UCE

[misskitten]

There seems to be alot of differing sentiments about UCE on this board, so I thought it would be a good idea to hear everyone's thoughts on the school in a separate thread.

I am thinking of attending UCE, but I have been a bit concerned by recent posts that imply that the school has gone downhill. Are there any current UCE students here who can address this issue? How have you found the quality of education to be? Is it possible to set up a term of your own rotations in the US, as you can with UNIBE? Are there any current or recent UCE students who can talk about how students have done in trying to gain a US medical license? It seems to be common knowledge that San Pedro is a bit of a backwater--is the town liveable, or not? Is is possible to find apartments with generators? Is it cheap to live in San Pedro?

Is there "buzz" at other DR schools that UCE is a place to avoid?

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has can tell me about the school.

All the best!

MissKitten

[ojmdc]

I believe you've already heard my input on the subject. but I'll repeat it for this thread. This past semester at INTEC three students transferred from UCE, two of them having completed the first year there, inclusive of premed and the other student was already well into the basic sciences. All three of these students transferred because they felt their courses were a joke, there weren't learning anything. The student in the medical program told me that he essentially was able to be away from school for most of the semester only to return to take his finals and pass the courses successfully. This is obviously not how things are supposed to go in medical school. I suspect that the less0than0stellar academics compounded with the tougher living situation in san pedro has made studying in a school in the capital a great deal more appealing. Lemme tell you, if you even just DRIVE through San Pedro you'll ask yourself why ANYONE would want to live there ON PURPOSE. For some reason there seem to be a lot of Puerto Ricans attending school there, I'm not sure why that is, it's my understanding that they allow you to arrange one clinical rotation in Puerto Rico, I haven't heard that they allow you to do that in the States. In any case, they used to have a solid program and I know of a couple of docs who graduated from UCE back in the day and are doing well in the states. Notwithstanding, it's seems that their program has gone the way of UTESA's and ceased being worth the money they're charging, particularly when you consider that their education is in spanish. You could get a cheaper education in the capital at schools that presently have a solid track record for producing solid students who are able to pass their boards. I'm not implying that such students don't exist at UCE. I'm sure that such students existed at numerous other schools that have since been closed down for reasons of fraud. It's simply an issue of where you're getting your money's worth. I could understand choosing to go and live in San Pedro if they had a kick *** english program, or offered numerous rotations in the states, or provided each foreign student with a personal concierge. Otherwise I think you would be happier spending less money for a better education in the capital. Goodness knows you'll live more comfortably your 4 years on the island, even if it's a little bit more expensively. Hope this helps. take care and God Bless.
Ozzie.

[gringostudent]

Hi. I'm a student at uce, just now completing my second semester. I came here not speaking any spanish, and totally clueless as to what I was doing. At uce there are all sorts of students. There are the guys who never go to class, do drugs, party, on up to the guys studying 12 hours a day. If you talk to 100 people here you will get 101 opinions. What I've found is that you get what you put into it. For example, I have made friends with some of the graduating students this and last semester. The first one studied all the time, went to the hospital whenever he could, set up his own internado in the states(like some others I know), and basically busted his butt the whole time. The second guy has been here for ten years, partied all the time, seriously told me to try smoking crack so I could evaluate drug overdose patients better. The first guy got a 90 on his step 2 already, the second guy hasnt passed step one yet, and is having to study 24/7 now. My point is it's what you make of it. I would strongly reccomend coming down here to check it out. I know all those guys who went to intec, and 2 of them are withdrawing from there this week to return to uce. There are many things here I dont agree with, but I think that for learning the language, and the price, uce is the best choice for me now. If you would like, just post back and I'll give you my phone and e mail, and would love to awnser any questions you have. Oh and by the way, I go to the capital all the time, and san pedro is waaaayy better.
Martin
P.S. 8 new gringos coming in this semester who dont speak a lick of spanish

[ojmdc]

