Duke-NUS GMS

[choklad]

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Actually, mine was early Jan .. 10 or 11 Jan... I was the 2nd batch. I have no idea how many batches there were after mine... Though I was predicting about 6-7 more (15-20 people per batch).

When did clairlila and zippety interviewed?

My tough interviewer was a certain CEO of a medical group... ^^; Ethical questions from the beginning till the end!!

I hope our thread is not going to be as long as Duke's!!

 

[clairlila]

i also read that article on Strait Times, and don't believe in the number 125 either. 70 to 80 maybe?

Choklad, we attended the same interview, let me guess who you are... 😛

Choklad interviewed in Feb, I know. I was talking to someone about how it was impossible for them to interview all 125. That would be 9 days of interview, which I don't think they conducted.

Well, it's Mar 11, so 20 more days to "by April". Shall we have a countdown a la the Duke thread?

Who were your tough interviewers? I had a tough one too, Dr Tharman.

 

[hippocrates80]

Got a reply to my email:
Notification of your application status will be out by May if not earlier. The admission committee is still in the midst of reviewing the applications and we are also hoping to send out the information as soon as possible.

Siiiiiiiiiiiigghhh... Basically confirming its possibly another long wait...

Hippo, I got one tough interviewer too.. Could be the same one.

Hey choklad..I wouldn't worry too much if it's out in April/May..it could just mean that those who were interviewed earlier will receive news earlier..so hang in there!

psymedicus, I got a different interviewer...but I saw a Dr. Tharman during the team learning session...he looked tough..

 

[hippocrates80]

totally agree with Eloosive here. not to worry about that.

hippocrates80, how many interviewees were there at your batch? trying to gather the number.

1st round: 14
2nd(early Jan): 16
3rd (early feb?) ??
4th ????

My interview was yesterday, and there were 10 applicants

 

[danierrr]

Wow, I'm shocked to see a Duke-NUS GMS thread on SDN!

A lot of people didn't interview at Duke-NUS GMS but are still being considered. Dr. Kamei gave applicants in the US (like me) the choice of coming to Duke in the US instead to be interviewed, so there might be a lot more applicants that we don't know about.

I wanted to ask y'all -- did they show you the Bukit Timah campus? *Is* there anything built yet? I've seen the Medicine Faculty at NUS but I'm not sure if that's where we'd have classes if there's nothing built. That, or in SGH someplace 🙂

 

[clairlila]

hey welcome aboard!
that's really NEWS, didnt know they are conducting interviews in the states too.
mind telling us some details? like when did you go and how was it like? were you interviewed together with people who are applying for Duke--Durham?

about the building, hmmm the temporary campus is really tiny, right next to the General Hospital if you know where it is. something permanent is being built, and wont be completed till 2009.

Wow, I'm shocked to see a Duke-NUS GMS thread on SDN!

A lot of people didn't interview at Duke-NUS GMS but are still being considered. Dr. Kamei gave applicants in the US (like me) the choice of coming to Duke in the US instead to be interviewed, so there might be a lot more applicants that we don't know about.

I wanted to ask y'all -- did they show you the Bukit Timah campus? *Is* there anything built yet? I've seen the Medicine Faculty at NUS but I'm not sure if that's where we'd have classes if there's nothing built. That, or in SGH someplace 🙂

 

[danierrr]

I went 30 November 2006 to interview at Duke in Durham... they're using my interview feedback for Duke-NUS GMS as well. It was a normal interviewing day: two interviewers; one faculty, one student. Not too stressful. Interesting people. They were all there for Duke, not Duke-NUS, but there's bound to be *some* overlap. Maybe just a little.

 

[choklad]

Clairlila, guess guess ^^ I was in group 1 (morning interview), BTW.

I heard about US applicants being interviewed in Duke. I'm not sure how that'll work.. I think most are being interviewed for Duke itself too?

The GMS permanent campus is not going to be at Bukit Timah. (That's the NUS Law Faculty now.) It's going to be within the General Hospital complex, just like the current temporary campus. During interview day, they did show us the blueprint for the building. It's going to be the tallest and most modern building in SGH complex, I think.

