Philippines, Hows DLSU-HSC med school?

[mykii]

Hi!

I'm a foreigner who is part of DLSU-M's undergraduate Human Biology course. Human biology is a special accelerated pre-med course which has you do 2 years at the university, with your third year being equivalent to your first year of med proper at DLSU-HSC in cavite. All in all i would finish my undergraduate AND med proper in 6 years.

Now, here's the deal. I'm not really sure if DLSU-HSC is the right med school for me. I havn't heard much about it really. I'm planning a trip within the next 1-2 weeks to go visit the campus to see it for my self.

If anyone knows anything about DLSU-HSC's med school then please feel free to share.

I'm really curious to see how modern the facilities are, and if its an english speaking environment, since i am a foreigner these are both issues which concern me. I'm now wondering if should stay in DLSU-HSC and finish in 6 years, or rather look at St. Luke's, FEU, UE, UST and/or ASMPH as alternatives since they have good links/ties with respect to foreign student population and are more reputable in terms of practicing aboard. English speaking envrionment is also very important to me, i find it counterproductive being in a class where 90% of the students don't speak english.

Any opinions are welcome, i'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one. If anyone could share anything, I'm all ears :).


P.S. Last time i checked, the avg % passing rate on the local board exams from DLSU-HSC was like 55-60%, is that true? GRRR!! I'm so confused about what to do.

[sluh69]

Hi!

I'm a foreigner who is part of DLSU-M's undergraduate Human Biology course. Human biology is a special accelerated pre-med course which has you do 2 years at the university, with your third year being equivalent to your first year of med proper at DLSU-HSC in cavite. All in all i would finish my undergraduate AND med proper in 6 years.

Now, here's the deal. I'm not really sure if DLSU-HSC is the right med school for me. I havn't heard much about it really. I'm planning a trip within the next 1-2 weeks to go visit the campus to see it for my self.

If anyone knows anything about DLSU-HSC's med school then please feel free to share.

I'm really curious to see how modern the facilities are, and if its an english speaking environment, since i am a foreigner these are both issues which concern me. I'm now wondering if should stay in DLSU-HSC and finish in 6 years, or rather look at St. Luke's, FEU, UE, UST and/or ASMPH as alternatives since they have good links/ties with respect to foreign student population and are more reputable in terms of practicing aboard. English speaking envrionment is also very important to me, i find it counterproductive being in a class where 90% of the students don't speak english.

Any opinions are welcome, i'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one. If anyone could share anything, I'm all ears :).


P.S. Last time i checked, the avg % passing rate on the local board exams from DLSU-HSC was like 55-60%, is that true? GRRR!! I'm so confused about what to do.
If you leave the DLSU system then you only completed 2 years of the pre-med course. Phil system requires a 4-year degree as pre-med course.Why don't you enquire at UERM or Fatima( with special class just for foreigner).It's a tough decision but you have to do it, good luck!

[mykii]

If you leave the DLSU system then you only completed 2 years of the pre-med course. Phil system requires a 4-year degree as pre-med course.Why don't you enquire at UERM or Fatima( with special class just for foreigner).It's a tough decision but you have to do it, good luck!

Thanks for the reply, i really appreciate it.

I know that if i end up not going to DLSU-HSC then i would only have 2 years of premed under my belt, which is why i am considering shifting courses into regular ** Biology (3years / 10 terms) and then going for a med school within the city. Is it true you need a 4 year premed course to go to med school here? What about those who graduate from the regular 3year ** Biology program? I hear that alot of the **-Bio grads go into UST/St. Luke's/UERM/FEU without a problem.

What really concerns me is since i can't sit the local board exams, and i plan to practice abroad, i really need to get the best education here that i can get - to prepare me for USMLE steps and/or AMA (Australian system) test/evaluation. The graduates are good representation of their school, and as of right now i think the avg. % passing rate at DLSU-HSC is only around 55-60% on the board exams, and that concerns me because I'm unsure if DLSU-HSC would prepare me adequately as a foreigner. No doubt, its a good school, but i really need to be in a good, modern, english speaking environment to propel my learning.

FATIMA was always a top option for me, but just recently I've heard some negative comments about it, especially the pricing schemes. I'd love to hear more about it if anyone knows more, but from the outside, it looks like they are charging 2-3x more than other medical schools who accept foreign students. Money isn't a big problem for me, but it still adds up in the long run.

