US Finance grad. want to go to UK for medical school

**UKUSUK** · 05-03-2009, 06:41 AM

Hello all,

I was born and raised in the UK and moved to the US at the age of 11. I'm now 23 and just finishing my Bachelors in Business Administration from a top 10 business program. I decided after a year or two of finance I wanted to be a doctor so have taken: Calculus 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and 2, Biology 1, Organic Chemistry 1. I also have research experience, volunteer experience (here and abroad), am on the board of an international NGO, leadership experience, and am an Academic All American D3 soccer player. My GPA, as calculated for medical schools here in the US, will be 3.5. My GPA on my transcript will be 3.67 or so. I scored 1520 (800 math) on the SATs and took a lot of APs in highschool (a 5 in chem. and a bunch of 4s).

I have several options at this point. I am considering doing a post- bac here for a year to finish my classes (Organic 2 and Biology 2) and study for the MCAT. But a big part of me wants to return to the UK for medical school. As such, I have few options:

1. Return and redo my A levels
2. Return and do an "access year" at somewhere like West Anglia
3. Just take the BMAT/UKCAT and apply next year

Obviously 3 would be the best, as it would be quick/inexpensive, but would I be competetive with my finance degree? I would like to go to a top 10 school, and preferably oxbridge, UCL, Imperial, or Kings. Another issue is my status as an international student. I would have to return for 3 years prior to even going to medical school to classify as a national student (rather than international) and avoid the crazy fees. I suppose I could go there for a year and then take the A levels for 2 years, but that will take a long time. My questions:

1. Would I be competetive as is at these top schools?

2. If not, would it be best to do A levels or an access course?

3. How and where would I do my A levels, and which ones should I do? Could I work while doing these?

4. Is it too late to apply to West Anglia? Would I be a good candidate?

5. In regard to West Anglia: How good is the program? How is it graded? Would I do the BMAT/UKCAT while there? How many people go on to top medical schools? How does it compare to the A levels?

6. How much studying do the BMAT/UKCAT take?

7. Would there be any sort of financial aid/scholarships available for me?

8. Depending on my path would I be able to apply to a graduate entry program, and am I looking at 4, 5, or 6 years of medical school?

9. I would love to keep playing soccer. Could I do this at uni. in the UK, and would it help my admissions at all?

10. Does being a national rather than international student give you a better chance of admission? The reason I ask is because on the admissions webpage of all the schools it says they determine your fee status (int'l vs. nat'l) after they have already admitted you. Wouldn't this mean they don't try to fill any sort of int'l quota, and just take the best applicants, worrying about whether or not they're int'l after they're already in?

11. Also, my father has lived in England for the past 12 years while I was in the US with my mother. The only break I took from education in that time was a semester off when I was 18, during which I moved back with my father and got a full time job in the UK. Additionally, I'm not a dual citizen but a full UK citizen. Could I make a case as a national student?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm making a lot of decisions right now and I really appreciate all the help!

Thanks again.

**giella** · 05-03-2009, 01:30 PM

Because your family maintained a residence in the UK, you may qualify as a national. It's worth contacting the universities to find out.
3.67 is a competitive GPA so you're OK there.
You don't need to study for the UKCAT as it's aptitude testing. You just need to practice. As for the BMAT? I'm about to find out, so I'll get back to you on that one.
It isn't too late to apply for West Anglia, although whether you would be the type of student they look at is another matter. You're sort of in a grey area. However, the access course is possibly worth doing in your case. The COWA programme has a very high success rate and is acceptable at nearly all the UK medical schools. It's highly respected, and you do an independent study project as well as studying the core sciences. You need to get 70% or higher in all modules to meet the standard offer made to access students.
There are pathways that you haven't even mentioned, such as GAMSAT entry to graduate programmes.
Universities do have places which are reserved for internationals, something like 10 or 20 places for the 5 year programmes and between 2 and 6 for 4 year programmes. That's a big guess and it's all dependent on the size of the programmes. I'm quite probably way off for most of them, as the GEPs have very limited places. You'll probably increase your chances by applying as a British national.
Anyway, it's not too late to apply to COWA, but you'll have to discuss with them whether or not you'd be a suitable candidate.
Can't really help with financial aid or anything. You might be eligible for a student loan however, as you haven't taken one out yet.

Sorry for the slight incoherence. I've got a few distractions here. Good luck to you though.

**UKUSUK** · 06-03-2009, 04:58 AM

Thanks for all of your advice. A couple more things.

What is the GAMSAT graduate entry program you mentioned?

Is there anyway to find out if you'll be a home or international student before you apply? It involves contacting individual universities?

Thanks

**giella** · 06-03-2009, 12:20 PM

If you have a national insurance number, then you should be able to apply as a home student. I think...

**mrdell** · 27-03-2009, 08:52 PM

I moved back from the US as well and I am thinking about going into medicine.

Depending on how well you have done on your degree, your best bet would be to apply on one of the graduate programs instead. I would continue studying your science courses and apply to take the GAMSAT exam instead. I personally think that would be a better option for you since you already are studying the sciences neccessary at college level. The access course science will be equivalent or even lower. Your better off spending your time getting some healthcare work experience instead.

Schools that accept graduates from any discipline:-

University of Newcastle
Peninsula school of medicine
University of Nottingham
University Of swansea
University of leicester

there may be more.

Where about from the states did you move back from???

Oh, by the way, you may still be classed as international student but I think there are ways around it.

**Cally** · 28-03-2009, 04:25 PM

I think you will be classed as overseas regardless, this is due to the 3 year thing I think. I know some people who have been in similar situations having moved with their kids abroad. As above, it's definitely worth checking your fee status with the uni. Some universities will let you pay home fees even if you should be paying int.- because it's up to them really, it def worth asking.

If i were you I would probably stay there, and move here for F1 if it's possible. Or train there and move here, do the PLAB etc, at least it gives you flexibility if you ever want to work in the US again and it may not be as expensive or time consuming.