UK Undergrad for Pre-med?

[Twilightbubble]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting so I hope this is the right forum section. If it isn't please help redirect me to the proper position.

My current concern is which undergraduate school I should attend in the 2012-2013 year. My final goal after all the academia is to be a family practitioner in BC. Currently, I have been accepted into the following schools and need to choose between them.

Canada:

McGill - Immunology- with Major Entrance Scholarship
UBC - General Science - Waiting on Major Entrance Scholarship

UK:

Imperial College London - Biomedical Engineering - no scholarship I believe
University College London - Biomedical Science (basically a Pre-med course), Pharmacology, or Biochemistry - scholarship (10k per year) results are out in august, so don't know right now.

US:
Wait listed at my dream schools, but will wait just in case

I know that choosing a Canadian school will render my path onto medical school in Canada more straightforward, but I also want to explore international opportunities and make my IB mark worth awhile (possibly finish med in UK instead). Which choice would be wise for me to take?

[NLengr]

Doing medicine in the UK is a bad choice unless you want to practice in the UK.

[IamIDP]

Originally Posted by NLengr

Doing medicine in the UK is a bad choice unless you want to practice in the UK.

He/She wants to do undergrad in the UK, which is a good choice since he/she has been accepted to very prestigous schools for UG.

[charmer08]

I'm curious why didn't you apply to uoft lol

[Robin Hood]

UK undergrad could be hard to get recognized in Canada, some schools may not accept undergraduate coursework done outside North America.

[future_doc]

To my mind, itis a no brainer and there is really nothing to think about. You want to practice in B.C. - so go to UBC period. Why complicate matters? It makes no sense to me. Your dream school in US is not relvant to anything. And even thinking of going to med school in the UK is beyond madness. Then, as an IMG, you will want to try to return to Canada to practice med in this climate. You seem to really want to go out of your way to create adventures for yourself that will only shoot yourself in the foot. I guess this is due to perhaps immaturity and wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Wonderful in theory, but be practical in your own best interests. Be careful what you wish for because it may become true - and then, you will have to live with the consequences that may be an entirely different story. My advice is to keep it simple.

[PhoenixFlare500]

I don't know what the in-province requirements are for McGill or UBC, but you could look into those. If you already meet IP for UBC, and if going to McGill for undergrad also gives you a chance at IP for that school, then I'd go to McGill. If not, then I'd go to UBC. Like everyone else I recommend you don't go to the UK unless you're ok with the chance of not being able to return to Canada to practice.

[leescait]

I did my undergrad in the UK (and master's in Canada) without any problem getting into a Canadian med school. I have dual citizenship.

You have to get your transcript validated through WES (World Education Services). As long as you go to an accredited UK uni, this shouldn't be a problem.

I would advise against UK medical schools unless you plan on staying there and practicing there. The structure of UK med school is quite different (you begin straight out of high school), and if you apply as a normal Canadian candidate (with an undergrad already) you may find it frustrating to re-do basic science courses over a 5 year degree. The other difference is generally in scope of practice/responsibility in the UK. As a Canadian medical student, I did an elective there and found it extremely frustrating as medical students there are allowed to do very little. It would be a much longer road to what would feel like productive and independent practice.

I loved the time I spent in England for my undergrad! It's a great choice (and just as good as Canadian schools) if you are planning on coming back to Canada for med school. WES is very fair in translating marks to the Canadian setting.

[dy727]

If you went to high school in BC and want some adventure, go to mcgill.

UK might be difficult, BUT it might actually be REALLY fun --> take every weekend off travelling around Europe --> wow that sorta makes me regret doing ugrad in montreal.

bottomline is, you just graduated highschool and you're thinking of med school.

Are you gonna let the goal of getting into med school control where you live, how you live your life?

or are you gonna take control and do everything you want and go to wherever you want while having some control over your grades, before getting into med school?

I personally like adventure and would go to UK and take my time travelling around europe while keeping up with grades etc, that said studying wasn't that a problem for me during my ugrad.

But i know that other people who like to stay local and keep the close relationships going (friends, family) and like seeing familiar things, would probably choose UBC.

Either way, you'll do well wherever you go as long as you put some work in. It's just a matter of how you want to live out the next few years of your life. Med school is sorta overrated.

[NLengr]

Originally Posted by IamIDP

He/She wants to do undergrad in the UK, which is a good choice since he/she has been accepted to very prestigous schools for UG.

He/she also stated possibly doing medicine there. Hence my comment.