Hi,

I want to get an idea of what it will cost to attend UAG. I was wondering if someone who has attended UAG or is going to attend UAG that knows could shed some light on the costs of attendance. Exact numbers are not necessary, a close approximation would be fine.

How much will it cost in TUITION and LIVING EXPENSES over the four years in Mexico and how much is the fifth year when doing the Fifth Pathway Program?

Thanks in advance,

-Psych4Kids

psych4kids,


When I first attended UAG in July, 1998, the school had a cost of 7850 dollars per semester for the 4 years as long as you did not fall behind or take a semester off. I know the tuition has increased since then. I have no idea how much it costs nowadays but maybe the school administrator can help you with this question. Living expenses varies a lot depending on many different factors(car, family, social life...). Rent in Guadalajara can vary from 400 dollars to 3000 dollars(big mansions). I paid 500 dollars to rent a 3 bedroom house but I lived 10 minutes from the ICB campus(4 semesters are spent here) and I had a car. For living expenses, 15 thousands dollars is allowed by the school as a budget for a single student. This budget is more than enough but I know of students that spent twice as much due to their social life. Fifth Pathway has a cost around 20 thousand dollars for the year plus living expenses in New York/New Jersey. You may choose to spend 6 years in Mexico and get the Mexican MD(Titulo) or go to 5th Pathway after 4 years of medical school.

If you have any more questions or want some more clarifications, I will be happy to answer you.

Regards,

UAGDoc

__________________
Moderator - UAG Forum

I do have a few more things that I was wondering about:

1. If you do not know ANY spanish at all, will it be super difficult after the first two years...I know the first two years are in English but do you also have intense Spanish language instruction along with your regular med school courses to prepare you for the 2nd two years, which I understand are all in Spanish? Also, med school is hard enough by itself - but - if I will also have to take intense spanish classes to survive there, won't this be a problem, or is it not that bad? I am just having a hard time seeing how I will be able to speak, understand, read & write Spanish well enough in two years to discuss potentially complicated medical information with patients and other staff and stuff like that...???

2. If you go the fifth pathway route, do you not get an MD degree? I am a little unsure about the whole process of 5th pathway. Aditionally, what would be the advantage of going 6 years in mexico over 5th pathway? Maybe you can shed some light on this for me as well...

3. Is there any special prep for the USMLE exams that occurs or is it an all on your own thing and if so, does the school adequately prepare you for these exams? I know some other foreign schools teach to these tests and I am not sure that this is the best thing but one does need to pass them with high marks...so it is a concern of mine...

4. How hard is it to get a residency if you are not able to do rotations in US hospitals in your third and fourth years...I think they might have US rotations now but I also think it is only for the very top students, but perhaps I am wrong about this as well...did you do rotations in the US and if so, was it difficult to get those rotations?

Ok, well...I know I have asked way too much already, but anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated. I am really liking the idea of living in Mexico, it's much closer to my home in California than other foreign schools and it sounds like a good deal to graduate as a bilingual physician as well...although I am still wondering how that occurs...

Anyway, thanks for your time and I look forward to reading your reply.

-Psych4Kids

Psych4Kids,

1.They offer a medical spanish intense course a few weeks before the semester starts. You will learn Spanish in the first 2 years by just interacting with the local population unless you make a conscious decision not to learn the language. While in Guadalajara, I didn't meet any student who could not speak any spanish. This is not going to be a major problem.

2. You will get a MD certificate from the state of NY if you choose to do your residency in that state. You may also get your Mexican MD degree(Titulo) if you use your 5th Pathway as your 5th year in Mexico, your first year of residency as your 6th year and take a Mexican board exam. 5th Pathway students don't need a MD certificate to practice medicine in around 46 states. California for sure approves 5th Pathway.

3. The school offers a USMLE Kaplan test prep for 12 weeks before the end of your 4th semester. This is a good preparation for the exam but some students preffer to study on their own. All depends how you preffer to study. As far as I know, you have to pass step 1 to go on to your 5th semester but you only need to finish all your basic science classes to qualify to take Step 1.

4. I am not an expert in the subject but as far as I know, you have the same chance as any other IMG in getting residency. I did my last year rotations in a Mexican Social hospital. It was a great experience, I chose not to do my rotations in the US because my family was in Mexico and I didn't want to leave them. If you qualify, you may be able to do some or even all your rotations in the US with the school approval. In my class, about 20% of the students were able to do some of their rotations in the US or even in other hospitals in Mexico.

I hope I was of some help.

Regards,

UAGDoc

__________________
Moderator - UAG Forum

Thanks a lot for all the info...I am really feeling better about learning spanish now...that's for sure...

One thing though...you mentioned that you get your MD from New York if you do your residency there...what if you don't do your residency in New York, do you get it from what ever state you do your residency in? I thought you had to have your MD before you got a residency in any state? Maybe I am not correct about this though.

Anyway, thanks for all the info though, you were really helpful.

-Psych4Kids

NY is the only state that grants an honorary MD certificate. To practice in the 46 states, you need to complete the 5th Pathway year, pass all the 3 steps of the USMLE and finish your residency. If you complete these requirements, you can practice in these states and you will become ECFMG certified (you don't need the CSA). You will get a diploma from the school stating that you finish 4 years of medical school. In this site, there is a link to a site explaining all the information about the Fifth Pathway program. This site was made by a committee of UAG students to help us better understand this program. Check it out.

UAGDoc

__________________
Moderator - UAG Forum

Check out the FAQ section on ... www.uagmd.com ... for more great information to help in your transition.

1. Cost to attend the UAG.
The annual tuition is $17,580.00, Student association fee is $160 per year, books (new) & supplies are approximately $2,400.00 per year, room & board $16,200.00 per year (or less depending where you live).

2. Cost of tuition and living expenses over the four years of living and Mexico and the Fifth Pathway year.
As long a your education is uninterrupted, you tuition will remain level throughout your medical education at the UAG. In regards to the tuition charged at the university offering the Fifth Pathway Program, these fees do vary. You may want to contact the New York Fifth Pathway Programs for more information http://www.nymc.edu/depthome/fifth.asp.

3. In response to your request for contacting someone that has gone through the program.
I have asked one of our alumni, Dr. Matthew Lipp who is presently doing a fellowship in Sports Medicine/ Interventional Psychiatry to contact you.

__________________
Susana Leaño
Dean for International Student Affairs
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
www.uag.mx/medicine