Hey,

I'm not knockin' UCE, just wondering what gives there. I guess compared to the size of the program the number of students I've gotten input from has been small, only three, and those three transferred out. The opinions that they had about the program were strongly negative, so i start to wonder. If they had transferred from UASD I wouldn't think twice because it's a dirt cheap school. But everytime I hear of people transferring out of a school that's charging tuition on par with some american medical schools I have to wonder why people would spend that kinda money to go there. Maybe the three students I have spoken with had a narrow experience at UCE, not representative of what things are really like there. I guess I'm just really wondering why so many non-spanish speakers would choose to go to UCE as opposed to UNIBE or INTEC or PUCCM which are also title four schools. you mention there being students who never attend class and never study, at INTEC for example, you can't do that. You pretty much have to attend class, most professors are ahrd core about role, and in the classes where they aren't the exams and subject matter are hard anough such that if you don't attend class aor have a great connection for notes , you're gonna fail the exams. At INTEC it's hard to get by without applying yourself, even to get a C in the upper level pre0med courses you have to apply yourself. In other words, you don't have the options of not attending class and partying all the time, that type of attitude will quickly sink youy here and you'll turn into a dominican sysphus, forever trudging up calculus or biostatistics hill. That's what I like about this school, not much room for slackers, dominican or otherwise. Very much like an american medical school in that regard, though obviously not to the same exacting degree. I hate to say it, but I think most people who spend any time here will agree, most dominicans just dont have the drive to do well that many american medical students have. Disregarding those who were never really seriously medical students to begin with, I think it's fair to say that most dominican students in general are completely happy with doing the minimum to get by and think nothing of repeating a class various times or passing with a C. It's just part of the culture down here.
Moving on...can you explain to me the appeal of San Pedro? other than the fact that it's closer to Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, lol. I mean, to be fair, we're in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is not some fairy tale city. All cities here are thrid wrold, to varying degrees. You have to admit San Pedro is a few notches closer to Haiti than most of the Capital is, let's be fair. lol. Drop me your email, I'd like to chat some more, not many gringos at INTEC. ojmdc@aol.com. Take care and God Bless.
Ozzie.

[misskitten]

Thanks to Ozzie and Martin for their replies!

Martin: yes, I'd really like to hear more from you. My e-mail address is: misskitten24@hotmail.com.

I'm wondering how easy it is to get an apartment with a generator, how much housing and other stuff costs, whether textbooks are in English, etc.

Also, did you look at schools in Santo Domingo before deciding to go the UCE route? And did you start in premed, or the med program?

Best!

misskitten

[gringostudent]

Miss Kitten:
Yeah it is easy to get an apartment with a generator, all classes are in spanish, but I use books in english...you can buy them somewhere in the capital but I bring them from the states. No I didn't look at any schools in the capital before I came here because I was really clueless. I had been studying pre med in the Philippines and ran outta money...didnt take long working 60 hour weeks at 15 bucks an hour back home to realize I still wanted to be a doctor BAD. I just heard about UCE from an alumni whos son was studying here at the time, sent my stuff and came. I would reccomend checking out all the options and find out what is best for you. I'm willing to help out with anything I can do. I'm going into my last semester of pre med.
Ozzie,
Yeah I pretty much agree that you should have to be going to your classes all the time to get good grades and actually work to get through school. It is true that some people here dont do much and still get by. Talking to older students here, it apparently wasnt always like this. Unfortunatly they say the new owner of the school is worthless and things have deteriorated under him.The thing is for me, right now I'm not paying as much as UNIBE, am studying on my own, and most importantly am immersed in spanish all the time. For me its good enough for now. Maybe in the future I'll go to UNIBE so I can learn in english, but right now in my easier classes I want to learn as much spanish as possible.
As far as San Pedro goes...yeah its loud, dirty, and at times smelly, but it seems no more so than many parts of the capital. The main thing that I like is the small town sort of feel. I've been here for only 7 months and already know somebody just about everywhere I go. You can walk down a lot of streets at night with no worries at all. If I have problems with a tigre hassling me, there are 20 guys to back me up. Also the capital is less than an hour, Juan dolio is 10 minutes, so waves and civilization are just a gua gua away. Yeah man I'd love to meet up...I'm sorta short on gringo buddies too at the moment.
For both of ya'll: martin007h@aol.com or 809-309-4739, but I am changing my number soon

