Why go to North America for 8 years vs 4 1/2 for MBBS?

[snoopy99]

Hi, I have a question for a friend who is leaving for India in September to do an MBBS degree in Punjab? near ludiana? something like that

In Canada/US it takes 4 years for a B.Sc then 4 years for Med school for 8 years plus 2 years residency for 10 years for example

In India, he tells me that the entire program (which you go into right after high school) is 4 1/2 years. Then you do a 1 year residency in India, followed by a 1 year residency in Canada or the US.

Then he can practice as an MD in Canada for example easily where he is from.

my question.. why doesn't EVERYONE go to INDIA for an MBBS if they want to practice medicine? It is cheap as well relatively, and look at the TIME....
6 1/2 years vs 10 years total.. WOW

Can anyone give me insight on this? I have to tell him my thoughts before he leaves on if he should go for it. He finds out for sure soon if he is in, but chances are very high for acceptance.

feedback appreciated

EDIT: Also wanted to mention... You don't write the MCAT (saves you few months, wow), the interview does not matter for India so no pressure there, and you don't have to worry about undergrad marks to get in because its based on HS marks.

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[sunny123]

Hello snoopy,

Now your question as to why everyone doesn't go to India for their medical education...

1) If you just finished high school, then going abroad for your MD/MBBS makes sense, as you save yourself the time, money, and energy of going through the process of obtaining a Bachelors degree. It is cheaper to go to India for your MBBS, one of my aunties has been forcing the idea of going their for my education, because it is cheaper, but also I'd be close to family.

2) But, not everyone from highschool is mentally prepared for medical education that early, and of all places, heading over to India for their education. I see you are a UBC grad (British Columbia?), so I'm guessing both you and your friend are fellow Canucks? If so, you should know that the way we were taught our education is very different from the Indian educational system. This is one of the reasons I don't know if I'd be able to make it through their medical school. It's just the stories that I've heard that's made me feel weary of going.

3) Now coming back is a totally different issue. If he thinks he can just walk right back into Canada to practise, then he is truly mistaken. He will be considered a foreign medical graduate, regardless of the fact that he was born and brought up here in Canada. You'd have to write the licensing exams (the MCCQ Part 1 and 2), and then you'd be placed in the second round of CARMS (the residency matching agency). Unless your friend knows something about exploiting the number of FMG seats in Canada, I'd tell him to tell me... cause it's very hard to do this (ie. there are a lot of people writing the FMG exams, and the number of residency spots available are limited to only a few... I have one friend who was successfully able to get a a seat with UofToronto... he came from Pakistan, and wrote the exams here). Anyways... residency positions usually take a min. of 4-5 years to complete... unless it is in famliy practise, then you can pull that off in 2-3 years.

hope this helps

 

[maverick_pkg]

Hi, I have a question for a friend who is leaving for India in September to do an MBBS degree in Punjab? near ludiana? something like that

In Canada/US it takes 4 years for a B.Sc then 4 years for Med school for 8 years plus 2 years residency for 10 years for example

In India, he tells me that the entire program (which you go into right after high school) is 4 1/2 years. Then you do a 1 year residency in India, followed by a 1 year residency in Canada or the US.

Then he can practice as an MD in Canada for example easily where he is from.

my question.. why doesn't EVERYONE go to INDIA for an MBBS if they want to practice medicine? It is cheap as well relatively, and look at the TIME....
6 1/2 years vs 10 years total.. WOW

Can anyone give me insight on this? I have to tell him my thoughts before he leaves on if he should go for it. He finds out for sure soon if he is in, but chances are very high for acceptance.

feedback appreciated

EDIT: Also wanted to mention... You don't write the MCAT (saves you few months, wow), the interview does not matter for India so no pressure there, and you don't have to worry about undergrad marks to get in because its based on HS marks.

well dude. its not exactly 4 1/2 years. MBBS will be for 4.5 years. then 1 year compulsory internship making it 5.5 years. Then (at least for US) you need to have finished your internship by October - November and ECFMG certified which takes time in India - so another 6 months to 1 year making it 6-6.5 years. Then generally Indian med schools tend to get delayed by 6 months during the time span. So mean would be 7 years. Is 1 year worth the headache of not getting a residency of you choice later? Money may be a factor but then thats a personal decision

 

[Santiago]

my question.. why doesn't EVERYONE go to INDIA for an MBBS if they want to practice medicine? It is cheap as well relatively, and look at the TIME....
6 1/2 years vs 10 years total.. WOW

It all depends on whther you want to come back to US for your residency or not.

