Medical School Dilemma

Hello everyone,

Really hoping to get some second opinions here.

Just as a bit of background... I'm a psychology/chemistry student at the University of New Mexico.  Academically I am sound, I hope.  I currently have a 3.87 GPA, which I'm hoping I'll be able to maintain for graduation so that I can get summa cum lada.  I am also involved doing a senior thesis for my department.  Hopefully with this I'll be graduating with both departmental and university honors.  For two years I have done volunteer work at a crisis center.  I am almost ready to apply to medical school here in
the US, but I can't bring myself to do it.

Too many times I have heard people on the lines of my crisis center in need of medical care, or to see a psychiatrist but can't because of the way our insurance is structured here.  So aside from my dream to always come over to the UK, I want to practice medicine here as well because at least I'll be able to reach people regardless of circumstance.  (From my impression of it)

Since I want to practice medicine in the UK, I think it reasonable to get my degree here. 

I've signed on to take the UKCAT in October.  Though looking at admissions and tuition I'm not sure if that is such a good idea to just 'jump' into it.  Being conservative the international bill for a medical degree is approximately 125k GBP compared to domestics whom pay approximately 25k GBP.  This doesn't include further specialization which is where I would like to find myself (either in neurology or psychiatry.)

I'm poor and I don't have this type of money.  I know there are a scholarships available for short-term degrees, but I'm not finding much for a long-term commitment such as this.  Now we've got plenty of loans and I could certainly go that route.  Though as a doctor in the UK I wouldn't be making as much as I would in the US.  I'm perfectly fine with this (minus crazy loan)!  Though I'm finding it hard to justify the cost when I'd probably be living paycheck-to-paycheck for god-knows-how-long...

So I was thinking about doing something else.  Since I do have a degree in psychology  I'm thinking about continuing that line of study with a masters degree in the UK.  Hopefully after that, or an assistantship I'd be able to work as a skilled worker.  This would allow me some time to put some money in reserve and cultivate work experience.  (I'm hoping for clinical psychologist)

I'm pretty sure that any medical school here in the states would smile upon this - working in the real world and especially in a clinical setting would give me all the more impetus to applying to medical school.  My biggest question is... Would it be viewed the same over in the UK?  Or would they view this less as an organic transition and more as a dodgy career shift and come to the conclusion that I'm not committed?  

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks for your guys time

To study to become a psychologist, you would need your American degree verified by the British Psychological Society:

http://www.bps.org.uk/

and if it is not adequate, you may need to do a graduate conversion course:
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers/accredited-courses/accredited-courses_home.cfm?frmAction=results&CourseType=CONV&Search_Type=NC

or by sitting the British Psychological Society's qualifying examination or via an appropriate society-accredited postgraduate qualification.

If you need to do a British undergrad degree that is BPS recognised, the University of Derby has a recognised online course:
http://www.derby.ac.uk/psychology-online-bsc-hons?csId=&courseQuery=psychology

http://www.bps.org.uk/careers/accredited-courses/accredited-courses_home.cfm?frmAction=showCourse&Course_IDs_Selected=1383&CourseType=UG&Search_Type=NC

Though I am not sure how international student fees might work from the US.

ETA:  For the University of Derby BSc (Hons) Psychology, overseas candidates should note that GBR does not apply to students who are living abroad whilst studying. They will need to apply to the BPS for GBR on an individual basis on completion of their studies.

http://www.rdi.co.uk/psychology-education-pathway/49-bsc-hons-applied-psychology.html
[end ETA]

To become an actual psychologist, you then need to do further three years of postgraduate study leading to a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is also needed which then leads to you being eligible for chartered status.

http://www.bps.org.uk/membership/grades/chartered-psychologist/how-to-become-chartered.cfm

More about careers in psychology, how to train in them, find jobs, pay scales etc.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_psychology_job_options.htm

And being a clinical psychologist:

http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/clinical_psychologist_job_description.jsp

You would be well advised to also consider that if you became a British trained clinical psychologist, what bureaucratic and professional hoops would you have to jump through to get your training recognised in the US / state(s) you may wish to / need to live in in the future to practice?

HTH.