Pre-med students who choose to apply to international medical schools grow to achieve their career goals. As a student applying to international medical schools, you need to take multiple factors into consideration. If you familiarize yourself with these factors prior to beginning the application process, you can save yourself time and money. Combine such factors with your personal preferences to choose the best school for you. Read on to discover the top factors to consider for international medical schools.
Medical Specialties
Consider the medical specialties offered at each international medical school you are looking at. Most pre-med undergraduate students try to narrow down their preferred medical specialty options before applying to international medical schools. Certain places around the world could benefit you depending on the specialty you wish to pursue. If you choose to attend a school abroad that offers first-hand experience working with underserved citizens, you could gain substantial medical knowledge. This knowledge may be impossible to gain in the United States. Keep your intended medical specialty in mind when choosing an international medical school. Only then can you be sure that you can find the right fit for your career aspirations.
Residency Matching
Residency matching is also a factor to consider for international medical schools. The medical field is highly competitive, especially during school. For this reason, many medical students want to get into a competitive residency after they earn their medical degree. In doing so, they increase their future value as a doctor and get hired easily. Unfortunately, students who attend medical school abroad usually have a harder time getting accepted into competitive residencies. If you want to match into such a residency, contact your prospective international medical schools to find out their track record. Inquire about the rate of their students who match into competitive residencies. Then, you can narrow down your med school options.
School Accreditations
Another factor to consider when applying to international medical schools is accreditations. Students applying to U.S. degree programs typically do not have to worry about whether a medical school is accredited or not. In order for an institution to function as a medical school in the United States, they need to meet accreditation qualifications. On the other hand, international medical schools are not required to meet the same qualifications. Thus, many are not considered accredited institutes in the USA. If you want to practice medicine in the U.S. post-graduation, you need to ensure that the school you attend is accredited.
Additional Costs
Many students pay large bills when they attend domestic medical schools. The cost of living is cheaper in other countries around the globe. However, additional expenses add up quickly for students studying in medical school. On top of paying for tuition, med students also have to find places to live in the countries of their chosen schools. They cannot take advantage of living at home when they attend university. Instead, they have to pay for rent and all of the costs that come with it. Depending on your diet and your chosen school’s location, you may have to pay more for food overseas as well. Travel expenses also add up. Keep additional costs in mind when determining which international medical school is best for you.
Clinical Teaching Facilities
In addition to the above factors, look into the clinical teaching facilities at your international medical school options. Certain international medical schools maintain quality teaching facilities for their students. For example, at Saint James School of Medicine, “You can study your Clinical Sciences over five semesters at affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities in the US.” When students learn with the proper facilities, they obtain the same amount of knowledge that they would gain at a U.S. facility. If you learn how to perform medical procedures in an area that does not utilize the latest technology, your value decreases in the Unties States. After all, U.S. hospitals stay up-to-date on medical technology. If you cannot properly use the devices, you cannot succeed in your desired field. Hence, you need to research the clinical teaching facilities at each of your international medical school options.
While you can accomplish your career goals by attending an international medical school, there are numerous factors you need to consider. For instance, you need to ensure that your chosen school provides influential insight into your intended medical specialty. Look into how many students from each school match into competitive residencies. Only apply to accredited schools so you can work in the United States post-graduation. Calculate any additional costs to avoid creating a bad financial situation for yourself. Research each institution’s clinical teaching facilities to receive the best hands-on training. Consider these top factors for international medical schools before committing to a program.