Mc Gill - International Students

[adiboup]

Hi,

 

as I wrote in an other thread in McGill forum, I'm French and I study medicine the second best medical school of France.

 

In France medical school are a bit different from US, Canada, UK... school because you get in right after you graduate from High School without any selection. The first year is dedicate to selection: one year of over 90 hours of work a week and two exams. If you are in the first 13% for competitive school your able to continue the study if not you can't.

 

I'm now in the second year so I succeed the exam and I'm in the first 5% of my class.

I also prepare a master degree in Biology (in France, med student can do a second degree even if they are undergraduate because Med study are way harder than the others) and then have to do some electives in research (may be in Canada or USA).

 

But I want to apply for studying medicine at McGill because it's a great school and it's cheaper than every other school in Canada (outside of quebec) and USA for French.

 

I'd like to know how hard it is for an International applicant to be accepted: I know it's about 6% of international applicants but as every applicants in very good foreign Med School, have a Biology second degree, did some research???

 

Thanks for all you answers and I hope that you will be to understand my poor english (that I will improve this summer with a 3 month electives at UCSD)

 

ps: the reason why I want to leave France is the Educational System which doesn't fit me at all

[Sergie]

Hi,

 

as I wrote in an other thread in McGill forum, I'm French and I study medicine the second best medical school of France.

 

In France medical school are a bit different from US, Canada, UK... school because you get in right after you graduate from High School without any selection. The first year is dedicate to selection: one year of over 90 hours of work a week and two exams. If you are in the first 13% for competitive school your able to continue the study if not you can't.

 

I'm now in the second year so I succeed the exam and I'm in the first 5% of my class.

I also prepare a master degree in Biology (in France, med student can do a second degree even if they are undergraduate because Med study are way harder than the others) and then have to do some electives in research (may be in Canada or USA).

 

But I want to apply for studying medicine at McGill because it's a great school and it's cheaper than every other school in Canada (outside of quebec) and USA for French.

 

I'd like to know how hard it is for an International applicant to be accepted: I know it's about 6% of international applicants but as every applicants in very good foreign Med School, have a Biology second degree, did some research???

 

Thanks for all you answers and I hope that you will be to understand my poor english (that I will improve this summer with a 3 month electives at UCSD)

 

ps: the reason why I want to leave France is the Educational System which doesn't fit me at all

 

Hi adiboup!

As to me, you'd better finish your studies in France anyway.

The reason is:

First of all, to apply to a med school here you need to have an accomplished undegrad degree even if it is an MD degree (like mine). Any (and I mean it - ANY) undergrad degree will be considered only as a base to apply for MD studies in North Am.

Second, as an international undergrad you won't have any advantage or possibility to transfer credites or ways to transfer btw universities because of the differenses btw these two countries' educational systems - forget it. For int applicants it IS very competitive, so, the odds for Quebecers are much higher then those for other Canadians; and in turn the last ones' are better then for International applicants. Consider to move to QC

And last, after you get you MD, only then you could apply either to McGill med school or for Canadian board licencing exams and try to pass it with a very high grade and at first attempt. After doing this you will have a chance to apply for residency in Canada. Thus, you could become a Canada licenced IMG.

In case you prefer the first way, ie taking MCAT and applying to Mcgill with an accomplished MD degree from France - it's also possible since your MD is undegrad degree. Your Master degree won't affect your chances singnificantly, sorry, But I would seriously suggest becoming QC resident before applying.

GL

[adiboup]

Ok thanks for your answer.

[Satsuma]

http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/

 

I know you want to go to Québec. But above is a link for the applications for Ontario med schools. If you look at the pdf instruction booklet it will go over the schools and their requirements.

 

In all cases you need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for med school.

 

Anyway, you can apply to the University of Ottawa in French.

 

You are probably better off toughing it out in France though. Getting into med school in Canada isn't easy and even alot of Canadians end up leaving to do their studies abroad.

 

Good luck!

[Sergie]

Oh, yah... that's a good point, SATSUMA!

Not only it is VERY competitive to get in as an int applicant but also to stay here after. You could work in Canada only if you a brilliant prominent specialist who got a job offer. In this case you will practice here as long as your offer states. Afterwards?... You will face a dilemma: how to stay and work in Qc being a citizen of another country and McGill grad - not an interesting situation though... You won't be able to practice here nor in France, I guess!

Think it over thousands of times before jumping into it.

GL.