Yet again, i urge anone who has had any experience in the PI med setting and is willing to share such experiences, then please post up :)

[trauma]

Thanks for the reply, i really appreciate it.
I know that if i end up not going to DLSU-HSC then i would only have 2 years of premed under my belt, which is why i am considering shifting courses into regular ** Biology (3years / 10 terms) and then going for a med school within the city. Is it true you need a 4 year premed course to go to med school here? What about those who graduate from the regular 3year ** Biology program? I hear that alot of the **-Bio grads go into UST/St. Luke's/UERM/FEU without a problem.
What really concerns me is since i can't sit the local board exams, and i plan to practice abroad, i really need to get the best education here that i can get - to prepare me for USMLE steps and/or AMA (Australian system) test/evaluation. The graduates are good representation of their school, and as of right now i think the avg. % passing rate at DLSU-HSC is only around 55-60% on the board exams, and that concerns me because I'm unsure if DLSU-HSC would prepare me adequately as a foreigner. No doubt, its a good school, but i really need to be in a good, modern, english speaking environment to propel my learning.
FATIMA was always a top option for me, but just recently I've heard some negative comments about it, especially the pricing schemes. I'd love to hear more about it if anyone knows more, but from the outside, it looks like they are charging 2-3x more than other medical schools who accept foreign students. Money isn't a big problem for me, but it still adds up in the long run.
Yet again, i urge anone who has had any experience in the PI med setting and is willing to share such experiences, then please post up :)
Few points.
1. Most med schools there will accept ANY Bachelor's degree and NMAT (their version of MCAT). It does not matter if it's 3 or 4 years.
2. The Human Biology program in DLSU-HSC is very selective and these are some of the best students compared to the regular Biology programs. Of course you can go to any med school after Biology but that will be your call.
3. Almost all the students in the Philippines CAN speak English with accents of course. Even uneducated vendors there can try to speak English with difficulty.
4. If you are aiming for USMLE, it is useless to look at their local boards passing rate. It is for local consumption (local Filipinos) as their boards is very different than USMLE. Also DLSU is not as selective compared to UP/UST/Ateneo/St. Luke's that is why it is unfair to compare the passing rate unless you are talking about only those in the Human Biology program.
5. The only schools with good facilities there (hospital-wise) is St. Luke's or maybe Ateneo (very new program).
6. Fatima may have an ok med program but I cannot vouch for their pre-med program. Also if you are that concern about local board passing, Fatima has the worst as it is the least selective.

[mykii]

Few points.
1. Most med schools there will accept ANY Bachelor's degree and NMAT (their version of MCAT). It does not matter if it's 3 or 4 years.
2. The Human Biology program in DLSU-HSC is very selective and these are some of the best students compared to the regular Biology programs. Of course you can go to any med school after Biology but that will be your call.
3. Almost all the students in the Philippines CAN speak English with accents of course. Even uneducated vendors there can try to speak English with difficulty.
4. If you are aiming for USMLE, it is useless to look at their local boards passing rate. It is for local consumption (local Filipinos) as their boards is very different than USMLE. Also DLSU is not as selective compared to UP/UST/Ateneo/St. Luke's that is why it is unfair to compare the passing rate unless you are talking about only those in the Human Biology program.
5. The only schools with good facilities there (hospital-wise) is St. Luke's or maybe Ateneo (very new program).
6. Fatima may have an ok med program but I cannot vouch for their pre-med program. Also if you are that concern about local board passing, Fatima has the worst as it is the least selective.

First and foremost: I'm sorry for the long post - but please, if you have the time, try to read as much as you can :D.

Good post trauma :p. Believe it or not trauma, but i have been reading various posts from you now for the last 1-2 years while researching life science education in the Philippines, so i'm happy to see you posting in one of my posts ;). Some of your contributions easily helped me make many important decisions, including whether i would want to stay in the Philippines for university/med. school. Anyways, enough with the flattery hehe ;)

I've been living here in Manila now for about 2-3 years, so I'm quite familiar with the english literacy rate and what school's here are really like. What i meant by the whole tagalog thing is by having a 'special' section like in FATIMA/UERM where foreigners are grouped together and taught exclusively in english. I know well that 90%+ of Filipino's can speak english, but when your the only foreigner in a class, the chance is they will still be talking tagalog 90% of the time - and that is what makes it hard for me. Just wanted to clarify what i meant by my comments on the language barrier ;).

