BA then 4 year or 6 year after high school

[exoticorchids]

This is a question that goes out to all of you currently in med school, whether the 4 year or 6 year. WHy and how was it beneficial for you to get a BA degree and then apply for a foreign med school as opposed to go to one straight after high school. I think this topic will help alot of high school seniors make their decision.

[neilc]

it is better to get a BA and try to do well, so you don't have to go abroad....your first goa, without question, should be to get into the US. save offshore/international schools for a last resort.

[ASarz]

Had I known about the 6 year programs in Europe I might have applied as a high school senior. I had great grades and graduated top of my class. Looking back as an undergraduate senior I'm glad I didn't do it. Perhaps the most valuble thing you can get from an undergraduate education is to learn your faults (i.e., bad study habbits) and work on fixing them. I'm sure many 6 year students don't have any regrets but make sure you're ready to take on the challenge. The stakes are big since you don't have a college degree to fall back on

[mutig25]

it is better to get a BA and try to do well, so you don't have to go abroad....your first goa, without question, should be to get into the US. save offshore/international schools for a last resort.

I second that. No matter how you look at it, your options are limited as a graduate of a foreign medical school. If your goal is to practice in the U.S. follow the traditional route and apply to a medical school there after completing an undergraduate degree.

[neilc]

Had I known about the 6 year programs in Europe I might have applied as a high school senior. I had great grades and graduated top of my class. Looking back as an undergraduate senior I'm glad I didn't do it. Perhaps the most valuble thing you can get from an undergraduate education is to learn your faults (i.e., bad study habbits) and work on fixing them. I'm sure many 6 year students don't have any regrets but make sure you're ready to take on the challenge. The stakes are big since you don't have a college degree to fall back on

good point...my school has a high attrition rate....about 50%. but, those that leave for academic reasons (aka fail out) are nearly always the less prepared students. by that i mean US high school students (i know of one that did exceedingly well, but nearly all the rest fail out) and many young A-level students from the UK. it is a HUGE advantage to have some university under your belt for a few reasons. the reasons include: have developed study habits, the first uni experience should not be med school, as it is very demanding, first time away from home leads to parties and distractions, and many younger students have not had to work for their chance, and have not developed the desire to do well. if you don't really want to succeed, you won't

[m4ttjabz]

Neil (or anyone else for that matter),

can you elaborate on what you feel leads to the failing of most of the US HS graduates? is it poor study skills, lack of science background, being away from home? i'll be high school graduate as of June and will be attending the first faculty this fall. to be honest, i'm a bit uncertain as to what i'm getting myself into. i have taken university and community college courses while in high school and have done pretty well, but is Charles a lot more difficult? i realize students' hands aren't held and the nature of the educational system requires one to be independent and self-motivated, but what am i missing? i may be in denial, but i just can't see myself failing out after all of the time i will have invested... but i guess if i do, i'll just have an extended vacation in prague and will have to start at a US uni in the fall.

i fully understand the difficulty of coming back to states and practicing, but honestly i'm not sure if that's what i'll do. i'm leaving my options open and consider going to school in prague not so much a shortcut to save 2 years of schooling, but rather a cultural experience that will help define my life and allow me to better understand the world and its people a lot more than one who studies his entire career at a US university and does a semester abroad or spends a summer in europe. i know this sounds rediculous, i've had many people try to change my mind, but this is what i want to do.

i sincerely hope i don't regret going abroad for school... my second choice would have been to accept an Army ROTC scholarship but I've already refused it and I'd probably be just as likely to regret being forced to fight in the name of my country in war I disagree with.


any thoughts?

-matt

[neilc]

most of the high school students fail for the following reasons:
1) they really don't want to be hear, parents forced them
2) the study habits developed in high school are not enough for med school, so they are often not willing or able to get down to the work
3) they party way too much

however, one of the best students i know came here straight from high school, without any uni courses. it can be done. it is simply a matter of priority and focus.

you are in control of your fate when you get here. if you work hard, it will be no problem. if you don't, it will. so, take a good look in the mirror, and make the decision!

best of luck

[AMAZED]

I think its number three. The programs are meant for students right after highschool. I dont think its a bad idea to go to a foreign school after hs, you might be a bit in a disadvantage for residency but that can be overcome. Also you save money and time.

[exoticorchids]

now for my input. After 2 years of college i went to a 6 year program. I regret it. I'm american, and my way of thinking is america, not european. In america, college is designed so you learn more about yourself through the various social activities and classes. In europe the only social activity is partying and nothing more. In europe after h.s. you have to know what you want to do with your life. I'm glad I discovered that the 6 year program isnt for me. I am going to go back to America, get a degree and give the 4 year program a shot in the states, if ii dont get in, i'll go to another country.

There are quite a few people who do exceptionally well straight out of high school.. Yet there are others who need to take some extra time and go to college. I'd say go for the 6 year program, you learn about yourself in a different way then you do in college, and if it's not for you, well you gave it a shot and lived in another part of the world and experienced so much.

I'm very stubborn, i never listened to all the people telling me its not a good idea to go like right after high school. But you learn the value of american education and the increase love for your own country, becuase no other country compares to what you grew up in and love. I just had to experience foreign education to find out about it, I know many of you after high school will not even consider what the wiser people who are studyiing in europe are saying about going to college first, becuase I sure didn't. I had my mind made up. So, Good luck for those of you that take the 6 year path. I wish you succeed and make yourselves proud of the decisions that you have made.

[Miklos]

i sincerely hope i don't regret going abroad for school... my second choice would have been to accept an Army ROTC scholarship but I've already refused it and I'd probably be just as likely to regret being forced to fight in the name of my country in war I disagree with.


any thoughts?

-matt

Good choice. After all, how do you know that the next war won't be to your liking either?