International Applicants
Finding a School
International students are those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. Most public medical schools give some preference to residents of their state, which makes applying more difficult for both out-of-state and international students. Although there are several medical schools registered through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) that accept international students, there are many schools that do not, making school selection very important for international applicants.
According to the AAMC's Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) database for the 2019-2020 AMCAS application cycle, 52 of 171 medical schools say they accept international students and 81 of 171 medical schools say they accept Canadian students.
International applicants can use the MSAR in a variety of ways:
- To search for medical schools that accept international students;
- To see how many international students have been accepted in the past; and
- To determine if there are any additional requirements or expectations for international students, such as TOEFL scores or a WES evaluation for credit earned at an international institution.
Funding
International students are not eligible to receive federal student aid to pay for medical school so funding is also an important factor for international applicants to consider. Medical schools that admit international students may require evidence of the student’s capacity to pay tuition above and beyond the INS requirements for an I-20. In fact, some schools may require the student to pre-pay some or all of the tuition or to create an escrow account for these funds. Some institutions may accept loans cosigned by a U.S. citizen. Outside of personal funds, international students can consider private loans, sponsors and scholarships to help pay for school.
The AAMC also has additional information for students applying to U.S. medical schools as an international applicant.
International MD Program at GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences
The GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences offers an International MD Program. This program is designed for international students who have completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university and wish to practice medicine in their home countries. It is important to note that if you are interested that your enrollment must be financially sponsored by your government or by a medical institution in your home country.
Talk to a pre-health advisor if you're interested in applying for this program.