Hi All,
MS1 here.
Great discussions all around. It's important to weight the costs and benefits to any career. However, motivation to study medicine must come from within (Yoda moment). Where-ever you go, where-ever you may choose to pursue medicine, there will certainly be flaws in the system. Ask yourself - are these flaws enough to make you reconsider your life decision? One thing is for certain - something you will find out very quickly - medicine is difficult and it is a constant struggle. Duke-NUS students are like any other medical students in the world - we are all at the mercy of policy (or whatever you may wish to call it). We are aware of our own circumstances: the cost, the hours, the sleepless nights, and yet we are content doing what we do because the joy of practicing medicine and making other's lives better outweighs our personal sacrifices, yes, even when the future looks uncertain. We know what we said in our applications, and I'll bet that all of us meant it when we said we want to better the lives of others, and that alone is enough to fuel us (although refueling should be saved for another discussion...). The thing about enrolling in a graduate medical program is that you now have the maturity to make a conscious and well thought out decision to pursue medicine despite understanding the cruelties of the world (which I imagine that most 18 year olds cannot comprehend ... no offense). It is going to get much crueler the higher you climb.
So far, my experience at Duke-NUS has been great. Talk around town is that we are less superior than other med grads in SG due to our 4-year curriculum. This is changing, and changing fast. Look around the US and you'll find a 4 year program sufficient to graduate stellar doctors. Thus, ultimately, it is not the 4 year training that determines your worth as a doctor, but how you train in the years after, during residency, that matters. Physicians from the first batch are now consults or A/C, and they are people whom any right minded doctor looks up to. Needless to say, the curriculum here is tough (exams, exams, exams, exam), but it trains us well. Our exam results match those at Duke and the alumni are heavily involved in training. In fact, Duke-NUS is like a family. Our seniors take good care of us, student affairs is always checking in on how we're doing (emotionally and physically), and the education department listens to our feedback and makes adjustments (it truly is amazing how fast changes are made with our feedback). The mantra here is not to be better than other medical schools, but to be the best doctors and advocate for our patients. If you enjoy patient centered medicine, and enjoy a bit of research, this place is for you. As a wise team mate once said - the most brilliant of minds belong in research, and I compel you to come join us if you're ready for the challenge.
Please PM me if you have any questions. I'll be more than happy to help.
Merry Christmas
And, yeah let's pray for the best! 
