Im sure some of you have already written about this, but the office just told me they are working on it and that basically we can all go to the US for the fifth year as always but that to obtain our diploma we would need to return to Mexico for the social service part . I mean its not that bad because I assume most of us are here because we love mexico and this would be a way for us to pay back to the mexican people so to speak, my uncle told me his social service years in Iran were his best ever. I for one dont think I will ever have that chance once I return to the US for residency because I will end up having to work my *** off to pay my debt back and buy a house, so if I was younger I would stay and even now Im thinking maybe its not so bad.

On another note, my friend died of lung cancer today at the age of 38 yrs, and although very unfortunate she taught me to be true to myself and follow what feels right for me, having said this I think I will most likely come down to mexico because the truth of the matter is I am allowing my fear of not obtaining a residency in 6 years dictate my quality of life . Fifth pathway or not I guarantee we will all be great physicians coming out of UAG because unlike in the US where its all about drugs and physiology we will be able to learn how to diagnose more effectively and with much less resources, at least thats why I decided to do medicine at my age not so I can learn about restless leg syndrome.

Take care everyone.

I just talked with NYMC this afternoon, and he basically reiterated what Dr M posted a few post ago, my boyfriends 7th grade transcripts will not allow him to go the mexico route, so he will be applying to DO schools with me, i also talked to the dean of admission for UAG at their NY branch office, he tried to downplay the problem and based his confidence that Dr. Maltez will be able to fight this based on the positive impression UAG fifth pathway students have made at NYMC, that does not give me any confidence at all, UAG has known about it for some time and yet they continue to deny it or tell students its no big deal, go ahead and go down in a week and everything will be fine( I also asked DR B at NYMC who is very informative and seems very honest, is uag and NYMC willing to undertake litigation, he said there are no plans at this time for NYMC

Which office did you call and whom did you speak to - may I ask? The response you received seems rather nonchalant to me, like it's no big deal - just add another year - and more debt. Going to school for 6 years to get your MD is fine if you're 18, but many of us have already been in school for 4+ years just to get to this point!

However, I can certainly appreciate your positive outlook at the end of your post. It's determination in the end that will take us where we want to go, and it will shape our abilities to be great doctors someday, no matter which path we choose to get there.

I know u were asking the poster previous to mine, but i first spoke to the adm dept in texas 24 hrs ago and they said everything was a rumor, then the dean at the NY office who deals with DR B and ragina, told me about the problem but was still advising students to start next week, he contradicted himself, first by saying the ama decision means almost nothing bc the mexican route option and uag past grads having a GREAT TRACK RECORD. WHen I asked the NY dean of adm why the TX office dismissed this as a rumor, he claimed they were unaware of this new decision, yet he did admitt that Dr M has known about it for some time

For sure, and thanks, Kasha. You know what's weird, I just called the office at ACGME and spoke to Corporate Communications who told me that they are unaware of any decisions made not to accept FPW students. She sent me back to the AMA; she said they are the ones that control this. I think I am going to call someone else and start emailing. Now I just want some answers.

The person I talked to I think was Jose, he wasnt non chalant at all and very concerned actually. I think its awful what has happened if the fifth pathway is the main reason why someone has chosen UAG. I mean it was a great perk because then we would not need to take a TOEFL or ECFMG I totally agree.
However, many people also choose UAG for its location, and 5th pathway was a perk.

I dont think its UAG's fault, I actually think the AMA wants to encourage IMG's to come from the caribbean schools.. WHo do you think runs these caribbean programs, and is making money off of them , former US medical doctors, not Mexicans I can assure you.

St. Georges University just signed a contract in the millions with NY department of education so that their med students are guaranteed clinical spots. So you see its about money as acgt stated earlier. No money no dice. Thats what has become of medicine in the US, sadly enough.

when i had my conversation with Dr B for about 20 min, he put no adm spin in his responces, the ama decision does matter, if it did not then why is Dr. Maltez appealing, he stoped short of telling me not to go down next week, but hinted otherwise, he also mentioned the 6 yrs in mexico as on option but not for the two of us who transcripts are not up to par with the gov of mexico, after informing him of this he said to me, i think u know what u should do, thats what he would tell his daughter or son, so according to him, there is some reason for concern at this point, and he is the head of the fifth pathway prg if i am not mistaken, he would have no obvious reason to overreact

that is VERY TRUE, many of the carrb schools were started by US docs, ross is owned now by a large company who put millions of dollars into their lobeying firms, i do think that could be some of the reason, keep in mind, uag also makes a great deal of money off its students however, i do not think they have the lobying power of ross, or St G, most of UAG's money goes back into mexico

Someone mentioned the mexican plan ( far less expensive ).

Is this not the the program that is 100% in spansh that is not concerned with international (US) exams to any degree ?

Where the student body begins with 18 yo students right out of high school ?

No we would proceed as usual, but have to return after 5th pathway to get our official MD degree.