Hi Emma,
Yep, when I get back, let's see if we can work how to chat more privately.
I had a conference call this morning and brought up your dilemma; one of my colleagues is a Professor at the Medical School - and, yes, you have that right! Anyway, he was outspoken to the point of bluntness that you not give up the Australian opportunity. I will follow up next week with him in more detail. Given that he is on the Admissions Board, I take his counsel very seriously.
As I see it, if you stay in Australia, you will finish your three year bachelor's degree this year. Next year, you will - we hope - have the opportunity to commence a 4 year MBBS degree. You will then have to do a years internship and two years residency. Then you are on your way and you could head to the US to complete further research at, let's say, Harvard.
(OK, by now you may be in a long-term relationship and need to convince your partner to join you. You should expect that support. We went as a couple - with baby daughter. And the majority of the Australians at my University are both senior researchers in Medicine and married.)
The alternative is to continue into your honours year. Be aware, that the three US universities we are talking about all require First Class Honours from 'British Commonwealth' - type institutions. (Some others may take Second Class/Div one.) Next you need to come to the US to do one (and possibly two) years 'Pre-Med'. To enter Med school, you need lots of things including letters of recommendation for Pre-Med Advisory people; your selection of course must give you that too. Your also need your MCAT etc and you should check the typical cut-off scores that are all over the web to make sure you are in the ball-park. So then you pay your money and apply - knowing that less than half the applicants get in. Hmmmmmm
(A bird in the Hand!)
Let's say you get in. As a typical example, you might like to go to web and look at the Duke Medical School site financial aid office to see what happens next. In short, every US University employs the noble principle that money will not prevent an accepted applicant from studying. In practice, you will see that Duke advises that the 'whole family' needs to be involved in the decision - meaning that the whole family (both natural parents and any spouse) are going to have to (at least, part) fund you. Typically they will be required to send in seven years tax returns so that they level of support can be gauged. They may also have to be guarantors for loans. You asked me what happens if they are not in the US; I do know that they are still expected to contribute and may have to deposit money in escrow (That was noted on the Yale web site that I sent you too.) And you may also need federal loans - some of these are onerous. When you graduate, complete your internships and residency (also highly competitive) you'll have to start paying back the rather big loans ($200k is typical); it is not deferred like HECS. Double Hmmmmmmm.
(Double bird in the hand.)
I feel I'm jumping on you a bit hard; please understand that is not my intention. I am trying to point out what a wonderful opportunity you have here. And on that note, I'm afraid there is one other matter you have raised that I'd like to inject some realism into.
You say that you are 'enamoured of the college experience in the US'. Which I agree with whole heartedly; I love it and next week will be there cheering on the home team in person. But that is not what you will be looking at! I am sure that you know the difference between 'Columbia College' and 'Columbia University'. You will be in one of the professional schools which have little to do with the College. Indeed, the Medical schools are usually very remote from the rest of the University - unlike Australia. The reason for this is that in the US, the big university medical schools operate their own hospital which are placed with patient convenience in mind. Columbia's med school complex is many subway stations north of the University; Harvard's complex (brilliant though it is) is closer to MIT than the Harvard Yard; and Yale-New Haven is on the other side of the Interstate connector - the medical students at these three schools could not see the main campus with binoculars. Attending them would give you a great 'Medical experience', but it would not be a 'college experience'. Indeed, the University of NSW Medical school would give you a better one.
Again forgive me if I'm being rough. But you have a great life-changing opportunity in your hands which could slip away. In support, let me point out that in 2011, Australian had 683 selectees for DV Green Cards, but only 275 took out visas. In 2012, the figures were 900 and 292. In short the vast majority of successful Australian selectees pass up the offer of the Visa. They cannot all be misguided.
In the meantime, enjoy the oncoming great Australian summer; perhaps putting this dilemma on ice for a few weeks.
Best wishes
