University at Buffalo (UB)
US allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools consider applications from international applicants students quite differently from those of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Not all U.S. MD and DO programs admit international applicants and those that do tend to be private institutions (not public – state) and are some of the most competitive schools (e.g., Duke, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, UCLA). Of the over 170 MD programs in the US, 48 currently accept international applicants. Of the 65 DO campuses, 23 accept international applicants. The UB Jacobs of School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (JSMBS) does not currently enroll international applicants, not even those from Canada.
The competition for a seat in a U.S. medical school remains fiercely competitive and international applicants are often expected to prepare even more competitively than the most outstanding domestic applicants. In the 2019 application year, only 272 international applicants matriculated into an MD program. This is out of over 20,000 seats across the U.S.
Additionally, funding remains a significant issue as international students are not eligible for federal government funding/educational loans and often must show proof of tuition funds for anywhere from 1 to 4 years of medical school training prior to matriculation. For more information on applying to medical school as an international student, or exploring health professions in the U.S., please consult the following resources and set an appointment to speak with a prehealth advisor.
Many dental schools accept applications from international students and treat international applicants the same as domestic applicants with respect to admission. Others do not and follow the practice of some U.S. medical schools. The UB School of Dental Medicine does enroll international students. International dental school applicants may be required to show proof of funding prior to matriculation. The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Guide to U.S. Dental Schools is an excellent resource to consult to see which US dental schools admit international applicants. Visit the ADEA website for ordering information (hard copy or online).
U.S. optometry, podiatry, chiropractic and physician assistant programs regularly enroll international applicants. U.S. veterinary schools can restrict the number of out-of-state and international applicants. If you are interested in any of these health professions, please be sure to read about them on our website, attend a prehealth workshop and set an appointment with a prehealth advisor.
You may also want to explore other health professions such as pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more. A good place to start is the Explore Health Careers website.