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Originally Posted by peacefuljourney
Hi.
Miklos, there are a couple of points that I'd like to respond to in your recent posts.
I'm studying in Bratislava, Slovakia at Comenius University (2nd year) and my husbanad is 3rd year.
1. Slovakia is in Central Europe and we are not able to access Stafford loans.
We are currently working on paperwork for this and then will begin the papers for California approval.
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S,
I admire your efforts to get the loans and the California approval. I hope that you succeed.
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2. The English program at Comenius is not 4 years - it is 6 years. It is a duplicate of the Slovak language program - which is certified by California.
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This is true. I would just like to point out that the reason the Slovak language program is accredited is that Slovakia is an OECD country and the Slovak program prepares doctors for local practice(see California requirements). The same applies to most of the other countries in the region.
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One could argue we recieve higher quality education compared to the slovaks for 2 significant reasons. We get the department heads and experts because they have the English language skills (a fact the Slovaks openly rue). Our class size is small and ratio is perfect for learning subject matter where size matters - ie anatomy.
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Fair enough. However, there is a downside to having professors teach your classes: the material may not be appropriate to your level of education. I have had a number of professors try to turn us into subspecialists, instead of teaching us the basics and the importance of the field and its approaches. For this reason, I prefer younger teachers with decent English skills as opposed to old professors.
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3. Reasons people leave Hungary. We have 4 Scandanavian girls who transferred from Hungary to Slovakia. Not one of them once mentioned stringent academics as the reason. They liked the academic rigour but not the admin.
Here, as there, if you fail a course, you repeat the year, pay the full tuition to take the one course again. Nice.
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I will stick to my guns here. The number one reason students leave Hungary is because they cannot hack it. Though I do find it encouraging that they make you repeat the year.
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4. I don't consider myself or my colleagues foolish for attending this school because it is not California certified. If all things were equal I would have choose Prague because the city is nicer. I think the schools are equivalent and living conditions the same. (I've also lived there).
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Re: California approval. Did your husband know that Comenius was not California approved when he started attending? Did you?
I will continue to warn people away from schools that have not certified their English language programs as well as schools that do not have loan availability. I do this, because it is in the interest of the prospective student.
I have frequented both Bratislava and Prague. I have found the Slovaks much more welcoming than the Czechs, though Bratislava is quite tiny compared to Prague.
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This school is in Europe, good teaching faculty and facilities, comparatively cheap tuition and close to Vienna for clinical and research options. I will have EU citizenship for myself and kids.
Regardless, my medical education - and all education in fact - works if I make it work. I am working with the school to be certified by California and also to get recognition by the States so we can get loans. Someone must take the initiative to get this work done. It is in my best interest and I will hold the school's hand through the process. We have an interested and sincere man to work with who is wearing too many hats at the school, but we will get it done.
S-
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I believe that the teaching faculty, facilities, tuition and location are good. However, for the Comenius English program to become attractive to those wishing to practice medicine in the US, it must get loan availability and California approval.
I wish you luck and hope that you are able to help them get the recognition.
Re: EU citizenship. You do realize that you are getting a "second class" EU citizenship, right? As of today, only Britain, Ireland and Sweden will waive the seven year restriction on the free movement of labor from the new EU countries. Other countries, especially Austria and Germany will continue their quota systems.