Applying for premed.

[Striker900]

Hey all. Ive been living in England the past 6 years. Did my GCSE's and A-levels here. I was not able to apply for a medical school here due to there being a risk of me not getting accepted. If I didn't get accepted, I would have had to go back to my home country India because my visa was expiring. I applied for civil engineering in the University of Birmingham and got a place. Now, heres the situation. Ive done the first 4 months and am learning that my heart and sole is a yes-yes for medicine and a no-no for anything else.

My GCSE's (Not very impressive I know. I didn't know how to speak or write English too well in those days)

Maths - A*
Science - (Double award chem, phy and bio) - A* A*
Geography - A
English language - B
English literature - B
Music - B
Business Studies - C

A-level results

Chemistry - A
Physics - B (Unfortunately, off A by 3 marks)
Maths - B
And an AS-level in Biology - A

(I plan on taking the A-level in Biology now that I have dropped the engineering course)

I have been looking at American Universities the past two days. My problem is regarding Premed. I have not been able to find any university which specifically calls a course "premed". According to the Medicine requirements, I need a 1 year experience in 6 different fields. I hope this does not mean premed will last 6 years. I have also read about having a bachelors degree. Where can I find information on HOW TO APPLY FOR A PREMED COURSE?

How long is it? 3, 4, 6 years? Then the Medicine programme itself is 4 more years. Plus 4 years of residency. Since I am a foreigner, am i eligible to the pay the resident students get? What is the average resident student pay?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

[Scottish Chap]

Hey all. Ive been living in England the past 6 years. Did my GCSE's and A-levels here. I was not able to apply for a medical school here due to there being a risk of me not getting accepted. If I didn't get accepted, I would have had to go back to my home country India because my visa was expiring. I applied for civil engineering in the University of Birmingham and got a place. Now, heres the situation. Ive done the first 4 months and am learning that my heart and sole is a yes-yes for medicine and a no-no for anything else.

My GCSE's (Not very impressive I know. I didn't know how to speak or write English too well in those days)

Maths - A*
Science - (Double award chem, phy and bio) - A* A*
Geography - A
English language - B
English literature - B
Music - B
Business Studies - C

A-level results

Chemistry - A
Physics - B (Unfortunately, off A by 3 marks)
Maths - B
And an AS-level in Biology - A

(I plan on taking the A-level in Biology now that I have dropped the engineering course)

I have been looking at American Universities the past two days. My problem is regarding Premed. I have not been able to find any university which specifically calls a course "premed". According to the Medicine requirements, I need a 1 year experience in 6 different fields. I hope this does not mean premed will last 6 years. I have also read about having a bachelors degree. Where can I find information on HOW TO APPLY FOR A PREMED COURSE?

How long is it? 3, 4, 6 years? Then the Medicine programme itself is 4 more years. Plus 4 years of residency. Since I am a foreigner, am i eligible to the pay the resident students get? What is the average resident student pay?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

"Premed" is just a loose term for a premedical student--one that wants to enter medical school--who has to take medical school prerequisite courses as part of any degree. Really, you could be an English major, a biology major, or engineering major as long as you have taken the one full year of the following: general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, general biology. Some medical schools also have a mathematics or calculus requirement. Many also have an English prerequisite. Like any degree, a U.S. undergraduate degree with premedical requirements is usually completed in 4 years.

Why not apply to transfer into medicine in your current university? Many universities in the U.K. accept "internal" transfers. Also, can't you just submit another UCAS form while you're an an undergraduate on your current course?

Keep in mind that fewer international students (per capita, that is) successfully gain entry into American medical schools than in the U.K. In addition, there's a four-year undergraduate degree and the MCAT even before applying, and little financial assistance without a green card. As an international student, almost no state medical school will review the application; those that do charge 'full' out-of-state tuition. The private medical schools are your best bet. Tuition alone will be > 120K in most cases for 4 years of med school. Not to discourage you, but it's not a plan to embark on without some serious thought. Good luck.

[Striker900]

Thank you for your reply.

Really, you could be an English major, a biology major, or engineering major as long as you have taken the one full year of the following: general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, general biology. Some medical schools also have a mathematics or calculus requirement. Many also have an English prerequisite. Like any degree, a U.S. undergraduate degree with premedical requirements is usually completed in 4 years.

I'm a tad confused here sorry. Say I want to join a college for a premed course. Is it the colleges responsibility to do the one year in organic chemistry, physics, general biology, calculus and so on, while I'm actually doing a major in a particular subject like biology?

When applying for a degree, do I have to let the University know I am taking it as a "premed" course? Is it then the University which helps me achieve all the required "1 year experience in this n that"?

So alongside the actual degree, I will also be preparing myself for the requirements of medicine, correct?

