When applying to a residency program, some may not require any USCE (United States Clinical Experience), but they may prioritize applicants who have it. Generally, they will open an account and ask you to transfer your funds to that account before school starts, so they can be sure you can afford the tuition. The amount of money required can vary from one year of tuition to the full amount. The funds will only be taken out of the account once you start school.
Having USCE on your ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) application can demonstrate to programs that you understand the pressures of the American medical environment, which is still relevant in the medical field. It also gives you the opportunity to obtain new letters of recommendation (LORs) from the Department of State and contacts in the American medical world. In other words, having USCE can give you an edge over other applicants. If you spend time doing clinical volunteer work, make sure it is meaningful and gives you the opportunity to learn and push your medical school application forward. For example, students who gain clinical experience working in disadvantaged areas tend to be more successful at being accepted to medical school.
International medical graduates (IMGs) should address the question of American clinical experience (USCE). Staying at a student shelter can help IMGs learn about medical schools and how it feels to be a student there. Does paid clinical experience count? Both paid and voluntary clinical experiences add value to your medical school application. The more you hear from other people talk about how and why they do what they do, and how they did it, the better you'll be able to tell your own story about where you come from and where you want to go. When applying to medical school, international students must prove that they can afford their medical education since they are not eligible for student loans. Heeding this advice, one international pre-medical student recommends considering studying secondary education as well. In any case, gaining insight into what medical school is like and how it feels to be a student there is invaluable.
We encourage students to choose the experience that gives them the best opportunity to observe healthcare in action and understand the medical profession.
