Thinking of submitting an application to a US medical school? Everything you need to know about the prerequisites, the application procedure, and any possible costs is provided here!
Studying medicine overseas might be intimidating, but how can you begin to learn about your options and the associated costs and requirements? These fundamentals about studying medicine in the US will help you get started with the necessary planning steps.
Where can I study medicine in the USA?
If you’re considering studying medicine in the US, there are several options available to you: 154 medical schools provide MD degrees, while 38 medical schools offer osteopathic medical degrees.
The universities with the best rankings for medical research are as follows:
- Harvard College
- University of Johns Hopkins
- Pennsylvania University
- University of Columbia
- In a tie: Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Stanford University, Duke University, and University of California, San Francisco
- Cornell University, New York University, and Yale University are tied.
What Are the Qualifications in the United States for Studying Medicine?
Medical schools have different requirements, therefore it’s wise to confirm these before applying. However, in order to get admitted to any US medical school, you must complete a four-year undergraduate pre-med program in a related field and prove that you are knowledgeable in biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Unlike in the UK, where you may study medicine for your first degree, this is not the case.
Because of this, a lot of people choose to enroll in undergraduate programs in chemistry or biology, which also benefit them on the MCAT.
Almost all US medical schools utilize the MCAT exam as their entry exam. The eight-hour multiple-choice exam known as the MCAT is divided into four sections. You may get more information on the MCAT exam here. A strong MCAT result is crucial to your application and will increase the likelihood that you’ll be asked to an interview.
The number of times you can take the MCAT exam is limited to:
- 3 times throughout one testing year
- 7 times in one’s lifetime
- 4 times during the course of a two-year span
For this reason, it is crucial to practice the MCAT beforehand; resources may be found at Medic Mind US official website.
Various degrees of experience with pertinent scientific subjects are required by universities. For instance, in order to be admitted to the University of California, a student must have successfully completed one year of laboratory courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, as well as one semester each of Biochemistry and Physics. In addition, candidates must have completed their undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.94 and taken the MCAT within three years of applying.
Lastly, the majority of medical schools use interviews in their selection procedure.
How can I apply to study medicine in the USA?
The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is used for applications to most US medical schools; however, the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is required if you are applying to Texas University’s MD program.
Your application (along with information about your job history, academic records, and extracurricular involvement), as well as your MCAT results, will be sent by AMCAS to the medical schools of your choosing. This is similar to the UK’s UCAS application process.
Additionally, some medical schools want extra materials, including essays or recommendation letters. This is referred to as a secondary application, and it could come with an extra cost.
The cost of applying to one medical school through AMCAS (2024) is $175 (£143), and the cost of each additional medical school after that is an extra $45 (£37). Students can receive assistance with these expenses in addition to MCAT fees through the Fee Assistance Program.
Applications typically open in the first week of May and remain available until the deadline in June, so be sure to monitor the precise date!
In the US, there is no cap on the number of medical schools to which a student can apply; in the UK, this is limited to four. Applying to as many as 15–30 different colleges is a popular choice among students, which increases acceptance rates. The problem is that because each institution charges an extra application fee, this may get quite expensive.
Can Students from the UK Attend US Medical Schools?
Shortly, the answer is yes, although it takes longer and costs more than studying in the UK.
First off, as was already said, all medical programs in the US are postgraduate, meaning that you must have already earned an undergraduate degree. In contrast, the majority of programs in the UK are undergraduate.
A little warning, though, is that because US medical schools have distinct curricula from those in other nations, the great majority of them will only accept an undergraduate degree from the US. Therefore, you would most likely need to complete your undergraduate studies in the US if you choose to study medicine there.
It is important to remember that tuition costs for foreign students are often higher than those for domestic students. When you combine this with the fact that you will be studying in the US for at least eight years, the total amount will probably be rather high! Below is a more thorough explanation of US tuition prices.
Furthermore, most US medical schools impose a cap on the number of overseas students they may admit, even though the programs themselves are competitive. This implies that as a UK student, your chances of getting into a US medical school are probably much higher.
Lastly, in order to study in the US, you will require a visa; the J-1 visa is the most popular type. This increases the administrative prerequisites in order to study in the United States.
How Much Does Medical School Cost in the US?
Students must first get an undergraduate degree, most likely from the US as well, in order to study medicine in the US. American undergraduate programs last four years on average, while medical programs last four years as well, for a total of eight years. In contrast to the UK, where all courses are set at £9,250 a year, tuition in the US varies throughout specific universities. It is important to remember that financial help and scholarships are frequently offered.
While tuition costs at private US colleges are the same for domestic and foreign students, they differ for students attending public institutions, which have two different price categories:
- For citizens of the state
- This may be up to three times more expensive for non-state residents (which includes foreign students) than it is for state citizens.
In the US, the average annual cost of undergraduate programs is between $25,000 (£20,460) and $45,000 (£37,000). This may set you back anything from $100,000 (£81,849) to $180,000 (£147,200) over the course of four years.
The annual cost of postgraduate US medical programs ranges from $52,000 (£42,500) to $85,000 (£69,500). This may set you back anything from $208,000 (£170,000) to $340,000 (£278,000) over the course of four years.
Based on education statistics, the following represents an example of yearly fees at US medical schools:
You should thus budget between $308,000 and $530,000 for tuition expenses alone for both degrees!
Furthermore, there are costs associated with completing the USMLE exams during your academic career and the MCAT admission exam for medical school. Further details are available here.
The cost of your travel to and from the US as well as your living expenses for the years you will be there should be your final consideration. Students should budget around $25,000 (£20,460) for living expenditures, however this can vary substantially based on individual circumstances and housing preferences. The anticipated price at Johns Hopkins University is $30,932 (£25,315), whereas the estimate at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is $23,500 (£19,232).