Question for Fatima/other Phil med students and/or graduates

[Dr_me2]

I have been considering Philippines medical schools because of the low cost of attending the school, cost of living, the language of instruction (English) and being accepted in all 50 states. I went to the Phil once as a tourist and had a quick tour of a couple of medical schools (not Fatima).

I have heard Fatima guarantees your last year clerkship in the US.

My question is what if the Clerkship is not a "green book" rotation? Would that help or hurt you in the future when you want to get residency AND get a license to practice in certain states?

2) Do they guarantee green book clerkships? If so, where?

3) what do you think the cost of living would be per month if I decided to go to Fatima (tuition, books, supplies, food/eating out, on campus rent etc.)?

I would greatly appreciate any response from those of you who know the answers and think you might know based on your experience.

Thanks
cheers

[Locutusofborg]

... Is that Fatima only guarantees the Family Medicine greenbook rotation through its partnership with Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago. I don't believe Fatima has any agreements with US hospitals for ACGME approved internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry and neurology, and obstetrics and gynecology core rotations. Or am I wrong?

[trauma]

In some states like PA or TX, you are required to have ALL GREEN rotations. The 2 or 3 hospital affiliations of Fatima has FM "umbrella" but I'm sure they are not all green so you might still have problems with states that require all green rotations.

[Locutusofborg]

If I do strictly 4 weeks of FM in jackson park, thats greenbook for all 50 states right?

[trauma]

If I do strictly 4 weeks of FM in jackson park, thats greenbook for all 50 states right?
As I mentioned in another thread, different states have different rules. They might even consider cores from Jackson Park (like IM or Surg) green. However, that hospital does not have a comprehensive specialty elective rotations so your best bet to get licensed are those states that accept BLUE rotations.

[Locutusofborg]

I don't plan to be a doctor in one state and a quack in another. The ONLY route worth considering is one that licenses you in all 50 US states. Alaska has some of the highest paid doctors in the nation, while Texas has some of the top-notch facilities (like one of the leading cancer hospitals in the US,etc). Both states won't license you if you're not all greenbook, and neither will 10 others. Why choose the Philippines and then end up with a fourth-tier Carribean status by not being able to get licensed in 12 states?

[trauma]

I don't plan to be a doctor in one state and a quack in another. The ONLY route worth considering is one that licenses you in all 50 US states. Alaska has some of the highest paid doctors in the nation, while Texas has some of the top-notch facilities (like one of the leading cancer hospitals in the US,etc). Both states won't license you if you're not all greenbook, and neither will 10 others. Why choose the Philippines and then end up with a fourth-tier Carribean status by not being able to get licensed in 12 states?
Since you are already acclimated to the Philippines, the best option for you is to get the specialty rotation you want to match in like FM or IM (in a greenbook setting) just because you can get LOR from an attending, then do the rest of your rotations in the Philippines to satisfy all the states requirements.

[IMGNY]

What is the annual cost at Fatima, and are there other 4-year schools in the Philippines that you know? I have some interest in Southwestern University (SWU), and note that some of there graduates seem to be doing very well in the US.
SWU website indicates that the NMAT is required - does this apply to foreign students also? Also, from what I know, I would be very tempted to choose a school in the Philippines over any Caribbean "off shore" school. Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Ron

[Locutusofborg]

All filipino schools require u to take the NMAT but 1) its a rediculously easy test compared to the MCAT, and 2) Even if you score miserably low, your eligibility to attend schools like Fatima, SWU, UV-Gullas, and to a lesser degree UERM/FEU wont be affected by much. U only need to score high for St. Lukes, UP, and UST.

For schools that dont care abt ur NMAT score, u can take it during ur first year of medical studies. They will apply it retroactively.

I agree that the Philippines are better than the Carribean overall. Remember that while Carribean schools offer 2 years US clerkship, they do NOT guarantee all greenbook rotations. My friend is an AUC graduate. AUC is accepted in all 50 states, but the way his clerkships were designed (not all greenbook), he will have issues applying in about 10 states. And he owes over $300,000 in loans. Ouch.

Look into UERM, I liked that school when I interviewed there. People say good things about La Salle. UV is worth a peek at - its easier than SWU, and possibly can give u more time to study for the USMLE. Of course the flip side is that u can get lazy, and u wont learn to perform at top efficiency the way u do under SWU style pressure. Some people swear by Cebu Doctors (aka Cebu Dollars due to its higher tuition), but Im not a fan of a PBL education.

