How to Study Pre Med in USA after 12th or BSc

Are you aspiring to study MBBS in the USA after 12th or BSc from India? There is no MBBS course or any undergraduate program in Medicine in the US. In the US, you can study medicine only at the postgraduate level which is MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Before that, you need to finish a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in the US (with a Pre-Med track) or finish your BSc from India (or another country) and do a Pre-Med course in the US. In this article, we will look at the roadmap for the Pre Med in USA.

How to Study Medicine in USA?

To study medicine in USA and/or become a doctor in the US, one needs to have completed 4-year under-graduation and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

It is not essential to choose any specific subject as a major at the under-graduation level but have to complete the essential pre-medical science courses (with concurrent laboratory experience).

International students, including students from India, can either join a BS (Bachelor of Science) course in the US after passing the Class-XII examination (AISSCE Examination of CBSE or equivalent examination conducted by regional Higher Secondary ExaminationBoards in India) or complete a 3-Year BSc in India and then take a foundation course called Pre Med in the US.

What is Pre Med in USA?

The Pre Med course conducted as per the US standards generally spans between a year to 4 Trimesters (16 Months). Taking a Pre Med course becomes essential for those students who have done a 4-year bachelor’s degree but haven’t studied the necessary subjects as mentioned below.

Apart from the eligibility requirement for studying medicine in the US, Pre-Med serves another important purpose which is that you get a chance to see if being a doctor really is what you want to do for the rest of your life and if you have the necessary skills for this profession

Requirements of Medical Schools in USA

Each med school has slightly different requirements, so you should absolutely make sure you research each med school you’re interested in while you’re still a college student to make sure you’re on track to meet all their requirements. In general, most med schools expect you to have taken the following classes:

• At least one year of biology with lab
• 1-year of general chemistry with lab
• 1-year of organic chemistry with lab
• One year of physics with lab
• At least one semester of biochemistry

The above pathway is specifically focused on Human Medicine. Some schools also require psychology or other courses. Many schools require international students to take a full year of English courses at a US university.

There are a few other tracks in medicine and appropriate foundation courses exist for those like Pre-Masters in Biomedicine, Pre-Masters in Health Management, and Pre-Masters in Public Health.

Read How to Prepare for Pre-Med while in High School.

Pre Med in USA: FAQs

Pre Med in USA Requirements

To get to Pre Med, here is a list of lings that you will be required:

• A good GPA of 3.0 or more
• Strong competence in science
• Proof of your desire to become a physician by way of having experience of working with patients by perhaps volunteering at a hospital
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• High School Transcripts
• Good TOEFL scores
• Personal interview

How much does it cost to Pursue Pre Med in USA?

• The tuition fee for Pre Med courses in the US ranges between USD 40,000 and USD 60,000.
• You also need to have the budget for other expenses of boarding, lab fee, and living cost and roughly that would add up USD 20,000 per annum.

Top Universities to Study Pre Med in USA

There are many universities from where you may pursue Pre Med course but given here is a list of the top 10 institutes that provides high-quality training:

1. Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA (QS Rank #3)
2. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (QS Rank #5)
3. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (QS Rank #13)
4. Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA (QS Rank #30)
5. Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA (QS Rank #49)
6. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA (QS Rank #52)
7. Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA (QS Rant #94)
8. Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA (QS Rank #107)
9. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (QS Rank #161)
10. Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA (QS Rank #201)

Read Top Pre-Med Majors and Best Pre-Med Schools.

Career Options after Pre Med in USA

There are several career options available to those who successfully complete Pre-Med courses viz., Respiratory therapist, Patient advocate, Sonographer, Emergency medical technician, Orthopedic Technician, Forensic science technician, Medical technologist & Dietitian.

However, the principal aim to pursue Pre-Med is to get admission to a med school for degrees like MD (Medical Doctor), DO (Doctor Osteopathy), ND (Doctor Naturopathic), etc. Needless to say, it is highly competitive and so it is important to have something extra in your resume apart from a good academic record and high marks on MCAT.

Here are a few things that you may consider to do during along with your Pre-Med course:

• Get some medical experience: You can do voluntary work in any clinic and assist a doctor in non-clinical tasks like keeping medical records, explaining the prescription to patients, etc.
• Do research projects: Med schools prefer students who are interested in research work. Look for an opportunity for undergraduate research in a medicine-related area and try to learn as much as possible for such assignments.
• Community service: Med schools want to see that you care about your community and/or have the drive to contribute to the greater good. It could be providing assistance to elderly infirm relatives, organizing and participating in voluntary blood donation camps, training people on hygiene, etc.

Featured Image Source: Princeton Review