Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

I know there have been a few dreamers asking about medical school and I also know that there is not much information out there. However, here is my experience with it:

I graduated with an engineering degree from a Texas school and applied to the Texas public medical schools.

MCAT:
I studied myself and used my international passport with no visa as an ID.
Cost: $225

TMDSAS :
This is the umbrella organization through which any student applies to all the Texas Medical except Baylor Medical College (I didn't apply to Baylor).
You can apply as an undocumented, all they require is that you send the notarized residency form as they do for undergrad in Texas.

Cost: ~$500 (this includes the costs for secondary applications too)

Interviews:
I took greyhound to the interviews I could get to without passing border patrol. I was offered 4 interviews, but only could make it to 3. Interview suit and travel were costly, but save money by staying with a first yr student (most schools offer this option)

Cost: ~ 500 (this varies depending on how good you are at getting a bargain)

Acceptance:
Got a pre-match and got accepted to a medical school in Texas. Paid my placement fee by the deadline to secure my spot.
Applied for scholarships and filled out paper FAFSA. I was told I wouldn't be eligible for financial aid, but I already knew that.
Got awarded the Dean's scholarship (5000/yr for 2 yrs) . Merit based so I could get it.

The following months, I was getting correspondence about all the little things to prep for school such as: Immunizations (loads of them...shop around please, it can add up), forms to fill, apartment hunting and placing deposits, traveling for welcome weekend, buying health insurance .

Cost: ~600 ($100 placement fee, travel cost for welcome weekend, apartment deposits/app fee, immunizations). Thankfully I didn't buy the health insurance as yet (~1500/yr)

Then what happened???
It was June 1st, and I was already getting ready to quit my job, prepare for medical school. The excitement had already been peeked with all the little things I had to complete before medical school. All that was left was that I had to register for my classes and get my books. A formality right, because I am already in.

Well, I had a hold on my registration which when I called about they told me I had to send in proof of permanent residency or citizenship to get off. It was the first I had heard of this and even my contact in the admissions office who I spoke to regarding my financial aid situation acted like she didn't know I was illegal (but she did because she highly recommended I differ from medical school months before). I appealed my case to the Dean, but all I got was a deferment and an email saying how he was impressed with my resume and believed I would make a great doctor. They played me well. They couldn't prevent me from applying, but they could prevent me from registering for classes. Gotta give it to the smart fuckers!

Bottom line, yes a few dreamers made it to Texas medical school. But from talking to several schools admissions, most dropped out or took a leave of absence either because they couldn't afford it or they couldn't go forward during their 3rd/4th yr. Texas medical schools have seen these dreamers and now are not willing to let any in because they say it costs them too much money to educate someone who won't be able to work as a doctor. That's what I have heard from several sources. So even if you have the money to pay for it yourself, you won't be able to get in unless you can prove you will be able to work as a doctor.

Disclaimer: I have given my experience, but that doesn't mean it is final. Please learn from it, but forge your own path. I had heard of several failure stories firsthand and I still went for it. I lost a considerable amount of money, but at least I know I did everything I could possibly do.

What to do now: Well I can start medical school if my status changes (which doesn't seem like it will happen anytime soon). So I am looking for an exit strategy and giving up on medicine for now even though I have wanted it for the last 13 yrs of my life.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

You got farther than I did. Congrats. Sad that they wouldn't let you register.

I also applied to Texas medical schools, only two because I couldn't afford to travel, and got interviewed, but ultimately got waitlisted. I assume it was because I applied as an international student and they take few international student.

I felt terrible, because I knew I would have gotten in if I was a permanent resident or US citizen. But I also was a little relieved because I sort of knew it would be difficult for me to fund my education. It is just sad that you have to give up on your dream to become a doctor, like you said.

Now, I am just going to do a 1 year accelerated BSN program to become a nurse. My sister has already went through the program, and she works as a nurse. Sure the money isn't the same as a doctor, but it is good enough to live in a middle class lifestyle. So you should consider it if you like the healthcare field, but you already have a engineer degree so I guess that would be a better path for you to take.

