Are you considering studying medicine in the United States as an international student? Many students from abroad dream of attending one of the many world-renowned medical schools in the US. Although it may be rare, there are a few medical schools that accept international students. Before you start your application process, it is important to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. You can check your eligibility by researching the specific requirements of the target school.
For example, some foreign documentation (transcripts, courses, diplomas, etc.) may need to be approved by an accredited institution. If this is the case, your target school will have information on its website or on the AMCAS website to tell you how to validate your documentation. Your eligibility may depend on the approval of your documents, so don't skip this step. The medical school to which you apply as an international student will require academic transcripts.
AMCAS does not accept international transcripts or verify courses that have not been accredited by a US institution. If your transcripts are from an international school, you must follow the instructions on the AMCAS website to enter the courses and request the transcripts. For more information on how to do this, visit the AMCAS website. You may have federal financial aid available to you as an international student.
To check if you qualify for federal student aid, you can visit the Federal Student Aid website. It is important to consider the different eligibility criteria for non-US individuals. Institutional loans and scholarships may be available to you through your medical school. Most international students access funding through their school or private loans.
Check your target school's websites for news about their international student scholarships and funding opportunities. You must identify your citizenship or visa status on your medical school application. If you are not a US citizen, a student visa is required to study in the US. Make sure your target schools are approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) before applying.
For more information on how to obtain a student visa, visit the US Department of State Student Visa Page. Medical schools require a good knowledge of English. If your first language is not English, you must indicate this in your AMCAS application. Most schools will request an English language proficiency test as part of their application.
Be sure to take this test seriously and prepare thoroughly for it in order to get a high score and improve your chances of admission. See this list for more information about taking the MCAT exam as an international student. Because courses and curricula differ from country to country, admissions committees must verify that you have completed the appropriate prerequisites. You can choose to complete additional requirements in a US institution.
Another option is for courses from an international institution to be accepted by a US or Canadian college or university where you get your degree. If you took your courses in an accredited US school, this won't be a problem. To be accepted by a US medical school, you'll need to demonstrate English language proficiency. You can usually do this by getting a satisfactory score on the TOEFL test.
You'll need to justify your plan to attend medical school in the US instead of in your home country. Get ready to explain your decision. Perhaps there are more resources and opportunities in the US Whatever the reason, have a valid, well-established argument to present. Unfortunately, financial aid is harder to get as an international student.
Some medical schools may require you to show that you have the financial means to pay for four years of medical studies. However, there are some resources to help you finance your education such as private organizations that offer loans and scholarships, sometimes aimed specifically at international students. These can also be great resources to help you pay for your medical education.
