What You Need To Know Before Pursuing Medicine In USA

Do you dream of studying medicine in the United States? Well, you certainly have set your eyes on the best. However, you should know that it is exceptionally demanding for international students to pursue medicine in US. Only if you are willing to put your heart and soul and are passionate, then you can realise your dreams.

The application process is a bit time consuming, hence before applying, you must be sure that you have a four year bachelor degree. Each school lays down its own requirements of the subjects, but majority of them allow a science degree in biology, organic chemistry or chemistry. Therefore, it is imperative to decide the school while pursuing your under graduation to be prepared beforehand.

You will also have to appear for the MCAT test to determine your critical thinking abilities. Comprehensible writing, problem solving is assessed along with your knowledge of diverse scientific concepts pertaining to biology and chemistry.

With a suitable bachelor’s degree and a fine MCAT score, you are good to start the application process. However, as an international student you will be at disadvantage compared to native students as most of the public schools are obligated to utilize all or most of the funding received on students who are inhabitants of the institutions state. However, a student can successfully apply to a private university, but this is highly expensive compared to the state sponsored institutions. So, you should cautiously appraise the pros and cons of the each school that you will apply to and settle on which school is best suited for you.

A medical school normally takes 4 years completion with 3 - 7 year residency to undergo painstaking practical training in the chosen field. You can pursue a sub specialisation shifting from 1 to 3 years after which a fellowship can be studied for.

You will have to undergo intensive education and full-time participation is necessary. Usually first year will have broad memorisation, with the subjects- anatomy, pathology and biochemistry. The classes are divided between classroom and labs which gives theoretical and practical knowledge. You will also be going through clinical rotations while you study. This gives a firsthand experience on how to mingle with the patients and enables a student to diagnose a disease and its probable cause. Before you get the medical degree, you have to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination test which is considered as board exam. The test will be in three parts which a student takes during his degree. You need to pass in all the three stages in order to gain entry in a residency programme.

Due to the amount of time, costs involved and the effort it requires this may not be for everyone. If you are really passionate about medicine and possess the mental ability to conquer the adversities then only should you decide to take this challenge. However, once you complete it then you will be counted amongst the best which makes it worth it.

The Top 5 Australian Universities You Can Apply In

It cannot be argued that the education system in Australia is regarded among the best in the world, and highly reasonable too when compared to UK or US. The universities in Australia have a tie up with organizations in more than 100 nations, which make Australia favourable to pursue higher studies. Read further and discover which the top universities here are:

Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra (established 1946) is a public teaching and research university with a student base of more than 17,000 students out of which more than 4,000 are overseas students. It has been separated into 7 colleges, for undergraduate and post graduation: College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Business and Economics, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Arts and Social Sciences, College of Law, and ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. The university is constantly ranked as one of the best Australian universities and in the top 50 global universities.

University of Melbourne
Melbourne University (established 1853) is the second oldest university in Australia with student base of more than 35,000 students, out which more than 10,000 are international students. This public university is aimed at making unique contributions to society by research, teaching, and engagement. It has been divided into 12 faculties i.e.: Arts; Architecture, Building, and Planning; Business and Economics, Education; Engineering; Law; Melbourne School of Graduate Research; Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences; Melbourne School of Land and Environment; Science; Veterinary Science; and the VCA and Music.

University of Queensland
The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading learning and research institutions in Brisbane (established 1909) with a student base of more than 43,000 students from around 100 countries and a staff of around 6,300 academics and professionals. UQ has a total of 11 residential colleges: Cromwell College, Emmanuel College, Grace College, Gatton Halls of Residence, Duchesne College, International House, King’s College, St Leo’s College, Union College, St John’s College, and Women’s College.

University of New South Wales
UNSW (established 1949) is popular for its excellent and inventive ways of educating and conducting research. It is regarded as Australia’s leading teaching and research institution with over 50,000 students including more than 14,000 international students and offers around 300- 600 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It is divided into 9 faculties: Arts and Social Sciences; Australian School of Business; Australian Defence Force Academy; Built Environment; College of Fine Arts; Law; Engineering; Medicine and Science.

University of Sydney
Founded in 1850 and located in Sydney, the University of Sydney is Australia’s oldest university. It has been constantly ranked amongst the top 3 universities in Australia. There are 16 faculties: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Arts and Social Sciences; Architecture, Design, and Planning; Business; Education and Social Work; Dentistry; Health Sciences; Medicine; Nursing and Midwifery; Engineering and Information Technologies; Law; Pharmacy; Science; Veterinary Science; Sydney College of Arts and Sydney Conservatorium of Music with 118 schools under it. There are around 49,000 students enrolled here.

So, take your pick and study in Australia!

Things You Should Know Before Applying for University Admission in Australia

Australia has a realistic education imparting system with first-class infrastructure and relatively lesser expenses, ranking third after UK and USA as the top choice for students pursuing higher education abroad. Studying here you will not only be gaining quality education but also a multicultural holistic environment where you can mature into a better individual.
If you are applying to Australian universities then you will need to gain some knowledge to make the entire process hassle-free. I will be outlining the applying procedure for you here-

Eligibility
If you want to study in under graduate programs in Australia then you must possess the proper government recognised senior secondary certificate (Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education/ equivalent certificate from your country). If you are applying for post graduation degree then you must have the bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years. Certain post graduation courses may require you to have a 4 year bachelor degree program or relevant work experience as well. Hence, make sure to know the specific eligibility requirements before you apply. 

