What is the best time to apply for Electives?

Do you mean you are in third year? Semesters mean there are two per year. I'm guessing you mean 3rd year, and not third semester, since that would mean middle of your second year.

You apply for electives depending on when you have time to do them and also depending on which type of elective you want to do. If you want to do a research elective, you can find those going on all throughout the year.

Some clinical electives also go on all throughout the year, but many of them have specific dates. If you have a winter or summer break that coincides with the dates of the school that is offering the clinical electives, then you can apply for those dates, and you should always start the process at least five months in advance.


There are hundreds of universities that will accept people for research/clinical electives, so I don't really know how to recommend one for you. Pick a field you want to go in and go from there.

Also, probably a good idea to read the thread which is specifically for electives here.

This thread here also tells which med schools in the US accept foreign students.

Like I said before, I can't just pick a hospital or medical school for you where you can do electives- there are hundreds of schools throughout the US and Canada where you can do electives.

If you want to do them in the beginning of your fourth year then that's fine too, but usually people have electives coincide with their vacation times.

If you find something confusing in that thread then quote the part you don't understand and ask for clarification in that thread, and we'll answer you.

Find schools that do accept foreign students and apply there. You can easily find them by using the link in that second thread that I posted above, and if a school doesn't accept foreign students, then get in touch with doctors there anyway and ask them directly if you can do clinical electives with them.

Hope this helps

Mobzilla said:

ok im new to this forum and i have the same questions. im at the end of my 4th yr and i want to know where is the best place to apply for your electives.

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Welcome to the forum Mobzilla! Finding the best place to apply for electives is something that we can't answer for you but we can point you toward the list of schools that accept foreign students! You need to take the time yourself and see which schools offer programs that you might be interested in.

This thread here tells which med schools in the US accept foreign students.

Mobzilla said:

and secondly though this question is not related to this thread..wat wud u say is the best time to study for the MLEs? during MBBS or after that?

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Since you're new to the forum let me start off by saying that it'll be much more beneficial to you and other members if you try to post questions under the appropriate threads. #yes

There is actually an entire "Board Exams" area on the forum for all of your USMLE/PLAB related questions.

Here's a specific thread that you should definitely take a look at: the most suitable time for USMLE (IMG's)

You can also use the search function at the top of the page to help you quickly find answers to your questions.

Looking forward to seeing more posts from you#cool

For foreign students, a lot of times the best place to go for electives is any place that will accept you!

It's not easy to find one even after you apply to fifty different places, so if you get accepted, then go for sure!

How do you pick where to go? Like MedGrunt said, you can use that list from the link above of schools that will accept foreign students, or you can do what I did, which is google the list of US Top Hospitals, and then start applying to all of those. There are a lot more schools out there that will actually accept foreign students, though keep in mind that a research elective is easier to get than a clinical electives, esp at the bigger hospitals.

You're right, surgery is a very difficult field to get into in the US, so if you have one elective done, you'll be increasing your chances over other foreign medical students, but I don't think you'll boost them significantly to really get ahead of the American graduates. You may want to pick a different field, or if you really want to go into surgery, then try to do some more research work in the US after you graduate and push for some clinic time once you have that set up. A very high step 1 and 2 score could also be very helpful... as always.

Since you're in the end of your fourth year, start applying to schools, fast.