American Premed Students

How many of you American Premed Students are interested in studying medicine? Are you familiar with all your options? 99 percent of the people in the United States are not familiar with the following information. I want to make sure that you are by the time you finish reading this. Most students in the United States spend the rest of their lives paying off large loans that they took out, most of the times over$ 200,000 to finance their med school education. While the cost of medical school is certainly high in the United States the true cost of becoming a doctor is in years and years of your life.

HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION : American Premed Students

There are a lot of excellent medical schools in Europe for you to choose from which are gaining in popularity, and there are a lot of advantages to studying in one of these schools. European medical schools must adhere to the European Union standards and are equal to a lot of leading medical schools in the United States. Schools such as Harvard, Yale, Cornell, etc.

American Premed Students

Thousands of distinguished doctors have graduated from some of these schools in Europe, and most of us who live in the United States have probably been treated or seen by doctors who are now practicing medicine in the United States but were educated abroad. With the fall of communism, universities in Eastern Europe became accessible to foreign students and are gaining in popularity as people are becoming acquainted with the high standard of education that a lot of these universities are providing.

American Premed Students

Doctors, Dentists, and pharmacists with degrees from accredited universities in Eastern Europe, may practice almost anywhere within the European Union. You can study somewhere in Europe, and then move somewhere else to practice medicine. Graduates who wish to practice in the United States, however, must first pass the U.S Medical Licensing Examinations. Similar requirements for local certification exist in many other countries, including Canada, India, and Israel.

LOW FEES : American Premed Students

Another factor why universities in Central Europe are gaining in popularity is the low fees. It is estimated that American students who study medicine in Europe pay only one fourth of what they pay in the United States, or Canada. Tuition fees range from 4.000 dollars to 10,500 dollars annually. Therefore, the high quality of education, recognized degrees, the extremely low fees or no fees at all if you are willing to learn the language, are just some of the factors that attract international students.

LOW COST OF LIVING  : American Premed Students

The cost of living, which is approximately 5,000 to 10,500 a year for accommodation, food, and even entertainment, is also very low compared to the US or Canada.

SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT : American Premed Students

The crime rate is exceptionally low in Eastern Europe. Typical example is the Czech Republic. The country is one of the safest and most peaceful places to live in the world. I have traveled extensively through Eastern Europe and Bulgaria. I constantly get questions from other Americans about whether it is safe. I usually just calmly tell them that central and eastern Europe (and most of the world) is much, much less dangerous than most parts of the United States.

American Premed Students

Violent crime rates are significantly lower in Eastern Europe. I have been to Bulgaria, and traveled extensively in the region, and never once felt that my physical safety was in question. I often walked through cities in the middle of the night (sometimes alone), and never had the feeling that I needed to be looking over my shoulder. I took many overnight trains, and never had an incident, and perhaps more importantly never heard first hand from anyone who got mugged.

MEDICAL SCHOOL RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL : American Premed Students

Medical education and training varies across the world. In the US and Canada, a potential medical student must first complete an undergraduate degree in any subject before applying to medical school to pursue an (MD or D.O.) program. In Europe students get into medical school right after high school. Most Universities have 6-year programs for medicine and veterinary medicine and 5-year programs for pharmacy and dentistry.

EASIER TO GAIN ADMISSION : American Premed Students

Another reason why American students venture off to medical schools abroad is that it is easier to gain admission to an overseas medical school than to a medical school in the United States. Gaining admission to a medical school in America can be quite challenging, and once you get in, it is likely to entail four years of blood, sweat and tears. In Europe the process is much simpler-no undergraduate studies.

American Premed Students

All you need is a high school diploma and to pass admission exams in (biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy), which are written and oral. There are some medical schools, however, in Europe that accept students who only have a high school diploma. You need to have good marks and this is because it is hard to follow a medical degree abroad and you must be academically capable. Some medical universities, however, will accept you with lower grades if they see that you have a passion for the subject and you can demonstrate your ability in other ways.

American Premed Students

The actual admission requirements vary quite dramatically. Universities in Central Europe often have their own entrance exams, although apparently in Bulgaria and Romania these are not always required. The exams in these countries typically consist of a multiple-choice exam in chemistry and biology. If you can get a good grade in high school in these subjects, you shouldn’t have any trouble passing the exam. Some universities also have an exam in Mathis and physics.

MORE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE (CLINICAL WORK) : American Premed Students

More hands-on experience (clinical work) means you learn through contact with patients rather than all being theory. Right from the third year you start treating new diseases that you might rarely see in medical schools in the United States, interviewing patients, and documenting the medical history of those to whom you give care.

And of course, just by studying abroad in a different country, students become acquainted with a different culture, and they learn another language. A challenging experience that can ultimately be rewarding, both personally and professionally.

The high quality of education offered, recognized degrees, the extremely low fees or no fees at all, medical school right after high school (no undergraduate studies), easy admission process, High acceptance rate, safe and friendly environment, more hands-on experience (clinical experience) are just some of the factors that make studying abroad more and more attractive every day.
Therefore, if you are passionate about becoming a doctor, and you want to get straight on with your studies, this is the time.

American Premed Students