[Locutusofborg]

another school to look into is Silliman U in Dumaguete. The town is lovely, and the program is getting good reviews. Only issue that California will not accept its graduates.

[trauma]

I agree that if you're planning to practice in the US, avoid new schools that are less than 15 years old by the time you graduate (Kansas has this weird 15 year rule). Aside from a few schools (like UST, CIM and public universities like UP and PLM) most med schools have easy admissions criteria and will not require high NMAT scores or GPA.

[Banyo King]

There is a lot of discordant information on this and other boards about Fatima's tuition and teaching. Those are some other questions the OP should find answers to if they're interested in Fatima (though an objective way to measure teaching quality would be difficult).

Also:

Hey Locutus, how's everything? I'm a long-time lurker (as in, a couple of years) here, as well as at a certain other medical/pre-medical student forum that you frequent. You back in the Philippines now? I saw one of your posts at that other forum that said you were having some health issues. Hope everything's good and you're back on track. PM me and let me know if you ever have the time!

[Locutusofborg]

yea, having health issues but hoping to get back to the Philippines and continue my studies once my issues have been resolved. However, I'm undecided if I should go back to SWU (where I completed year 1), or transfer to Fatima. There are pluses and minuses to both decisions.

About fatima and discordant information, is it true that they have a $5000 fee for doing clerkships in the US? If so is that a total fee for the right to do that, or is it per site, or per clerkship rotation??? Also is it true that they charge a $5000 graduation fee?

Also why the heck aren't they replying to my email inquiries? Very unprofessional...

[Banyo King]

Hey Locutus, good to hear you're getting back in the saddle.

Unfortunately, all of my information regarding Fatima is secondhand. Like you, I've never received responses from their offices. Then again, I've also only tried via e-mail. Like many schools in the PI, your best bet is probably to contact them via telephone.

Some of the secondhand information I've dug up regarding all types of fees Fatima levies international students is found on these forums. I don't have enough posts to put up a link, though. I'll just post what the thread says here:

Donation: $6,000
Per semester: $3,500 x 8= $28,000
Clinical fee if you do in USA: $5,000per 3 months (plus your tuition)
Graduation fee: $5,000
Hidden fee: $1,000

Remedial fee: 5000 peso per class (if you fail the class, mostly everyone fail)
If you attend remedial fail: $500 per major class, $300minor class
If you donot attend remedial: $1,000 per major class to pass, $600 for minor class

Room and Rent: $200 per month (around 7,500peso, prince range from 5,000peso to 9,000peso)
Electricity and water: $50 per month (around 2,000peso)
Internet: $25 per month (999peso)
Food cost depend on you I would say $200 per month


Government Fee:
Visa fee 1st time: $500 (20,000peso)
After every semester: $250 X6= $1,500 (9,500peso Fatima charge, if you do it alone around 7,000peso)

Everytime you leave Philippines: $100 (3000peso, airport tax)

I'd take what "Fatima Family" (the poster who posted the aforementioned fees) says with a grain of salt, however, as they've posted such inflammatory things as "Josie is a liar!"; I believe Josie is the President of Fatima, or some other higher-up.

Good luck with your fact-finding mission.

[Locutusofborg]

I'm finding that ANY information about a medical school is incredibly unreliable, and highly dependent on a person's achievement in this school. For example, since I did well at SWU, I'm of a high opinion of that school. But ask a good friend of mine (who isn't on this board), who quit in the middle of first year and last I heard will be enrolling in St. Kitts - and he'll tell you horror stories about professors that don't teach, and about having no time to study due to long classroom hours. Same school, two different perspectives.

I think the $6000 "donation", and $3500/sem fees are established facts. I'd like someone who attends fatima to corroborate:
$1000 "hidden" fee
$5000/3months foreign rotation. What if I just want to take FM at jackson park? Thats 4 weeks. What if I arrange clerkships on my own? Hiring a private agent to find true ACGME approved clerkships will be cheaper than getting blue-book rotations at jackson park!
$5000 graduation fee - seriously? Or slander?
$1000 to pass a class which you failed - Are you serious??? You can PAY to PASS?? I want to know if this is true.

I'm hoping someone from fatima (trauma?) can clarify these points for all of us... If a fatima student wishes to inform me privately, i will repost the answer without revealing their identity.

Thanks.

[Banyo King]

There's Fatima students over at the pinoy DOT md (can't post links :crazy:) forums. Only problem is they are local students, so obviously they aren't going to be paying all these fees. But, maybe they have some friends who are international students or have seen a breakdown of costs associated with the school for internationals. At the very least they should be able to comment on the climate of the school; i.e., is it the type of place where you pay to pass.

