Medical School for International Students: Which Schools Accept Non-US Citizens?

Before you can become a doctor, you must study for years and complete residency programs at hospitals — it is a long, hard road for any student. However, getting into medical school for international students is even more challenging, as only a fraction of the accredited medical institutions in the United States accept F-1 visa holders. But do not be discouraged — if you are motivated, you can do it!

Can international students apply for medical school in the US? Yes, they can, and we will show you how. Read on to learn more about the requirements for F-1 student visa holders, the MCAT exam, and which schools in the United States are welcoming to international students.

Medical School Requirements for International Students

The requirements for applying to med school are different for international students at most universities in the United States; however, both domestic and international students start with the American Medical College Application Service’s (AMCAS) centralized application.

Almost every first-year med student applies with the AMCAS application, including international students. However, the AMCAS service does not accept foreign transcripts unless they have been accepted already by an accredited institution in the United States. If your international transcript has already been accepted at a different US school, then you should include your transcript letter from that university as well when applying with the AMCAS.

Regarding admissions policies towards non-US citizens, international students are encouraged to study in the United States before entering med school, if possible. Not only does it make it easier to share your grades on your applications, but it also shows program admissions officers that you are familiar with and comfortable learning in the US educational and curricular system. This may give you a competitive edge at schools that accept international students.

How Do I Fill Out the AMCAS Centralized Application?

There are nine sections to the AMCAS application that cover the following seven areas:

Your background information: Name, birthday, schools attended, citizenship, ethnicity and race, and more
Your course work: Transcripts and information about your coursework as an international student
Your work and activities: Work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, and other achievements
Your letters of evaluation: Information regarding your recommendation letter writers and which schools should receive your letters of recommendation
The schools where you wish to apply: The names of the institutions where you hope to study
Your essays: Your personal responses to required essay questions
Your standardized tests: Your test results, including your MCAT exam scores

When applying to med schools that accept international students, keep in mind that it costs $160 for the first school and $38 for each additional school you apply to, using the AMCAS centralized application. Secondary applications’ average cost is $100 each, according to Kaplan.

Other Med School Admissions Requirements for International Students

In addition to the AMCAS centralized application, you will likely submit a secondary application specific to each of your universities. These applications cover much of the same material as the centralized application, but may ask more specific questions related to the university program and your interests. You may also use the secondary application to submit your transcripts from international schools.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average amount of debt for the class of 2020 is $200,000, and very few financial aid opportunities are available to international medical students. So, it is a good idea to start getting your financial documents together, especially as you begin the visa application process. The US government will likely ask you how you plan to pay for your degree program.

In addition, you should have a valid passport. Once you arrive in the US for your program, you will be eligible to train as part of the optional or curricular training programs. For more information on working while in the United States, visit uscis.gov and travel.state.gov.

Learn how Shorelight offers visa assistance to international students >

MCAT Exam and Scores

In addition to submitting transcripts, personal statements, and applications, students who wish to attend med school in the United States are required at most universities to take a computer-based standardized test called the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Read Shorelight’s guide to other standardized tests >

The MCAT exam for international students and domestic students is the same. It consists of 230 multiple choice questions that you must answer in six hours and 15 minutes. The MCAT exam is broken into four sections, each scored from 118 to 132 points, with a median score of 125. The four sections of the MCAT exam are:

MCAT Section: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

This section tests your knowledge of biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry concepts. In addition to your understanding of science, you demonstrate how well you know basic research methods and statistics concepts applied to the natural world.

Questions: 59 questions

Time: 95 minutes

MCAT Section: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

In this section, you have to solve chemical and physical conceptual problems using your scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. This section tests your understanding of human tissues, organs, and organ systems and their mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions as well.

Questions: 59 questions

Time: 95 minutes

MCAT Section: Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

This section tests your understanding of how psychological, social, and biological factors influence perceptions and reactions to the world. In this portion of the MCAT, you show how well prepared you are to tackle the human and social aspects of practicing medicine.

Questions: 59 questions

Time: 95 minutes

MCAT Section: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

This section is different from the other sections of the MCAT; it was developed to measure the analysis and reasoning skills you will need to succeed in medical college. Here, you will be asked to read 500–600-word paragraphs and answer questions that show your reasoning, comprehension, and analysis skills.

Questions: 53 questions

Time: 90 minutes

What Is a Good Score on the MCAT Exam?

A good MCAT score for international students depends on many factors, including your understanding of the concepts, your ability to reason, and your ability to communicate in English. It is important to develop a strong study plan, carefully considering how much time you have to prepare before your scheduled test. You should start your exam prep by taking a practice MCAT exam for international students. There are many free MCAT practice exams available online. Take one to see on which sections you need to practice most.

Learn more about the MCAT exam below:

What is the MCAT total score range? 472–528
What is the average MCAT total score? 500
How much is each of the four MCAT sections worth? 118-132
What is the average MCAT score? 500, according to Kaplan
What is a highly competitive MCAT total score? 514–528 is the 90th percentile, while 508–513 is the 75th percentile

Read Shorelight’s broken down guide to the MCAT exam >

Which Schools Accept International Students?

Can international students apply for medical school? Yes: Of the 179 accredited schools in the United States listed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 43 accept international students. The AAMC listed 1,890 international applicants who applied to programs in the United States: 325 were accepted, and 272 enrolled.

There may be fewer med school opportunities for international students in the United States, but they do exist. Twelve of the top 25 clinical medicine programs in the world, according to U.S. News & World Report, are based in the US and accept international students. US universities with friendly med school admission policies towards non-US citizens include Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Utah.

Boston University School of Medicine