**What happened**
The U.S. Department of Education has opened formal reviews into admissions practices at five U.S. medical schools, according to a Reuters report. The probes are focused on whether some admissions policies — including criteria related to race, residency or other factors — comply with federal civil rights and education laws. Separate but related federal scrutiny of individual schools has also been reported in recent weeks.
**Why it matters to students**
For applicants to U.S. medical schools, investigations can mean delays in finalizing admissions offers, changes to selection criteria, or in rare cases administrative sanctions that affect a program’s operations. International applicants and students from Jordan and the wider Middle East may see indirect effects: slower timelines for interview invites or conditional offers, tighter review of application materials, and increased competition as schools reassess incoming classes.
**Practical steps for applicants**
First, monitor your application portals (AMCAS or the specific school portals) and your email for any official notices. Contact admissions offices directly if you have a pending conditional offer or an interview scheduled — ask whether the investigation affects timelines. Verify each program’s accreditation status before accepting any offer. If you are preparing documents for study abroad, remember Shatnawi offers document equivalency assistance (service fee 70 JOD) and can help confirm which international degrees are recognized.
**Consider alternatives and backup plans**
If you need a faster, reliable path to a medical degree, consider accredited English-medium programs elsewhere. Georgia’s medicine and dentistry programs are WHO- and EU-recognized with English instruction and tuition starting from around $4,000/year — an option Shatnawi supports for applicants to Batumi and Tbilisi. Other options include regional universities in Jordan (we work with more than 30 Jordanian universities) and partner institutions in Turkey and Egypt. Students applying to Jordanian universities through Shatnawi receive partner registration discounts — for example, Applied Science Private University (ASU) students get a 10% registration discount; the University of Jordan (UJ) 20%; and Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST) 25%.
**How Shatnawi can help**
Shatnawi for College Admissions & Academic Consultations in Amman can review your current application status, help prepare alternative applications to accredited programs (Georgia, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt), and guide you through document equivalency, scholarship matching and exam prep (IELTS, SAT, IB, AP). If you’re uncertain about accreditation or need fast alternatives, contact Shatnawi for personalised guidance.
For immediate help or to discuss alternatives and deadlines, message Shatnawi on WhatsApp +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com. Stay alert for official notices from schools and the Department of Education before making final decisions.