As of right now, i am already enrolled in the Human Biology program. I scored in a top percentile on the entrance exam hence getting me into the program. About 20% of my class is on scholarship. I believe it is now the most selective course offered by DLSU-M since they only accept a total of 30-40 students, and by the end of the second year (Before going to first year med) only around 10-15~ are left. I'm learning alot, and i think its a good program. Main subjects taken up prior to first year med are: zoology, comparative anatomy, botany, ecology, histology, vertebrate embryology, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and cell biology.

Any comments on if that is sufficient preparation in going into med? Or would the extra subjects such as microbiology, parasitology, and physiology offered in straight **-Bio give me the edge whilst justifying the extra year of study? I guess the perk would be choosing my own med school if i switched into bio.

The question for me right now is "Do i really want to go to DLSU-HSC med?" I havn't heard much about it from...well...anyone, so i was hoping some may have had some experience with the campus/faculty/students/alumini that they might be able to share with me. I know that the local passing rate is not something for me to look at, but i still believe that it is a factor in judging the schools curriculum.

About the other schools, well i don't think i would ever go to Ateneo. That much is sure. As a foreigner, going to a med school with zero history, and being less than 10 years old is pure suicide. I would be pushing pooh pooh up hill my entire life in terms of paper work - which is something i don't need. Fatima - well, I don't know what to believe. The students attending Fatima on this forum seem to love it, but the reputation of the school still seems to preceed their blessings. I also seem to think that there is something wrong with the pricing too, and Trauma, your note has been duly recorded in my memory (re: % board passing).

St. Luke's/UERM/FEU seem to be schools i'm quite interested in. The question is, am i better off graduating from univeristy & med school in 6 years - or - am i better off going to a school with better facilities & foreign section and graduating within 7-8 years.

I'm open to all and any forms of advice and/or criticism. :).

[trauma]

First and foremost: I'm sorry for the long post - but please, if you have the time, try to read as much as you can :D.
Good post trauma :p. Believe it or not trauma, but i have been reading various posts from you now for the last 1-2 years while researching life science education in the Philippines, so i'm happy to see you posting in one of my posts ;). Some of your contributions easily helped me make many important decisions, including whether i would want to stay in the Philippines for university/med. school. Anyways, enough with the flattery hehe ;)
I've been living here in Manila now for about 2-3 years, so I'm quite familiar with the english literacy rate and what school's here are really like. What i meant by the whole tagalog thing is by having a 'special' section like in FATIMA/UERM where foreigners are grouped together and taught exclusively in english. I know well that 90%+ of Filipino's can speak english, but when your the only foreigner in a class, the chance is they will still be talking tagalog 90% of the time - and that is what makes it hard for me. Just wanted to clarify what i meant by my comments on the language barrier ;).
As of right now, i am already enrolled in the Human Biology program. I scored in a top percentile on the entrance exam hence getting me into the program. About 20% of my class is on scholarship. I believe it is now the most selective course offered by DLSU-M since they only accept a total of 30-40 students, and by the end of the second year (Before going to first year med) only around 10-15~ are left. I'm learning alot, and i think its a good program. Main subjects taken up prior to first year med are: zoology, comparative anatomy, botany, ecology, histology, vertebrate embryology, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and cell biology.
Any comments on if that is sufficient preparation in going into med? Or would the extra subjects such as microbiology, parasitology, and physiology offered in straight **-Bio give me the edge whilst justifying the extra year of study? I guess the perk would be choosing my own med school if i switched into bio.
The question for me right now is "Do i really want to go to DLSU-HSC med?" I havn't heard much about it from...well...anyone, so i was hoping some may have had some experience with the campus/faculty/students/alumini that they might be able to share with me. I know that the local passing rate is not something for me to look at, but i still believe that it is a factor in judging the schools curriculum.
About the other schools, well i don't think i would ever go to Ateneo. That much is sure. As a foreigner, going to a med school with zero history, and being less than 10 years old is pure suicide. I would be pushing pooh pooh up hill my entire life in terms of paper work - which is something i don't need. Fatima - well, I don't know what to believe. The students attending Fatima on this forum seem to love it, but the reputation of the school still seems to preceed their blessings. I also seem to think that there is something wrong with the pricing too, and Trauma, your note has been duly recorded in my memory (re: % board passing).
St. Luke's/UERM/FEU seem to be schools i'm quite interested in. The question is, am i better off graduating from univeristy & med school in 6 years - or - am i better off going to a school with better facilities & foreign section and graduating within 7-8 years.
I'm open to all and any forms of advice and/or criticism. :).
1. The only special section or programs I know so far is in Fatima. If you are comfortable with English-only speakers then Fatima may be the best option at this point as they have more foreigners even in pre-med. Even with UERM with so many Fil-Ams, they are still integrated with their sections.
2. This is a tough call since your current program is good. I'm not that familiar with their Med program. Both Fatima and DLSU have low passing rate in their local boards but that is misleading. Philippine schools are stratified in such a way that the more selective schools have the advantage of taking the best students that reflect in their board passing. I don't think programs change that much. A compromise would be taking the regular Biology program in DLSU and then choosing maybe Fatima for med school.
3. As for Fatima, the best thing to do is talk to current students there. As for pricing, many things are "negotiable" there so it might not be as expensive as it seems. I would also not recommend Ateneo as it is designed mostly for locals in mind.
4. It will be all up to you. The facilities in Fatima and DLSU-HSC in Cavite may not be much different for med school. The advantage of Fatima is the foreign section and US clerkship but if that is worth extra 2 years for you will depend on your priorities.