[Locutusofborg]

negative information is often difficult to find because 1) disgruntled students will exaggerate it and 2) in cases of corruption/bribery once someone "paid into" the system, they have to keep their mouths shut else they will lose both their money and the privileges that came with it. This has been my experience in other cases of corruption where the same students who complained about being swindled by a corrupt school official (this was a nonacademic department), kept their mouths shut during the investigation due to fear of losing the money they paid the swindler without getting results, and due to the swindler having their documents/personal information on file.

My issue with any school accepting a $1000 fee to pass a student is more academic than financial. In anticipation of a better income, the professors would gravitate towards testing the least important and the most difficult of the topic. Students would feel demotivated to study (I can pass anyway), and overall negative energy would prevail.

I think if no Fatima student steps forward and vouches that this is not the case, we have to assume its true:(

[mykii]

I don't know too much about Fatima my self, however, i have spoken with several Med grads from there who are now practicing locally - and they usually don't know what the international students pay.

I could be wrong, but from those who i've spoken to, they seem to imply like they 1) really don't know what the internationally students pay, or 2) Don't want to say. I spoke with one particular individual about it, and they said "well, I don't really know, but i think it is about the same as a local student" - and i hate to say it but that is completely false. A foreigner at Fatima would pay ATLEAST 2-3 fold more than a local student.

On the fatima website in the international student section, they list 'study for only 9,000$ a year'. That is grossly expensive for the Philippines, if that is just the tuition fee. It calculates out to roughly 450,000 pesos which i think is far too much compared to other good schools in Manila. However, if you want to be in a foreign environment (special foreigner class) or do clinical rotations in the US, than perhaps it is worth paying the money.

Just my two cents.

[Dr_me2]

My main question is; Do you have to have a US clerkship (greenbook or anything) to be eligible and match for residency ANYWHERE in the US? Why can't you complete everything in the Phil then return to the US take a year off pass USLME's and match the next year for a residency? Isn't that what most Phil med graduates do?
What are your chances if one goes that route?

[Locutusofborg]

Dr. Me2 - lets functionally define the goal of medical school as a vehicle for getting into residency. That is, ultimately, our goal right?

Through that lens, let us further define medical school worth as its ability to maximize the chances for its graduate of getting into a residency. As such there are two factors to consider: 1) how many programs you're eligible to apply to, and 2) how strong is your application.

Without a doubt any US rotation makes for a stronger application. Program directors want to see recommendations from US M.D.s because they have their prejudices against all tropical countries, and they want to make sure you won't try to infuse buko juice through a bamboo IV line (harsh, but that's basically the attitude you might encounter!). While US experience makes your application stronger, it will limit your eligibility for programs if you don't do all ACGME approved rotations. Statistically, you're now competing against foreign graduates for less residency spots, hence while your application is stronger, you're faced with more competition. A program director of a Texas hospital (Texas doesn't license physicians with non-green book rotation) might take a second look at your application - it certainly stands out from the rest, especially if you did well on the boards but finished your education abroad. A hospital in NY might simply put your application under a pile of applications from Ross or AUC since these guys also generally don't get all green-booked rotations, and end up ineligible for states like Texas, Alaska, etc - but have a (largely purchased via marketing) high reputation in high-IMG states.

In short, you have to compromise strength for opportunity, and vice versa. UNLESS, you pull off having a few US rotations that ARE greenbooked, and spend the rest of the time in the Philippines.

One strong advantage of Fatima is that they do guarantee ONE ACGME-approved core clerkship in the US (Family Medicine). Its 4 weeks. After that, you find electives on your own, or go back to Philippines IF YOU WANT ALL GREEN BOOK. And I do!

In defense of Fatima, it's wrong to simply dismiss them as greedy. It's a business, after all. And in their defense, their tuition is the lowest of ANY exclusive foreign program that I know of (compare to even lowest tier carribean schools). As foreigners we have different needs than the locals. I've experienced first hand how distracting research in medical school can be. For locals - no biggie. For me, I need to study for the boards, and local program simply doesnt give me time to do that. So by going "Local" i'm putting off USMLE step 1 till graduation - which makes my chances of doing an ACGME US elective clerkship - near ZERO. At Fatima, I might get a chance to take it after 2nd year, which is why I'm considering it.