[gringostudent]

Ozzie,
I believe the main reason that the main reason that there are many extranjeros here is because of the alumni. There are a lot of doctors that came outta here in the 80's that are in the states now. Also the university makes a recruitment trip around peurto rico once a semester.
Suerte,
Martin

[losackmd]

i am a graduate from 1980
for the last 24 years i have been a boarded psychiatrist practicing in the
greatest city of the world, MANHATTEN!

In spite of UCE my buddies all became great physicians
we had it the toughest.
never spoon fed rather starved most of the time

we fought the war down there and won!

[Luisra]

Hi everyone:


I need help. I am looking for a UCE student called Vincent. I dont know his last name, sorry. He is from Puerto Rico. He must be in his second year of med program. Caracteristic: Sometimes you can't understand what he is saying. If you know something about him contact me in this forum or by e-mail, aduldo@hotmail.com.

Thanks, LR

[Sara1986]

Hi
I just got my letter of acceptance from UCE. I will be coming to San Pedro in January. I am so afraid! I am definately up for the challenge , but I don't know what to expect. I was wondering if you live in the Howard Johnson Hotel? I am not sure what type of a hotel it is? is it decent?
It would be very nice to know someone in San Pedro. I have a lot of questions that you might be able to answer. I am sure you have been through the same worries that I am going through right now.
Hope to hear from you
Nasi

[losackmd]

your anxiety is justified but SPM though will culture shock you is so much
better than it was 25 years ago
you actually have a school buildings a library
kaplan cable internet
we had none of this
you will be fine

Howard Johnson was the hotel macoris years ago and it was a disgrace
horrible and would send some back home running
now the hotel is friendly comfortable clean and filled with students
and baseball players.
i would not recommend living there.
share an apt with others elsewhere
or a house. YOu will have more freedom and comforts
HJ though good for me cos i visit frequently as a long time ago graduate
is not a place to live in!!!!

relax
you will be fine

write me if you want anytime

[dksamp]

Hello,
Good luck in all your endeavours. I sincerely HOPE that you did the wise thing and VISITED the island before committing to a school, cause it wold be DOWNRIGHT FOOLISH to enroll in a school blindly. Just my $0.02
PEACE!

-Derek


Hi
I just got my letter of acceptance from UCE. I will be coming to San Pedro in January. I am so afraid! I am definately up for the challenge , but I don't know what to expect. I was wondering if you live in the Howard Johnson Hotel? I am not sure what type of a hotel it is? is it decent?
It would be very nice to know someone in San Pedro. I have a lot of questions that you might be able to answer. I am sure you have been through the same worries that I am going through right now.
Hope to hear from you
Nasi

[jondoe]

uce has there program in spanish..if you do want to go to a spanish university go toa better one then uce...

[ojmdc]

That was a little harsh. Maybe not so much a better one as a cheaper one. If you're gonna go the spanish avenue there are schools less than half the price. UASD for example comes to something like $1,500 per YEAR and they've been in business since shortly after columbus set foot on the island. But since you have your heart set on UCE, no worries, you'll do fine there, they've produced a lot of great docs practicing in the US, I'm sure if you do what you came here to do, you'll join those ranks in a few years.
Take care and God Bless

[elizabeth rizo]

