Fil/AM considering Philippine Medical School

[VAUSAFILAM]

I am a female that recently graduated. I am reviewing for the NMAT and MCAT. After reading some threads, I feel that going to the Philippines might be a big mistake for me esp if I plan to return to the USA and practice. Please let me know what is the best match for me if I would consider the Philippines.

Is the savings worth the education that I will get? Or will I have a hard time returning back to the USA.

Thanks

[trauma]

I am a female that recently graduated. I am reviewing for the NMAT and MCAT. After reading some threads, I feel that going to the Philippines might be a big mistake for me esp if I plan to return to the USA and practice. Please let me know what is the best match for me if I would consider the Philippines.

Is the savings worth the education that I will get? Or will I have a hard time returning back to the USA.

Thanks
Do your best to stay in the US. Apply to Osteopathic schools (DO) if your stats are a bit lower.
But if you study hard and pass all the USMLE steps, I have not heard of any US citizen having difficulty getting into residency. The only problem you will encounter is getting into competitive specialties (surgical fields, dermatology, radiology). But if you can be happy with primary care (FM, IM, Peds) many programs especially in Family Medicine don't fill during the match.

[VAUSAFILAM]

Do your best to stay in the US. Apply to Osteopathic schools (DO) if your stats are a bit lower.
But if you study hard and pass all the USMLE steps, I have not heard of any US citizen having difficulty getting into residency. The only problem you will encounter is getting into competitive specialties (surgical fields, dermatology, radiology). But if you can be happy with primary care (FM, IM, Peds) many programs especially in Family Medicine don't fill during the match.


My plan is to take the NMAT this November. Then do the MCAT for Jan 2010 so I can apply for Med School in the USA in May 2010. If the MCATs are not favorable then I will go to the Philippines for med school.

BTW where are you taking your med school?

[trupinoyMD]

Ace the MCATs. Put some cash together and do Kaplan prep. You should score 30 and above in order to be considered. Combined science GPA should be high. If not, try to pad it with "easier" science courses.
As far as residency, read my other posts. Generally for US grads residency is not a problem except for the "easy-lifestyle" residencies. Despite what you read about here, general surgery is NOT competitive at all. Ortho, Plastics-combined, Optho, Urology, and ENT are still competitive. General surgery programs generally are full on non-US grads except for the top programs.

If I were you I would re-think medical school. There's too much self-sacrifice involved.

[sluh69]

VAUSAFILAM,
Good luck with the exam, I'm also applying for the NMAT exam this Nov in Cali.I have worked with a lot of FMG's and they're all very good. One of the Attending in the MICU where I used to work, graduated from the Phil. I don't think you will have problem getting back here since you are a citizen. FMG who is a US citizen or a green card holder has a better chance of being matched(of course after passing step 1,2 USMLE).A friend of mine who is an MD from India told me that FMG's from India usually spend 1 year doing nothing but review for the USMLE and that's why they're able to get 90-95 score.But even if your score is not that high, she told me that if you choose less competitive choice like IM, Family Med(according to the last matching this is only half filled)you have a good chance.Among the 10 thousand FMG's who applied , I think 42% were matched.So just do your research and good luck again.

[Locutusofborg]

consider the fact that in the Philippines you are working with a far longer schedule than just 4 years. Consider:
1) To license in california, you need to delay your graduation and do your clerkship for an extra 20 weeks.
2) You will receive NO USMLE prep in school, and schedules in filipino schools do not realistically allow you to take step 1 before graduation (summer breaks are a month or less after second year). Plus you need time to do practice USMLE questions to get out of the filipino style modified multiple choice and find the exception type questions, and into the US style pick-the-best-answer-out-of-the-group types.
3) Given these hurdles, it is likely you will NOT complete your step one and step 2 requirements in time for the matching deadline for the year after you graduate. So you will either have to find a residency to take you without the matching program, or you can apply for matching to start residency TWO years after graduation.

Within this context, consider trying very very hard to get into domestic schools. If you really can't, I still feel the philippines gives a far better education than the Carribean schools, at 1/12th of total cost. However, if you speak spanish, there are lots of very good spanish-language med schools in dominican republic and mexico, which are as affordable as the Philippines.

[beachbum]

I have applied to US med schools this summer but I am not that positive on my chances of getting in for 2010, so caribbean or phil med schools is my backup since I don't think I can wait another year to reapply here. Anyways, I'm going to register to take the NMAT also this november but I'm just not quite sure how to do it. Good luck!

[sluh69]

I have applied to US med schools this summer but I am not that positive on my chances of getting in for 2010, so caribbean or phil med schools is my backup since I don't think I can wait another year to reapply here. Anyways, I'm going to register to take the NMAT also this november but I'm just not quite sure how to do it. Good luck!
The contact person is Mr Godfrey Vergara
PO Box 3553 Granada Hills, Ca 91394 USA
Tel 818-612-4490
NMAT - Nov 7'09 LA, California
Registration date - June1-Oct 7
Reg Fee- 30.00- Bulletin of Info & Practice tests Part1 & 2
Test Fee- 350.00
Hope this helps, I'm taking NMAT too this Nov, see you in LA.

