Philippine med school vs. US student loans

[lumpia]

so going to medical school would pretty much mean i would have to postpone my current US student loans during undergrad - i called my lender and they said that i would need to send them an enrollment verification certificate and that the school would need a federal id.

i'm applying to
uermmmc (1st choice)
feu
ust
fatima (though i'm a little nervous about this one)

my question is ---- do these schools have federal IDs?
did any of you guys have to postpone your student loans while in school? did you run into any problems?

[FolicAcid08]

Dont go to Fatima....for your future sake.....

[lumpia]

Dont go to Fatima....for your future sake.....


hi folic acid: thanks for the advice. i read a lot of negative reviews about fatima on this site - are you currently attenting fatima?

[IHR]

Seems like Fatima is the only one with Federal Aid Loans...please let me know if other schools have them? ...I'm hearing bad things about Fatima too...So I'm a bit hesitant...the person I talked too was a little shady too..

[trauma]

Only Fatima has federal loans although there have been complaints about that school. UST used to have loans. I'm not sure if they are still getting Stafford. UERM and FEU has no loans available.

[lumpia]

Only Fatima has federal loans although there have been complaints about that school. UST used to have loans. I'm not sure if they are still getting Stafford. UERM and FEU has no loans available.

but i'm not looking to get a loan :/
i just want to postpone my current loan while i'm in school. my lender sounded really confident that i could do it but i tried to explain to her that it's an international school (i have a feeling the person i spoke to didn't really know what he was talking about --- he said as long as they have a federal id --- i'm wondering if the philippine tax id is equivalent to this.

this might be a stupid question, (but i'll ask anyway) -- do they have tax IDs in the philippines?

[trauma]

but i'm not looking to get a loan :/
i just want to postpone my current loan while i'm in school. my lender sounded really confident that i could do it but i tried to explain to her that it's an international school (i have a feeling the person i spoke to didn't really know what he was talking about --- he said as long as they have a federal id --- i'm wondering if the philippine tax id is equivalent to this.

this might be a stupid question, (but i'll ask anyway) -- do they have tax IDs in the philippines?
The Federal ID or code they are talking about is the same code they use for Stafford. UST, Fatima, and AUF used to have those ID number just check the database.

[trauma]

Here is a site for codes for international schools.
International Student Loan - Philippines Eligible Schools List (http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/eligible_schools/foreign_enrolled.php?country=PHILIPPINES)

[lumpia]

Here is a site for codes for international schools.



i called my lender again and they said that as long as the school is funded by the country (Philippines), they will have this school code/federal ID. (you are probably right -- but maybe there's some sort of miracle)

[SACTOBOY]

Unfortunately the only title IV school in PI as of now is Fatima.,,I know this for sure:).

[SACTOBOY]

If your goal is to practice in the USA in the future you need to go to PI school that will offer you some sort of USCE (united states clinical eperience) or clerkship. Nowadays its really tough to do this by yourself-meaning calling different hospitals or programs by yourself. In exceptional basis they require passing USMLE step 1. If the school has institutionalized clerkship program in a US hospital then it would not be a problem for you. The bottomline is - almost all my friends who applied for the match this year were asked if they did clinicals in the US and it does not matter how good is your recommendation letter from a doc in the PI might be- DOES NOT HAVE a lot of bearing at all!. I reiterate- you need to have a USCE to have a better application portfolio for the match in the future. Now, in the Phiilippines there are only 2 schools who offer clerkship in the US during your MS 4- UE and Fatima. UE does not administer fed loan, Fatima does. I'm presently attending Fatima right now and my advice- do your homework to compare and contrast these 2 schools. Remember once you are in its not easy to get out. Picking the right school is indeed an important decision to make. I will not tell you where to go....infos are everywhere- GO where your heart and intelect lead you. I see some people talking about UP, UST, FEU, etc- if your goal is to practice in the Philippines- go to these schools..USA dont really care if your school is number 1 or 2 in the Philippine PRC or what not- who cares? Why do you go to UP or UST and compete witht the topnotch students of the country whose goal and focus is Philippine practice of medicine? Your goal should focus on studying medicine and doing parallel study for the USMLE step 1 at the same time. Your USMLE score will be more important than the school you went. I know some folks who are attending UST and UP and theya re telling me that everyday is a struggle just to pass and honestly speaking they don't have any single time to even glance on USMLE stuff. One thing is very true- NO SCHOOL IN PI TEACH THE USMLE CURRICULUM...this is a big ** if someone has told you....YOU...I repeat....YOU and only YOU who would do it yourself. UP might be the best in med school education in the philippines but do they even teach the USMLE way? the answer is NO WAY...no school in PI does. Again I'm not telling you to go to Fatima or UE....i was just trying to tell you these are the schools that would give a better edge in the future if your plan is to come back and apply for the match. Good luck!!

[FrenchFrie]

how do i contact Fatima? their website is a joke. No useful info on it, emails are not replied and phone numbers dont work.....do they want people to apply? I have a few friends w similar results as mine

[lumpia]

I'm presently attending Fatima right now and my advice- do your homework to compare and contrast these 2 schools. Remember once you are in its not easy to get out. Picking the right school is indeed an important decision to make. I will not tell you where to go....infos are everywhere- GO where your heart and intelect lead you.

thanks for the advice, sactoboy - i have been reading and asking and calling about med schools in the philippines and you're right about ue and fatima --- and i have thought of fatima but it's hard to take that path when there's so many negative reviews about it - the only positive i can think of about that school is the school loan -- but then again, there's a HUGE difference between $2,000 and $20,000 --- it's like driving into a road with danger zone signs on each side of the road and still taking the risk.

i don't know - there's still a possibility i'll take that path - but we'll see.

thanks!

