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 Best Australian Universities To Apply In

The education system of Australia is at par excellence with those of UK and US. We discussed some of the best Australian universities in the last post. Here is a continuation. The courses and programs offered in Australian universities are accredited by professional bodies, certifying development and upholding of standards, finest practice principles, and resources.


University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia (UWA) (established 1911) is recognized globally as a top university. The UWA constantly ranks in the top 120 global universities and in the top 20 universities in the Asia Pacific region. It is divided into 10 faculties: Architecture, Arts, Business School; Computing, Education; Engineering, Landscape, and Visual Arts; Humanities, and Social Sciences; Mathematics; Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Law; Life and Physical Sciences; Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences; and School of Indigenous Studies. There are more than 20,000 students with over 4,000 international students.

University of Adelaide
Located in Adelaide this was established in 1874 and is the third oldest university in Australia and has been divided into five faculties: Computer, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences; Health Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Faculty of Professions; and Faculty of Sciences with each faculty having subsidiary schools. With four campuses present, this university is spread across the state: Roseworthy College, North Terrace, the Waite Institute, and Wine Centre. Existing student base is 22,000 with more than 6,000 international students.

Monash University

The Monash University was established in  1958 under an act of parliament and is situated in Melbourne. It has a student base of around 60,000 students, from almost 170 countries. It is regarded as the largest university in terms of student body and has 10 faculties: Arts; Art and Design; Business and Economic; Engineering; Education; Information Technology; Law; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences; and Science.  8 campuses, including 2 international campuses make up the university. It has constantly been ranked among the top 50 global universities.

Macquarie University

The Macquarie University, situated in Sydney, was established in 1964 and is a public teaching and research university. There are four faculties: Arts; Business and Economics; Human Sciences; and Science with around 87 under-graduate and 124 post-graduate courses. The university also boasts of the largest student exchange program in the country. As of 2010, the university had a student body of more than 31,000 students counting more than 10,000 international students and a staff of above 2,100 academics and professionals. It has consistently ranked amongst the top ten Australian universities by different sources.

Queensland University of Technology

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), established in 1989 is an extremely flourishing Australian university with a functional emphasis in courses and research. The university has been categorised into seven faculties: Creative Industries; Built Environment and Engineering; Business; Education; Health; Law; and Science and Technology. It has a massive student base of more than 40,000 students counting 6,000 international students and over 4,000 staff members. The programs offered at this university are quite high in demand and the graduate employment rate is quite well over the national average for the Australian universities.

So, make a choice of yours and pursue your dream of higher education.

Education System Of Australia-What You Need To Know

Australia has emerged as a top destination for international students desiring premium quality education. If you are also interested in pursuing your education dreams in Australia then there are certain basic things about the education system of Australia you should be aware of. Let us start with an introduction to the Australian education system.
Australia offers more than 12000 internationally recognised university courses which are more affordable than US or UK education. In fact, the affordability factor attracts more than 400,000 students from across the world. Students of diverse backgrounds come here to pursue their academic dreams.

If you are relocating to Down Under with your family then you should know about the school education system in Australia. The academic year for schools starts from late January/early February till December. In Australia a child begins his academic career with pre-schooling (voluntary) and then proceeds to compulsory twelve years of primary and secondary schooling. The standard assessment scale (grading scale) is available to measure the student’s performance in the school levels. There are more than 7000 government schools and 2000 independent schools here. You may be surprised to know that international schools are in dearth here as there is little demand for them. However, Australia has independent-fee charging schools with focus on international students and are highly likely to offer internationally-acknowledged transferable qualifications like International Baccalaureate. On completing of schooling a student can pursue under-graduation and subsequently post graduation studies.

Students who desire to study in colleges in Australia must have a government recognised senior secondary certificate. The academic year for colleges/universities in Australia starts from early March till late November. Certain universities in Australia may follow semester system and others follow trimester system.  I shall give you a brief outline on the university level education system in Australia:

•    Under graduate courses-The duration of these courses ranges from two to four years. You will require Australian senior secondary certificate or equivalent certificate from your country to become eligible. You have the option to register for associate degree program (2 years) or bachelor’s degree (3 years) or go for professional/honors degrees.

•    Post graduate course- On the completion of under graduation program you become eligible to apply for post graduation. These master’s courses will take one or two years to complete. The program includes coursework, research, etc.  Certain universities demand work experience to become eligible for these courses.

•    Doctoral courses- These are the highest level of educational qualification in Australian universities. In order to become eligible for these courses you require a master’s or bachelor honors degree in the specific subject. These are of three years duration and either professional or research doctorates.