Hi I graduated from Uce two years ago, and I'm going to share something with you that probably most us students don't like to hear, it's true that you can't compare education at Uce with some university here, but in my experience when us go to DR they feel like they are in the paradaise with all the money from the loans and they do nothing but party, drink, drugs and then blaim the university when they came here and don't know shed and can't pass their boards, no all of them are like that but after a while they'll get like that, because if you go to DR a country were you can do whatever you want any time you want is going to be very hard to try to put your mind on the study. About the light don't wooried there are a lot of aparments with generatos, rotation in the us you can do it but what's the meanig of coming here when you're going to be just looking when there you do eveything, I did a couples of lumbar puncion, salpingectomy, hernias and so forth, I already took step 1, I'm taking step 2 in two month and yesterday I went to pawn shop to pay for the CS, so I can go for the match next year, bottom line it's not about the university is about you. I'm very proud of beign Dominican, of my University (UCE) and there's a lot good doctors that graduate from UCE

[Sara1986]

I was wondering why the HJ hotel is not a place to live? because, I have to live there for at least the first one to two months.
thanks

[gringostudent]

I would reccomend the Ho Jo for the first semester. The only drawback is the price, but if you can afford it it is good. They won't let you stay for only a month or two, you have to sign on for the whole semester. Don't worry about what everybody writes here, it comes down to what you are made of yourself.
Martin

[losackmd]

why do you have to live there?
(IMHO)
when i go there to visit for the last 20 years
i see students locked in a small space that isnt their own personal space and
it is very much like a dormitory.
There is noise from the disco or the events that occur near the pool.
This can be quite intolerable and i am not exagerating!
The baseball team recruits who live there are rude and obnoxious.
They think they own the place and in many ways do!
This is not the environment i would like to live in!

For a short period of time maybe..........?
but
having had my own home in Miramar was so much nicer and freer and
happier. Less insitutionalized also.

Lets all grow up people. We're gonna be doctors.
This isnt college fraternity time.

[Sara1986]

I have three questions,

1- UCE has only sent me a letter of acceptance as an attached file via
email. They never told me which one of my cources count toward the pre-med. So basically I don't know if I have
to take pre-med courses or if I am in the med program. Did they do this to
you as well? They are not good with communicating (sending letters,
etc...).
THEY KEEP SAYING JUST COME OVER HERE, DON'T WORRY! WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT
WHEN YOU GET HERE.

2- Thanks for the info on HJ. What do I have to do to let them know I am a
UCE student, and will be moving inn on Jan 1st. Do they need any
documentation to prove acceptance , or fin aid?

3- I don't know a word of Spanish. I have bought many e-dictionaries in
order to be able to study in Spanish. Were you bilingual when you first
went to UCE? I am not concerned with speaking the language, I am more
concerned about passing the courses.

SORRY ABOUT ALL THE QUESTIONS!!!!!!
Thank you

[Sara1986]

What is the deal with the stafford loans? How much do students get at UCE??? Please specify per/semester or academic year? I am really confused.
Thanks

[losackmd]

calm down.. you will be fine.. remember the latin culture is much slower and definitely not time focused as is ours.
you are in for a completely different world and way of doing things
you should be concerned about learning spanish because all the things you study at UCE will be in SPANISH and in order to pass the tests you have to study the professors coursenotes memorize them and take the exam to pass the course. Spanish is also so wonderful and necessary in the big urban areas. You will have a better CV if you speak it.
If you, like others, cant tolerate Spanish you should go to another school and live in another town! (IMHO)
miramar is very near the hotel
it is the barrio near the sea at the end of the malecon.
I lived there 25 years ago, so things are different and you will find out when you get there.
barrio means neighborhood and malecon is the waterfront street.
Email the hotel or call it and make sure they know youre coming.
I will be there in november if you want me to help you. I will probably stay at HJ two nights. You should definitely go to SPM before you study there. Flights are reasonable and so is it reasonable to visit there before
paying your money. It might not suit you. It will be a total culture shock to you if you have no experience in the third world. I am not assuming i know you i am just telling you my experience.
The email for UCE should get you a response. keep trying. they were very receptive to me when i went there early this year to pay for my friends tuition.
remember i graduated there in 1980. It is interesting to me but not unreasonable that all those other UCE grads are not in this forum/web site.
Many left UCE very very angry. Things are better there now im told so
look forward to learning spanish and medicine.

email me anytime
gl

[PILOTOMD]

Forget about INTEC, go to a DO program and get an education!

