USA

Study in USA

2023

Academic Year

33.19 crores (2021)

Population

MBBS in USA

International destinations from different international destinations have different pre-requisite when it comes to applying for MBBS in USA. For an Indian student, willing to apply for MBBS in USA, one is not eligible to apply directly after 12th. A student must be a graduate to apply for medicine qualification in United States. An Indian medical aspirant who has just qualified his higher secondary is not eligible to apply for MBBS in USA. Hence, he must ensure to have completed his graduation in the field of Sciences. However, there are few medical schools in US that do not mandate this requirement but a student ought to have high scores in the subjects of Science. An English proficiency test results are mandatory to be submitted to be eligible to apply for the medical schools.

Upon completion of these requisites, the student is required to write MCAT examination (Medical College Admission Test) to be eligible to apply for MBBS admission in USA. A good MCAT score is the key to secure medical seat in the medical colleges of the US.

Completion of medical degree in USA takes 4 years followed by a residential program which takes another 3-7 years depending upon the program.

MBBS in USA Summarized

A student right after 10+2 is not eligible to apply for MBBS in USA

  • An applicant must complete a 3-year pre medical degree graduate course before applying for a Medical degree in USA.
  • After graduation, a student must qualify the entrance exam- MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) which determines the critical thinking, problem solving ability, written communication, evaluation of scientific and overall knowledge of the student.
  • A good MCAT score can secure your seat to study MBBS in USA.
  • On completion of these 2 steps, a student can apply for the Medical Schools in US through AMCAS and AACOMAS. Once enrolled in Medical school, a four year degree program is followed which is divided into 2 components: Pre-Clinical & Clinical.
  • Before you own a medical degree in US, you will have to qualify the USMLE Test which is conducted in 3 phases during the course duration
  1. The first part of the test generally conducted during the second year of medical graduation
  2. The second part of the test is conducted during the fourth year of medical graduation
  3. The third and final part of the test is conducted during the first year of your residential program

The test ensures that you have sufficient qualification to meet the standards derived by the US educational system to become a doctor.

About MCAT

MCAT or the Medical College Admission Test is a common standardized test that determines one’s eligibility to secure the seat the medical colleges of US. It is a computer based examination is and administered by the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges).

The MCAT examination is a computerized, multiple choice questions based standard test that aims to access critical thinking, problem solving skills, knowledge of natural , behavioural , social science concepts and principles and the principles that are prerequisite to study medicine. Since the amended format was introduced in April 2015, the test duration now lasts for 7.5hrs including the optional break timings. The test scores range from 472-528. One must be well prepared to avoid any chances of re-takes.

The MCAT is divided into 4 sections

   S.No

   Section

Questions

Duration (minutes)

Optional Break (minutes)

   1

   Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

59

95

10

   2

   Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

53

90

30

   3

   Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

59

95

10

   4

   Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior

59

95

-

Exam Dates

The MCAT examination is administered 25 or times in a year at the Pearson VUE centers. One can visit the International MCAT Testing Calendar to know more about the current year exam schedule. An MCAT applicant should plan the MCAT year prior to the desired school starting year. The score for MCAT is valid for a period of 2-3years. An applicant can take this test for 3 times in a year and maximum up to 7 times in a lifetime. Scoring above 90 percentile in MCAT can fetch your chances to get a seat in US medical colleges.

India does not have an attested MCAT test center. The Indian medical aspirants willing to take up this examination have to travel to neighboring countries like Malaysia & Singapore to be able to write this exam. On the positive side, Indians will have a chance to travel to these exotic locations to write their exam.

MCAT Exam Fee

The MCAT exam fee is 310 USD if the applicant registers himself during the normal window i.e. a month or prior to the test date. This exam fee increases if the registration is done late. Additional charges are to be paid other than this fee for the location or date change. An international fee is also applicable for the non-US test centers. The registration procedure is the same for both US & international applicants and the test is administered at 19 different international locations. However, an additional fee of 90 USD is to be paid by the applicant registering for a non-US location.

AAMC is the medical academic community that develops and administers the MCAT examination required for medical admissions to the colleges in USA, Canada & Australia. The preparation for MCAT can be done by visiting the AAMC website: www.aamc.org/

It offers a wealth of resources related fee and paid MCAT material.

Once you are graduate and have your MCAT scores in hand, the next step is shortlisting the medical schools you wish to apply for and start sending your application. In many instances, international students are considered disadvantage over the local students as many schools in US do not accept international applications. Admission to US medical schools is a strict, long and tedious process both for local as well as international students. Make sure to investigate and gain a clear understanding application and admission process of all the medical schools you wish to apply. Official websites o each medical school can get you the authentic information.

Most of the medical schools in US allow the international applicants to apply through:

  1. AMCAS: American Medical College Application Service
  2. AACOMAS: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service

Once the candidate is enrolled in the medical school, four-year degree program is followed which is further divided into 2 components

  1. Pre-Clinical
  2. Clinical

On completing your medical and to own a medical degree in US, you will have to qualify the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). The examination is conducted in 3 phases during the course duration.

