I am currently a freshman in the USA studying biochemistry with a pre-med focus. I would really like to transfer to Canada for fall of 2021. However, my greatest concern is pursuing medical school in Canada as an immigrant. To participate in residency programs (if you are accepted) you must be a permanent resident or citizen. I plan on studying in Ontario or Manitoba. If I completed my studies, could I become a permanent resident? My average in highschool and the first semester in college has remained about a 3.9 GPA (4.0 scale), and English is my first language. I am willing to take a gap year between undergrad and residency to gain PR status. Does anyone know about this process or has heard of anyone else doing it?
Obtaining PR for medical school?
- Thread starter emilyscheib
- Start date
Completing your studies in Canada will not automatically give you PR. You will need to have at least one year of full time work experience to qualify to apply for PR. I would recommend that you dedicate time to researching the Express Entry immigration program. This is a common route.
You'd most likely need more than one gap year since you'll need to work full time for at least a year first to qualify to apply and then wait another year or so for PR to be processed.
Also note that Express Entry is a points based program and those with the most points are selected and invited to apply for PR. You want a score of 470+ to have a good chance of being chosen.
You will need to be a PR or Canadian citizen when you apply for medical school. Getting into a Canadian medical school is very competitive. Many students have masters degrees and have applied multiple times. There are quite a few Canadians that study medicine abroad because they were unable to get into medical school and many of them do residencies in the US. Your chances of getting into medical school are much better in the US. Is there a reason you want to attend med school in Canada?
@canuck78 I have a few reasons for wanting to go to medical school in Canada: I am transferring schools for fall 2021 anyway and I would like for it to be in Canada (better education), med school is cheaper, residency placement rates are much higher, and most of all, I want to practice medicine in Canada and that’s virtually impossible if I go to med school in the US from what I’ve learned. I would have a hard time practicing in the US where patients are charged so much, and I just generally would prefer a more progressive lifestyle. From my understanding I may have to get a masters degree to get into Canadian med school, is this true?
Trying to understand your path, you are transferring to a Canada university next fall. When do you graduate? To get PR, you need to graduate, get at least a year of Canadian work experience, apply for Express Entry, get an invitation and then apply for PR. So you are looking at a few years after graduation. Then you apply to medical schools which are highly competitive in Canada. High marks, MCAT, outstanding CV etc. You don't need a masters.
A large percentage of medical students have masters degrees. Just a few of my friends who are now physicians 2 had masters in public health, one had a pharmacy degree, one was a practicing full actuary which is actually harder than becoming a doctor, one had a masters from Boston in some sort of biomedical field, one had a masters in social work and was a practicing social worker. I also know people who got in after 4 years but they are pretty rare especially in the large provinces. There is huge competition for few spots although enrolment has increased slightly. You won't be able to even apply for Canadian medical school for around 3 years after graduating from your undergrad because you must be a PR to apply. You can be a physician in the US and practice in Canada quite easily as long as you can find a job. The Canadian students who attend a medical school outside of Canada try to match with whichever residencies are leftover or often do their residency in the US. If they want to return they try to find a job in Canada. GPs obviously have the easiest time getting jobs. Also don't believe it is easier to match to the specialty you want in Canada since there are very few spots for some specialties in Canada. Would add that some Canadian specialists can't find jobs in Canada and have to move abroad to find work.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nearly-one-in-five-new-specialist-doctors-cant-find-a-job-after/
Agree. The physicians I know have multiple degrees but not necessarily a masters (e.g applied science & social work). The others went to school in the US & then came back to Canada for medical school. I know a few who only have an undergrad but are super achievers/really well rounded...went to Ivy League school, started an orphanage, excellent grades etc.