International Medical Students

[TimothyKowal]

I have applied to a few US Medical Schools with a remarkable record(excellent GPA, recs., volunteer, extracurricular, etc.); however my verbal section of my MCAT was not substantial. With the possibility of not being excepted for that reason with extreme competition in the US medical school system, I have considered an international school, St. Georges University in Grenada. The reason for this is that I am certain of my future endeavors and do not wish to waste an entire year in the meantime if not excepted to a US school. What would you advise of this situation and what has been your take on US students attending international schools with the intention of returning for residency and practicing in the US? Also, what are any additional requirements of doing so? And do you personally have any feelings about SGU or any other non-US schools whether it be positive or negative?
Thank you,
Timothy

[rworkman]

Timothy,

I will go right to the bottom line… there is a stigma attached to US citizens who attend a Caribbean medical school. The fairness of such a stigma is a discussion for another day, but I can assure you that it exists. I would recommend that you readdress your candidacy as an applicant to US medical schools, deal with whatever deficiencies may be in your record, take what you’ve learned from your previous attempts, and try again. Only as a last resort would I recommend attending a school in the Caribbean. I do not say this because St. George’s and others like it are not good … rather simply to spare you from dealing with those who might look down on such a record. It could pose some difficulties when it comes time to enter a US residency program.

However, if you were to distinguish yourself while at St. George’s, for example, and graduate with very high honors – doing well on your USMLE examinations, etc., then you certainly could obtain a desirable US residency position. But, it would likely be a more difficult road to travel coming from a foreign medical school. As you can see, there are several aspects to this decision, and I encourage you to think very carefully about your future plans. If we can be of further, more specific, assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@admissionsconsultants.com
Best regards,

Ron Workman, MD
AdmissionsConsultants
(703) 242-5885

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