However, i STILL WANT CLARIFICATION on whether or not a passing grade at Fatima can be bought for $1000. If this is true, I have to think twice about transferring to Fatima. That kind of academic environment would be conducive not to learning, but to a cat-and-mouse game of the professor focusing on failing you (for income) rather than teaching you. If this is false, then I think the exhorbitant tuition is REASONABLE, because it gives you the opportunity to study for Step I by 1) eliminating research, 2) giving a longer break between 2nd and 3d years, with a bonus of guaranteeing 4 ACGME-approved weeks at a US hospital (at a $5000 price, but who cares at that point).

So, clarification on purchasing passing grades???

[trauma]

I really can't answer for Fatima since I'm not from that school. I was a local graduate who did not have a single US rotation and still matched. I know many local Fatima grads (not international) who are satisfied with their education. For local FIlipinos, Fatima is actually one of the less expensive school near Metro manila about 65,000 pesos per sem or about 1,400 dollars per sem. But I really feel that Fatima is overcharging the foreigners for the same quality of education.
Now if you are considering the clerkship rotation in the US, how come UERM can do the same (using the same hospital in Chicago and a different one in New York) but they don't charge you higher fees other than the US clerkship??

[Locutusofborg]

You have a point trauma. besides, I've got a very good vibe about UERM when I interviewed there before. Now, UERM does charge foreigners $10000 enrollment fee, but still much cheaper than Fatima. But do they still have affiliation with US hospitals? Another thing I need to find out...

[IMGNY]

Attn: Locutusofborg (http://www.valuemd.com/members/locutusofborg.html)

I am very interested in SWU, and in fact find the PBL approach attractive.

Is it true that there is a high percentage failure rate, and no second chance?

Are they that rigid and not student-friendly?

Ron

[trauma]

You have a point trauma. besides, I've got a very good vibe about UERM when I interviewed there before. Now, UERM does charge foreigners $10000 enrollment fee, but still much cheaper than Fatima. But do they still have affiliation with US hospitals? Another thing I need to find out...
For UERM the $10,000 is a one-time fee like ALL schools in Metro Manila. But from year 1-4 they pay the same rate as local Filipinos which is now about 85,000 pesos per sem or about $1800 per sem. Yes, they still have the same affiliation like Fatima (jackson Park in Chicago) but they use St. John's Episcopal in Far Rockaway in NY. I think you have to pay extra for the US clerkship like Fatima but it's still not expensive as them.
The only difficulty with UERM is that they are strict with transfer students and they require potential transferees to take validation exams for those units or subjects taken. They also increased their NMAT cutoff to 65 (unlike other schools with practically have no cutoff).

[Locutusofborg]

SWU is not PBL based, its completely traditional/lecture. Failure rate is significant: our first year batch started with 80, 10 or so dropped out mid-year as a personal decision, and about 20 failed one class or more. So total passing rate was 50/80 from 1st to 2nd year. HOWEVER, unlike other filipino schools, SWU DOES NOT force you to repeat the entire year for failing just one subject. Whatever you fail is what you repeat. You are also welcome to take next year's classes that don't require the class you failed as a prerequisite. Only cutoff is that you must graduate within 6 years of enrollment. You don't get expelled from SWU for purely academic reasons, while other schools may choose to expel you for failing a badly in a given subject.

In terms of student friendliness - its medium-level. The dean's ear is always open to student suggestions and complaints. On the other hand, getting something done requires a very strong student movement - even if its a good idea, no individual student can actually cause change to happen. Some policies are utterly unfair. For example, one professor instituted a zero-absence policy. Being absent for lecture without a doctors note cosigned by the dean made you ineligible to sit for the unit exam for that given unit (a zero!). This means that staying home a day with a flu is not an option - spend your time sniffling in class or at the university physicians office. Other times, the professors can and do work with you to help you pass. That same professor who has that horrible zero attendance policy generally is open to moving due dates to later dates if your project isn't done in time, and she can see you've put in good effort. That professor is also exceptionally good at peppering lectures with jokes that keep you awake. In short - student friendliness is a mixed bag, and you get the good with the bad.

[Locutusofborg]

If UERM still has affiliation with St. Johns Episcopal, thats a huge advantage, because that hospital has an ACGME approved IM program there. This is something Fatima doesn't have. That's an extra 8 weeks in the US!

However, Fatima appears to have a longer break after 2nd year, increasing chances of passing step one before 3d year starts. Also Fatima suspends research requirement for foreign students, which can also be a distraction in terms of step II prep. Does that justify paying a higher tuition? Thats a question im pondering now, and depends highly of what I discover regarding their teaching effectiveness, and whether or not the pay-to-pass rumor is true.

