Students in India have the option to apply for a student visa and attend a medical college or university in the United States. While there are advantages to this pathway to an MD (MBBS) degree, there are also some challenges and difficulties to consider.
Educational Differences
One of the first challenges in attending medical colleges in the USA for Indian students is the style or methodology used in American undergraduate and graduate programs. While Indian schools and courses may focus on facts and rote memory of specific information, American studies tend to focus on research, opinions, and the ability to create an argument for or against a specific issue or topic.
Group projects, shared learning experience, and the lack of specific, structured expectations can create challenges in medical colleges in the USA for Indian students.
MCAT Exams
A significant challenge for students from India is scoring the required 500 on the MCAT exam. The MCAT or the Medical College Admissions Test is similar to the NEET exam, but it more extensive and completed online rather than pen and paper.
In addition, the MCAT tests more than the NEET categories of Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. The MCAT is a multiple-choice test that includes critical analysis and reasoning skills, scientific inquiry and reasoning skills, and three other categories. Each category is 50 to 60 questions with breaks in between. The exam is conducted over a maximum time of 7.5 hours.
American Medical colleges also requires completion of BSc course with a more than 3.8 GPA before admission in the medical program which is an overwhelming obstacle for Indian students.
In addition to the academic issues, there is also a cultural difference in medical colleges in the USA for Indian students. Campus life, language issues, and American culture can be difficult to understand, adding to the challenges of academic study.
Zordha Education provides for students thinking about applying to medical colleges in the USA for Indian students. To find out more, see us online.