[samahantayo]

I happen to be acquainted with several dlsuhsc doing residency in my community. I can tell you that one dlsuhsc resident was made a chief resident because of his abilities/performance.

With that said, I don't know what nationality you are but you must not be that familiar with the Philippines. The medium of instruction in the Philippines is English regardless of the course you are taking ... and its probably safe to say the 99% of Filipinos speak English.

As to modernity of facilities, you will probably find that most of the schools in the Philippines that have a College of Medicine have about the same facilities and hospitals in terms of modernity. UP - touted to be one of the best schools uses PGH, a public hospital.

[mykii]

I happen to be acquainted with several dlsuhsc doing residency in my community. I can tell you that one dlsuhsc resident was made a chief resident because of his abilities/performance.

With that said, I don't know what nationality you are but you must not be that familiar with the Philippines. The medium of instruction in the Philippines is English regardless of the course you are taking ... and its probably safe to say the 99% of Filipinos speak English.

As to modernity of facilities, you will probably find that most of the schools in the Philippines that have a College of Medicine have about the same facilities and hospitals in terms of modernity. UP - touted to be one of the best schools uses PGH, a public hospital.

Thanks for the reply, i appreciate it and it is very helpful :).

I have been living in the Philippines now for 3 years, so i am quite familiar with it. Lets be honest, 99% of Filipino's will try to speak english and can do so with mixed success depending on their quality of education and where they reside, however the vast majority cannot speak fluent non-terminating english.

I am well aware that the English is the medium language of instruction but the the vast majority of people will still speak in their own tongue when given the chance. Of course this isn't true for everyone, i have many filipino friends who prefer to speak english over tagalog and i even have some friends from IS (International School) who are born and bred in the Philippines who cannot speak tagalog at all! Within my own experiences of schooling here now for 3 years, yes, all of my classmates could speak english, but when given the opportunity (say free time in class or lunch breaks) the majority will still feel more comfortable communicating in tagalog.

I wasn't really questioning the literacy rate of the Philippines, i was more so pointing out that if i am in an environment where the students are constantly speaking in tagalog (rather than english) that i find it hard to learn. Some schools like Fatima have complete english speaking foreign sections to help combat this form of learning difficulty for foreign students which i think is a good thing :).

[lrry]

Thanks for the reply, i appreciate it and it is very helpful :).

I have been living in the Philippines now for 3 years, so i am quite familiar with it. Lets be honest, 99% of Filipino's will try to speak english and can do so with mixed success depending on their quality of education and where they reside, however the vast majority cannot speak fluent non-terminating english.