[trauma]

thanks for the advice, sactoboy - i have been reading and asking and calling about med schools in the philippines and you're right about ue and fatima --- and i have thought of fatima but it's hard to take that path when there's so many negative reviews about it - the only positive i can think of about that school is the school loan -- but then again, there's a HUGE difference between $2,000 and $20,000 --- it's like driving into a road with danger zone signs on each side of the road and still taking the risk.

i don't know - there's still a possibility i'll take that path - but we'll see.

thanks!
Whichever school you choose, I agree with Sactoboy that you take advantage of USCE (clerkship) experience and get as many rotations in the US as possible. I have nothing against Fatima, it's just there are too many conflicting reviews about it.

[lumpia]

- One thing is very true- NO SCHOOL IN PI TEACH THE USMLE CURRICULUM...this is a big ** if someone has told you....YOU...I repeat....YOU and only YOU who would do it yourself.

can you take the USMLE in the philippines?

[SACTOBOY]

Yes you can...step 1 and 2 (not the clinical part) are administered at Ateneo...you can also take review course at ateneo by Kaplan...I don't recommend taking this review because its very expensive and time consuming...the best way is to buy the materials and do parallel review along with your classes... by the way- tuition in fatima is not 20,000.00 per year- the website has never been updated I believe--its only 3,500.00 per sem now, 7,000 per year...donation is 6,500.00..call the school for sure...UERM is a good school however you will be mixed with the locals because they dont have special class--check both....most of my friends in the USA are UE graduates...they have a very good system and repute too...again the decision is all yours...when you go to PI go to both campus and talk to med students and listen to some details and feedback then follow where your 'g-feeling' leads you...by the way at UERM semester starts in June- October then November to March, in Fatima semester starts in Sept to Jan then Feb to June synchronized to the US system I believe...again I want to reiterate that none of these two schools teach the USMLE way..admin will tell you they do but that is a **..i hate the fact that when I was at your stage people from most of the schools that I contacted told me that they do...by the way MS 3 in PI is still a school-based unlike the US and carribean schools where MS3 is core hospital clerkship..what state are your planning to practice in the future?

[Locutusofborg]

Of the schools that currently offer staffords, the only ones I think are OK are UST (but you better be really really smart!), or Angeles (hey you might even make extra cash 4th year doing STD check ups for all the foreign sex tourists there... joke). Silliman is the best choice, IMHO if you DONT care about california. They are not accepted there. But its a great school, and Dumaguete is a very nice and clean town.

[trauma]

Of the schools that currently offer staffords, the only ones I think are OK are UST (but you better be really really smart!), or Angeles (hey you might even make extra cash 4th year doing STD check ups for all the foreign sex tourists there... joke). Silliman is the best choice, IMHO if you DONT care about california. They are not accepted there. But its a great school, and Dumaguete is a very nice and clean town.
The only reason Silliman is not yet recognized in California is because it's a new school. Once it's about 7 years of age, they just need somebody to apply and grandfather the school. It's a very solid university.

[SACTOBOY]

Picking or rating of a good med school should not be based whether the town or location is nice or not..all you need to care is if the place is safe. The most important things to consider are the things that the school has to offer and that whether they cater to your needs as a foreign student or not. If i were a foreigner why should I go to UST or UP and compete with the topnotch students of the country who were used to to the philippine educational system from grade 1 and yet these schools do not have clerkship programs in the US? Sorry I am little bit out of the topic.

[joyw]

hey i have question can i transfer to fatima from caribbean medical schools...im filipina- american, currently in a second semester in one of the caribbean medical schools. the reason i wanna do that because my school is new and is not federal eligible or title IV, while fatima is, and its a little cheaper. looking forward to hear from you soon. and another thing is fatima has an age limit? like other med schools in the philippines?

[Locutusofborg]

Joy, age is not an issue, I attend Matias H. Aznar Memorial (Southwestern University) in Cebu, and me and many of my classmates (even some filipinos!) are over 30. My oldest classmate is 50+, and he is one of the higher scoring students.

My only advice is rather than making the decision to attend a particular school without seeing it, is to come to Philippines and visit the schools here. I am definitely partial to Cebu City schools - I think its simply a better place to study compared to Manila. But this is subjective. Objectively speaking, your number one friend and foe is the USMLE - if you score high or low on it, then no other factor will matter - it will define your residency application as an IMG.

If you come to Cebu, feel free to send me a PM, I'll be happy to show you my school, as well as the other 3 medical schools in the area.

[shermyeung]

Does anyone know why only Fatima is entitled to loans ?

eligcert.ed.gov/ows-doc/initial.htm

Sallie Mae sent me this website, it is the qualification for title IV.

It seems like the school I am planning on going to can qualify.
I am applying to Cebu Doctors University.

I know that tuition and expense are cheap but Im trying to pay my own way and not have to depend on my folks.

[Locutusofborg]

Because its a LOT of paperwork. First, a philipino school must be recognized by PAASCO, a local accreditation agency that the US recognizes. Then, there is a long process of being approved for Title IV. Too much for them. Especially with practical concerns like not being open during US business hours.