  1. The first step of the test is generally conducted during the second year of medical graduation
  2. The second step of the test is further divided into two parts- CS (Clinical Skills) & CK (Clinical Knowledge) and is to be taken during the fourth year of medical graduation.
  3. The third and final part of the test is conducted during the first year of the residential program.

About USA

A country consisting of 50 states and spread over an area of 3.8 million square miles thereby making it third or fourth largest country by total area is the country of United States of America or USA. It is a federal district, has 5 major self-governing territories and various possessions. The country is slightly smaller than the European continent. The country is located between Canada & Mexico and has an estimated population of 328 million. USA is the third most populous country of the globe. The capital of US is Washington DC and the currency of the country is US Dollars. New York is the most populous city of the country.

US is a developed country and has formed the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP and the second largest by purchasing power parity. It accounts for approximately a quarter of global GDP. The country is the globe’s largest importer and the second largest exporter of goods. US holds about 31% of the total wealth in the world and known to concentrate the largest share of global wealth in a single country. The country continues to hold high ranks in the measures of socio economic performance including the average wage, median wealth, median income, per capita GDP, human development and worker productivity. It has the foremost military power in the world and makes it more than the third of global military spending and a politically, culturally and scientifically leading force internationally.

The large country of United Stated shows a geographical variety and includes most climate types.  In the east of 100th Meridian, the climatic conditions range from humid continental towards the north to humid subtropical towards the south. The Greta Plains towards the west of 100th Meridian experience a semi-arid climate. The Western mountains have an alpine climate. The Great Basin desert in the Southwest has an arid climate while the coastal California has Mediterranean climate. The climate is oceanic in the costal Oregon, Washington and Southern Alaska. Most of Alaska is seen as subarctic and polar. It is tropical climate in the Hawaii region and the southern tip of Florida as these are the populated territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Extreme weathers are also common and the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico are prone to hurricanes. Tornado Alley areas in the Midwest and the South experience world’s maximum tornadoes all round the year.

English, especially American English is the national language of the United States of America. 80% of the population of the country speaks English though there is no official language of the country. 12% of the country’s population speaks Spanish and it is the 2nd most spoken and taught language in the United States of America. Apart of English and Spanish, Hawaiian, French and German are also spoken in some territories of the country. 18% of Americans claim to speak at least one language out of these apart of English.

Top Universities in USA

Mayo Medical School, Rochester

Mayo Medical School is a private non-profit medical school based in Rochester, Minnesota and was established in 1972. Until 2017, it was known by its name which changed to Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) in the year 2018. It is a research-oriented medical school and has its campuses in Arizona and Florida. MCSOM is a school within the education division of Mayo Medical School. The school grants the Doctor of Medicine Degree (M.D) that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). In November 2018, the school was renamed to honor businessman Jay Alix who donated $200 million to the school.

According to 2019, U.S. News & World Report, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine ranks on the 9th position in the category of “Best Medical Schools: Research”. MCASOM is the most selective school among the schools of USA with the least acceptance rate of 2.1% as per the application cycle of 2017-2018.  The medical school had the highest board scores for USMLE Step 1 in 2017 in the country with a median of 245 (tie with Harvard School). Approx 70% of the graduated from this school matched with their first choice of the residency program for 2016. Students graduated from this school receive their hospital training at the Mayo Clinic Rochester which ranked no. 1 in U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll list for 2018-2019.

New York Medical College

The New York Medical College (NYMC) was founded in 1860 is a private university of biomedical health sciences based in Valhalla, New York. It is also the member of Touro College and University System since 2011 which is a private university system headquartered in New York and is the largest private university in US with Jewish roots.  NYMC has 3 medical schools namely- the School of Medicine (SOM), the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) and the School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) and its advanced medical degrees are offered through them.  The university has enrolled a total of 1660 students including 774 medical students and 800 residents and clinical fellows. NYMC has employed 1350 full time faculty members with 1450 voluntary and part-time faculty staff. More than 12,000 people are the proud alumni active in clinical practice, healthcare administration, public health, teaching and research. New York Medical College’s hospital “Metropolitan Hospital Center” has been affiliated with the NYMC since its day of foundation in 1875 and represents the oldest partnership between the hospital and the private medical school in US. The Metropolitan Hospital is a part of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and is the largest municipal hospital and healthcare system in the country.  NYMC’s hospital has a network of 20+ affiliated schools in different US states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and West Virginia including big urban medical centers, small suburban clinics, rural medical centers and high-tech regional tertiary care facilities thereby providing a wide variety of opportunities to students for clinical training.

