Privet vsem ruskoizichnim forumchanam!
About myself... I am originally from Moscow, Russia. I received B.A. with double major in Bio and Chem and right now finishing up a Ph.D. in Immunology in one of the midwestern states. Took MCAT and now applying to medical schools in the US. So far, had one interview and hopefully waiting for me. I applied late. I am also on www.studentdoctor.net forums.
I read a few thread and saw people are applying to medical school. All F1 and non-F1 students, please unite in this thread. Please, share your expriences. It is my 2nd time applying to MD program (I decided against DO) so if anyone has any questions, I am glad to asnwer them. It is rather a lengthy process but I am hoping for the best.
To everyone who is applying to MD or DO schools
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Volandai
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Klushka
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- Location: Moscow>TX
Hi,
Currently I am a grad student. I am in my 4th year and hope to graduate next May or August. My major is medicinal chemistry.
Just recently I realized I want to go to medicine. I looked up some info on appying to a med school. I am pretty sure I can do it academically (high GPA and close current field of study).
I am worried about my F-1 status though. I know my choice of med schools will be limited b/c I am not a citizen or green card holder. Also it is next to impossible to get a loan to cover all costs if you do not have a green card.
So, I guess my question is:
Should I even try?
Currently I am a grad student. I am in my 4th year and hope to graduate next May or August. My major is medicinal chemistry.
Just recently I realized I want to go to medicine. I looked up some info on appying to a med school. I am pretty sure I can do it academically (high GPA and close current field of study).
I am worried about my F-1 status though. I know my choice of med schools will be limited b/c I am not a citizen or green card holder. Also it is next to impossible to get a loan to cover all costs if you do not have a green card.
So, I guess my question is:
Should I even try?
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Volandai
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- Posts: 29
- Joined: 14 Jan 2007 03:43
You should apply if feel like medicine is what you want. There are loans available to intl students but you have to have good credit history. The number of accepted international students doubled last year, so I am hoping it will continue the trend. They accepted 187 intl. people in the whole US out of 1200 that apply last year. The years before that, it was under 90 intl. student in the whole country. I have to correct that this is number of matriculated students which is of course less than the number accepted.
Also, you have to consider that many big name schools: John hopkins, WashU and others like NYMC require to prey all 4 years of tuition. some even require to prepay living expenses as well.... I got a letter recently asking for $225,000 upfront before matriculation.
If you have good UNDERGRADUATE grades and MCAT, you should have no problem getting in. Just the problem of finding the money. Graduate degrees are important but to my pity, they do not carry as much weight as college grades.
So are you graduating in May of 2007 or 2008? Where did you do your undergrad? If you have any questions, let me know.
Also, you have to consider that many big name schools: John hopkins, WashU and others like NYMC require to prey all 4 years of tuition. some even require to prepay living expenses as well.... I got a letter recently asking for $225,000 upfront before matriculation.
If you have good UNDERGRADUATE grades and MCAT, you should have no problem getting in. Just the problem of finding the money. Graduate degrees are important but to my pity, they do not carry as much weight as college grades.
So are you graduating in May of 2007 or 2008? Where did you do your undergrad? If you have any questions, let me know.
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Klushka
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- Location: Moscow>TX
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Volandai
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Good undergrad 
I am not sure if you have done any US undergrad coursework. However, most of schools (maybe with exception of 1-2 schools like Harvard) require prerequisites (usually it is 2 semesters of Bio, Chem, Physics and English, with some variations) to be taken at U.S. accredited college. Preference is always given to people who earned a complete bac. degree in the states, you can just check school websites and they do mention this. Even if you apply to Harvard, then by the time they look at all US grads and one who completed the prereqs in the US, there wont be any seats left for foreign grads. That's just how things work.
It is an uphill battle at any case but I think you should complete prereqs in US before applying. You can call any med school and they will tell you this.
Why wont you take MCAT in april of 2007 and apply in summer of 2007 for 2008? Then by the time you get done with defense, it will be just right time for med school. That's what I am doing. That way, your MCAT study does not interfere with thesis writing.