Its tough to land a competetive residency here in US after being labelled as an IMG.

Also, unless its one of the few good places in India, majority of the med colleges in India provide inferior med education compared to the US.

My limited experience here in US suggest that majority of the Indians based in US who go to India for their med education either could not get into the medical system here in US or wanted to take advantage of the cheaper education system in India.

If one wants to do residency in US, my advice would be to do med school here in US too.

Otoh, if yoy are bright and willing to slog, you will be a successs irrespective of wherever you did your med school.

 

[Santiago]

For Maverick,

Nowadays lots of people take the Usmel Steps during their 3rd and final years and then they come down during internship to take CS & step 3 and appear for interviews. That along with proper planning may cut down your total time since joining med school in India to starting residency here in US to 6 years.

 

[maverick_pkg]

For Maverick,

Nowadays lots of people take the Usmel Steps during their 3rd and final years and then they come down during internship to take CS & step 3 and appear for interviews. That along with proper planning may cut down your total time since joining med school in India to starting residency here in US to 6 years.

ya am doing the same. Still its taking that long.
5 yrs for med school
(batch got delayed by 6 months due to a court case)
1 yr for internship
will finish internship this August. Have given my USMLE steps.
so another waiting till next July to start residency.

u see what I mean. no option

 

[CaliAtenza]

me too doing the whole america to India MBBS thing . There are ways to get out of that internship in india deal though...from what ive been told, as an NRI or whatever, u only have to do 3 months in india, and the rest can be done somewhere else (like back home in the US). I know someone who did 9 months of internship in the US, and the required 3 back in india. So there are ways to do it. If you have connections, it HELPS...TRUST ME. If my batch doesnt get delayed, then i will be done in 4.5 years+3 months. Hey Maverick, what school are u at in india btw???

 

[maverick_pkg]

me too doing the whole america to India MBBS thing . There are ways to get out of that internship in india deal though...from what ive been told, as an NRI or whatever, u only have to do 3 months in india, and the rest can be done somewhere else (like back home in the US). I know someone who did 9 months of internship in the US, and the required 3 back in india. So there are ways to do it. If you have connections, it HELPS...TRUST ME. If my batch doesnt get delayed, then i will be done in 4.5 years+3 months. Hey Maverick, what school are u at in india btw???

hey hi Caliatenza am at manipal. u at which bangalore school?

well ya u would be done in 4.5 + 3 MONTHS but then add 9 months for internship etc. then ur internship will get over in february right. u cant appear for that years match. so u will have to wait 1.5 years to start residency i am having that problem. how r u finding bangalore

 

[snoopy99]

Ok Guys.

The School is DAYANAND MEDICAL CENTER or something like that in ludhiana.

He tells me that he starts in Sept 05 and he will be a MD within 6 1/2 years exactly.

4 1/2 MBBS, 1 year india, 1 year us residency. Is this information correct?

What is all this talk about being delayed? and finding a match?

Does it apply to this school? Is this the elite school in India?

Thanks

 

[CaliAtenza]

hey hi Caliatenza am at manipal. u at which bangalore school?

well ya u would be done in 4.5 + 3 MONTHS but then add 9 months for internship etc. then ur internship will get over in february right. u cant appear for that years match. so u will have to wait 1.5 years to start residency i am having that problem. how r u finding bangalore

Im gonna be at M.S Ramaiah here in blore..im a local kid anyways...so i'll be ok, i hope, lol. Hmmn...if the match process works that way...eeek, then it sucks...but i guess its all relative (a price we pay for comming here). Maybe i can use that extra year or whatever...to get more experience, or to take time off, delay my USLME's, or whatever....im sure i'll figure out something to keep me busy. I guess just look at it this way, we'll still be younger then most people comming out of US schools.

 

[Khan19]

Hi guys I have a question. Does the same process apply for BDS programs in India. I believe its a 4-year program and then 1 year house-job in India although I've heard its easier to return and work in the United States and Canada as BDS graduate then an MBBS from India. Any info on this would greatly be appreciated.

 

[Khan19]

Is there anyone who can answer my question??

 

[Khan19]

Is there anyone who can answer my question??

 

[gryffindor]

Is there anyone who can answer my question??