•    Vocational training- These are offered at the vocational education & training institutions and include certificated, diploma, advance diploma. These prepare you for further studies and also open up better career opportunities.
If you are trying to study in Australia then you are making a wise choice as it is one of the most affordable and best countries to study in.

Is Three Year College A Feasible Idea?

Receiving a college degree has long been regarded as the sure-shot way to realize the American dream. However, that dream is diminishing as working class families fall deeper into shock while trying to pay the ever-increasing tuition. I have come across several education articles and blogs which talk about the need to introduce 3 year college in USA. I must say that the notion is quite attractive and a possible solution to the problem of ballooning student debt. We all know how much expensive it can be when paying tuition fees, boarding expenses, textbooks, etc for straight eight semesters. By the time you are have a college education you are in debts.

Now certain schools are planning to introduce and some colleges have started three year bachelor degree courses.
Some may say that schools can compress their four year degree programs into three years. However, that is not a good idea as most of the college students these days require six years to complete a bachelor degree. So, we need a better approach- like revamping the curriculum; reducing the number of electives, shifting to shorter semesters, etc. This is exactly what a few colleges are doing.

The Grace College and Seminary, Baldwin-Wallace College, St. John’s University and Lesley University introduced three-year programs. At Grace College both the calendar and the curriculum have been revamped to accommodate three-year graduation programs. The students are required to take more, small courses during the semesters of spring and fall. Any credits in the summer are free. As per the school accounting a student will save up to 50% on college this way. On average, savings will amount to $8,893 for in-state four year public schools students and $30,094 reduction for the ones enrolled in private institutes.

Also, students who require financial aid will be spared of a whole year of study loans. In this way the students can enter graduate school sooner instead of entering job market. Slashing tuition by a quarter means the amount of money students borrow gets reduced. Almost 70% of the people with bachelor degree have student loans with average debt of $29,400.

Those who are skeptical about this should look closer. Several nations follow this system; three-year degree is deemed well enough for institutions like Cambridge and Oxford. Reducing the term to three year not only cuts down the costs but it also can dramatically raise the current low completion rate in colleges in USA. It will not affect the quality of education in any way as some may fear. Our economy has increasing demand of college grads and we need to ensure that we do everything to meet this demand.

This approach will put more pressure on the colleges in USA to control their ballooning tuition fees. It is high time we give our students some break and allow then to pursue their dreams of higher education.

Options If You Do Not Make It to the College of Your Choice

Sometimes you may not get admission in the university or college of your choice. It doesn’t mean that you lose all hope and become disillusioned. There are a few things that can aid you in your efforts to get college education. I am going to discuss a few things here which may help you out.

There was a time when our counselors and parents would tell us to keep a “safety school” in mind. Nowadays it hardly means anything. In the past, several state schools were ignored in spite of their excellence but the economic slump is making in-state tuitions especially attractive.  States with strong university systems like New York, Texas, California, and Florida are on the forefront—cost is motivating students to gravitate towards public universities. So, if you have opted for colleges and universities outside your state you can look for in-state colleges as your answer.

Now, another thing to note is that if a university is unable to offer you a seat then it will put your mane on the waiting list. There are chances that you may get accepted later on. NACAC statistics show that the percentage of students admitted off the wait list differs every year. 35%of those who stayed on the list were provided spots in 2005, 29% in 2006, and 30% in 2007. With this year's numbers not until now complete, many schools, including Harvard have informed accepting more wait-list admissions. FSU, for example, offered admittance to 418, out of which 269 accepted. Last year, FSU did not take any wait-list admissions. So, you can call the school directly to find out the wait-list range, and your rank (if possible), and the number of students accepted that way during the previous years.

I have noticed several students and parents treating wait-list letters as soft rebuffs and hastily settle on on another school. I would advise on opting to wait it out, which may bolster your chances of acceptance. However, be cautious and don't go overboard. 

Also, remember that an approval in hand is worth more than several wait-list spots. Focus on the school that's keen to take you instead of obsessing over a wait-list result. Most of the two-year or community colleges in USA normally provide open enrollment; as long as you meet their customary criteria, you can register. After one or more semesters, you may apply for a transfer to a four-year college to complete your bachelor's degree. If you are cost-conscious then it is good for you. Tuition averages to $2,361, as compared to $6,185 for four-year public colleges and universities. Also, several community colleges have transfer agreements with many four-year colleges, arrangements that surfaced to ensure that transfer credits would be accepted.

Keep in mind that the college scenario is quite different from the k-12 schooling and you will have to work very hard. If you are serious about your college dreams then be prepared to be challenged and progress academically.