[Banyo King]

I'd look into curriculum differences at Fatima as well. This is all hearsay, but supposedly Fatima was implementing a different curriculum for international students--2 years basic sciences, 2 years clinical. Since this is an American structure, it would be logical to assume they would stick American students into this class.

If this 2+2 rumor is true, then I would definitely stay away from Fatima. California has only approved the current Filipino curriculum, not any type of revised one. Even if one isn't interested in California licensure, who knows what other states will follow the "California list" one day?

Just another wrinkle to consider, I suppose.

[Locutusofborg]

if the 2x2 rumor is true AND california board is OK with it (I'd contact them directly for that), it would be an ENORMOUS advantage to attend Fatima. The reason is that currently, Fatima grads ARE eligible for cali licensing WITH 20 weeks of approved post-graduate hospital rotations to make up for the missing clerkship hours in the filipino curriculum. If we can do more clerkships while in med school, that would save time. In fact, if this 2x2 thing is true AND Cali board tells me its ok, Fatima would be my topmost choice. IF.

[trauma]

You have to inquire with the California Board for this. 2+2 is a red flag for a Philippine school as they are not willing to pay for more green rotations. California is so strict that they scrutinize ALL the clinical affiliates and if they see very few green rotation, being banned by the California board is a disaster (See what happened to SMU in the Caribbean).

[Locutusofborg]

My friend called the school, and he was assured that there is no 2x2 plan in development.

[ladybug08]

Here let me answer these questions since I graduated from Fatima last year.

NO 2x2 plan or whatever you guys are proposing.
Fatima has affiliations with hospitals in the states for US clerkships, they are not "guaranteed".
Yes its about $5k for 3 months of clerkship which, if you ask any Carib. student, is normal, because you're pretty much PAYING for your education, in the states. Remember, having teachers esp. in US hospitals cost money. They won't take you for free! And this includes your boarding in NY if you choose to do your rotations there. I think for Carib. students, this fee is already included in their tuition which is why their tuition is so much more expensive than Fatima's.
St. John's isn't in Far Rockaway. Peninsula hospital is, and this is an affiliation of Fatima, not UERM....

[ladybug08]

Donation: $6,000 - Possible but all foreign graduates pay at all med schools in the PI
Per semester: $3,500 x 8= $28,000 - Possible, but it wasn't that much when I attended (I graduated last year)
Clinical fee if you do in USA: $5,000per 3 months (plus your tuition) - YES
Graduation fee: $5,000 - I do not remember cutting a check for this much!
Hidden fee: $1,000 - WHAT the hell is a hidden fee???

Remedial fee: 5000 peso per class (if you fail the class, mostly everyone fail) - I never took any remedials. If you pass, you pass. I studied hard and passed.
If you attend remedial fail: $500 per major class, $300minor class - I don't know, but isn't it normal to pay for a class you have to repeat? like summer school?
If you donot attend remedial: $1,000 per major class to pass, $600 for minor class - NOT TRUE whatsover. If you don't attend remedials, you FLUNK out. My class started at 50+ and at graduation only 25-30, because people either quit, gave up, or failed.

Room and Rent: $200 per month (around 7,500peso, prince range from 5,000peso to 9,000peso) - Yes depends on where u live
Electricity and water: $50 per month (around 2,000peso) - yes
Internet: $25 per month (999peso) - yes
Food cost depend on you I would say $200 per month - yes


Government Fee:
Visa fee 1st time: $500 (20,000peso) - ? US citizen but didn't pay any visa fee
After every semester: $250 X6= $1,500 (9,500peso Fatima charge, if you do it alone around 7,000peso) - Never did this. Fatima will charge you if you want them to go through the hassle of fixing your visa for you. As in going to the embassy, etc etc. Good luck trying to do this on your own around your school schedule!

Everytime you leave Philippines: $100 (3000peso, airport tax) - ?! No! LOL its like ~$12. Where do you get these figures?

Josie's not the president of the school. In fact, I don't even think she works there anymore.

[trauma]

Here let me answer these questions since I graduated from Fatima last year.