Yeah, go read the "International Dentist Forum" on this website and it will answer your question.

 

[rtvj]

for BDS..u need to do a 4 yr course plus 1 yr compulsory internship and then come to the US and write part 1 national dental board exam and then join in the 3rd yr of the regular DDS course.Its called Advanced standing.
Some schools like NYU expect u to join in the 2nd year and some schools require both part 1 and part 2 to be written before admission...

u cannot practice in the US with a BDS becos its not recognized here.

Is there anyone who can answer my question??

 

[sman15rulz]

Hi i am new here but i just found this site. I am going to go to Salem to Vinayaka Missions in September 2005 to start my journey to become a Doctor. I am going to do 4.5 years and 1 year internship. Some one said you can do part or most of your residency in US or Canada. I am from canada so i would really like that for example do 3 months there and do 9 months of residency in US or Canada. Can some give me more info on that as to how i may go upon doing that. Also do i "HAVE" to get MD before coming here to canada or u.s.a? If i do, are there advantages like skipping residency? I was thinking of coming after my MBBS program in 5.5 years and during this time do my first 2 steps of USMLE and come back to US to do the third part. I am still not sure of when the school is starting. At one point, they told me the starting date was possibly some time in first or second week of september and now they moved to to third or fourth week of august. SO now, i have to change my flight plans. Also, i was brought up in india in kerala for some tiime but for the past seven years, i was in canada. Of all the people that has gone back to study, how were u able to adjust? I have been back there for vacations. I loved it because better food was the main thing but also the weather. During my christmas break, it was freezing cold but it was fairly hot there but i was always glad that i could come back here to canada. I know it might be hard but i wanted to know some of your experiences. Thanks.

 

[sunny123]

Hi guys, I'm new here too...I need a lil bit of advice and info from all yall geniuses out there.

I am an Indian born settled in the US. Arizona to be exact. I am determined to become a doc. I have two options in front of me right now::

I can go to India and do 4 years of med school there and then what I hear is that I can come back here and do that 1 year of residency that I was supposed to be doing in India...and then I also hear I have to take both steps of the USMLE when I get back and do residency like the rest of my American med school graduate peers. (AM I right?)

Or I can just stay here and finish my bachelors in 3 years and go onto med school for 4 years and Then, do the residency...with a 120-150k loan hunting me down.

Both of them look okay to me...I've been thinking about this for about 3 months now and I just can't decide which one's better. Can somebody help me by giving you opinion maybe.

If you don't mind the Indian system of education, and will be prepared for it, then going to India should not be a problem at all. You will have loans no matter where you go, although if going to India, it will be significantly less than a N.American based education loan.

If you're looking for experiences, just search for them on this forum. I've read about other people's experiences and I don't know how I would manage, but everyone is different. All the best.

 

[sunny123]

Thanks Sunny! Mouachazz!*~*

De nada senorita

Don't stay confused

 

[jon stewart]

Hello,

I am new to this part of SDN, and i was wondering if some could explain to me this new thing about going to india for medicine, i was born in India, but i am livin in the U.S. I am an australian citizen however.

I know here in the U.S you go to med school for 4 years, then anywhere from 3-7 years for residency depending on what type of doc you want to be, and then maybe even a fellowship. So thats about 7-11 years of school right?

How does the 4.5 year thing work with india? is that just the time spent in the indian med school? Then where do you go to do your residency? Do you do the residency in the states? after doing the usmle? What happens when you come back here? Im lost,

Thanks for your help

 

[Seep101]

hey guys! i'm in h.s. right now in the u.s. and i am planning on going to india to become a doctor. My top choice is dmc in ludhiana but i meed info on what exactly they will look at when deciding whether or not to give me an nri seat. gpa? classes taken? sat scores? it would be nice if i could hear from people who have already had this same experience. thanks guys!!

 

[gwen]

oh lord, this topic has been beaten to death. it is NOT better to go to india for med school. just check some old threads.

