MBBS in USA: Durations, Scholarship, Eligibility

Hey there! Ever dreamed of becoming a doctor in the USA? It’s a goal many students share! Getting your medical degree, or what’s called an MD in the States, is a big journey. It takes a lot of hard work, but the USA is known for its amazing medical schools that teach you through books and real-life practice.

If you’re in India and thinking about MBBS in USA right after 12th grade, you might wonder how it all works. Finding good, clear information is super important to help you decide if it’s the right path for you.

In this article, we’ll break down everything about MBBS in USA. We’ll talk about how long it takes, how you might get help with money through scholarships, and what you need to be able to apply.

What is MBBS in USA?

Here’s a little difference: In India, MBBS is like your first college degree in medicine. But in the USA, the degree you get to become a doctor is called an MD (Doctor of Medicine), and it’s a degree you get after college. The path to getting your MD in the USA is long and complete, designed to give you all the smarts and skills a doctor needs.

The main medical school part for your MD in the USA usually lasts four years. This includes learning in classrooms and getting hands-on training in hospitals. After you finish, you get the MD degree, which is known and respected all over the world. If you’re hoping to study MBBS in USA, you need to know the basic rules for applying.

What You Need to Apply (for students from other countries)

Students from other countries usually need to finish a “pre-med” program first. This can take 1 to 2 years at a US university before you even start the main medical degree. After that pre-med step, you’ll spend about 4.5 years in the MD program to get your degree from a place like AUAMED.

But wait, there’s more! After the MD, you need to do a training program called a Residency. This is like the MD you’d get in India and takes about 3 to 5 years. Once you complete your residency, you can start working as a doctor. So, the total time to finish your medical training in the USA after 12th grade can be anywhere from 7 to 10 years. And about the cost? It can be pretty high, maybe between $200,000 to $300,000 for the medical courses.

Why Study MBBS in USA?

One really great thing about getting your medical degree in the USA is that if you want to work in India later, you might not have to take another big test called the FMGE. The Medical Council of India knows and approves an MD degree from a good, trusted university in the USA.

Here are some other cool reasons to think about MBBS in USA:

• The USA has a top-notch education system.
• A medical degree from the USA is respected everywhere, often without needing other tests.
• Degrees from the USA are approved by important groups like the WHO and ECFMG.
• There are good scholarships to help students with costs.
• Doctors in the USA are needed! Experts think there will be a shortage of many types of doctors in the coming years, meaning good job chances.

How the Study Path Works for MBBS in USA

To apply for the MD degree in the USA, you usually need to have a Bachelor of Science degree in subjects like physics, chemistry, or biology. If you got a bachelor’s degree in science in India, it might be seen as a pre-medical course in the USA.

If You Apply After 12th Grade:

If you’re an Indian student applying for MBBS in USA right after 12th and don’t have a bachelor’s degree yet, you’ll likely start with a pre-med course. This course teaches you the science basics you’ll need for medical school. Even though students in the USA might do pre-med for four years, since you’ve finished 12th grade, you might only need about 1 to 2 years (like four semesters). After this pre-med part, you can move on to the medical science courses. Also, passing the NEET exam in India is a must for Indian students.

From Pre-Med to MD:

Once you finish pre-med, you can apply for the MD degree. This is like the MBBS in India and includes learning from books and getting hands-on practice.

The first part is classroom learning in science topics like how the body is built (anatomy), how things work inside you (biochemistry), and how to deal with tiny living things (microbiology). This part can take 1 to 4 semesters. After this, you usually take a special course before taking the first big test, USMLE Exam 1. Passing this test lets you move to the next stage.

The next stage is called Clinical Sciences Rotations. This is where you work with real patients under the watch of experienced doctors, learning how to care for them. This part is about 84 weeks long. At the end of this, you take another test, USMLE Exam 2. All in all, getting your MD degree can take about six and a half years after pre-med.

