SHIFA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE in Islamabad, Pakistan

Rehan,

Thanks for being concerned...but I can't get that done until I get my FINAL transcript of high school...I already have my transcript done as of NOW...but I need to finish the last semester of 12th grade...which Inshallah, I will...by June, and then finally in June when I graduate and have my final transcript ready...I can send it for the IBCC certificate.

But Thanks for asking =)

Infact...I wanted to send it early because I have already taken the required classes...but isn't it that we gotta send the FINAL one...at end of 12? sooo yea...I gotta wait till June for final one.

and that's gonna really suck coz once I get my final transcript in June...i'll really only have one month to get everything done and sent out since dead line is in Aug. So I better do everything quickly and carefully in that one month ...coz I got no other choice...

start studying for ur SAT II ... u need to focus on 2 subjects only cuz to get in u need 2 650s only ... also , if u have any relatives in ISB , send ur documents to them , if not then try and go there right after high school and get all the paperwork done personally cuz that way u can get it done faster .... good luck



p.s. hey rehan , i have quite a collection of the questions that other shifa ppl got on their step1 and i was thinking of starting a shifa qbank or something ... i'll do something about that next week after my exam inshallah

The Domicile thing is totally un-needed in this discussion concerning foreigners, thats only in regards to locals applying for a seat in their region of pakistan, as proof as being a citizen of that particular area.

Concerning foreigners applying to medical schools in Pakistan, it is really quite simple if you are persistant. Sat 2 or whatever, probably even 1 are useless. I'll list the steps for you.

1. You need to graduate high school first, making sure you have taking the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English. You will also need your transcripts, I would suggest getting at least 8 SEALED transcripts and dont bother opening them, you dont need so many but in Pakistan people lose things all the time so its best to have backups.

2. Your original High School Diploma. Make copies, get them attested, and never leave the original anywhere with anyone. They might ask to see it, thats fine.

3. Now, to gain admission, no matter where you want to go or apply to, you need an Equivalence certificate. You will need your sealed transcripts, copy of your passport, proof of Pakistan Origin (Pakistan Origin Card copy, pakistan origin visa if you have that, or NICOP (national identity card for overseas pakistanis) copy. I'm not sure if you'll need all this at the IBCC or not but you will for the next step, as well as a copy of your parents passport, I think one of your parents should be a foreign citizen as well. Head over to the IBCC, its much better if you know someone in pakistan who can be persistant as this is the HARDEST and most annoying thing to get done. Fill out the application form, make sure everything is filled in as they like to find mistakes. Hopefully after all that, you'll get your IBCC Equivalence Certificate and it should say PRE-MED.. If not, you will have to fight some more. And if your marks arent at least 660/1100 then you cant apply for med school here so fight and argue to have them raise it somehow.

2. Armed with your minimum of 60% IBCC Pre Med certificate, High School Transcript, High School Diploma, Copy of Passport, proof of pakistani originan, copy of parents passport, hope I'm not forgetting anything, you then head over to Economic Affairs Division near the president House in Islamabad to the fourth floor. You will find a dinky office, where you will request a form to apply. Fill it out properly, get it attested with copies of all your documents. Now, there is a list of ALL the medical colleges in the country, and you select 1, 2, 3 etc based on order of preference. When the deadline expires, they will then go through everyones preferences and the people with the higher IBCC marks will get first choice until all the seats in that college are filled in and so on. NWFP colleges are $5000 so they are usually filled by the better marks students. RMC is $7000, I think bahalpur is 5 or 7, KE is like 10,000$. If your selected to a college, you will receive a letter from them telling you.

3. If you dont like the college you were put into, or you didnt get accepted, (you should be keeping in constant touch with these guys), dont fret, as many foreigners who apply back out or give up their seats and then whoever is next in line gets it. Initially I was selected for Nishtar in Multan, but it was really a weird far away place and after a week a seat opened in RMC and I took it.

Its not really that complicated once you get the hang out if =)

Now that was for SELF FINANCE FOREIGNER students of pakistani origin who hold foreign passport!

If you happen to have higher marks then 60% or you have good contacts, you can also apply for a technical assistance seat which is like $3000 or so at the most, so you could also go that way. Best of luck.

btw, I meant sats are useless concerning GOVT med schools for Self Finance Seats unless something has changed. I know its different for private institutions.

Excellent writeup! This will definitely come in handy to lots of people applying.

maik7upurz,

GREAT JOB- FINALLY found someone who told me the same EXACT information I got after researching for 2 years =) lol...Actually this is exactly the information I received and many people on this website told me so many different things that I got confused and had to go back and research even more--which is not a bad thing...but it feels good to know that I was on the right track.
Thank you so much...any and all help is appreciated

Yah, different people say different things because there are so many ways to get into med school in Pakistan depending on whether your going private or govt, then whether your going to go as a local or as a foreigner. I would suggest you go to shifa though because as a foreigner its totally hell in a govt medical college, but it seems their pickier lately so that they may seem more strict which may help them in getting their official long-term recognition.

If you go for a govt school though, I would highly reccomend you fight for a college in a city your originally from or have relatives, because the dorms/hostels here are totally unfit for even trailer park citizens of america to adjust to, ie food, sanitation, facilities, people. Very low par, but you will hear most students here love them. Avoid Multan and Bahwalpur at all costs as these 2 are in very HOT and remote areas of the country, you will get depressed fast and not be able to find anything to do for fun. Lahore would be decent as you said your from the area. Many foreigners choose RMC strictly because its near Islamabad which is a Major plus for most.

It's all about Islamabad. Except for the fact that it has no night life. Yeah, other than that, it's all about Islamabad. (go to Lahore).

I agree with Jamal!

Islamabad is the place to be!

And if not Islamabad, then Rawalpindi next (because you'll be close to Islamabad just like maik7upurz said)

Lahore's too dirty and crowded!

aahhh... I don't think so...
lolz...

thanks for the comments...I'll remember those when choosing the right college...and Jamal...you're like..."it's all about Islamabad. (go to Lahore)." lolz it's all abt isb...but go to Lahore

Yeah...Islamabad is clean and safe and pretty, but Lahore is fun. Islamabad is the place to go when youre 45 and raising kids. Lahore is the place to go in your youth. Hence, go to Lahore.