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U.S. Medical Schools that Accept Canadian Students

US Medical Schools That Accept Canadian Students
US Medical Schools That Accept Canadian Students

Today, the United States is the destination for many aspiring physicians. Admission to medical schools is competitive everywhere but, as Canadian, youโ€™ll face exceptionally stiff competition. 

Can you actually be admitted into a US medical school as a Canadian citizen? The answer is yes! Every year, we work with Canadian citizens throughout the medical school application process who are accepted to medical school. Letโ€™s take a look.https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8qKNiG1tfI?feature=oembed

Can You Get into a U.S. Medical School?

You can be admitted to a U.S. medical school as a Canadian. However, most institutions in the country only accept U.S. citizens or residents.ย 

Canadian applicants must be prepared for a highly competitive admissions process. Still, they often have an easier time than other international candidates do, largely because their education systems are comparable, and their coursework is similar to that of U.S. undergraduate schools. That meansย medical school admissionsย committees will usually be satisfied that, for example, organic chemistry in Canada is equivalent to that of organic chemistry in the U.S.

Moreover, some medical schools donโ€™t even consider Canadians international students when reviewing their applications, or they distinguish them from other international applicants.

List of Medical Schools that Accept Canadians

This data comes from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Medical SchoolLocation
Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX
Boston University School of MedicineBoston, MA
Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineCleveland, OH
Central Michigan University College of MedicineMt Pleasant, MI
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsNew York, NY
Duke University School of MedicineDurham, NC
Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA
Geisel School of Medicine at DartmouthHanover, NH
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health SciencesWashington, DC
Georgetown University School of MedicineWashington, DC
Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, MA
Howard University College of MedicineWashington, DC
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York, NY
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, MD
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineRochester, MN
Meharry Medical CollegeNashville, TN
Michigan State University College of Human MedicineEast Lansing, MI
Morehouse School of MedicineAtlanta, GA
New York Medical CollegeValhalla, NY
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of MedicineChicago, IL
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY
Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolNewark, NJ
Saint Louis University School of MedicineSaint Louis, MO
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA
Stanford University School of MedicineStanford, CA
State University of New York Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuse, NY
TCU and UNTHSC School of MedicineFort Worth, TX
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of MedicineEl Paso, TX
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of MedicineSan Antonio, TX
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life SciencesToledo, OH
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityProvidence, RI
Tufts University School of MedicineBoston, MA
Tulane University School of MedicineNew Orleans, LA
University of Arizona College of MedicineTucson, AZ
University of California, Davis, School of MedicineSacramento, CA
University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of MedicineLos Angeles, CA
University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of MedicineChicago, IL
University of Colorado School of MedicineAurora, CO
University of Connecticut School of MedicineFarmington, CT
University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of MedicineHonolulu, HI
University of Illinois College of MedicineChicago, IL
University of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimore, MD
University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcester, MA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of MedicineChapel Hill, NC
University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburgh, PA
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical SchoolAustin, TX
University of Utah School of MedicineSalt Lake City, UT
University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesville, VA
Vanderbilt University School of MedicineNashville, TN
Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineRichmond, VA
Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineSaint Louis, MO
Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroit, MI
Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, NY
Yale School of MedicineNew Haven, CT

Based on decades of medical school admissions committee experience.

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Why Would You Want to Attend a U.S. Medical School?

Less Competition

With only 17 medical schools in Canada and an admissions rate hovering around justย 20 percent, the odds of acceptance are incredibly low. Of course, admissions are extremely competitive in the U.S., too, but with 154 allopathic and 38 osteopathic programs, youโ€™ll arguably have a less difficult time being admitted to a US medical school.

Residency Options and U.S. Accreditation

Attending a medical school in the US will open doors to completing a residency at programs in the country. Given that itโ€™s home to some of the top hospitals and facilities, this is an attractive option.

Furthermore, youโ€™ll be accredited to work in the US after graduating from a medical school located in the country, which will give you more choices of employers and opportunities.

Related Article: How to get into medical school.ย ย A comprehensive guide

Tips for Applying as a Canadian

1. Ensure you have the strongest candidacy possible.

Because medical school is more competitive for Canadians, we advise this cohort of applicants to have higher thanย average GPAs and MCATsย for accepted students. We also encourage them to have the bestย extracurricularย profile possible.

2. Think about what youโ€™ll do after medical school.

This is something you should consider before committing to attending a medical school in the US. If youโ€™re hoping to return to Canada for your residency, youโ€™ll have more difficult matching. Data from theย Canadian Resident Matching Serviceย (CaRMS) shows that graduates of US medical schools match at Canadian residency programs at a considerably lower rate than graduates of Canadian medical schools โ€” 59.5 percent to 96.5 percent.ย 

So, you should think about your goals beyond medical school, particularly in terms of where you want to practice.

3. Start early.

The U.S. medical school admissions cycle begins earlier than it does in Canada. You can look up general AAMC deadlines and datesย here, and check with individual schools for more details. Generally speaking, you should complete your materials as quickly as possible.

4. Focus on qualitative factors in addition to quantitative ones.

While both U.S. and Canadian medical schools weigh your GPA and MCAT scores heavily in determining whether youโ€™ll be admitted, the US also considers additional materials, including personal statements and extracurricular activities. Make sure you understand the expectations for each component of your application and recognize that the US admissions process is more holistic than that of its neighbor.

5. Ensure you meet the requirements.

Usually, transcripts and coursework transfer smoothly between the U.S. and Canadian academic systems. But you should still make sure this is the case for you, taking the time to review requirements and ensure your credits are equivalent to US counterparts.

No matter what your nationality, admission to medical school is challenging, and the process itself is grueling. But attending a U.S. institutionย isย possible for Canadian students. Learn more about how we can help you take this important step toward a thriving career in medicine.

What BS/MD Programs Admit International Students?

I am regularly asked what BS/MD programs admit international students. Here is a list of those programs that consider international students in BS/MD admissions:

University of Connecticut
Boston University
University of Rochester
Case Western Reserve University
Penn State University
Brown University

Virginia Commonwealth University

The following programs will also consider Canadian students:

George Washington University
St. Bonaventure University/George Washington University
Wayne State University

While the above colleges will consider admitting international students I want to make it clear that it is generally more difficult for an international student to be admitted to these programs than a US resident. And given how difficult it is to get admitted for a US resident, that is saying something.

I have had international students be admitted to many of these programs but these students  always need a solid backup of a traditional college.


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