 

[chicago13]

yeah this is getting ridiculous. just read some old posts.

if you live in the US and want to practice in the US, then go to school in the US.
having an mbbs and coming to america requires you to do an entire residency (not 1 year or whatever bs your friend is spitting out).

residencys are a minimum of 3 yrs (IM) and usually a lot longer depending on what you do. of course, with an mbbs you wont get into anything else besides FP or IM at a community program (not that theres anything wrong with that at all, im just saying dont even bother considereing surg, rads, optho, derm, or even a univ IM prog etc).

if something seems too good to be true, then it is. anyways goodluck

 

[Shah_Patel_PT]

yeah this is getting ridiculous. just read some old posts.

if you live in the US and want to practice in the US, then go to school in the US.
having an mbbs and coming to america requires you to do an entire residency (not 1 year or whatever bs your friend is spitting out).

residencys are a minimum of 3 yrs (IM) and usually a lot longer depending on what you do. of course, with an mbbs you wont get into anything else besides FP or IM at a community program (not that theres anything wrong with that at all, im just saying dont even bother considereing surg, rads, optho, derm, or even a univ IM prog etc).

if something seems too good to be true, then it is. anyways goodluck

Why do you say dont bother applying to specialties such as surgery and optho???

You are too pessimistic..I know IMGs with MBBS degrees who have got those specialties within the last 5 years.

It can be done!!!

 

[Seep101]

umm srry but i beg to differ..... i have 3 cousins that did exactly what i want to... born and raised in the u.s. and went to dmc for med school. One of them is a heart specialist and is even in a pioneer class in the U.S. Why do you say that it's not better than doing it in the U.S. ?? i'd rather not take any more english and history...

 

[gwen]

look, i'm NOT dissing indian med schools, they're great.

what i'm saying is that just because your cousins are amazing heart specialists does not mean that it will be easy for you to become one. it is tough, and i mean TOUGH, for FMGs to do well especially nowadays in this country. it was easier in the '80s for FMGs and maybe even in the early '90s.

if you're a freaking genius with tons of published papers and 7 years of research in your background, then ok, i guess i can see no problem. but then, by doing all that research, you're not exactly saving any years of schooling...which seems to be the goal of the posters.

yes, it CAN be done. but with lots of patience and time spent studying for boards and doing research. so if you want to work all those years doing research, then yes, you CAN do it. but if you want to save time, i would not suggest going to india to save time in one way and waste time coming back.

 

[Northerner]

umm srry but i beg to differ..... i have 3 cousins that did exactly what i want to... born and raised in the u.s. and went to dmc for med school. One of them is a heart specialist and is even in a pioneer class in the U.S. Why do you say that it's not better than doing it in the U.S. ?? i'd rather not take any more english and history...

The educational system used in the U.S. to prepare, select, and train future physicians has come about because we feel it's the best way to provide the best physicians. If you are so desperate to get into medicine on your own terms (without going to college and then to a U.S. medical school) then you must at least understand residency directors are likely to hold it against you. Further, it's a little unethical to take a spot in another country when you have no intention of practicing there. Medical schools seek to provide physicians for their country, for their citizens, not to provide a quicker, easier, route for foreigners to start practicing medicine earlier than they're supposed to in a different country. I'm sure indian medical schools are strong institutions. But the system is different.

 

[Delano]

Hello, I'm a medical intern form the Philippines. 25 years old. Just want to introduce myself. I'll be strating my internship this year probably. UK or Australia.I hope to make doctor friends from around the world. I hope to hear from you guys. Thank you.

Delano

 

[cool_vkb]

Then you do a 1 year residency in India, followed by a 1 year residency in Canada or the US.

Then he can practice as an MD in Canada for example easily where he is from.

my question.. why doesn't EVERYONE go to INDIA for an MBBS if they want to practice medicine? It is cheap as well relatively, and look at the TIME....
6 1/2 years vs 10 years total.. WOW

.

This is the most STUPID POST i ever saw. Is your friend high on drugs or what. 1 yr residency is USA. I know high school grads are ignorant but this is the limit of ignorance. If your friend is so interested in going to Med school and becoming a Doctor. What kind of a fool he is that he doenst even know there is only a 3yr residency in USA. 1yr residency ha ha ha! this is too much.

And do you think all ABCDs are fools that they dont go back. nearly 40% of IMGs fail to get in residency every year. Its not a cake walk.They end up driving cabs or working in gas stations.

And dont even think of higher end residencies if you are a IMG. And IMG coming to back to Canada is like a deer coming to a tiger's mouth. Canada is known for its hardest requirements to IMGs. Most of IMGs end up in primary care. and those who end up in higher end specialities are hard working students. A student who runs away thinking he has to write MCAT. I doubt wat he will score in USMLE. To get in speciality programs you need a stellar USMLE score. average USMLE scores will be of no use. where as for American grads, even if you have average scores you still can match in good residencies.

