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Medicine in USA and Canada

Hi, I am currently a Year 11 who is about to do their GCSEs in the UK and after the exams, I will of course have to pick my Sixth form subjects. Currently, I have an option to stay at my school and continue to do IB, or continue to do A-Levels at another sixth form. I want to pursue medicine as a career preferably in the US or Canada. Baring in mind that I am a dual-citizen of the UK and Canada, I have a couple of questions:
1. Should I continue IB for a potential international study or do A-levels
2. Should I do my Uni in the UK (for its lower fees ofc) or do uni in Canada/USA
3. Finally, Would it be better to do medicine in the UK or the Canada/US

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

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Megathreads
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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

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Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread

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Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2025 Entry

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GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application

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Reply 2

Tulipbloom

Original post by Lethal/jd

1) A levels if you want to do med. Came from a school that offered both and those that did IB but went on to pursue med reported higher stress. + all IB exam sittings are in May in done within 2 weeks. A levels = more spread out + more in depth in all subjects (compared to HL in IB).

2/3) It's up to you. But, as I'm sure you are aware, in the US and Canada you gotta do a 4 year undergrad and then take the MCAT (harder than any med entrance test in the UK = UCAT for now) and pray you snagged an interview. Plus you gotta maintain that GPA and take extra classes + your core major classes to fulfill you pre-med reqs. In the UK you just gotta get predicted 3 A's at A levels, do work experiences, get a good UCAT score and smash the interivew. If it's cheaper why not do attend uni in the UK? Plus med school is 5/6 years.

But working as a doctor, I've been told that the US/Canada pays more and that the work life balance (even if you chose to work for public hospitals) = better than in the UK.

Reply 3

Lethal/jd

Original post by Tulipbloom

1) A levels if you want to do med. Came from a school that offered both and those that did IB but went on to pursue med reported higher stress. + all IB exam sittings are in May in done within 2 weeks. A levels = more spread out + more in depth in all subjects (compared to HL in IB).
2/3) It's up to you. But, as I'm sure you are aware, in the US and Canada you gotta do a 4 year undergrad and then take the MCAT (harder than any med entrance test in the UK = UCAT for now) and pray you snagged an interview. Plus you gotta maintain that GPA and take extra classes + your core major classes to fulfill you pre-med reqs. In the UK you just gotta get predicted 3 A's at A levels, do work experiences, get a good UCAT score and smash the interivew. If it's cheaper why not do attend uni in the UK? Plus med school is 5/6 years.
But working as a doctor, I've been told that the US/Canada pays more and that the work life balance (even if you chose to work for public hospitals) = better than in the UK.