NO 2x2 plan or whatever you guys are proposing.
Fatima has affiliations with hospitals in the states for US clerkships, they are not "guaranteed".
Yes its about $5k for 3 months of clerkship which, if you ask any Carib. student, is normal, because you're pretty much PAYING for your education, in the states. Remember, having teachers esp. in US hospitals cost money. They won't take you for free! And this includes your boarding in NY if you choose to do your rotations there. I think for Carib. students, this fee is already included in their tuition which is why their tuition is so much more expensive than Fatima's.
St. John's isn't in Far Rockaway. Peninsula hospital is, and this is an affiliation of Fatima, not UERM....
Check my post again. I know that Peninsula is the Fatima affiliation . St. John's Episcopal (the UERM affiliation) is in Far Rockaway. I lived in NY for 10 years.

[ladybug08]

Sorryyyyyy Trauma I thought you were referring to St. Johns in Queens where a bunch of other foreign grads go.

[ontheedge]

Thanks for all the info from this thread. It's been really informative.
I just arrived in Manila and have been going to different med schools (CIM and Cebu DOctors in Cebu, ASMPH, UERM and De La Salle).

I can tell you what the UERM registrar told me about the US clerkships. They do have affiliations at Jackson Park in Chicago and then at St. John's in Far ROckaway, NY. It is a 1-time fee of $10,000 to do those clerkships. This is on top of the tuition. I did see a facebook entry from a UERM med student saying there is an additional $300 per week cost for those clerkships. But I am still trying to confirm if that's for living expenses.

Hope that helps. UERM is my top most choice bec. of the US clerkships. I haven't lived in Manila for 13 years and I am NOT used to the traffic anymore. I am living with relatives to save cost and FATIMA is way too far. ASMPH would be ideal as it is 5 minutes away but I'm scared because it's new.

[Locutusofborg]

Ladybug - Thank you for your insight! I'm relieved that people flunk out and no option exists on paying your way to pass class. This elevates the credibility of the program, and is making it more likely for me to transfer there.

I have one more question, regarding Harbor hospital in Baltimore. Is there a Fatima affiliation? Do you know anyone from Fatima who was able to do an IM core clerkship there?

Thanks!!

[trauma]

Sorryyyyyy Trauma I thought you were referring to St. Johns in Queens where a bunch of other foreign grads go.
It's ok:D BTW, the St. John's in Queens is now closed. They're a victim of budget cuts and financial woes in NYC.

[ladybug08]

Locut- Yes they have a Harbor affiliation in Baltimore too, which started after I did my rotations in Chicago. Darn! I would have LOVED to do my IM there. Baltimore is a great city!!!! The only rotation offered there is IM, I believe its 12 weeks and Yes my friends went there and they loved it and I would absoultely recommend it because now that I have applied for residency, I can tell you that US Clinical experience is crucial on your application!

[Locutusofborg]

i wonder if FM in chicago followed by IM in harbor can be pulled off, considering that spots are not guaranteed... Would take full advantage of the $5000 study abroad fee then:)

[ladybug08]

Hi Locut- yes it is possible to do both. Its not just the $5000 fee, but you have to do fairly well in school also. There were a LOT of applicants for the rotations but I know Fatima is only alotted 4 slots per each 3 month cycle at each hospital. So at one given time maybe only 12 students will be chosen for clerkship in the states. These 12 will be representing Fatima and it is important that they represent the school well. I think Fatima does have every right to choose who goes to clerkship in the states and who doesnt, who would want someone unqualified to represent their school?

All I have to say is, if I was able to do it, any one can. Just don't lose focus as I've seen happen too often throughout my course of med school, and afterwards too!

[Dr_me2]

Ladybug,
I'd like to thank you for being so helpful. You have answer so many of our unanswered questions about Fatima and life after graduation from that school. I wish more Phil graduates/students like you, Trauma & Locut would join and share their experiences as well.
Congrats on your Peds residency :)
cheers
(Dr someday_me2)

[ladybug08]

You're welcome! I'll be around if you guys need me :) Best of luck to all of you~ I know it seems like a long road but trust me you'll get to wherever you want to be :)

[HenDr]

Hi, I am looking for some information regarding to medical school in Philippines.

I am a general practitioner (general doctor) from Indonesia. I am interested in continuing my education in pediatric or obstetrics and gynecology specialization in Philippines.

Do you know where can I get some more information about medical school specialization admission for international students? or does anybody know of any requirement for international students admission?

Also, which school in Philippines is good for pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology specialization?

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[ladybug08]

@HenDr: when you say you are a general practitioner, do you mean that you are an MD and are done with your residency & board certified in your country?

Were you planning to practice in the states and is that why you want to continue your education in the Philippines? Or were you planning to just relocate to the Philippines? I think you are referring to being accepted into residency but I am not really clear on what you were trying to ask through your post.