Training After MD: The Residency

If you pass USMLE Exam 2 and have your MD degree, you can apply for a residency program in the USA. This is similar to getting an MD or MS with a specialty in India. You actually get paid during your residency! Passing USMLE Exams 1 and 2 is important not just for residency, but also for your clinical training and getting a license to be a doctor.

How to Apply for MBBS in USA

Applying for the MD program in the USA often means you need a good score on a test called the MCAT and finishing your pre-med studies.

Basic Rules for Applying:

• You need to have finished 10th and 12th grades.
• Your 12th-grade subjects should include science like Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
• A good MCAT score is helpful. While there’s no strict minimum score at most places, getting over 510 is usually seen as good. Your MCAT score shouldn’t be older than four years.
• Since classes are in English, you need to show you’re good at English by taking a test like IELTS (aim for 6.5-7.0) or TOEFL (aim for 90-100).

Rules for AUA (American University of Antigua):

For AUA, you need Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in 12th grade. Sometimes, if you went to an international school that didn’t let you take all three sciences in 12th, they might look at your grades from 10th or 11th grade.

Indian students must pass the NEET exam. Even if you haven’t finished 12th boards yet, you can apply, but you still need to pass NEET.

If you’re not an Indian citizen but studied in India and your school didn’t have all three sciences, they might consider other subjects like Math or English. But for Indian citizens, having Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in 12th is required for NEET.

Rules for NRI Students:

If you are an NRI student and don’t have an Indian passport, you might not need to pass the NEET exam. However, if you are an Indian citizen with an Indian passport, you must qualify for the NEET exam to be able to apply.

What Papers You Need (Basic List):

• Original report cards from 10th and 12th grade.
• Original college degree paper, if you have one.
• Official school reports from all your high schools and colleges.
• A few passport-sized pictures.
• A personal essay about yourself.
• Your resume or CV.
• Money for the application that you won’t get back.
• Your English test scores (TOEFL or IELTS).
• Your NEET scorecard (for Indian students).

Extra Papers for AUA:

If you’re applying for the pre-med to MD program, you’ll need two letters of recommendation from your teachers and high school principal. You also need to write a personal essay and might have an interview online. If you’re applying for the B.Sc to MD program, you don’t need the letters or the personal essay, and your acceptance is mostly based on your grades.

Money Help: Scholarships for MBBS in USA

Lots of universities and groups offer scholarships to help students pay for MBBS in USA. These can help lower the big cost so more students can follow their dream. Some common scholarships are Provost, Dean’s Achievement, and High Achievers Scholarships.

Jobs After MBBS in USA

After getting your medical degree in the USA, there are tons of job paths you can take. Doctors in the USA make a good salary. Some jobs that are really needed include:

• Family Doctors: They help with everyday sicknesses like the flu or broken bones.
• Internists: They treat problems inside the body without surgery, like kidney or stomach issues.
• Psychiatrists: They help people with their mental health.
• Surgeons: They fix injuries or health problems with operations.
• OB/GYNs: They care for women’s reproductive health, like during pregnancy.
• Neurologists: They treat problems with the brain and nervous system.
• Radiologists: They use machines like X-rays to see inside the body and figure out what’s wrong.
• Anesthesiologists: They give medicine to stop pain during surgery.
• Pediatricians: They are doctors for babies, toddlers, and kids.
• Cardiologists: They treat heart problems.

The Finish Line

Going for your medical degree in the USA is a fantastic opportunity if you want to become a doctor. The program itself takes about four years, with classroom learning and hands-on practice. But getting in can be tough. You need good grades, high test scores, and need to be good at English.

Yes, the steps to apply and get into a respected university in the USA can be tricky. But with the right help and advice, you can make this dream come true.

Conclusion…

Want to become a doctor with a degree respected worldwide? MBBS in USA offers a top education and great job chances. While it takes time and effort with pre-med, MD school, and residency, plus meeting the entry rules and costs, scholarships can help, and the payoff is a rewarding career helping people.

Frequently Asked Questions