by callez

.....

Im now considering either studying these subjects for a year/half a year and then apply to Romania, or the other option; go to Romania this year without pre-medical studies.

What would you suggest?

Most of the people I know who are from Romania have no plans to ever go back there. Any medical school there would be in the cellar of schools I would recommend. Your best bet for medical schools are in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Germany/Austria. I would do pre-med in these countries. You want to make sure you are in a college or University with US, Canadian or UK/Euro accreditation only.

Currently, Romania rates just behind Nigeria in computer scams and bogus medical school scams. I would stay away from there unless you really enjoy being a victim.

[clover899]

hey im Romanian . But i was raised in CA.
Education in Romania is far more sophisticated then in the U.S. I know because my father is a top engineer in his company and did all his schooling in Romania. But I don't plan on doing my education there. I'm all american in my learning :/