Background Checks and Medical School
 

My friend's interested in attending medical school, but would not having ssn etc bar affect the mandatory background checks administered on every medical student nationwide?

Is there a risk to taking a background check just to see if he can pass even though he is undocumented?

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Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

let me get this straight, he has or has not ssn?
b/c withough ssn, how would they conduct background check?
i guess they could use the passport number and apply as international student, but if you do that, your chance of getting into med school is slim...
i am premed as well, but i am going to wait until i have applied to dream act,
which will pass this year, (it better!!!), if it doesn't apply next year,
my recommedation, he/she could work on strengthening his application, (study mcat, take classes to raise the GPA) b/c you can never have too high GPA or MCAT score.and volunteer at hospital, libraries, food banks and stuff
that's what i'm doing~~

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

He doesn't have a ssn. Does that mean he can't even get a background check?

Also, he does have an unexpired foreign passport...Does that mean he can get a background check designed for international students? Do these even exist?

Thanks so much!

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

What about the internship? Even if he gets into med-school, to become a doctor he will have to intern in a hospital for a year, right? I think it will be impossible without a SSN, but maybe I'm wrong.

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

if he has an unexpired passport, i guess he could apply as an international student, but as i said, public school almost never accept international students, and even at private schools with their high tuition, scarcely accept international student.
and without legal paperwork, it would be difficult to go through internship...
but don't be discouraged... if your friend wants to be a doctor, he/she will be one.
even if it takes a little longer, right?

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

I had to get a background check when I was a sophmore and a senior in the education program when I was in college. I went to the police department and filled out the form. I left the part about my SSN blank and handed the form to the woman. She then asked if I had a SSN and I said no. She then just asked for two ids and I gave her my matricula (issued by the Mexican consulate) and my college id. I went back in about a week and was handed my background check. I guess they just used my name and other information that was on my ids instead of the SSN. I live in Georgia and if I got away with it here then you should be able to get away with it where ever you live.

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

Maybe you could even write your ITIN number in the SSN field? or thats not accepted?

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

thanks for the posts guys. i just talked to an immigration attorney and he said that they can use the ITIN. I'm going to relay this to my friend. Basically, they only check for criminal history so if you haven't done anything bad, you should be fine. yay.

also, in response to previous posts up there, i recommend NOT waiting to apply to medical school. believe it or not, a good number of international students get in. Sure the competition is keener and you need better stats, but think about it, it'll take you four years to get to the internship part. That means you have four years of active waiting for the dream act/ or whatever legislation to pass. I think that's better than waiting for the legislation and applying late. You can "wait" in med school. Yeah!?

Anyway, just my $.02.

Re: Background Checks and Medical School
 

I see what you mean and it makes sense, I am pre-med myself except there is one key issue you are forgetting. Cost....

Personally there is no way I could ever afford a medical school much less paying as an international student. If the DREAM act doesnt pass then I can't take out loans whcih are basically the only way I could attend medical school...

However if you are in good economic position then I say go for it! However most of us DREAMers do not have that luxury.