Hard school- any disadvantage?

Watson_amp_Crick
Sat, 03 Nov 2007 20:21:57 +0000

Now, let me replace theoretical reasoning with empirical evidence:

I know a math major from Vietnam who went to france. He actually had a GRADUATE degree before going to france. He changed his mind, and decided to become a doctor. He took the first premed year, and retook it to progress. He failed every single year he took. His medical school education (premed&med) took a total of 12 yrs, as opposed to the standard 6 yrs. He graduated with no debt, since all his education was free. He didn’t know how to speak/read french when he came. He is now a successful physician in Paris, with a great reputation.

Could he have done the same in the US? I doubt it. Without knowing to speak english, how on earth was he going to pass the MCAT, which is reputed to be one of the hardest english based standardized test? How will he pay the thousands of dollars to do a postbac program? Even native english speakers fail the MCAT test. Even if he had survived, he would have had 200-300K in debts before going to residency if he took 12 yrs to graduate.

"admired our more “wholistic” and “open” approach to medical school admissions. " In france, at least, med school admission is a kind of open admission. As long as you graduate from high school, you are technically “admitted.” The weed out process occurs after.

On the other hand, a medical school student in the US more “locked in” since he has a huge debt after 1-2 yr of medical school. He has to stay to get his MD, and become a doctor to pay that debt.