A few weeks ago we discussed how difficult it is to get into an American medical school as an international student. Many of them don’t consider international applicants at all, and there’s very little scholarship money available.
[Read about applying to medical school as an international student]
But a small number of international students DO get into U.S. medical schools each year, and Promise is determined to be one of them. Here’s his story of how he hopes to defy the odds.
(Photos by University of Nottingham and Jason Trommetter)
I’d previously thought that getting into medical school in the U.S. was as easy as eating pizza, until my glance fell on an excerpt from Yale University’s webpage, which warns international students studying pre-med and dreaming of medical school to, perhaps, consider waking up.
I was shocked (not exaggerating, I felt my brain scamper around for blood vessels in order to keep me alive), and I booked an appointment immediately with my academic advisor to change my major.
Here’s the truth of the situation: Only a “spoonful” of American medical schools accept international students – I can’t even say a “handful,” because to be realistic, a handful is too much. For the few that admit international students, an even smaller amount give limited scholarships. And a lot of that altruism is through loans, most of which need a co-signer. Now, tell me, who is the “Mother Teresa” who will cosign your $200,000 loan? I don’t mean to scare anyone, but only a miracle can guarantee you a form of aid, and you have to know your relationship to whichever God backs you up.
But I did not change my major that day.
Read the rest of this entry »