New York University

New York University is one of the premium institutions in the country as well as the world. The university’s historical campus is established in Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan. It was founded in the year 1831. The private research university based in New York City now has degree granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and academic centers in cities of Accra, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Florence, London, Madrid, Los Angeles, Prague, Paris, Tel Aviv, Sydney, and Washington D.C. This renowned university has produced eminent personalities including heads of state, royalty, scientists, inverters and entrepreneurs, media figures, founders and CEO’s, astronauts and personalities from almost all fields of professions. Prize winners including 37 Nobel, 8 turning awardees, 5 field medalists, more than 30 academic winners and Pulitzer winners and hundreds members of National Academies of Sciences and United States Congress are part  of alumni or faculty as of October 2019. Approximately 12,000 students are enrolled NYU in different graduate and undergraduate programs.  A private, non-sectarian, global and not for profit institution, NYU has 10 undergraduate schools and 15 graduate/professional schools. Arts & Science is currently the largest academic divisions in the university. The campuses at NYU Abu Dhabi & NYU Shanghai are the full fledged campuses allowing the students to study all 4 years in campus and receive the degree, whereas the other academic sites allow the student to spend a year away from their home campus.

Admission at NYU is highly selective. The acceptance rate at the School of Medicine was only 1.8%, 23% at the School of Business, 28% at the School of Engineering, 29% at the Graduate School of Arts & Science and 34% at the School of Law in the year 2016. The average MCAT score of students at the School of Medicine is 36/45, average GMAT score at the Scholl of Business is 710/800 and the average LSAT score at the School of Law is 171/180.

Northwestern University, East Chicago

Based in Evanston, Illinois, United States, Northwestern University is a large private research university. Other campuses of the university are based in in Chicago and Doha and academic programs and facilities in Florida, Miami, Florida Washington, D.C., San Francisco and California. Northwestern University is known for the different schools it has like Kellogg School of Management, Feinberg School of Medicine, Pritzker School of Law, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, Bienen School of Music and McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. This university has a comprehensive doctoral program attracting nearly $800 million in sponsored research every year. As of 2018, Northwestern University was the tenth largest university in United States to receive the funding of nearly $11.08 billion. The university was founded in 1851, instructions began in 1855 and the women were admitted in 1869. The history has been old and since then the university has produced many eminent personalities including 19 Nobel Prize ward holders, 38 Pulitzer Prize winners, 6 MacArthur Genius Fellows, 65 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 16 Rhodes Scholars and two Supreme Court justices. The School of Communication of the Northwestern University has produced many Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award winner actor and actresses, playwriters and directors.

The universities schools of law, medical and professional education along with its nationally ranked and affiliated Northwestern Memorial Hospital are located in Chicago’s Streetville neighborhood. In 2008, the university opened its campus in Doha, Qatar teaching programs in journalism and communication. The San Francisco space was established in 2016 and hosted programs in journalism, engineering and marketing.

Accredited by Higher Learning Commission, the university offers 124 undergraduate programs and 145 graduate and professional programs including streams like chemistry, business, psychology, journalism, education, music, education, law, medicine and business.  This selective school again has a low acceptance rate. As of 2018, the acceptance rate was as low as 6.35%.

The State University of New York

The State University of New York (SUNY), established in 1948 is the largest and comprehensive amalgamation of universities, colleges and community colleges in the US. It is the public institution of higher education system in New York. A total of 4,24,050 students are enrolled in the university and 91,182 faculty and staff members are employed in the university. The university is an inclusion of many institutions and 4 university centers namely: Albany, established in 1844, Binghamton established in 1946, Buffalo established in 1846 and Stony Brook established in 1957. University at Buffalo is the SUNY’s largest campus and has also received the greatest research funding. SUNY constitutes of all institutions of higher education in the state that are state-supported, apart from the City University of New York (CUNY). CUNY and SUNY both are funded by New York State but are different university systems. State University of Newyork is governed by a State University of New York Board of Trustees. The board constitutes of 18 members in all. 15 of these members are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the New York State Senate. The President of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York forms the 16th member of the board. The President of the University Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges is the last to members to join the board with both of them not having any voting rights. The Chancellor is appointed by the Board of Trustees who serves as the CEO of SUNY. SUNY’s campuses are divided into 4 categories

  • centers/doctoral-granting institutions
  • comprehensive colleges
  • technology colleges
  • community colleges

Some statutory and state-funded colleges are also the part of SUNY like the Cornell University and the Alfred University. Resident students studying at the statutory colleges receive the benefit of subsidized fee while enjoying the campus life and amenities of its host institutions. The State University of New York at Buffalo is the largest public university of the state founded by the US President and Vice President. This university has an enrollment of approximately 30,000 students and received most applications out of SUNY.

Temple University, School of Medicine, Philadelphia

The Katz School of Medicine, Temple University is located on the Health & Science Campus of Temple University is Philadelphia. It is one of the 7 schools of medicine in Pennsylvania awarding MD Degree (Doctor of Medicine).

The university also awards the degree of Ph D (Doctor of Philosophy) and M.S (Master of Science) in a biomedical stream. Temple University was founded as early as 1901 and was the first co-educational medical school Pennsylvania.

The school was founded with a mission to impart quality education under affordable cost regardless of their ability to pay. It also emphasized on the development of humanity. The alumnus of class of 1973, under the leadership of Dean John Daly M.D., the TUSM underwent revitalization.

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