[gringostudent]

1. Yes UCE sucks at written confirmation of anything. I pretty much had the same problem when I was applying. I would imagine that no matter what you will have to take pre med classes such as dominican history and orientation to the university. I don't really view that as a big problem because I'd rather be learning spanish in classes like those than in classes of consequense. Everything will probably work out when you get here.
2.No you dont have to have anything to show the hotel when you arrive. Just tell them that you are going to study at UCE and they should take care of you. I know the manager and could help you out.
3.No I didnt know spanish when I came here. There were a couple of us that didnt speak it when we came and now we range in compentency from fluent to can't really say anything. It all depends on you. All of my teachers have let me use an english/spanish diccionary. My spanish is at the level to where I can understand most of what I hear but not everything, and can say just about whatever I want.
As far as the loans go, it depends on how many credits you have when you come into the university. I would imagine that you would come in as a 3rd or 4th semester student so you would get either 1,425 or a little over 2k after tuition. You also have to buy a medical plan that costs 400 dollars and is good for a year. I forgot how much the hotel is...something like 450 dollars a month with breakfast included, or 600 with all meals included. Get the breakfast only plan, the other meals arent that good. Please feel free to give me a call anytime at 809-352-0253 and I would love to help in any way possible.
Martin

[Sara1986]

Thank you all for your information on UCE. I feel much better now !!!!!!

[Sara1986]

just to let you all know that, UCE admissions seems to be nice and fair in the beginning. but the reality is that they just want to make money out of American students. They will say something, and they will deny it the next day. They will make you take pre-med courses , NO MATTER how many pre-medical certificates or degree's you have. The funny part is that their excuse is that " our government has changed " . WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME.
Please don't take their word for anything!!!!

[ojmdc]

I've been trying to warn people of this same policy. Get everything in writing with an official signature stipulating exactly what it is you're trying to certify. This way when they lie to you you can show them a piece of paper and tell them flat out they are liars. Chances are they're still gonna do what they want to do but at least you'll have the moral satisfaction, as opposed to sitting in an office like a dummy and saying "but you told me that..." Medical school is a business down here. If you were an MD practicing for the past 20 years and you decided you wanted to go through medical school all over again just for fun, here in the DR they would still make you take a few pre-medical courses. What's more they wouldn't even consider you a graduate student while you were taking those courses. Be very careful, they know that once you're down here on the island settled in and with an apartment you're not likely gonna go fly home and pack up for a few classes. If they had told you that you were gonna have to take those classes while you were back in the states you probably wouldn't have come or would have tried to find away around it, taking them at a local college. But once they have you in the DR they've got you hooked and they know it. This is why you're unlikely to get any unhappy letters from the school until you're already in the country. Your best defense in terms of convalidations is to know the schools curriculum like the back of your hand. By this I don't just mean which classes pre-med consists of at UCE but what the course descriptions of those classes are. If you know taht you can remember the classes you took as an undergrad and see which ones are equivalent, sometimes the names are different here but the subject matter is the same. If you go to the admissions office with this information they might convalidate a few extra courses for you. But generally speaking they are very obstinate with regard to convalidating, they want you to take THEIR classes. Unfortunately that's how it is. If there's anything else I might be able to help you with, please don't hesitate to drop me a line, I know very well what you're going through and how disheartening an experience it can be.