Pre admission
The university term in Australia commences from early March so you have to start your university hunting a good 12-15 month before the submission of applications. The best way to gain information is to surf the net and draw up a list of your favourite universities and courses. Be thorough in your research, visit the website of each university and lastly prepare a shortlist of the best available choices. If you have any doubts you can clear it by personally interacting with the university.
Application forms
It is always advisable to submit your applications a good 8-12 months before the closing date. You can download and print out the application to keep a regular hard copy with you.

Application requirements
Submit your secondary and higher secondary report along with the transcripts (mark sheets) of finals. You will need your marks to be converted as per the Australian grading system. Ensure that the transcripts should be in English and bundled with original certified copies. Scorecards of IELTS or GMAT must be provided. In case of students going for MBA or doctoral degrees they will need to produce work experience certificates and CV. A personal essay detailing your career aims, interests, extra-curricular activities, the reason for your choice to study the specific course and how you will manage your finances during the stay should be submitted. Letter of recommendation also needs to provided. 

Admission tests
While you are applying to the universities it is advisable to register yourself for all the stipulated admission tests. First, the IELTS exam is the lone English proficiency exam accepted by Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Certain universities may waiver the IELTS exam for you if a letter from your former institution proclaims that you have studied in English medium and have satisfactory proficiency in the language. Students who desire to pursue MBA program need to take the Graduate Management Exam which isn’t mandatory but still needed in majority of the colleges.

The transition from k 12 schooling to college education

Students today are arriving in colleges with higher combined ACT/SAT scores and, obviously, increasingly higher hopes for an appealing, world-class education in universities. As students shift from a high school to a college/university background, the teacher’s role in their learning experience alters too. In certain cases, students find themselves attending classes with a higher number of students than they were accustomed to their high school class. What many of us tend to overlook is that most of these students arrive in colleges with little preparation for this change.

Studies demonstrate that between 28% and 40% of first-time undergrads register for at least one corrective course. Amongst community colleges in USA students only quite a few studies have established that more than half require remediation to be complete their college-level work. The conclusion which can be drawn here is that students are finding it difficult to cope with their college education. The vast difference in the mode of instruction is responsible to some extent.

When you compare high school teachers and university/college lecturers you will find several differences. High school teachers are usually experts in pedagogy whereas college instructors are focused solely on their subject fields. Faculty members in universities in USA have countless hours of research to boast of along with strong mentoring of their advisors. However, I would like to point out here that they lack a rock-solid teaching background when compared to high school teachers. Throughout their K 12 schooling, the students are taught by certified teachers who have training in educational practices, education theories, execution of practical academic policies. So, it is a huge dramatic change when they enter colleges and resultantly some of them are overwhelmed.

With such immensely diverse and likewise significant expertise in the educational spectrum I find it very unfortunate that there is very little collaboration between high school teachers and college professors. Strong alliance would augment teaching for both parties, would boost the perception levels of what modes of schooling and learning are occurring in each situation, and would aid students in their shift from high school to college.

The escalating reputation of MOOCs, open-education resources, and liberally accessible course content on platforms like iTunes U fetches an implausible opening for high school teachers and college lecturers to work together and improve each other's teaching. K 12 teachers and college faculties can collaborate with each other, with college lecturers sharing their insights on the changes in their respective fields, their in-depth knowledge whereas the k 12 teachers can give insights on teaching modes, instructional design, and how to develop consequential evaluation aimed on student learning evidence. If we are able to bring about a large-scale collaboration across the country’s education institutions then it will enhance the learning experience for all students.

I believe that joint values and expectations, lucid and accessible information can aid in bridging the gap between the high school and university education. In order to do that we must take the initiative to ensure that this reaches to the maximum number of students in the country!

Pursue College Education in USA

Many of us have the dream of pursuing college education and it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved in life. I believe that if you have the hunger for learning and have good grades in school then nobody can stop you from gaining entry into any of the universities in USA. With the availability of scholarships, grants and other forms of aid college education is not much of an uphill task.

For most of us college is regarded as a window of opportunity where you have to graduate in order to take a step closer to a secure and comfortable life. I remember my parents telling me that college graduates can pretty much bank on a having a career and thereby decent, stable income. College gives you the opportunity to grow, mature in a holistic environment and teaches you the basic lessons of life. Studying in colleges in USA is a sure-shot way to make a career and land the job of your dreams.

There are more than 3800 universities and colleges offering hundreds of courses to choose from and our nation boasts of being one of the best and diverse education systems. No matter your choice of education course, be it drama, management, science, etc. you have the opportunity. 

If you have set sights on going to a public school then you should know certain things. Public colleges usually function under the state governments and get their funds from the tax dollars and state subsidies. They run the gamut from undersized liberal arts colleges to huge research institutes. The best public schools are University of South Carolina Aiken, United States Coast Guard Academy, Elizabeth City State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Valley City State University, University of Minnesota Crookston.  Some of the best national universities in our country include University of California, Berkeley; University of Virginia; University of California, Los Angeles, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia.

Now when you apply to colleges you have to be meticulous in your planning and take no chances. Probing and choosing the best college for you also includes distinguishing the apt time to apply, where to apply, making your mind up on whether to apply early, drafting college essays, and making preparations for interviews with admissions officials. Stay on track to ensure that the entire process is hassle-free. If you are applying for financial aid then keep in mind to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a must if you want to receive financial support from state programs or college themselves. Remember to keep your college applications properly organized. Keep a track of all the application requirements for meeting the deadlines, the teacher-counselor recommendations and the transcripts and essays. 

Also ensure to have your test scores sent directly to the colleges from the College Board and ACT.  If you have covered all the bases then you have high chances of getting in the college of your choice.