I have recently been looking into Medical Schools to persue a medical degree. My problem is that US is all that I know and finacial wise attending school here is very difficult. I have been attending bergen Community College for the past 3 yrs and feel like I am going nowhere with them. They have been giving me the only run around and I am at a point where I want to give up but something just won't let me. I work fulltime as a medical assistant and attend school fulltime as well to be able to afford school since financial aid here just won't help me. I am just looking to get some more information besides what is on the website. I did call the school but it seems to be somewhat of a task to find someone who can answer my questions. If anyone has any type of advice on any of the following questions or even know anyone I may contact that would be greatly appreciated.

- How much is a full year tuition? Does it include supplies (books,
equipment, etc)?
- Housing prices, locations, availabilities?
- Job opportunities(certified Medical assistant & phlebotomist. Also
worked as a Surgical assistant in a dental office but not
certified) while attending school? Salary information if
possible?
- Finacial Aid available? If so when/where would I apply?
- What is the student lifestyle?
- Will knowing spanish be necessary?
- What courses should I take here that will prepare me when I get
there? Are credits transferrable?
- Should I finish my associates in Biology before applying there?
- How competative is the school?
- What can help make my transition a bit smoother if I do apply and get
accepted?
- Once I get my degree from UNIBE what would be the next step for transitioning back to the US and getting licensed here?

As you can probably see I am completely nervous about this whole thing! I'd be completely alone when going there so I need to have all aspects covered before I even apply. Hopefully someone can answer all if not some or even direct me in the right path. Thanks again!

Jenn

I have sent you a personal response via private message.

__________________
ERNEST C. HOLBROOK, M.D. FACS

Thank you Ernest 714

Can the answer to the above questions be posted here?

UNIBE is a great opportunity . It is certainly the nicest of all the others. You will get out of it what you put into it. The books are there, so study hard and you will become a great doctor. The tuition is also a great opportunity because it is so much lower than any school in the US .
Personally, I hated the people and their ways, but I was there to become a doctor not to romance any Dominican. I also felt the city was very dirty and the men were PIGS.
Housing was 250 US dollars a month for a studio apartment with a generator and evrything (except phone and internet) was included in that price. You will need a generator because there are blackouts every day. There are lots of apartments available near the school since there's a graduating class every semester. Students that are leaving also sell their furniture and appliances at a good price.
I spent a lot of money in cab fare because I didn't have a car. If you choose to have a car, be careful: they drive like maniacs and do NOT obey any traffic laws; then, there are those that would hit you just to get money out of you. But cabs have their dangers too: they can spot someone from the US a mile away and will overcharge you. There have been nightmarish stories about the public transportation, so avoid that, specially if traveling alone. Prices for needed goods are 3x what they cost in the US, so try to stack up at Wal-Mart for everything from pencils to shampoo .
My life there was very luxurious . I had a cleaning lady, ate at different restaurants almost every day, and vacationed at different resorts every semester. All my clothes went to the dry cleaners and went to the hair dresser at least once a week. I also traveled to the US at the end of every semester. All this was financed with the available student loan per semester without a need for alternative loans.
Do start to study for the USMLE from day one and make it a goal to be ready by your 3rd year. Everything after that will be smooth sailing.
Tuition does not include books. But every semester students from the previous one sell their stuff cheap and there are always the copy centers. You can have an entire book copied (there are no rules, remember?!)
Ah, I forgot to mention: My best friends today, I met at UNIBE. After four years sharing and identifying with each other, UNIBE gives you the opportunity to build beautiful friendships that would certainly last forever; all doctors!!!!!
Good luck.

If you have a Bachelors in any of the Biological Sciences, you will be accepted without major problems. You will start on your 5th semester (AKA: Med 1). There is complete financial aid for Med 1 and above in the amount of around $30,500 per year (about $10,250 per semester of which there are 3 per year). Tuition is $4,500 US dollars per semester, so the rest is for your personal expenses . There is only partial financial aid if you have to do Pre-Med (any of the first 4 semesters) because you don't have all the needed credits. The best news is that you have no need to work while you're there if you have full financial aid. Some people were frugal enough to save some of that money from the loans.
Once you graduate, you come back to the US as an MD and it would be of great advantage if you have taken USMLE steps 1 & 2. This way you'll join the ERAS match and hopefully get a residency spot. If you are not ready with your exams, you don't qualify for the match and it only happens once a year. Be prepared to come back and though a doctor, not be qualified or be too qualified for most jobs. It's demoralizing but you need to be prepared .
Ask the school to answer all your questions. I'm sure they'll love to.

All in all, it will be a great four years. Once again, Good Luck.

As above, there are pros and coms about UNIBE, this university gaves anyone the chance to become a MD, but you have to work it your way, and not expecting to learn a lot only in the classroom; the tuition is very low, that's the better part, but I really don't like the education... anyhow, the best part of UNIBE is that in the rotations, you are going to see soooo much that it will make you a really good doctor, plus is a handson experience (different in the US); ...but the country....and the people sucks!!! and if you can't get used to it, you wont be able to do well, because to study and concentrate in what you are doing is very important to fell conftable with your surroundings (at least, that's how I feel), if you don't feel good in your surroundings, you will probably get depress, and probably you will be thinking in nothing else but to leave! So if you are the kind of person that is toooo used to the US system, and do not want to have any third world country bad experience, don't even try to apply here... that is what I can recomend you... but! as I said, this is a very personal though.

I thank CubanMD for the time and effort she put into her post on UNIBE. I am an older student that practiced as a pod for 20 years and really feel it is time to get an md education to expand my knowledge and practice. I do not want to get any advanceed standing from medical school. I would like to know how long the MD program at UNIBE takes and if the school accepts older students. I have already been accepted at UAG and can afford both UNIBE and UAG on my savings. I would like to know which school UAG or UNIBE will be a better choice for an older student. My only goal is to learn medicine pass the USMLE and get a two year residency.
Which books do you recommend studying from for the USMLE?
I think anyone who gets the chance to study medicine anywhere is lucky
and school bashing is a waste of your time and that of the readers on this forum. I would like to know if the fifth pathway is going to be deleted as an option for mexican grads if anyone knows.
Thanks

Just be alert to a couple of things of importance.
First. It takes THREE years of PG (Post Graduate) work (Residency) to qualify for a U.S. License.

Second. there are schools that have an upper age limit ro accept student. ALSO, there are Residency Programs that has an upper limit to accept Residents. Be sure to check these out before making the big plunge.
Good Luck and Best wishes.

__________________
ERNEST C. HOLBROOK, M.D. FACS

Dr Holbrook does unibe have an age limit to accept students?
thanks for your input.