Really dude if you are seriously interested in med school. then common atleast do some basic research on google before you post. 1 yr residency! tats ridiculous.

 

[cool_vkb]

Why do you say dont bother applying to specialties such as surgery and optho???

You are too pessimistic..I know IMGs with MBBS degrees who have got those specialties within the last 5 years.

It can be done!!!

Yeah it can be done only if IMGs have great USMLE scores and good students.

Not from high school students running away like chickens to manipal or punjab to avoid Interviews and MCAT exams or to have a GPA of 3.8. Seriously, if a guy buys his way to med school. what makes you think he will end up in ortho or surgery residency.

Those IMGs who are doing speicality residencies are of a different caliber. they are hardworking students who struggled their way to med school. A meritious student is accepted everywhere.

We are just talking about these high school chickens.

 

[Seep101]

Yeah it can be done only if IMGs have great USMLE scores and good students.

Not from high school students running away like chickens to manipal or punjab to avoid Interviews and MCAT exams or to have a GPA of 3.8. Seriously, if a guy buys his way to med school. what makes you think he will end up in ortho or surgery residency.

Those IMGs who are doing speicality residencies are of a different caliber. they are hardworking students who struggled their way to med school. A meritious student is accepted everywhere.

We are just talking about these high school chickens.

Goodness. kay let's stop bagging on the hs kids yeah? lol cause i'm one of them. but yeah i'm not trying to run away from interviews and tests? i've got a 4.6 gpa so brains is not an issue. my main thing is saving time... personally doing ur b.s. here seems a waste if i'm not planning on doing anything else other than becoming a doctor. but yeah i have heard that it's harder in canada because my cousin in canada is going to stay in canada to become a doctor because of how they look at people that have gotten their degree elsewhere. but i'm from the u.s. and LOTS of people do it here.

 

[gwen]

um, i'm glad you have a 4.6 gpa. but that's not going to help you get a residency in the USA if you come back from a med school in india. you'll have to wait around until someone decides to pick you up, do research or do externships. if your board scores (you have to take 3 of them during your indian med school or right after...that will take a year minimum) are phenomenal, then, yes, you can get into a decent program (most likely IM, psych, or FP) - but there is no guarantee of that...EVEN if you have a 4.6 gpa in high school - that don't mean $*it when you're in med school so get off your high school high horse. any other specialty, seriously dream on. even US grads have trouble. i'm not saying that its fair to treat FMGs that way, but that's reality (and its not just canada...the usa is the same way...i don't care how many people you have seen do it...its tough). you will NOT save time by going to india...only get harder work and longer time to wait. and prejudice.

 

[cool_vkb]

personally doing ur b.s. here seems a waste if i'm not planning on doing anything else other than becoming a doctor.

Dude no offense but you have to stop this mentality.India and british systems have a very very different high school curriculum. Those curriculums are designed essentially to make students capable of starting med school right after high school. American education system is not designed in that way. here you became more capable after BS or BA or 90 credits. Every country has their rules and their laws. Since you stay here and attend US high school and get benefits of this great nation and you might probably be a US citizen then You should follow US way of education system. nearly 100000 US kids follow this way. now you dont wanna say all those who went to Med schools and did their BS are fools. do you! So being an american follow the american way not indian way. Leave the Indian way for indian high school kids.

Plus:

Indian med school is 6 yrs approx

A decent hardworking US Student can complete his premed and Med school also in about 6-7yrs.

so if someone is running away from this country by excuse of saying iam saving time. then it is completely BULL crap!!! People just run to india only and only because they dont have the capacity or worthness to be accepted in US med school.

But those Indian students who come here on J1 visas and other stuff are not like that. they didnt paid Rs 30 lakh. They essentially did hard work to join med school. They wrote Indian entrance exams and joined Med schools. Now are you going to do the same thing. No Sir! what are you going to do. You are going to ask your dad to write you a $60000-$70000 check and buy your seat in some medical college. So no way you will ever match the caliber of those true hardworking Indian Educated Medical students who have made Indian education system proud over years.

 

[gwen]

oh also, if you're so smart with your 4.6 gpa , why haven't you bothered applying to bs/md programs in the usa? they are 6 years long...that's what i did.

