Life after MBBS can take many turns and can land you in varied career prospects, but you’re looking to do your masters and that too in the US? Is pursuing MD in US a good idea? How tough is it? What is the eligibility criterion? After completing MBBS a student has many choices to get their MD in, which college is best for them in a country that has state of the art technology to provide the future pillars of the society the right education?
Also Read: MD after MBBS – Complete Guide
Highlights
| Name | Doctor of Medicine (MD) |
| Duration of Course | 4 years (7-9 years along with pre-med school and license) |
| Eligibility | The required MCAT and NEET score |
| English proficiency | Required |
| Admission criteria | Entrance-based |
| Average Annual Tuition fee | 18,442 USD to 64,984 USD |
Exams required for MD in US
Sure India is one of the leading education factories for producing doctors every year but how many are actually on a global scale? Now, there are two ways of pursuing MD in the US after MBBS. They first way being that after MBBS you write SAT and MCAT to be eligible to apply in universities for MD in US (make sure you have a bachelor’s in science) then go through 4 years of medical school, then pass your USMLE exams and find residency along with the niche.
Also Read: Minimum Marks Required in NEET for MBBS in Private College
Pass part 3 of USMLE to be able to get full fledged residency, get your board certification and voilà! You finally have your license to practise and your MD.
So, here’s a brief about MCAT and USMLE:
MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test or MCAT is a standardized test that evaluates a student’s preparedness for Medical College. It is a multiple-choice, computer-based test that helps in the evaluation of students who passed their 4-year undergraduate program, also called the pre-med term.
USMLE
USMLE or United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is three-levelled screening test that decides whether you are capable of practising your license in a health care centre or not. As said, USMLE focuses on how much you have learnt, adapted and honed your skills from the practical aspect and not knowledge-based.
Also Read: MBA after MBBS – Scope, Top Colleges, and More
List of Top MD in US Colleges
To study MD in US, you need to apply for universities out there after clearing your MCAT exam. Hence, you need to match your scores and select the best institute for you. Here’s a list of top colleges for MD and MPH in the US:
| Name of the college | Place |
| Harvard University | Boston |
| University of California | Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| John Hopkins University | Baltimore |
| Stanford University | Stanford |
| Columbia University | New York |
| University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) | Philadelphia |
| University of California | San Francisco |
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria required to apply for MD in US is pretty simple and resonates to other US programs. Hence, they are as follows:
- Should have completed 10th and 12th class
- Need to do a “pre-medical course” i.e., Bachelor of Science degree in biology, chemistry or other medicine related subjects.
- MCAT and NEET test scores ranging IELTS score 6.5 to 7.0 and TOEFL score 90 to 100
Also Read: Requirement For Study In USA
Note: Students are advised to score more than 510 marks in the MCAT entrance exam to have a chance of getting a medical college. Even though MCAT does not have a fixed minimum score limit, 510 is considered a decent average score. MCAT score should not be older than 4 years.
Also Read: Minimum Marks Required in NEET for MBBS in Government College
Documents Required for MD in US
- Mark-sheet of 10th and 12th boards exams
- A valid visa, passport and photo ID
- Evaluated foreign transcripts through an accredited agency
- Letters of Recommendations
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Self Declaration Form
- Bank statement from past 6 months
How to Get Admission?
- We understand that such a long procedure for USMLE after MBBS may sound excruciating but hey we’ve got your back , if you’re someone who has the knack to learn quick and can ace tests, this alternative method is going to help you reach the goal faster. The US provides a course called MPH (Masters in Public Health) which is one of the most popular courses amongst Indian students after MBBS.
- By taking admission into MPH in the country, many students use this time period to appear for their clinical exams and in the end, you will have two degrees, one clinical after residency, i.e. MD and other non-clinical such as MPH or you can even opt for a diploma in Public Health before beginning your residency for MD in USA.
- Of course taking this course comes at a cost (surely not your soul). The cost of MPH is higher than pursuing the 4 year Medical course and that you need to make sure you can ace and clear all three parts of USMLE at once. Yes, there’s no escape from exams even if you pay more. It’s just a faster process.
Also check out: MBA after MBBS – Scope, Top Colleges and More
Advantages of Doing MD in US
Yes, one wants to study medicine and aspire to become a doctor, but what’s in it for us to do MD in US? What are the added benefits of doing that program? Let us bullet some of those benefits down. Some of the major advantages of taking this route to opt for MD in US are:
- You can avail networking opportunities in the medical arena in the country.
- While studying MPH, you can take a break for one semester at the onset of completing your first year of this program and then during this time, complete your clerkship which is mandatory to get residency for MD in USA.
- It will allow you to get a 5-year student visa to study in USA and this will help you take the right passage until you clear the USMLE-3.
- If you come across any issues during the process of getting residency for MD in USA, then the public health degree can help you explore career prospects and cover your living costs.
Conclusion
After all this discussion, is studying MD in the US when worth it? The salary of a basic family doctor in the US is around $145000 a year. I’m sure a little conversation tab would make your eyes sparkle. But yes it’s not always about the money, it’s also about the passion and dedication. To conclude, yes, we want best doctors who are passionate about their work so we want such doctors to also be paid fair.
Have more questions regarding MD in US? Get in touch with ForeignAdmits to get your profile evaluated, now!