Philippine Med School -NMAT

[RonRocks]

Any information on NMAT requirement ?

[trauma]

Any information on NMAT requirement ?
Anybody with a Bachelors degree or graduating by April next year can take the NMAT.
Contact Mr. Vergara. In the US it is only given in LA (November 7,2009) once a year. Registration is from June 1 to October 6.

Here is the link to the website Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. - NMAT Schedule (http://www.cem-inc.org.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=1)

[mscalagui]

I'm a (Biology) pre-med student in the states and i was thinking of going to medical school in philippines. I recently found out that students must first take the NMAT inorder to apply to the medical schools in philippines, where in lies my problem. I basically have less than a month to prepare and take the exam in california, so i was wondering if this is even possible. How long do students usually study for this exam?

Also, I looked at an application form from UST and it seems to me that the school's main focus is on academic performance. This is way different here in the states. Medical schools in the U.S. prefer students to be well rounded. Personally I have a decent GPA of higher than a 3.5 and lots of leadership, research experience, volunteer hours, and several extra-curricular activities. I'm also in an early medical school acceptance program in Texas. Are all these extra activities useless/disregarded if i apply to the medical schools in philippines?

[trauma]

I'm a (Biology) pre-med student in the states and i was thinking of going to medical school in philippines. I recently found out that students must first take the NMAT inorder to apply to the medical schools in philippines, where in lies my problem. I basically have less than a month to prepare and take the exam in california, so i was wondering if this is even possible. How long do students usually study for this exam?

Also, I looked at an application form from UST and it seems to me that the school's main focus is on academic performance. This is way different here in the states. Medical schools in the U.S. prefer students to be well rounded. Personally I have a decent GPA of higher than a 3.5 and lots of leadership, research experience, volunteer hours, and several extra-curricular activities. I'm also in an early medical school acceptance program in Texas. Are all these extra activities useless/disregarded if i apply to the medical schools in philippines?
Schools there tend to be more lenient with foreign grads as they have to pay the "foreign fee" or "donation" to the tune of about $10K. They are stricter with the grades of the local (Filipino applicants). Most of them don't even have a cutoff in the NMAT and many have low cutoffs (45 or 55). Many don't even care about your GPA. Just apply to at least 3 private schools there (no government school) and you'll get in somewhere.

[mscalagui]

Thank you for the reply I really appreciate it. Which 3 school would you recommend I should apply to if my goal is to take and pass the USMLE thereby allowing me to practice in the states?

[trauma]

Thank you for the reply I really appreciate it. Which 3 school would you recommend I should apply to if my goal is to take and pass the USMLE thereby allowing me to practice in the states?
None of the schools there will prepare you specifically for USMLE, but you can prepare on your own. The more established private schools there are UST, UERM, and FEU. Some recommends Fatima as they have a "special class" fopr foreigners but you have to check these schools out personally to see the best fit.

[mscalagui]

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll keep what you said in mind and continue to do my research. I do have other question regarding the NMAT.

I just go the review book called MSA NMAT reviewer, and I have been looking at it from time to time in between classes. The thing is I'm a bit befunddled and intimidated with some of the subjects. For example the Perceptual Acuity and Inductive Reasoning. Personally I haven't come across exams that included these types of questions. The only test I know which uses these types of questions are for the DAT (dental admissions test). So I was wondering what is the best way to study for the NMAT? How well do foreign students do on this exam? And lastly, how long do the results take to come out?

Hope you and/or others can help, and thank you for your time ^_^

[trauma]

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll keep what you said in mind and continue to do my research. I do have other question regarding the NMAT.

I just go the review book called MSA NMAT reviewer, and I have been looking at it from time to time in between classes. The thing is I'm a bit befunddled and intimidated with some of the subjects. For example the Perceptual Acuity and Inductive Reasoning. Personally I haven't come across exams that included these types of questions. The only test I know which uses these types of questions are for the DAT (dental admissions test). So I was wondering what is the best way to study for the NMAT? How well do foreign students do on this exam? And lastly, how long do the results take to come out?

Hope you and/or others can help, and thank you for your time ^_^
These portion of the test is the area where most foreign grad do well as they can practice for it using various sources like DAT. Just practicing these type of questions will increase your chances of getting decent scores.

[mscalagui]

Trauma, Thank you for the info. and suggestions. I really appreciate it. :)