“Your BS/MD Admissions Game Plan” is a blog series created by Dr. Paul Lowe that discusses BS/MD Admissions. With such a competitive environment and the immeasurable value and benefits of BS/MD programs, the need for an admissions game plan is ESSENTIAL.
At BS/ MD Admissions, we discern that many students and parents are clueless about what to do, when to do it, where to do it, who to contact, and why do it. They fail to discover what they are doing that’s wrong, or they discover what they’ve been doing is wrong when it’s too late!
U.S. BS/MD vs. India MBBS
Several of the parents who have called me for BS/MD programs who are of Indian (Asian) heritage, because of the competitive nature of BS/MD program medical school admissions, have been asking me about comparing U.S. BS/MD vs India MBBS degree and is there an advantage to a U.S. BS/MD.
First let’s define the degrees: Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a professional (post graduate) degree given in some countries like the USA, Canada etc. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is the degree given in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other commonwealth countries like India and is considered equivalent to the MD. MBBS is an undergraduate course which is pursued by candidates who wish to make their career in the field of medicine. Whereas, MD is a postgraduate course that can be pursued by candidates who have completed their MBBS.
For the Commonwealth countries, MBBS is an undergraduate course of study which is pursued by candidates who wish to make their career in the field of medicine. Whereas, MD is a postgraduate course that can be pursued by candidates who have completed their MBBS.
The US follows a different curriculum for obtaining a medical degree and license to practice Medicine. Unlike India, high school students apply to direct BS/MD programs (6, 7 or 8 years) earn an M.D. upon completion of the program. Over the course of the program, the students have a Pre-Medical courses and earn a Bachelor’s degree (up to four years of Undergraduate program), MD program (Four years) and USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, 2 & 3). A Residency Program is required to complete the Licensing Exam. After completing all, a student is conferred with a license to practice medicine in the US.
What’s the biggest advantage of BS/MD? In most cases, you are guaranteed acceptance into the medical program and in some cases (6- or 7-year programs) you become a doctor at 24 or 25 years old. This is potentially very important to students who are clear about their educational goals. Another advantage is that it relieves stress on the student in having to take the MCATs and going through the rigorous medical school admissions process with the uncertainty that they will be accepted to medical school.
In the US, a student after completion of MBBS cannot practice directly since the basic level of study to practice is postgraduate medicine in the US. USMLE has clearly defined the medical courses after MBBS to be completed in the US.
What’s the main advantage of a U.S. BS/MD program?
- High school student can now figuratively be called Doctor by their parents!
- Time savings: some BS/MD programs are 6 or 7 years,
- In many cases, no need for additional entrance exams like the MCATs.
- For international students (for some BS/MD program), it’s a direct path to working as a licensed medical doctor in the U.S.
Our BS/MD Admissions practice is specialized: Dr. Lowe and his team only work with parents who understand that the BS/MD admissions process is competitive, who desire help from an admissions expert and who see the value and investment in paying for expert advice through a detailed and ongoing comprehensive admissions advisory service for their child’s dream of becoming a doctor. He also specializes in helping international students in the BS/MD process. BS/MD Admissions Advisors – 2020 Acceptances. Parents who chose to use our services want to call their son or daughter – “Doctor” when they are seniors in high school.
Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network. He and his team of admissions advisors, through the admissions affiliate, BS/MD Admissions Advisors, help high school students get accepted to BS/MD programs.
Dr. Paul Lowe - Admissions Expert 