Take care and God Bless.
Ozzie.
ojmdc@aol.com

[sdomingogirlmd]

Hi Nasi & Ms Kittencan you pls pm me.I have to ask you a few questions about UCE.
Pls pm me with your email.My email is sdomingogirlmd@yahoo.com
Thanks
sdomingogirlmd

[nz_md]

do u have to know spanish to attend uce? can someone post the website add.

Thanks

[PILOTOMD]

If you really want a med education, forget about INTEC and go to Univ of Miami med school!!!

[ojmdc]

Hello,

I agree with you, each school has the right to determine its curriculum. The problem arises when they don't want to recognize the work you've already done that's obviously applicable to some of their courses. For example, if I hadn't gone and spoken with the deans of the departments and ultimately the rector of the university I would still be plucking away at spanish one and algebra. If you don't go out there and do the footwork you'll not get the transfer credits you deserve. The schools are more eager to have you repeat the courses here than to give you credit for them. They operate on the assumption that you're not going to pursue the matter further and just accept their decision. If you don't have the personality to be confrontational with them to a degree and demand what is right, then you're not likely to get it. That's what isn't right and what is exploitative of these schools. They can have all the bogus classes they want in their pensum but if I've already taken them then I expect to be given credit for it. As you say, this is why it's crucial to get things in writing, particularly when it comes to something like this. You should also consider that you might later on be able to negotiate for more credits though you shouldn't count on it. This is the country of "el mas vivo" you've gotta fight for every little minutia, nothing is given to you, not even those things you deserve. To avoid getting here and finding yourself in the position of having to retake phonics make sure you have clear with the university what courses you will be taking, and shop around. If you're going to consider UCE also consider INTEC and UASD. See which will give you higher standing.

Take Care and God Bless.
Ozzie.

[PILOTOMD]

Forget about INTEC, go to Univ of Miami

[PILOTOMD]

GO UNIVEERSITY OF MIAMI

[ojmdc]

Hello,

For me the main issue with choosing UCE is that I can't fathom why so many foreigners seem magnetically attracted to it. As I'm sure you've read there have been a few students in the past two semesters at INTEC who've transfered from UCE complaining of a serious decliune in the quality of the education they received. Students who said they could leave for most of the semester and return to take their exams and pass. I'm not sure which classes these were but I know they were part of the medical curriculum. Not taking into account the possible decline in wuality of that schools as it's now under new ownership is the fact that it's so expensive. This is no longer and issue for me since I've chosen INTEC and am quite satisfied with the education I'm receiving here, but for someone who's choosing a school I can't imagine why you would choose to attend UCE when you could get the same or possible better quality education in INTEC or even UASD for that matter. It's just a word of caution to those thinking about UCE that there are much cheaper and equally well equipped schools to choose from. They've got quite a menu of medical schools down here, particularly if you don't mind learning medicine in spanish.

Take care and God Bless.
Ozzie.

[PILOTOMD]

GO

[dad]

Interesting links below:

http://www.tsbme.state.tx.us./professionals/docinfo/STDNHPSE.rtf

http://www.medbd.ca.gov/Approved_Schools.htm

[PILOTOMD]

All you need is a high school diploma in the DR!

[Mr. Rolon]

dad, i dont really think that what the texas of board of whatever thinks about UCE has any significance, the only thing that can separate good students from bot so good in any school is the USMLE scores.

[PILOTOMD]

texas Board

[Mr. Rolon]

well said Pilot man

[gringostudent]

As a gringo at UCE I cannot agree with piloto more.

[Sara1986]

Hi,
I am looking for a roomate in San pedro de macoris.
Or a telephone number for a leasing agency in SP.
Thanks

[PILOTOMD]

YO NO SE

[Sara1986]

Hi
I have questions about Stafford loans during clerkships and rotations.
Are we ( UCE students) eligible to get loans after our basic sciences are done? What I mean is during our rotations? Do we get loans if we are doing our rotations at a UCE approved hospital in the US?

Thanks

[Sara1986]

when is the 1st and last day of class for the May semester?
Thanks

[PILOTOMD]

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