I am well aware that the English is the medium language of instruction but the the vast majority of people will still speak in their own tongue when given the chance. Of course this isn't true for everyone, i have many filipino friends who prefer to speak english over tagalog and i even have some friends from IS (International School) who are born and bred in the Philippines who cannot speak tagalog at all! Within my own experiences of schooling here now for 3 years, yes, all of my classmates could speak english, but when given the opportunity (say free time in class or lunch breaks) the majority will still feel more comfortable communicating in tagalog.

I wasn't really questioning the literacy rate of the Philippines, i was more so pointing out that if i am in an environment where the students are constantly speaking in tagalog (rather than english) that i find it hard to learn. Some schools like Fatima have complete english speaking foreign sections to help combat this form of learning difficulty for foreign students which i think is a good thing :). go to the carribean....usmle structured...16 months....then 2yrs USA hospitals....no communiction problems....i lived and went to medical school in the Philippines...its cheap, but a nightmare....GO WHERE YOU ARE PREPARED FOR USMLE....PHILIPPINE BOARDS IS ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT....the biggest concern for foriegners....thinking the Philippine medical schools will accomodate.....they will let you in..its economics for them...they will often remind US...YOU ARE A FOREIGNER!!!!!!DON'T EVEN CONSIDER GOING THERE WITH THE EXPECATIONS YOU HAVE.....STAY HUMBLE, KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSE....YOU'RE VISITOR....THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING TO YOUR LIKINGS...IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH THAT, YOU MY BE OK, IF NOT....FOREIGNERS THAT COMPLAIN, CATCH PURE HELL THERE....THE WORD WILL GET OUT..REMEMBER THE CURRENCY IS 50 -1.DONT EVER THINK THEY HAVE LOVE FOR YOU.....JUST THE DOLLAR MY FRIEND.......THE HARD CORE TRUTH!!!!!!

[Dr.Bryan Ramirez]

go to the carribean....usmle structured...16 months....then 2yrs USA hospitals....no communiction problems....i lived and went to medical school in the Philippines...its cheap, but a nightmare....GO WHERE YOU ARE PREPARED FOR USMLE....PHILIPPINE BOARDS IS ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT....the biggest concern for foriegners....thinking the Philippine medical schools will accomodate.....they will let you in..its economics for them...they will often remind US...YOU ARE A FOREIGNER!!!!!!DON'T EVEN CONSIDER GOING THERE WITH THE EXPECATIONS YOU HAVE.....STAY HUMBLE, KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSE....YOU'RE VISITOR....THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING TO YOUR LIKINGS...IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH THAT, YOU MY BE OK, IF NOT....FOREIGNERS THAT COMPLAIN, CATCH PURE HELL THERE....THE WORD WILL GET OUT..REMEMBER THE CURRENCY IS 50 -1.DONT EVER THINK THEY HAVE LOVE FOR YOU.....JUST THE DOLLAR MY FRIEND.......THE HARD CORE TRUTH!!!!!!

wow... sorry if you feel that way, :(but please don't generalize...

@TS :nono: La Salle is definitely not after your money... some of my foreign classmates have scholarships... a lot of them came from Korea and they're not complaining... they're actually very good, usually consistently on the top of the class ranking,... AND WE DO HAVE LOVE FOR THEM BECAUSE WE CONSIDER THEM AS FAMILY!! ;) DLSHSI is an English-speaking university... they dont give special privileges to foreign as well as local students... however during practicals or clinicals, they do assign English speaking patients/junior interns... moreover, foreign students are expected to learn the vernacular since all of the duties will be done here, and not all Filipinos can communicate in English... Facilities are generally good, but not great... However, we are seeing great changes and renovations this year... and the school always asks for our opinion regarding the facilities and what improvements should be made... hospital facilities is at par with the best... Faculty members are among the best in the Philippines... Some of the consultants are even regarded the best in Asia, etc... and what I love about them is that they wont stop until they share what they know and we learn them ;) But there are some that aren't that great hehe...:D Contrary to what you might have heard, spoon feeding is not really what's going on in DLSHSI... actually, most of the time you have to study on your own or with a group.. a lot... were lucky if we get a good night's sleep (but that's med school life!, im just saying DLSHSI is the same.. ) but we do have time for extracuricullar activities like sportsfests, concerts, exhibits, competitions, etc... and we have a lot of those too! hehe :p as for the boards, we are definitely being prepared as early as 1st year... there are mock boards, and the exams are generally board type exams... :lol: that's why its so hard haha... (BTW I personally use USMLE reviewers for finals and they're generally similar.... so its safe to say that you'll also be prepped for USMLE and not just the local boards) DLSHSI is also consistently above the national board passing rate... and it produces topnotchers as well... However, if you really are planning to work abroad DLSHSI is not a bad choice but not the best one either... Its because the training is generally Filipino-based... (we take our community med seriously haha that's why)... I think UE is the best choice if you do want to work abroad... I hope this helps! ANIMO! :p

