**What would be the challenges faced by a Canadian born Pakistani student educationally, socialy and culturally at Agha Khan Medical College? He has visited Pakistan number of times but has never lived there. He is a bit apprehensive about the adjustment factor with the fellow students, profs and campus life in general. Your thoughts and input would be appreciated. **
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
There is a definite perception this "guy" you talk about is going to Pakistan to fast track through med school. Not considering his personality, he'll most likely be looked down upon by the local boys. It's expected. A canadian going to Pakistan for medical school is frowned upon. Makes you wonder why he's going there to begin with. Questions like "couldnt he get in to a school in Canada?"
But, not to fear, he'll find company with the many outsiders there. A lot of families are sending their kids to Pakistan for a myriad of reasons. Those kids get along perfectly fine with each other, but often carry a superiority complex that shuns away any real interaction with local kids.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
yar you need to stop speaking in the third person.
wahan buhat mazaq uray ga.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
I know a Pthan doctor in the states who sent four of his American born kids to study at Aga Khan... The kids apparently did fine...
When they had finished their schooling, they had no problem passing the USMLE and got residencies without any problem..
So I would think its a very good option indeed.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
Aga Khan is actually not that bad of a medical school. Its on international levels.
Some people want to work in Pakistan as doctors, so they figure they might as well go to med school there too. I had a friend who moved back with her family, and her father is setting up a clinic there, while she's going to med school in Lahore. She plans on joining her father's clinic to build it up.
shrugs Everyone has their own preferences.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
a lot of foreign students attend AKU ...so you should not have any major problems, a great many expats now get into dow as well as it is the cheaper alternative ...they form their own "groups" there and generally do not mingle with the Plebians
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
wait a minute!!?? 
y on earth would this guy be wanting to come back to Pak?? i mean its not that pakistan is an educational hub!!!
most folks in pak dream of going abroad for their higher education in countries like USA, UK & CANADA! personally i think it is as if u are taking a step back. but there must be good reasons that i dont know about?!?
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
^ most likely because it takes about twice as long in Canada to get your MD than getting an MBBS in Pakistan.
nstar, I'm guessing that you've already done your research in terms of the "why" you want to go to Pak? Are you planning to come back to practice in Canada? States? stay in Pak?
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
i assume it takes 10 years to do the equavilant of an MBBS in canada!
also is it easy for a pakistani degree holder to get a job in states and canada? coz in UK it is near impossible!!!
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
isnt there some sort of qualification equivalency test for MBBS grads from developing world before they can practise in the west?
Like a test or something?
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
i assume it takes 10 years to do the equavilant of an MBBS in canada!
also is it easy for a pakistani degree holder to get a job in states and canada? coz in UK it is near impossible!!!
yep... about 8 or 9 years in general... i.e. 4 years for an undergrad degree in life sciences and 4 years in med school.
It's not easy at all for foreign medical grads to get jobs in the States and is significantly harder in Canada. There are a series of professional accreditation exams to go through... in the US... its the USMLE... and in Canada... its the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE). Following these exams, there's usually a supervised clinical training (residency) to meet licensure requirement. These residency opportunities are very limited for foreign trained doctors.
In Canada, doctors have to also pass the College of Family Physicians of Canada certification exam in order to practice as a family physician... and other specialists must pass the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Certification Exam specific to their specialty.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
isnt there some sort of qualification equivalency test for MBBS grads from developing world before they can practise in the west?
Like a test or something?
see above...
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
If you're going there for a few years only to come back, it's a dishonest attempt to find a short cut. The kids there know it. The kids here know it. You're not fooling anyone.
I personally despise the concept.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
why?
if he can get ahead with less work, why hate him for it?
best of luck mate if all you're supposed to say. or a toast to his success.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
This relates to the backup plan if one cannot get admission in the medical school here and You definitely want to become a doctor.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
^ most likely because it takes about twice as long in Canada to get your MD than getting an MBBS in Pakistan.
nstar, I'm guessing that you've already done your research in terms of the "why" you want to go to Pak? Are you planning to come back to practice in Canada? States? stay in Pak?
Its not me Umar but most probabaly this person would come back to Canada or U.S for internship/residency. This is no different than lot of American and Canadian students (white/brown/chinese) going to Grenada or Colombia to get their basic medical degree. Since Agha Khan Medical Program is very well recognized, it doesn't seem to be a bad option if the need arises.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
isnt there some sort of qualification equivalency test for MBBS grads from developing world before they can practise in the west?
Like a test or something?
Yes there are tests both in the U.S and Canada and according to my information most Pakistani medical graduates from all medical schools there pass them rather easily. The biggest problem they face is finding an internship in a hospital in North America.
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
yep... about 8 or 9 years in general... i.e. 4 years for an undergrad degree in life sciences and 4 years in med school.
It's not easy at all for foreign medical grads to get jobs in the States and is significantly harder in Canada. There are a series of professional accreditation exams to go through... in the US... its the USMLE... and in Canada... its the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE). Following these exams, there's usually a supervised clinical training (residency) to meet licensure requirement. These residency opportunities are very limited for foreign trained doctors.
In Canada, doctors have to also pass the College of Family Physicians of Canada certification exam in order to practice as a family physician... and other specialists must pass the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Certification Exam specific to their specialty.
Thanks Umar! You explained it better.:)
Re: Agha Khan Medical College
If you're going there for a few years only to come back, it's a dishonest attempt to find a short cut. The kids there know it. The kids here know it. You're not fooling anyone.
I personally despise the concept.
What kind of logic are you applying here? No body is being dishonest about anything here. You can go anywhere in the world to study any discipline, it is your free will and choice. Agha Khan or any other institution in Pakistan have the right to refuse admission and I am sure in certain cases they do that. I am sure you have a problem with fast track MBA programs too all over the world which require about half the normal time.