Much apologies if I'm not making myself clear above. I hope you understand what my question is.

Why not apply to transfer into medicine in your current university? Many universities in the U.K. accept "internal" transfers. Also, can't you just submit another UCAS form while you're an an undergraduate on your current course?

According to the University requirements, my GCSE grades are no where near as good as they should be to join a medical university here.

Keep in mind that fewer international students (per capita, that is) successfully gain entry into American medical schools than in the U.K. In addition, there's a four-year undergraduate degree and the MCAT even before applying, and little financial assistance without a green card. As an international student, almost no state medical school will review the application; those that do charge 'full' out-of-state tuition. The private medical schools are your best bet. Tuition alone will be > 120K in most cases for 4 years of med school. Not to discourage you, but it's not a plan to embark on without some serious thought. Good luck.

By 120K i most certainly hope you are talking in American dollars and not the British Pound.

[Scottish Chap]

Thank you for your reply.




I'm a tad confused here sorry. Say I want to join a college for a premed course. Is it the colleges responsibility to do the one year in organic chemistry, physics, general biology, calculus and so on, while I'm actually doing a major in a particular subject like biology?

When applying for a degree, do I have to let the University know I am taking it as a "premed" course? Is it then the University which helps me achieve all the required "1 year experience in this n that"?

So alongside the actual degree, I will also be preparing myself for the requirements of medicine, correct?

Much apologies if I'm not making myself clear above. I hope you understand what my question is.





According to the University requirements, my GCSE grades are no where near as good as they should be to join a medical university here.



By 120K i most certainly hope you are talking in American dollars and not the British Pound.

No, it is the student's responsibility to select the premedical course requirements while they are doing ANY degree. By convention, most incoming college students on this track declare "premed", and they are appointed an advisory faculty member for guidance. It's no different from a British University. I'm not really sure what your other questions mean, sorry. It's pretty straightforward: go to college, do the appropriate courses, take the MCAT, do voluntary and/or paid work to gain meaningful contact with doctors, then apply to medical school. Again, the college provides guidance, but it's up to the student to be proactive about doing what needs to be done.

GCSEs generally can't be used in isolation for applying to U.S. colleges. You're going to have to take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test - check Google to pull up info. on it). Many people underachieve in early school exams--myself included--just do your best to maximize your time and study effort from this point forth. Also, be careful about listening to negative people who say you "can't" do something; you won't know until you try.

Yes, the 120K posted was in U.S. dollars. However, depending on the area the medical school is in, you'll need between $10K and $15 per year to live on too.

[Striker900]

Thank you very much for the reply. I'm definitely not someone who listens to the negative people. May sound weird but my own dad has said "I'm letting you go to the US and I'll even do my best to cover all the financial aspects of it, but i don't think you'll get into med". My only reply: "its worth trying".

I know about the SAT. Have been reading up about it and also have ordered a few books to help me prepare myself for the tests. I'm more than happy that GCSE's have no bearing on American colleges.

Also, ignore the question you didn't understand because you answered it for me in your reply! (with or without you knowing it!).

As for the fees, I am lucky to have parents earning a decent amount of money and my dad is willing to pay no more than 45,000 dollars a year. Hopefully that should be enough to cover all the expenses.

Thanx again for your reply.

[::Princess::]

So if the premed period is 4 years long how long is the medicine course after? another four years or five years?

[Scottish Chap]

So if the premed period is 4 years long how long is the medicine course after? another four years or five years?

With the exception of two 3-year medical courses in Canada, all traditional medical schools in North America run a 4-year medical degree for those in possession of an undergraduate degree.

[::Princess::]

Ok thanks so that is 8 years in total

I read a comment on another forum and this person was completing a dual degree programme...how does that work?does anyone have any info?

Edit i think it was MD and another degree...and it wasnt as long as 8 years i think it was like six years in total i think...

[Scottish Chap]

Ok thanks so that is 8 years in total

I read a comment on another forum and this person was completing a dual degree programme...how does that work?does anyone have any info?

Edit i think it was MD and another degree...and it wasnt as long as 8 years i think it was like six years in total i think...

The most common "dual degree" programmes are MD/PhD and those can take anything from 7-9 years - depending on luck and the institutional and departmental policies. Competition is fierce for those programmes because they are generally fully-funded, with stipend and medical insurance.

There are a few, scattered MD/MBA, MD/MPH, and MD/MS programmes that will take anything from 5-7 years.

There are a handful of 6-to-7-year medical programmes (BS/MD or some variation) after high school. Those involve taking two years of college credits (chemistry, biology, physics etc) then going straight to medical school. They are also competitive.

Search Google for specific information.

[dr. brown]

Who is pre-med school for and how long does it take?

I heard 30weeks, is that right?

''mind the name... I WANNA BECOME A DR ONE DAY''