I am not sure if you have done any US undergrad coursework. However, most of schools (maybe with exception of 1-2 schools like Harvard) require prerequisites (usually it is 2 semesters of Bio, Chem, Physics and English, with some variations) to be taken at U.S. accredited college. Preference is always given to people who earned a complete bac. degree in the states, you can just check school websites and they do mention this. Even if you apply to Harvard, then by the time they look at all US grads and one who completed the prereqs in the US, there wont be any seats left for foreign grads. That's just how things work.
It is an uphill battle at any case but I think you should complete prereqs in US before applying. You can call any med school and they will tell you this.
Why wont you take MCAT in april of 2007 and apply in summer of 2007 for 2008? Then by the time you get done with defense, it will be just right time for med school. That's what I am doing. That way, your MCAT study does not interfere with thesis writing.
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Klushka
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- Posts: 74
- Joined: 29 Sep 2003 17:10
- Location: Moscow>TX
About MCAT:
I think I will not be ready for it this April - this semester is pretty serious for me (departmental seminar to present and original research proposal to defend).
I am curious about how you tell your graduate advisor that you want to pursue a career in medicine. I did not take any undergrad courses in the US except biochemistry. I agree I should take some undergrad classes. The best way to take them would be now, while I am still a student (and I do not have to pay tuition). But I have to get a permission from my advisor which makes it difficult.
He might think that:
1) I really have to focus on lab work and other requirements of my program I have to fulfill;
2) doing additional coursework will distract me from my primary commitment.
So for now my plan is:
1) complete my proposal this semester and work really hard on my project
2) talk to my advisor about my future plans and ask him a permission to take some biology and english over the summer
3) take another semester of biology and english in the fall while preparing to MCAT
4) depending on the date of my graduation take MCAT either in April or August of 2008.
5) apply to a med school for 2009. This way I still can retake MCAT in April 2009 if my score is not good enough.
What did you do for your community service/volunteering?
I think I will not be ready for it this April - this semester is pretty serious for me (departmental seminar to present and original research proposal to defend).
I am curious about how you tell your graduate advisor that you want to pursue a career in medicine. I did not take any undergrad courses in the US except biochemistry. I agree I should take some undergrad classes. The best way to take them would be now, while I am still a student (and I do not have to pay tuition). But I have to get a permission from my advisor which makes it difficult.
He might think that:
1) I really have to focus on lab work and other requirements of my program I have to fulfill;
2) doing additional coursework will distract me from my primary commitment.
So for now my plan is:
1) complete my proposal this semester and work really hard on my project
2) talk to my advisor about my future plans and ask him a permission to take some biology and english over the summer
3) take another semester of biology and english in the fall while preparing to MCAT
4) depending on the date of my graduation take MCAT either in April or August of 2008.
5) apply to a med school for 2009. This way I still can retake MCAT in April 2009 if my score is not good enough.
What did you do for your community service/volunteering?
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Volandai
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- Posts: 29
- Joined: 14 Jan 2007 03:43
Usually, you get tuition remittance only if the classes are directly related to your research. Unless, you have a really good relationship with your department admistration, it is very likely you will have to pay for undergrad classes yourself. The classes should be pretty easy for you. The only thing is that labs take forever to do in all of the classes (2-3 hours of lab time per science class per week). Check schools you want to apply for fr their specific requirements. I counted about 50 or so schools accept international students, out of those there are some that require a degree completion in the US and some not.
If your advisor is an understanding person, there should not be a problem. The first thing you have to do is to start taking undergrad classes ASAP. You also might want to call up some specific schools and ask them about your particular issue. Meeting with admissions people face-to-face is also usually helpful.
If your advisor is an understanding person, there should not be a problem. The first thing you have to do is to start taking undergrad classes ASAP. You also might want to call up some specific schools and ask them about your particular issue. Meeting with admissions people face-to-face is also usually helpful.