Wicked Jester

There is a med school in London called St Christophers that does the academic portion of the course in London and then the clinical attachment in the US, think I'll drop them a line too.

Wicked Jester

Believe me it's not

Fig Newton

Just going by what I read.

Wicked Jester

OK

g1ant

<personal abuse edited out >

g1ant

You were just going by what you "thought" you read. You misread the meaning of his post. Why not say so.

Original post said:
"although I suppose the country ain't going anywhere"

Your interpretation = the US is going down the pan so why bother (bit too close to the truth for you maybe??)

Correct interpretation = if I stay in the UK and qualify, the US will still be there in six years time and I can think about moving then.

-

Pulaski

Do you have a suitable undergrad degree? ... If so I think that you'll find a degree in the US will be quicker to get than six years in the UK - with medicine being a post-grad degree here.

Wicked Jester

Yep, it's much of muchness really, the course for post grad entry is 4 years both sides of the pond. The big difference is tuition fees. I know from past enquiries, that the path to senior level (consultant UK = Attending US) is a year shorter in the US.

Fig Newton

Honest mistake; kind of like you first resorting to "personal abuse."

Elvira

The NHS pays the cost of studying to be a doctor in the UK.

So your plan is for British taxpayers to fund you and then bugger off to the US?

Nice one...

Wicked Jester

Well gee thank you for your worthwhile contribution, not.

Franklin

Just a thought (btw, best of British luck on meeting your goals) ... please note that I have no special expertize in migrating to the USA with a medical degree ... but my best friend in Chicago married a Swedish medical doctor. All I can say is that they had a very difficult time processing her green card or medical licence to practice in the USA (I will have to ask him which, might have been both) despite that fact they they got married and had children here in the USA. He ended up giving up his Chicago job so that he could be with his wife and kids - to get things sorted out she took up a medical doctor position in the Appalachians. Finally, she got sorted out and they moved back to Chicago. Apparently, the medical lobby here in the USA is very powerful and puts up a lot of blocks on non-USA medical doctors who desire to move to the USA and practice medicine. So it might be worthwhile doing your medical degree here in the USA because by the time you graduate you should be set up to take up US citizenship and it should be fairly free sailing from then on out. Just check up on this, do some due diligence/research. Again, best of British luck.

Ozzidoc

Im about to start yr 3 med school in the UK, aged 35. Once I've finished there, I plan to join my British partner in California.

On the info that you've provided, If I were you (yeah, I know that I'm not), I'd do a 4 yr course in the UK. At the same time, ensure that all of your learning objectives covered that required for the USMLE.

eg In UK med school we need to know the basics plus a bit more: "XYZ bug is an enterotoxin causing diarrhoea etc"

USMLE exam..."explain how XYZ causes diarrhoea? Answ...the toxin stimulates adenylate cyclase by ADP ribosylation of G protein thereby causing watery diaarhoea."

Presume that u know all about USMLE? If not, PM me. STRONGLY recommend FIRST AID FOR USMLE.

As for the people who say to u "the govt is funding you and you're going away?". They have a valid point. However, as of 1st yr med school, we were "working" already whenever on placement (taking histories, examining, saving the consultants etc time).

Furthermore, you've paid taxes for years haven't you? My med course/change in career is costing my nearly 1/2 million pounds in lost income/pension contribution. Ie dont feel guilty if u do want to leave the minute the course ends.

Best wishes

Muswell Hill

Hey there,
Sorry to burst the bubble, but the MCAT (medical college admissions test) is extraordinarily difficult. You cannot do it on line, and have to take a pencil and paper test, held only twice a year. It covers degree level chemistry, biology, physics, maths and english. Most of my friends who took it needed at least 4 months to prepare for it.

Oh, did I mention it takes close to 8 hours to take the MCAT? Seriously....

St. Christophers in London is not an accreditied medical school and you will not be accepted onto a residency in the US. Forget that idea.

As you know there are a number of 4 year "graduate entry programs" in the UK. You would have (in my opinion) most likelihood of getting into med school in the UK, providing you have a 2.1 or above and experience (which you do). Remember also most graduate med schools in the UK require some kind of entry exam, such as the GAMSAT, BMAT or MSAT.
As was posted earlier, you will also need to take the USMLE (US medical licensing exam) in order to practice in the US. You should do your residency in the US (at least 5 years) followed by a fellowship if you want to specialise in surgery, usually of 2-3 years.
Many foreign medical graduates work in the US, and if I were you, would go to med school in the UK, if medicine is what you really want.

Feel free to PM me with specific questions.

AdobePinon

The UK taxpayers paid for my first degree, and the US taxpayers my second degree. The Americans have had a much better return on their investment, and it's likely to stay that way. You do what you need to. Good luck.

BTW, Muswell Hill is not exaggerating about the MCAT - I've watched many people go through that.