I have been invited for an interview by UAG. I want to go to Guadalajara to check out the city and the school, but evidently they require $1500 deposit that is non-refundable.

I am wondering if now is a good time to visit Guadalajara and if anyone recommends coming to Mexico to interview. I can interview in Albany, NY which is much closer, but I don't know how I will be able to evaluate the school if I can't at least see it.

I am getting married in July, so also if anyone out there has gone to UAG in a similar situation (with a spouse), please PM me? THANKS!

don't come down here! I'm a current student and I WISH to GOD that I would've taken a year off and tried again in US med schools. If you haven't heard or the UAG hasn't told you, the 5th pathway program is no longer going to be available as a pathway to licensure for UAG grads. What does this mean to you? 6 years rather than 5 and ALL in Mexico. Don't do it!!! I know what I'm telling you!

Please don't make this mistake and save your $1500 for something else.

I have a problem with the above post because you try to talk someone out of his/her dream without knowing the details of this person's situation. What if this person wants to do 6 years of Medical School in Mexico??? Mexico is a great place to learn medicine. Everyone have an opinion but lets be responsible because someone may make a life changing decision based on our opinions. There are a lot of emotions in these posts and I don't think anyone is gaining anything from it. Among all the current members of this forum, ACGT postings are the most objective because he has been there more than 2 years and he speaks without any prejudice. I do understand that right now things are hard down in Guadalajara but we have to be very inteligent with our decisions. I hope currrent and prospective students think very hard before making decisions. This advice also goes to students transferring to other foreign schools without passing step1, make sure the situation you are going to isn't worst than your current one.

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Moderator - UAG Forum

I'm not talking anyone out of a dream. I'm telling them to think clearly and NOT COME HERE. Telling someone to not attend UAG is not a way of talking someone out of a dream, just a way of suggesting them to look elsewhere. UAG is not the only pathway to a career as a physician. If they don't mind doing a six year route in Mexico and all the beautiful experiences that come with living in Mexico, then attend another Mexican medical school. Other schools such as Monterrey Tech, UANL, UACJ, and U d G have a long history of placing their students in U.S. residencies too. That will save them tens of thousands of dollars in tuition!

Additionally, I agree that students who are thinking about transferring should think it through before doing so since many who have done so in the past eventually wound up back at UAG. Problems with clinical spots, etc have been discussed at length between students currently at carribbean schools. However, and you can't disagree with me on this one, attending a U.S. medical school is DEFINITELY a much wiser choice than UAG. You said it yourself that "..right now things are hard down in Guadalajara...". I hope this person things long and hard before making a decision to come down here, considering the present circumstances.

I agree with UAGDOC. We cannot be so negative. If you don't pass the USMLE in the caribbean schools you cannot continue after the fifth 5 semester. Here, at UAG, you can stay until 8 semester if they don't change the rules. Right now you can stay until 8 semester, pass the board and then they send you the diploma that says "Medico Cirujano-Partero" (this is not the official one, the official one give you the MD after you the internado and ano social).

look, what type of school does not require their students to pass step 1 until before graduation? thank God the rules have changed and students are now required to pass their STEP 1 before continuing on.

its not about being negative, its about being realistic.

Right now UAG let you go to the graduation without passing the Step 1 or Revalida.
They assist to the graduation, then study hard at their homes in US, pass the 1 part of the USMLE and then UAG send them the diploma that says "Medico-Cirujano-Partero" (not the official one). This is the reality for the students of 8 semester.

Some of the schools you mentioned are public schools and teach all their classes in Spanish. Good luck getting in at UDG or UNAM. These schools are top notch in Latin America. UAG is a good school with a established path to US residency through the 6 years route. The main draw back of the route is the 2 extra years and the potential loss of income. The 5th and 6th year, I don't think cost more than 6 k if completed in Mexico which could be cheaper than 4 years at some other foreign school. Some foreign school you may have to move for every rotation to a different state. For some people it may be hard specially if you have family and kids and wants to stay with them while in school. I agree with you if the US is where you want to practice all your life, US schools are a better choice because the path to residency is much easier. I

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Moderator - UAG Forum

this however is no longer the case. student must pass step 1 before continuing. its about time!

Thats true. UNAM and U d G are top notch...my apologies.

yes, most carrib schools require you to move around a bit/alot during your clinicals. maybe this person will like it. only she/he knows. The question is, will that person be able to obtain student loans for their 6th year of social service? Remind this person that social service is usually done in a remote village or town usually hours away from the nearest town. its a way of providing health care to underserved populations in Mexico, especially indigenous ones. Not sure if this person wants to spend a year in 'la sierra de chihuahua'......but then again, I don't know this persons' circumstances.