Good Luck.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

Wow, that is really impressive, fabDreamer. It isn't easy going the pre-med route no matter what your status. Congrats on what you have accomplished, and thank you for this information as well. A pox on the immigration system in this country for not providing a path to legalization for those of us with this kind of potential.

I am also going the pre-med route, but my grades are in the shitter as I let myself be overtaken by my lack of a legal status.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

:-| I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you and you had such a horrible experience. But, thank you for sharing your experience.

Have you considered applying to a medical school abroad? I was considering Australia since it's one of the countries that I was thinking of immigrating to if things don't work out here. I know it's expensive, but would applying to private schools outside of Texas be absolutely out of the question for you?

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

Hey, is your sister a documented immigrant?

About the BSN program, I'd like to know if they require proof of legal residence to get licensed in the state of Texas to work as a nurse. Do you know ?

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

No, she is undocumented as well.

I not exactly sure, but I know you at least need a legal SS#. She has one since we are visa overstays, so I guess that is enough to take the NCLEX and be registered as a RN. Don't know too much more than that.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

Thanks for all the kind words and I am hoping that my experiences will help other pre-meds better understand their options.

freshh: I am actually seriously considering leaving the US and going to study in Canada or Australia. The only problem is that I don't have enough money to show that I can pay for all 4 yrs of medical school abroad. So I am looking into getting a Masters in some engineering field just so I can get out and become legal somewhere. This would be a deviation from medical school and it will be very hard to go back so I am slowly coming to terms with the realization that I may never be a medical doctor :-/ I still want to use my abilities to make a difference so I will...just in a different field.

Questionsihave: I would have no problem with being a nurse, but I don't have a SS# or any US Gov ID, so it would be a dead end for me. I wouldn't be able to get licensed or legally employed.

Dreamerperson - Please don't let your lack of status get in the way of your academic success. That is all you can really gain in this country. get your education because your worth here or outside depends on it.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

I'm also interested in medical school, but have seen many other DREAMers have to give up on this route. I'm hoping for some sort of legislation to pass soon, but I've definitely been considering my other options (like graduate school). Have you thought of just immigrating to Canada and then applying to attend school once you've lived there for a period of time? I've been told by a lawyer that it would cost me less to immigrate there as opposed to applying for a study permit. I guess that's because you would only need to prove that you have the funds to support yourself there for a year as opposed to being able to prove you have the funds for four years of medical school.

I hope everything works out for you. It's just sad that so many of us could do this country so much good and can't.

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

Congratulations on getting accepted!! That is already a big accomplishment for anyone regardless of status. I'm on the same path currently, I still have like 2-3 years left of college, but the thought of having to give up my desire to pursue medicine because of my status kills me. I really hope something happens soon so that you can go back, and dreamers like myself can go on and apply to med school just like everybody else. Never lose hope! and thanks for sharing this experience!

Re: Recent Medical School admissions experience
 

just an option to those who are still thinking med. school since I once considered it:

The thought crossed my mind at one point and if I had gone this route I'd have bailed to Mexico quite honestly. The tuition is way lower, the quality of education is on par w/most American schools I'd say. You get more training (if I recall correctly it's something like 5 years of pure medicine). The grade requirements are not as hardcore (really anyone in Mexico that wants to be a doctor pretty much can). And medical degrees are semi-universally accepted; obviously you must demonstrate ability by passing some certification/exams, but as an example, I know of a girl who got her med degree in Peru, moved to Australia and became a certified doctor after her 2nd or 3rd testing attempt.

This may put a dent if you don't have dominion of Spanish, but if you just forgot some of the vocabulary I'd say it's perfectly doable. Non-mexican citizens may want to look into international admissions however. Obviously you may also look at international agreements some countries may have w/some mexican schools so you don't have to retest/recertify.

To add to the list, a resident (maybe even citizen) friend of mine decided to get her biology degree in Mexico and I think was going to become a surgeon at one point (dunno if she's still going after that or not).