 

[chicago13]

goodluck with that 4.6 which means nothing. get over yourself.

the reason any of you are looking into india, is because your NO WAY near qualified for a combined md/bs program that generally take some of the brightest students. your definitely not one of them if your searching around for indian programs.

your simply trying to buy your degree and its not going to work

additionally, somebody else posted that its unethical to go to another country to study medicine and take away spots only to bolt the second you can to another. if thats your desire, stay out of medicine cuz thats not what its about.

you guys are 17. whats your rush? medicine takes years and years of work. if your already trying to look for a way around the mcat and your fake excuse that college takes 4 years and you somehow are above that, then you will never make it as med student, intern, resident, attending. start looking up other careers cuz this one will beat you down real fast.

 

[cool_vkb]

you guys are 17. whats your rush? medicine takes years and years of work. if your already trying to look for a way around the mcat and your fake excuse that college takes 4 years and you somehow are above that.

well stated man!

These guys are nothing but bloody chickens who cant face real world. They always run away from hard work. I doubt they even can get a score in SAT or ACT. They are nothing but big Zeroes.

 

[cool_vkb]

you guys are 17. whats your rush? medicine takes years and years of work. if your already trying to look for a way around the mcat and your fake excuse that college takes 4 years and you somehow are above that.

well stated man!

These guys are nothing but bloody chickens who cant face real world. They always run away from hard work. I doubt they even can get a score in SAT or ACT. They are nothing but big Zeroes.

if they have Guts, why not write the UICs Guranteed Pre-proffesional program. Which is 6yrs (premed + Med school). get an ACT score of above 28 and you are in. Its that simple. but can these buffoons get these.

they are nothing but big big big zeroes.

 

[Seep101]

kay guys i'm sorry if i came off as thinking that i'm above the studies here.... i'm not implying that... i'm not saying i'm oh so smart... i'm just hardworking when it comes down to it... theres prolly lots and lots of ppl smarter...

see i'm open to either here OR india... i'm just trying to decide which one... so i want to find out the extremes of both... i didnt' mean to offend anyone by saying that the 4 years seem a waste.... i have plenty of relatives doing it here... but i do know ppl doing it in india too... that's why i'm just trying to figure WHY everyone seems to be going there more and more. guys... i'm not trying to run away from tests goodness... but the bs/md program sounds good... i looked into that but i've heard many people drop?

-Seep

 

[cool_vkb]

but i do know ppl doing it in india too... that's why i'm just trying to figure WHY everyone seems to be going there more and more. guys... i'm not trying to run away from tests goodness... but the bs/md program sounds good... i looked into that but i've heard many people drop?

-Seep

All average *****s choose the easy way. thats why they go to india. But later they end up only in low level residencies (with few exceptions).

And people dropping out from BS/MD program. then what can one say. they are really challenging.

 

[gwen]

you know the people who dropped out of my bs/md program (there were 3 who dropped out of 25 from my program) - they were being forced to do medicine by their parents (that is the stupidest thing anyone could EVER do...what are we in the 12th century?). one of them was also "smart" (as could be seen by his high school gpa and SAT scores) but he had no work ethic and got himself kicked out for being lazy. he probably needed regular college to mature. i don't recommend a bs/md program unless you are mature beyond your years and 99.9% sure about medicine...which is certainly difficult to know at the age of 17. having said that, i am very glad i took that path though.

 

[Seep101]

okay so i was also talking to a friend of mine about these 6 year programs and she said that they aren't as recognized as let's say ucla or usd? since many of you have experience and have gone through the process i wanted your opinion of this? personally i think that if you are getting an "md" after your name i doubt it matters if you did it in 6 or 10? but then again i dont' know exactly what is looked for when determining the status of a doctor...

also i asked her about the whole "india" deal and she said that in india you recieve a mbbs... which as i understood is a bachlor of surgery and medicine. does this mean that you will not be given the title of a U.S. doctor? or rather.. does this mean that you would have to come back here and take MORE courses in addition to your residency in order to be looked upon as being of the same level as an md? and also if a mbbs is a "bachlor" then by default are they less educated because an md is a post-grduate degree?

-Seep

 

[Moniker]

okay so i was also talking to a friend of mine about these 6 year programs and she said that they aren't as recognized as let's say ucla or usd? since many of you have experience and have gone through the process i wanted your opinion of this? personally i think that if you are getting an "md" after your name i doubt it matters if you did it in 6 or 10? but then again i dont' know exactly what is looked for when determining the status of a doctor...