[Dr.Bryan Ramirez]

btw, you should continue Human Bio...it is the most competitive program as premed in the phils as of now and if you do, you might as well continue med at DLSHSI since the point of the program itself is to accelerate your grad... if you drop out i believe you need to shift to another course and start from 1st year again... my hum bio classmates are among the best in the class!!! and some of them got a 99++ percentile for NMAT... most are above 90... the hum bio from DLSU-Dasma are also at par with them but its a 4 year course as of now since its a semestral program and they have second year med subjects such as pharma, microbiology, immunology, virology and parasitology... :)

[samahantayo]

Just to add to Dr Ramirez's comment, many of dlsuhsi's staff are UP professors.

I am not trying to promote any particular school. Just stating some facts. The philippines has many good schools.

As to speaking of english. English is NOT the primary language of the Philippines. Therefore, I would NOT expect Filipinos to speak it regularly. Filipinos can speak english but also to expect them to speak with no accent is also again not a good expectation. In fact, I would not expect them to speak it with no accent.

The same can be said when in other countries. In fact, you would be lucky if you will find many other non-english speaking countries that have as high a percentage of english-speaking citizens as the Philippines.

So, I would say that appreciate whatever you can of the country. No one is forcing anyone to live anywhere. But if one decides to live in any place be it another city or country besides their own, there is always adjustments to be made.

[BBCherry]

Hello mykaii!

If you dont mind me asking, what nationality are you? I would like to add to what Dr. Bryan Ramirez's comments. I definitely agree with him what he posted.

I am a current second year med student in DLSU-HSC College of Medicine. I am one of the ten Fil-Ams in the class. I am from Florida and have been in the Philippines for over a year now. From my experience, the curriculum is not bad at all and the education I'm receiving is enough for me to prep for the USMLE. Now you kind of wondering why I chose this educational institution over others where many Fil-Ams attend, especially UE, UST, St. Lukes, etc.

I have to admit I am not a city person and hate closed spaces. I saw the other med schools in Manila and did not feel like going there. I didnt like the facilities and the the location was a turn off. However, when I checked DLSU since the daughter of a family friend graduated here (now a ob/gyn resident in NJ), I feel in love with the campus. I like where it's at and the distractions are minimal. If I did attend a med school in the city, I would easily get distracted and feel depressed afterwards.

And I'm with you. Filipinos here do speak English but with accents. That's pretty fine with me as long as I can understand them. However, try practicing speaking Tagalog. I know, it's difficult, but give it a shot. It will help you, especially if you have patients speaking Tagalog to you and they gain trust in you. Remember we are guest in their country. I may have a difficult time speaking it, but I can understand the language (well, most of it). I still have a lot to learn thought.

So the bottom line is the education here is not bad at all and the exams are so hard. The questions they ask us are USMLE-based, but these are retired questions. They use to be the questions asked in the MLE. But still it's really a challenge. Where are you planning to practice? I'm definitely planning to practice in the US since it's home for me.

I hope my comment helps. Let me know if you have any questions. :)

[samahantayo]

BBCherry, did you grow up in FL? What high school did you attend?

As to your observations about Dasmarinias vs Manila.... I'm not sure if I totally agree. IMO, its just as busy and crowded in Dasma as Manila. Although, Dasma is closer to Tagaytay than if coming from Manila.

IMO, some of the factors to consider in choosing a school there is the program, the facilities and the caliber of the professors. Also, the tuition and fees as they vary so much.

If one is looking for a more laid-back environment, I would say go to Cebu.

My 2 cents.

[samahantayo]

Hi!