[trauma]

Mr Vergara is the contact person as described above. If you can't get into any US allopathic or osteopathic schools, Caribbean or Phil. schools are possibilities. If you are considering Caribbean, only do it if you can get into the 4 schools there that are recognized in 50 states (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba). It will suck to be in debt for 100-200K and cannot practice in at least 15 states. Philippine schools won't prepare you for USMLE but they are very affordable and can practice in all states.
About speaking Spanish, 4 Puerto Rican schools are LCME and considered American medical schools.

[luvmyhoney]

Mr Vergara is the contact person as described above. If you can't get into any US allopathic or osteopathic schools, Caribbean or Phil. schools are possibilities. If you are considering Caribbean, only do it if you can get into the 4 schools there that are recognized in 50 states (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba). It will suck to be in debt for 100-200K and cannot practice in at least 15 states. Philippine schools won't prepare you for USMLE but they are very affordable and can practice in all states.
About speaking Spanish, 4 Puerto Rican schools are LCME and considered American medical schools.

Hello guys, FYI I have the books needed for the NMAT/MCAT reviewers and have decided not to go to the Philippines. Let me know if anyone is interested.

Trauma,thanks for all the information that you have posted.....what do you think about Physician Assistant or PHD Physical Therapy? Thanks

[luvmyhoney]

The contact person is Mr Godfrey Vergara
PO Box 3553 Granada Hills, Ca 91394 USA
Tel 818-612-4490
NMAT - Nov 7'09 LA, California
Registration date - June1-Oct 7
Reg Fee- 30.00- Bulletin of Info & Practice tests Part1 & 2
Test Fee- 350.00
Hope this helps, I'm taking NMAT too this Nov, see you in LA.

Slush...I responded to your email, let me know if you are interested.

Philippines is a good back up. Good luck!!

[trauma]

Hello guys, FYI I have the books needed for the NMAT/MCAT reviewers and have decided not to go to the Philippines. Let me know if anyone is interested.

Trauma,thanks for all the information that you have posted.....what do you think about Physician Assistant or PHD Physical Therapy? Thanks
Physician Assistants are more versatile and functions like physicians. We use one in our clinic. It's another great alternative.

[luvmyhoney]

Physician Assistants are more versatile and functions like physicians. We use one in our clinic. It's another great alternative.

Trauma, please help me rate the following: (ALL USA Educated)

1) BSN
2) MS PA
3) PHD PT

Rate it according to need in the USA and salary.

[trauma]

Trauma, please help me rate the following: (ALL USA Educated)

1) BSN
2) MS PA
3) PHD PT

Rate it according to need in the USA and salary.
All healthcare fields are needed but in terms of salary I would put MS PA first as they are flexible (some are doing surgeries) and work like doctors under supervision.
PhD PT might have higher base than BSN but I know many nurses who can pull higher salaries as they work many shifts. Also CRNA tops them all if you are just thinking about salaries.

[LongIslandDoc]

hey trauma,
i recently got into Southwestern med school and i'm a us citizen who plans to practice back in the states...i was informed that they do not have affiliations for clinical rotations and internship in the states...if i plan to stay in the philippines for the whole 5 years of med school, will that affect my plans to pursue as a doctor in the states...btw, i have a special intererest in becoming a psychiatrist or pediatrician...thanks

[trauma]

hey trauma,
i recently got into Southwestern med school and i'm a us citizen who plans to practice back in the states...i was informed that they do not have affiliations for clinical rotations and internship in the states...if i plan to stay in the philippines for the whole 5 years of med school, will that affect my plans to pursue as a doctor in the states...btw, i have a special intererest in becoming a psychiatrist or pediatrician...thanks
Med school is only 4 years but most local Filipinos do an extra 5th year rotating internship for their local boards (which you don't need). If you are planning to practice in California, the 5th year may come in handy just to satisfy their requirements.
If you will be truly happy with Psych or Peds, those are not competitive fields and I don't think you'll have a hard time coming back to the US.

[LongIslandDoc]

thanks...i went to CIM today and was highly advised that I should take my boards after my fourth year so i will be fully prepared...but i've also been advised from foreign fil-am med students to take it after my second year, what are your thoughts?

[trauma]

thanks...i went to CIM today and was highly advised that I should take my boards after my fourth year so i will be fully prepared...but i've also been advised from foreign fil-am med students to take it after my second year, what are your thoughts?
Although it's ideal to take USMLE Step1 after your 2nd year, VERY FEW can do it. Philippine schools are time and effort-intensive. You spend a lot of time in the classroom. If you can easily parallel-review daily then it's ok, but most students can't so they do it after their 4th year.

[LongIslandDoc]

my top 3 choices right now would be Southwestern, CIM, Cebu Docs...Cebu is not as over populated as Manila and it doesn't have as much distractions...btw, CIM wants to know if i plan to schedule my own clinical rotations, do you know if the process is a hassle or i should just stay in the Philippines? I appreciate all the help...thanks

[trauma]

my top 3 choices right now would be Southwestern, CIM, Cebu Docs...Cebu is not as over populated as Manila and it doesn't have as much distractions...btw, CIM wants to know if i plan to schedule my own clinical rotations, do you know if the process is a hassle or i should just stay in the Philippines? I appreciate all the help...thanks
I really don't know. From what I read from other sites, CIM (although PBL) tends to be intense. There were posts from locutusborg about previous experience. If the schedule is so tight but they will allow you to arrange an outside rotation, just pick the specialty you like most. I heard it's difficult arranging it on your own. Most of the guys I know have no USCE but were able to match in primary care (IM, PEds, FM, Psych).