 

[Eloosive]

I went 30 November 2006 to interview at Duke in Durham... they're using my interview feedback for Duke-NUS GMS as well. It was a normal interviewing day: two interviewers; one faculty, one student. Not too stressful. Interesting people. They were all there for Duke, not Duke-NUS, but there's bound to be *some* overlap. Maybe just a little.

Hey, how about giving us an update the on application status as you've heard over in durham? Since they've been interviewing for GMS there too, I'm sure there must've been some applicants who've asked when the outcomes will be released. Or you could also call/email the admissions office over in the durham campus and ask for an update?

We're all very much in wonderland here.

 

[danierrr]

Choklad: In my case, I applied to both Duke (Durham) and Duke-NUS and just got rejected by the former. I did three years' undergrad at NUS and the medical schools here in the US really look down on foreign coursework. They still think SG is third-world and educationally backwards 🙁

I don't know anything more than you do, Eloosive. My girlfriend called in and they told her MAY or sooner, your e-mail came back and they said APRIL or sooner... but if they're done with interviews, decisions can't be too far behind. Duke decided on 1200 interviewees between March 2 (last interview day) and March 7 (the day they mailed decisions), so I'd bet a one-week turnaround for, oh, 100-150 interviewees is reasonable.

BTW, Duke and Duke-NUS have two separate admissions offices and neither knows anything about the other. They're completely autonomous.

Are any of you NUS Class of 2005/2006? I matriculated there in 2002...

 

[Eloosive]

Danierr,

Out of curiosity, what's the financial aid like for you guys from USA if you happen to matriculate in the GMS?

 

[danierrr]

I have no idea. I'm not applying for financial aid *shrug*

Danierr,

Out of curiosity, what's the financial aid like for you guys from USA if you happen to matriculate in the GMS?

 

[choklad]

3 Weeks till April!!

Any news this week?

 

[Eloosive]

Nothing yet. Still waiting, and waiting, and waiting.....

 

[psymedicus]

Someone I know received a letter on Sat. I guess that means none of us were in that batch either, since mail in SIngapore's pretty reliable. 🙁

 

[choklad]

More confirmation from the school:
Admissions is done on a rolling basis currently. So far, only a couple of acceptance letters have been sent out to the top applicants.

Any info on the stats of those who are already accepted?

 

[psymedicus]

The one I know of is in honours year of life sciences at NUS, MCAT 30+, probably fantastic GPA.

It definitely isn't rolling. If it were rolling, people like us who interviewed in Nov should have heard already, instead of having to wait till everyone has finished interviewing. It seems like they're doing the DUke way where they wait till everyone has finished interviewing, then make their decisions and send out letters along the way. Maybe they mean rolling as in sending out acceptances in batches.

I don't suppose they sent a batch out yesterday, so I have no excuse to rush home...

 

[danierrr]

Look on the bright side: at least y'all in Singapore get mail the next day. I have to wait 10 business days to get anything they send by post 🙁 🙁

This inaugural batch is going to make or break the entire medical school, since Duke's keeping a close eye on Duke-NUS GMS. They have to be very meticulous. Duke-NUS' approval, Duke's approval... MoE/MoH's approval maybe also can 😉 Using a fine-toothed comb takes time.

Plus, since it's the first year, they can afford to say one thing and do another since NOTHING's written in stone 🙂

 

[clairlila]

as ridiculous as it is, guess most people from NUS have perfect coverted GPA from WES.

psymedicus, any "extra-factors" you know about your friend? research? clinical experience etc?

hope is decreasing proportionally with the time went by.... 🙁

 

[psymedicus]

as ridiculous as it is, guess most people from NUS have perfect coverted GPA from WES.

psymedicus, any "extra-factors" you know about your friend? research? clinical experience etc?

hope is decreasing proportionally with the time went by.... 🙁

Arrgghh! My converted GPA's only 3.6+, so I'm way screwed compared to the undergrads.

She's a friend of a friend, so I don't know her personally. But I think she has undergrad research, nothing earth-shattering. Maybe she interviewed well. One of my interviewers didn't seem very convinced by my answers. *sigh*

And danierrr, sorry to say this but mail from here to US takes at least 2 weeks. My brother's at NYU and it takes forever for him to receive stuff, although from US to here is only about a week, no idea why the huge discrepancy.

 

[zippetydooda]

this is just a post to show that i'm alive and kicking, albeit without news to contribute to the forum for the time being.

