Best Med School in England for a student wishing to practice in the USA?

[Randolf_Rolm1919]

I don't think there is one best medical school in england for a student wishing to practice in the US. We do different things, system is pretty different. I mean if I was really to advise then I'd say go to Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton, King's, Manchester, UCL and Imperial. Not because of anything but these uni's focus on science a lot and are famous world-wide, not because I think they are the best per se but maybe the US would appreciate them more over some others.

[Randolf_Rolm1919]

I meant one of those listed above, not all of them ..lol

[Gizmo says -]

if you're intervewer is a coldplay fan then ucl would be a good bet, and then you can tell im you lived wif that skinny bloke frontman you know, that one who ooos and moans a lot in his songs about not getting into oxbridge).

(coldplay went to ucl).

[TheHighRoad]

Hahaha as much of a fan of Chris Martin I am, UCL just isn't doing it for me ahaha.

Here's my question:

Which (course wise) is more close to the USMLE curriculum? Nottingham or KCL?

And as well, which would be better? They both have aspects going for them. Nottingham has a very science based course to help you prepare for your Year 3 Reasearch Semester while King's is arguably more reputable? Which would be better in your opinions?

[bshuker]

Just a thought regarding USMLE prior to med school:

Surely if you are that focussed on going to the US, why not just get the USMLE revision material and start learning it in your spare time straight away. If you already have an undergrad degree then you're surely competent enough to do some self-directed learning.

Not only would this help prepare you for the test in advance, but it would be dually-beneficial in that you would be covering topics that you will be taught on your medical degree.

I think this method would be a very good way of enhancing your learning at med school, and you'd have a fairly comprehensive understanding of everything on the USMLE when you take it.


Heck, if I get into a GEP next year I may just do this myself even if I don't end up trying to go to the US, if the USMLE is so much more comprehensive than what is taught here then it will only make me a better Doctor.

I think worrying about which course or school is 'best' to prepare you for the USMLE is incredibly lazy, if you are so concerned about preparing for the USMLE, then put the work in yourself!

[Scottish Chap]

Just a thought regarding USMLE prior to med school:

Surely if you are that focussed on going to the US, why not just get the USMLE revision material and start learning it in your spare time straight away. If you already have an undergrad degree then you're surely competent enough to do some self-directed learning.

Not only would this help prepare you for the test in advance, but it would be dually-beneficial in that you would be covering topics that you will be taught on your medical degree.

I think this method would be a very good way of enhancing your learning at med school, and you'd have a fairly comprehensive understanding of everything on the USMLE when you take it.


Heck, if I get into a GEP next year I may just do this myself even if I don't end up trying to go to the US, if the USMLE is so much more comprehensive than what is taught here then it will only make me a better Doctor.

I think worrying about which course or school is 'best' to prepare you for the USMLE is incredibly lazy, if you are so concerned about preparing for the USMLE, then put the work in yourself!

Whilst it's true that the USMLE is comprehensive, the level of detail and second- and third-order thinking under extreme time pressure mandates that a dedicated time for preparation with the exam being taken within several weeks of revision secures a better than passing score. The level of detail needed to do well quickly leaves you, I promise. There have been studies conducted that show only around 1/3 of U.S. physicians can still pass the Step 1 exam once they are in practice.

[bshuker]

Scottish Chap: I don't doubt the difficulty of the exam whatsoever! I wholeheartedly believe you are correct regarding the type of revision you suggest to be successful on Step 1.

But do you not agree that rather than spending time trying to pick the 'best' UK course to prepare for the test, one should spend time at least learning the basic sciences that they will inevitably require for both the medical degree and the USMLE?

I do think that yes, it is apparent that the more traditional courses with a more scientific focus in the first 2 years will be better preparation for the USMLE, and that maybe people who are aspiring to move to the US should perhaps apply to those courses over the modern PBL courses. However, I also think that if people are so focussed on doing the USMLE before they have even applied for medical school, then why not at least start to prepare for the test itself straight away. No doubt all prospective medics will have enough knowledge of the basic sciences from A-levels or their previous undergrad degree to at least make a start on the USMLE content.