Hey guys, I am from Canada currently finishing up highschool with an average of 75 - 80 %.

I wanna apply for the May samester for UNIBE. I am looking for as much information as possible about:

Merit of the university (will it be accepted and if not, where will it not be accepted?)

Tuition Fees/Money

Hard to get in? Competitive?

I am ready to work my *** of for this so please, any links, any information will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
PS, i dont know a single word of spanish

are you planning to go back to canada or to USA?

__________________
Moderator: USMLE Step 1 Forums, USMLE Step 2 Forums,USMLE Step 3 Forums.

I would like to come back to Canada.

Even the US is okay (whereever this school is accepted)

Hi,
So i am defintaly applying for the May samester.

Are there a lot of people in May? I've been reading and reading pages of the forums so I have some idea to what its gonna be like. Couple of questions:

Admissions, From my first post I am afraid I've dropped down to a 70 ( due to discrimination against me here in Canada). My ENGLISH teacher decided to pass me with a 60 because my english "wasnt up to academic level" (while im getting 80's in all my other courses).

Is it still possible for me?

UNIBE is accepted in the majority of the states, if you do a search you will find the list, cant tell you off hand.

tuition is 4500 US Dollars a semester.

Hard to get in? I personally don't think so.

As for Spanish, you gonna need it so try and take some courses, but it wont be detrimental as you will have to take it here.

any other questions?

My biggest fear is admissions.

I have gotten recommendation letters from teachers and a doctor so that should help.

How about living there? I know it wont be the same as Canada but my questions are:
1) water shortage and water purification. I have a hard time adapting, and I know i will get sick.
2) Medicine. Easy to get? What about health insurance?

3) Transportation: Do i need a car? will a motorbike suffice?
4)Power outage a lot?
5)High Speed internet? Cheap?

6) average monthly cost of living (so thats everything except tuition and fees)

my 2 cents,
I went through UNIBE, it's not hard to get into, you will need to learn spanish to go through clinicals.
1-the water from the faucet I would personally do not recommend on drinking, it is really bad and yes you will get sick. fortunately there are colmados (little shop around the corner of every street) which sell bottled water. about water shortage, I didn't see one, but of course every time you have an electric shortage the water goes out since it gets to your house by an electric water pump.
2-Medicine- just go up to any pharmacy and they would sell whatever you need from antibiotics to just about everything. Health insurance , the school provides one though I never had to use it.
3-Transportation- You will get used to the means of Dominican transportation i.e. Conchos, Guaguas publicas, motoconchos (I love DR), If not I suggest two things 1 move close to school, there are a lot of nice places near school in Gazcue or buy a car (expensive) I personally did it without a car up to clinicals which is when you really need it to go to the hospitals.
4-Electricity shortage- YES, I don't know how is now, I've been out for a couple of years but I don't think it has changed a lot. You will get electricity shortage and is a thing you will learn to live with, after a while you just go to the university library or as some did to the colmado lol.
5-High speed internet - there is internet but wouldn't know how much it is but yes there is internet.
6-cost of living - Here is where is a little bit tricky, there are some apt. near school recently built and they go for like 800 us$ or more a month and yes you will have to pay in dollars, you will have to go look for places in gazcue and there you will find more cheaper places and if you get lucky pay in dominican pesos (I spoke spanish fluently and had some dominican friends so that part was not a problem). some places ask for a contract and 3 months in advance so choose wisely.
I hope that this helps and good luck in the DR, I personally loved the country and my time there and the friendships built there have been longlasting, any questions just PM me.

Water has to be bought bottled, dont drink tap water.

if you find a decent apartment then you wont have a problem with water or lights as most decent apartments have generators.

if you live close to school then no car is needed, a bike is probably not the best idea as the traffic in this country is a bit hectic.

medicine is easily accessible, there are pharmacies on almost every corner.

high speed internet will run you around 80-100 dollars a month.

alright thanks a lot.
I am trying to keep my expenses to a minimum.

ALright my applicationwill be in the mail by Friday. How fast can I expect a reposnse?


also just another idea, what about buying like a small tap filter here in canada, and taking it with me and attaching it to the tap?

and 80- 100 for highspeed? wow, I'll need to figure that one out. does one need high speed? Does the school provide highspeed?

I don't know if the filter would work, but for cutting corners you might end up in the ER and that is going to cost you more than buying water @ the colmado. A botellon (5 gallon bottle of water) is very cheap and should last you a couple of weeks, thats the way I did it during my time, the guy even takes it to your doorsteps for a couple of pesos (now thats service)
The school has a computer lab with internet that you could use when the schedule permits (it's pretty good).
In your stay try to travel the country in your spare time, it is a beautiful country with very pleasant people. The north coast is just amazing.