I wanted to share some of what I learned by reading Nilanjan Sen's "The Complete Guide to Foreign Medical Schools in Plain English and the foreign medical schools chapter of Kenneth Iserson's "Get Into Medical School: A Guide for the Perplexed (copies on reserve in the Anschutz Science library), and on my trip to Ross University on the Caribbean Island of Dominica (not the same thing as the Dominican Republic):
It's important to consider all of your options in the United States. If you haven't already done so, be sure to consider osteopathic medical schools -- for more information, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/medicine/medosteopathic.shtml.
It's relatively easy to gain admission to international medical schools, but there is a gap between the attrition rates international medical schools claim, and the rates reported by disgruntled students. I'm not sure who to believe, but it's fair to assume the attrition rates are much higher than those at U.S. medical schools. The marginal academic and test taking ability of many of the students, combined with an intensive medical education, the stress of living in a different culture and environment, and isolation from previous social supports, is a recipe for a high dropout rate. So, buyer beware! It would be a shame to go deeply in debt, just to dropout of a foreign medical school, and it can happen to you.
International medical schooling can be expensive. In addition to travel costs, students at Ross pay ~$14,000 per semester for tuition and fees, and they have an unusual 10 semester format for their education. The total cost of a medical education, including books, supplies, room & board, transportation and personal expenses, could easily reach $200,000. This would be much more than the cost of a medical education for an in-state resident at a state-subsidized U.S. medical school, but is on the same order as the cost of a medical education at a private U.S. medical school.
Like students at U.S. schools, those at international medical schools often need borrow money for their education. The students at some international schools are eligible for U.S. government subsidized loans, perhaps a factor in deciding between schools.
For those who plan to practice in the United States, the curriculum at Ross is arranged so that students spend their first 18 months of basic medical sciences at the Dominica campus, then do a semester in Florida, and complete their third and fourth year clerkships in the United States.
Graduates of international medical schools have to be Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (E.C.F.M.G.) certified, or complete a 5th Pathway Program, before entering a residency. Different states have different licensure requirements, and some have additional requirements for graduates of foreign medical schools.
Random observations about Ross University and Dominica:
The island of Dominica is strikingly beautiful: volcanic mountains, rivers, waterfalls and lush vegetation. It's the setting for many of the scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Although the brochure shows a beautiful, white sand beach, the beaches I saw were black sand with lots of black rocks. The ocean was still enjoyable -- there are a lot of snorkeling and diving opportunities. It's not, however, a tourist island.
It's hot and humid in November. I wonder what it's like in summer?
Dominica is an emerging country, and most of the people living there are relatively poor. Lots of shacks. It might be overwhelming, especially for someone who hadn't spent time in other countries.
Dominica used to be a British colony, so most people do speak English.
The roads are a little scary/exciting, narrow, winding, rising and falling, and close to the edge of large drop-offs.
In some ways, the facilities are very basic. Most of the classrooms are housed in pre-fabricated metal buildings. The chairs in some of the classrooms were folding chairs w/ attached desk tops, though some of lecture halls were a little fancier.
In some ways, the facilities are quite modern. The large lecture halls and the anatomy lab had television monitors for lecture demonstrations. There were lots of computers for students to use. The anatomy lab was adequately stocked with cadavers.
The library holdings seemed a little sparse, not a lot of books (and many copies of the same books), but students do have access to current medical journals.
The student body at Ross seems more ethnically diverse than at most U.S. medical schools, a positive.
The novelty of a tropical paradise seems to quickly fade. Several times, I heard students say they felt isolated, and that they didn't have much to do except study. This could be a positive, but it can also be stressful.
When I asked what they liked best about Ross, most students said something like, "It gives me a chance to become a doctor."
The education at Ross is more U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (U.S.M.L.E.) centric than education at U.S. schools. In their 5th semester in Florida, Kaplan instructors help prepare students for Step 1 of the U.S.M.L.E. Students at U.S. medical also prepare for this exam, but this preparation is usually not as formal a part of the curriculum.
Some of the students at Ross also seemed overly USMLE fixated, but it's very important for them to do well, as the school probably doesn't carry as much weight as U.S. medical schools for placement in competitive residencies. They claim high board passage rates and scores, but this is after many students have dropped out.
Most of the faculty I met at Ross were retired from positions at universities or other medical schools. Some were from the United States, but quite a few were from other countries. Most said they were here, because they sincerely enjoyed teaching. Most were not involved in ongoing research. The reviews from students were similar to comments from students at U.S. medical schools, they grumped about some of their professors, but liked most of them, and found the professors both demanding and helpful.
Ross University is educating/training a very large number of students. Their entering class sizes vary, averaging over 200. They begin three classes each year rather than the one per year at U.S. medical schools. Many international medical schools, e.g., St. George's, have a similar structure.
Given the structure of their semesters (3 per year), it is possible to complete the curriculum a little more quickly than at most U.S. medical schools. It's also possible to apply at any point during the year.
Most of the students I've worked with, who went to international medical schools, have been very eager to transfer back into U.S. medical schools. My sense is that many apply for transfer, but few are accepted.
Although graduates of international medical schools go into residencies in all specialty areas of medicine, they have a tougher time matching with residency programs in highly competitive specialty areas.
For some further information, an article I wrote with Dr. Robert Cannon has been posted on the NAAHP website at www.naahp.org/resources_ForeignMed_Article.htm.
This is only scratching the surface, but here are links to a few of the many international medical schools which cater to students from the United States:
In Australia:
In the Caribbean:
In Israel:
In Mexico:
In Poland:
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Paul J. Crosby Premedical Advisor pcrosby@ku.edu © 2008 The University of Kansas This file was updated 03/20/08 03:29 PM |