I'm a foreigner who is part of DLSU-M's undergraduate Human Biology course............. Now, here's the deal. I'm not really sure if DLSU-HSC is the right med school for me. I havn't heard much about it really. I'm planning a trip within the next 1-2 weeks to go visit the campus to see it for my self........... If anyone knows anything about DLSU-HSC's med school then please feel free to share.............. are, and if its an english speaking environment, since i am a foreigner these are both issues which concern me.........

No offense but after reading your post again, I noticed inconsistensys. Since you are already studying in Manila and in DLSU-Manila at that, I do not understand the comment about "english-speaking environment". Why would Dasma be any different than Manila? Since you are apparently already in the Philippines and studying in the same university, why don't you ask the admssions office of DLSU about Dasma. I find it a bit puzzling that since you go to school in DLSU-M that you have not heard much about DLSU-HSC.

[mykii]

No offense but after reading your post again, I noticed inconsistensys. Since you are already studying in Manila and in DLSU-Manila at that, I do not understand the comment about "english-speaking environment". Why would Dasma be any different than Manila? Since you are apparently already in the Philippines and studying in the same university, why don't you ask the admssions office of DLSU about Dasma. I find it a bit puzzling that since you go to school in DLSU-M that you have not heard much about DLSU-HSC.

First and foremost i would like to say thanks to everybody who replied, all of your posts were very helpful & informative, thanks again! :).

samahantayo, i am in no way criticizing the Philippines, i love this country more than my own - so don't take my comments the wrong way :). I have really tried to ask around here about Dasma, and i mean I've really tried. Some of my classmates have visited the campus and they kind of gave me mixed reviews - but mostly it was on negligible things which i didn't really mind. There really is a lack of information about the campus in Dasma within the main campus, some people didn't even know the school existed (i know, shocking right?). In any case, the biology department has organized a tour for the Hum-bio students scheduled for this Friday, so i guess i will be able to see it for my self, and post back any relevant information here to help anybody else who might read this thread.

As to your question about 'why would dasma be any different than manila?' well that is quite simple. It's in a province. The metropolis of Manila & Makati is certainly very different than that found in cavite. DLSU-M and DLS-HSI are two seperate campuses and argueably two seperate schools, despite being under the same management. It is important to do your research on any institute when considering your admission.

Hope that clears up my motives in asking for information :)

Dr.Bryan Ramirez: Thanks for your post. It was very helpful :) I will definitely take your post into consideration in making my decision. The main problem i have with HUM-BIO Is the fact that if i decide i don't want to continue with medicine, i don't really have a fall back career.

BBCherry: Thanks for the post! I'm actually an Australian. I can speak a little tagalog but only the basics, hopefully by the time i get to dasma my tagalog would have improved :). I also see the need of learning tagalog when studying medicine in the Philippines, as it could help save a life. Thanks for the clarification also on the curriculum, i appreciate it alot :).

[samahantayo]

thanks for clarifying, mykii. I am a Pinoy and even if I do not live there (anymore), I guess where I'm coming from is the fact that I made the effort to visit the Philippines from the USA to purposely gather the information I needed to make my evaluation. I personally spoke with the admissions directors, deans and OIC's of various universities that I was interested in along with touring the grounds, classrooms, labs and dorms of those that had them. I also visited other potential student housing available in the area.

I believe that anyone seriously interested enough to attend school there (or anywhere else for that matter) should at least visit the cities and schools as I did.

I hear what you are saying about Dasma being a "province". But to me its really a suburb of Manila. I personally did not see much difference in congestion. Maybe slightly less congested.

One thing that dlsuhsc had that I thought was really good was their student dorm. It appeared to me to be up to the same standards as a university in the USA, at least the ones I have been in such as UoM and MSU.

[BBCherry]

Hello samahantayo,

Yes, I am from Florida (born in NJ but raised as Floridean) and went to Bloomindgdale High School in Hillsborough county. Why do you ask?

And I do agree the fact that Dasma is becoming more city-like, yet it's still a town so it's not as busy as Manila. I am more of a town girl. I grew up in a town and Dasma is more like my hometown.

I have not been to Cebu so I cant compare. Thanks for you remarks. I really appreciate a fresh point of view

[BBCherry]

No problem mykaii. Let me know if you have any questions. I can only speak from my experience in DLSU-HSC.