You're sort of spouting off a lot of things that don't really check out.

Someone brought up 6 year combined college medical school programs where you are receive your BS & MD after 6 years. That is compared to the regular route, which would be a BS & MD after 4 years of college + 4 years of medical school = 8 years. So your post-highschool schooling alone would be either 6 or 8 years, not 6 vs. 10. And you're right - it doesn't really matter how fast or slow you do it in. Although the trend these days is to add things to your education, prolonging it and giving you a chance to do research, extra degrees, etc. (e.g. MPH, MBA, M.S.)

Now, residency is the training that comes after medical school, where you're a newly minted MD learning how to practice your specialty of choice. Your residency can be anywhere from 2 years to ~7 years. Fellowships are additional residency training you opt for. For example, if you want to do pediatric neurology, you do a neurology residency, and then a pediatric neurology fellowship, adding another year or so to your training. So I guess you can generalize and say you'd spend 2 years in residency, but that's for a limited number of fields.

The problem is, you're obviously hung up on the status issue, but again - not in a consistent way. You want to all the way around the world to a 3rd world country in order to get your medical degree (which may or may not hold any water here in the U.S. in trying to get a residency) faster? Why? Do you think people will respect you more if you're "young for a doctor"? And when you are told about ways to do your medical degree here in a combined program, for example at Brown, an ivy league school, you say they're regarded as "not as well recognized" as UC schools? Honestly. Do your homework. Get your priorities straight.

The answer to your question is yes - combined degree programs are just as well respected. Subtle differences in respect for your education will emerge no matter what - whether you go to UC - Davis vs. UCLA, Duke vs. UNC, UPenn vs. Drexel. However, pretty much all of them will be considered stronger in residency selection than someone from overseas. But, if it'll please your parents, might as well throw your life away....

 

[gwen]

you're right that most 6 year programs are not as well recognized as harvard med or hopkins. there are certainly very well recognized 7-8 year programs at northwestern or brown, etc. but then you have to be ready to dish out that kind of cash as well and have those types of scores in high school. i certainly did not want to overwhelm my parents with that kind of debt nor did i want to have crazy debt myself. i had gotten into case western's 8 year pre proff. scholars program (but did not want to spend $33K minimum a year for 8 years). i chose to do a state bs/md program which was much more reasonably priced and still had graduates going to great residencies.

if you have an inkling of your personality (which, again, is hard to know at age 17), you may know if you're a plastic surgery kind of person or derm or internal medicine. i knew i did not want to become some famous cardiologist (even though my school produced those kinds as well)...so i did not need some big name to get me into those types of residencies.

besides, if you're smart enough, you will make yourself known no matter which US med school you go to.

having said that, there is something special about going to the big name schools...they push you higher b/c of their name. if you can afford it, i would say go for it.

so in summary - if you're having trouble getting over the "status" (in view of americans and snobby indian families) of 6 year programs...honey, what do you now think about getting an MBBS from india? you should be more worried about that.

 

[Seep101]

you're right that most 6 year programs are not as well recognized as harvard med or hopkins. there are certainly very well recognized 7-8 year programs at northwestern or brown, etc. but then you have to be ready to dish out that kind of cash as well and have those types of scores in high school. i certainly did not want to overwhelm my parents with that kind of debt nor did i want to have crazy debt myself. i had gotten into case western's 8 year pre proff. scholars program (but did not want to spend $33K minimum a year for 8 years). i chose to do a state bs/md program which was much more reasonably priced and still had graduates going to great residencies.

if you have an inkling of your personality (which, again, is hard to know at age 17), you may know if you're a plastic surgery kind of person or derm or internal medicine. i knew i did not want to become some famous cardiologist (even though my school produced those kinds as well)...so i did not need some big name to get me into those types of residencies.

besides, if you're smart enough, you will make yourself known no matter which US med school you go to.

having said that, there is something special about going to the big name schools...they push you higher b/c of their name. if you can afford it, i would say go for it.

so in summary - if you're having trouble getting over the "status" (in view of americans and snobby indian families) of 6 year programs...honey, what do you now think about getting an MBBS from india? you should be more worried about that.

