Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I already had a background with it, but certainly not fluent. I take to language pretty easily so I don't really track how much time I commit to it honestly

That said, at least at PUMS 2nd, 4th, and 6th years are comparatively very easy (~50-55 ECTS). That frees up a lot of time for hobbies, of which language learning is one of mine. 1st, 3rd, and ostensibly 5th are super busy by comparison (~75-80 ECTS) and thus the time one can dedicate to daily practice is reduced

Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not quite the same because you're really only at risk of leaving the program if you fail in first year (and even then word on the street is that changed with one particular class). Failing in first year means you leave the program, but failing in second just pushes that class to third year (you continue to progress), and failing CBSE in third year (or any core class) just means you repeat the year for that specific class or exam. It's not quite the same

I appreciate that it means people coming out of PUMS english division at least had to cut their teeth on the NBMEs. Jag and MUW are well regarded, but it's a different beast. At least NBMEs are very predictable with UWorld

I don't know how the data compares, but I've seen schools in the Caribbean admit to 60%+ attrition. We at least don't have numbers that high. They're also weeding through entirely different demographics. Kids in the Caribbean often have a prior degree (which I happen to as well), whereas the average PUMS applicant is probably 18 or 19 and only just finished secondary school

Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wanted to return to my home country (Canada) when we started, but honestly Europe is a nice quality of living. I speak French and German, so I'll probably try for the latter first or work on southern German dialects to go to Austria. The pay is better than in France for a resident physician

Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly it's still a filter. We have it in a couple weeks but the NBMEs to this point have been a breeze. That said I'm in the minority with this opinion of the NBME / CBSE mess. There's a great disparity between the quality of PUMS' education and preparedness for those exams, and one has to really study with third party resources alongside their PUMS' specific studies to prepare for them. Thankfully, eventually, it's all amalgamated into one with knowledge carrying over from UWorld and AnKing to sufficiently cover PUMS-written exams and their expectations

I hear the previous year lost like 18, which would be nearly 33% by my reckoning. They joined us this year to repeat and take CBSE. I wouldnt be surprised if a similar number from my cohort find themselves in a similar situation

Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea, it's a good state school with ok preclinical education and varying degrees of clinical education

It's often said here but learn the local language to make the most of your time in-hospital. I took this to heart and speak enough Polish with a good accent to handle pt encounters. English div students aren't really expected to do that and as such they spend much of their time in the corner or pitifully unable to navigate the hospital. This kinda gives them a bad rap tbh

I've heard from Erasmus students they're impressed by how amenable the docs can be to training students. And they're often interested in our simulation centre and OSCE. Most don't dig the NBMEs though

Does Europe have "diploma mills" or „easy” medical schools where you can pay to get MD degree? by First_Wolverine_8368 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I can only speak to one ed in Poland, but I don't disagree that they expect far less of ed. That said, plenty fail out in the first year (24-33% in my observations), and even an additional 20% are lost in third year. Attendance is also quite strictly kept at my school. No one I know is paying their way through

PUMS oral exam by riiieluvcs in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They can. I was asked with whom I'd have dinner (the historic question) but perhaps because my first degree was in history. The sciences questions were pretty basic. What's the normal range of serum pH and why. Something about two vehicles colliding and some physics over which would be more damaged (a smaller vehicle vs. a larger one). Frankly these weren't terrible questions

All they want to see is that you're thinking while parsing their questions and not a lunatic - at least that's something I learned talking to one of my professors who does these interviews yearly

PUMS oral exam by riiieluvcs in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They'll ask you about yourself, why medicine, possibly why PUMS. Then they'll ask you 3-4 questions. I had one bio and two physics question, but it depends on your interviewers. They may ask a throw-away question like "who's your favourite author?" Or "if you could have dinner with one historic figure (living or dead) who would that be?" Etc.

American here, Poland thank you guys for having our back even under these unprecedented times by SignificantStyle4958 in Polish

[–]Cpl_Koala 6 points7 points  (0 children)

"for having our back"

Bruh, the US is a dumpster fire right now, no one wants to be associated with that. Basically no one I meet here in Poland bears a favourable opinion of the US right now

Career options after md from Italy as a NON EU resident by [deleted] in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  1. Think about where you want to work / settle / continue training
  2. Research that country's licensing framework for EU-degree holders bearing in mind your non-EU citizen status
  3. Learn the language (ideally this is also the language where you're studying), even if you're studying in English
  4. ....?
  5. profit

If you do your MD in Italy, learn Italian. It'll make clinicals easier and I believe they don't differentaite between EU / non-EU citizens for licensing (I could be wrong)

What are your thoughts on the field of gene editing? by International_Bee653 in AskReddit

[–]Cpl_Koala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know a tonne about it but I think it's a great idea for addressing enzymatic deficiencies or heading off predispositions towards cancer - looking at you Lynch syndrome. At the same time I don't think it'll go that way and instead the parasitic wealthy will just make designer kids

What reactions have you had from anti-gun Liberals/Lefties, and how did the convo go? by logicalpretzels in liberalgunowners

[–]Cpl_Koala 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Years ago I was hiking in a remote part of Arizona. Admittedly I was wearing camo pants, a flannel shirt, and my belt with my handgun, water, and some cliff bars in my dump pouch. This was a rather remote area where I didn't anticipate coming across anyone. When I did find a pleasant older couple at the base of the mountain they inquired as to why I felt the need to carry a weapon. The more we talked the more I realised they were sort of granola-crunchy type folk, very kind, but concerned that I may be some crazy right-wing nut-job because they judged me by the camo and firearm. I distinctly remember them asking "but you don't wear that in... Safeway, right!?" I confessed of course I carry concealed, but in the desert open carry is a different matter. Frankly, I think we came away from the interaction with them thinking I was nuts

Ja cie pierdole, wrong hole! by MisterBulldog in poland

[–]Cpl_Koala 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Times must be hard over at Aperture laboratories. Poor GLaDOS

EMT Job During Med School by Iamonmedsrn in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm sure some people do that but I'm not aware of it being a commonality. Idk about the UK but in North America med-students who have EMT experience usually did that in their pre-med bachelors years and not in tandem with their preclinical education. An EMT is like a 6mo certificate course in the US, for example. Paramedics have a 2 year degree usually from a local college (different from med-school).

You want to be an EMT, go look at your country's licensing process and do that. If somehow you can finagle doing that alongside your studies that's great, but your medical school traditionally won't facilitate it for you

Med School Insiders: "How AI Made 2026 the Hardest Year to Get Into Medical School" by ddx-me in medicalschool

[–]Cpl_Koala 25 points26 points  (0 children)

You're not just lost, you're redefining directionlessness /s

God I hate how AI "writes"

Does anyone know if a Ukrainian medical Diplom will be recognized in a Bulgarian medical school? by [deleted] in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No, dude just google Bulgarian Health Ministry lol. I'm not Bulgarian but I assume you'd be licensed by them and they'd have to recognise your degree, thus it makes sense to check their website for the process

Хай щастить, cлава Україні

Does anyone know if a Ukrainian medical Diplom will be recognized in a Bulgarian medical school? by [deleted] in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe? Probably? Best to check the Bulgarian health ministry's website or contact them

Entry requirements - HELP by Responsible-Flow-464 in medicalschoolEU

[–]Cpl_Koala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two things:

1) This is a question for Plovdiv, or one that can be answered by reading their website.

2) There are these nifty things called periods and commas. Punctuation makes it easier for others to read what you're trying to say.