International medical schools — such as the Ross University in Barbados and other accredited Caribbean institutions, as well as Mexico, Asia, and Australia — offer a way to fulfill your passion for medicine without waiting for places to be available in the home institutions. Going to a medical school abroad may sound appealing, but any applicant needs to weigh the pros and cons with help of a dissertation writing service. Here's a look at the possibilities and obstacles.
Pros of Attending International Medical Schools:
All favorable aspects of applying to foreign medical schools, particularly in the Caribbean, are less restrictive requirements, lower tuition costs, and possible U.S residency opportunities. Consider these considerations when finding out if medical school is the best choice for you abroad.
- Higher Acceptance Rates: Because of less stringent admission standards, many medical schools in the Caribbean admit a far higher percentage of applicants than schools in the US in part. The welcoming rates vary for schools outside the Caribbean.
- Broader Entry Requirements: GPAs and MCAT scores are usually lower than average for applicants for international medical school, making these programs a viable choice for those with lower scores to consider.
- Less Costly than Domestic Counterparts: International education cost is typically cheaper than American medical schools, which can ease the burden of student loans and financial stress faced by many medical students.
- Clinical Rotation Opportunities in The U.S: The first two years of basic science is done in many of the Caribbean schools on their campuses overseas, while clinical rotations are done in U.S hospitals; although your home school is still overseas, you have the benefit of having the same clinical exposure and opportunities as the home medical students at the hospitals. This is cited as a benefit by many past students while applying for U.S residences. Many medical schools abroad provide clinical rotation opportunities for U.S graduates, but typically more on a case-by-case basis.
Cons of Attending International Medical School:
While the beginning phase of going abroad to the medical school — such as applications and tuition fees — may be favorable, there are distinctions and possible issues, especially after graduation.
- Grading Systems: While many U.S medical schools use a grading system for Honors/Pass/Fail, many medical schools abroad use a conventional A–F system. You can believe that these precise grading systems may bring additional stress to an already competitive environment, and the job market and industry after graduation.
- New Environment: According to your perspective, this can be either a pro or a con. Keep in mind that politics, social norms, and the weather are also typically different.
- Matching Problems with U.S Residency: While many foreign medical graduates successfully fit residency programs across the U.S, they do so at slightly lower levels than their U.S graduate counterparts. However, several Caribbean schools say a large percentage of their graduates are finding positions outside the match.
- Additional Certifications: You will be required to take an additional examination, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), after graduating from an international medical school that is not required for domestic graduates. Furthermore, the procedure could be slower any time you apply for a state license or other credential because the documents must be collected from overseas countries.
- Less Favorable Perception: Patients and employers typically view international medical schools less positively. Some employers prefer hiring doctors who graduated from a medical school in the USA and they often conduct interview there.
Conclusion:
Your medical school choice will affect your potential career opportunities, so if you are considering applying to a foreign medical school, these advantages and disadvantages may help make your decision a little easier. Keep in mind that there are other ways of practicing medicine too. Whatever you decide, studying your choices carefully is crucial so that your direction is satisfying, tailored to your priorities and capabilities, and falls within your budget.