Thanks for the briefing on the 6 year programs... it's real confusing to get info from people who don't have first hand experience...

but i relize i haven't mentioned the financial issue before and this is probably why many of you assumed i wanted to go to india in order to dodge tests or to save years. The thing is... my parents can only pay so much if i go to school here... and for the rest i will have to pick up loans ...because definitely i don't want my parents to be under that much streee...

and that's one of the main reasons why my parents want me to go to india... because they can entirely pay for my education there and so when i am done with my studies i will not have to worry about the money issue. I'm sorry for being so ignorant... but if you could please let me know how much the 6 year programs cost? because if it is not too much more than the rate in india.. then i believe from what i have heard from everyone here (thank you very much for your input) that it is better for me to study in the states. after seeing how my guy cousin (a different one) struggled after becoming a bone specialist to pay off his loans, my mother's main argument is that i will be debt-free once i am out of college.

-Seep

 

[ashvash]

Goodness. kay let's stop bagging on the hs kids yeah? lol cause i'm one of them. but yeah i'm not trying to run away from interviews and tests? i've got a 4.6 gpa so brains is not an issue. my main thing is saving time... personally doing ur b.s. here seems a waste if i'm not planning on doing anything else other than becoming a doctor. but yeah i have heard that it's harder in canada because my cousin in canada is going to stay in canada to become a doctor because of how they look at people that have gotten their degree elsewhere. but i'm from the u.s. and LOTS of people do it here.

4.6 gpa?? where the **** are you from
it's been a while since i was in HS but last i checked, gpa's only go up to 4.0 max.
wow..

 

[hbdoctor99]

Hi, I am a foreign med graduate now in USA. The total duration would be as I understand and as I did:

After grade 12:
4 1/2 years of MBBS
1 year of internship
-----
Thus after 5 1/2 years you get MBBS
Now do 3 years of residency in USA/ Canada to be Board eligible in theat specialty ( I donot know if one can start [ractising medicine after 1 year of residency as you mentioned!!)
---
This make a total of 8 1/2 years of med education.

 

[Seep101]

4.6 gpa?? where the **** are you from
it's been a while since i was in HS but last i checked, gpa's only go up to 4.0 max.
wow..

Um yes... i don't know how long ago you were in high school... but now you can get more than a 4.0. And i'm from the U.S.... California?

 

[Shah_Patel_PT]

4.6 gpa?? where the **** are you from
it's been a while since i was in HS but last i checked, gpa's only go up to 4.0 max.
wow..

I think you prolly went to a foreign high school.

 

[gwen]

um yeah, wakey, wakey. AP classes, some honors classes, IB classes all get you 4.5 to 5.0 gpas.

4.6 gpa?? where the **** are you from
it's been a while since i was in HS but last i checked, gpa's only go up to 4.0 max.
wow..

 

[gwen]

are you asking a question or making a statement?

let me break it down:
USA
4 years undergrad (unless you do an accelerated program, then it can be 2-3)
4 years med school
3 years (minimum) up to 5 years of residency (it depends on your specialty and then if you decide to do a fellowship, its 1-3 years more)

INDIA:
5.5 years of Medschool/Internship
Arrive to USA and prepare for boards (unless you took care of that in India, for which you still need to take time off to study) - 1-2 years
Search for Residency - 1 year
Do residency (again 3-6 years range) then possibly fellowship (1-2 3 years)

So really, there's no big difference in "years". But there is a difference in the kind of residency you can get as an FMG. Figure it out for yourself.

Hi, I am a foreign med graduate now in USA. The total duration would be as I understand and as I did:

After grade 12:
4 1/2 years of MBBS
1 year of internship
-----
Thus after 5 1/2 years you get MBBS
Now do 3 years of residency in USA/ Canada to be Board eligible in theat specialty ( I donot know if one can start [ractising medicine after 1 year of residency as you mentioned!!)
---
This make a total of 8 1/2 years of med education.

 

[sga430]

consider taking usmles and also danger of not matching also danger of not getting a speciality of ur choice. GO TO THE US!!! SCREW THE PROMISE OF A 5 YEAR MCDEGREE!! DO IT PROPERLY!!

right now i am in poland living in a med school dorm. if u wanna save time go to poland in 6 years. u will have more fun here and also it is safer. there r tons of NRIs. however u may not be able to get a cali letter.

go to us for 4 years. if u dont get in. go to poland or carribean. well worth the risk. who knows how competive it will get in us for imgs. also outside psych, fp and IM it is even tougher. also if u want cards or gastro forget about it the moment u go to india.

be smart. go to the usa. screw the promise of saving 2 years.