 

[danierrr]

Clairlila: You're right -- unless you've got C+'s or lower, you're guaranteed a 4.0 GPA from WES 🙂 The pricks put "Pass" for my UROPS though, which could be good or bad depending on your grade 😉 What scares me is that it boils down to the MCAT and extra-curriculars because of this! Living at PGP or off-campus really limits campus involvement...

Psymedicus: It's 10 business days +/- 1 business day from Singapore to Texas and from Texas to Singapore. I've sent and received dozens of letters from my girlfriend in Singapore and it's never been any different. I don't know why New York gets mail to Singapore faster though -- maybe the mail cargo flights originate from there?

Just curious... are y'all working now, and if so, who for (or 'what as', if I'm being too nosy)? I interned at the IBN within the Biopolis last summer -- Singapore's an excellent place to do biomedical research!

 

[clairlila]

which round of interview did she go?
😎

Arrgghh! My converted GPA's only 3.6+, so I'm way screwed compared to the undergrads.

She's a friend of a friend, so I don't know her personally. But I think she has undergrad research, nothing earth-shattering. Maybe she interviewed well. One of my interviewers didn't seem very convinced by my answers. *sigh*

And danierrr, sorry to say this but mail from here to US takes at least 2 weeks. My brother's at NYU and it takes forever for him to receive stuff, although from US to here is only about a week, no idea why the huge discrepancy.

 

[choklad]

hope is decreasing proportionally with the time went by.... 🙁

Same here ........... 🙁

psymedicus, I think what they mean by "rolling" is indeed the acceptance decisions and their notification, not the interviews.

 

[Eloosive]

Looks like they send out acceptances on Fridays, and it reaches the mailbox on Saturday?

So i guess we should look out for mail arriving these next few saturdays

 

[psymedicus]

Just curious... are y'all working now, and if so, who for (or 'what as', if I'm being too nosy)? I interned at the IBN within the Biopolis last summer -- Singapore's an excellent place to do biomedical research!

Hmm, with the speed at which people reply to this thread, you'd think they just sit at home and wait for the mail. 😉 Anyway, I'm working in research now at NUS.

 

[Eloosive]

Hmm, with the speed at which people reply to this thread, you'd think they just sit at home and wait for the mail. 😉 Anyway, I'm working in research now at NUS.

I'm working in NUS too, doing temp admin work and am receiving peanuts for pay. Singapore really needs to implement a minimum wage to protect workers from all the rampant exploitation you see everywhere. Sucks big time.

I tried asking profs for RA posts but no one seemed interested in me the moment i mentioned I was applying to GMS. Seems they all want commitment. More $$-mindedness.

 

[psymedicus]

bump, since someone else was asking about duke-nus

 

[danierrr]

Psymedicus: They wouldn't be Singaporeans if they weren't scouring this thread, milking it for every last iota of information 😉 Talking cock comes second.

Eloosive: I can't agree more about minimum wage. It's so odd that degree-holders in Singapore earn so painfully little! Nobody wants to employ someone who's leaving soon, but worst comes to worst, try to apply for a position within the Biopolis. There are LOTS of job openings, they pay... modestly... and you'll get to do real science instead of scutwork. And they've got money pouring out of their ears. You may never have to prepare agarose again! 😉

Some of my NUS Life Science grad friends got really odd jobs: one's at Singpost of all places, and another is making a buttload of money giving tuition. That's where the money's at in Singapore!

 

[singkri]

Just to keep the thread alive-

http://home.gms.edu.sg/gms/happenings/wrapper.php?nov_28_2006_applicants.html

 

[psymedicus]

So I guess nothing new? This limbo thing is terrible; I don't know whether I should start studying for the GRE or the MCAT again. Is it worth applying again? I wonder how they look at re-applicants.

 

[choklad]

It's Saturday ... does anyone in Singapore found anything in their mailbox??

 

[psymedicus]

Nothing. 🙁

 

[Eloosive]

Nothing. crap.

 

[deadsea]

A friend 98/97/pass got a rejection from Baylor Medical College IM program
said something like this:

We only have 1-2 spots for IMG, only those with double 99 will be considered
. Right now we have over 2000 IMGs applied and more than 100 of them are
double 99s. ............... Therefore you are not granted an IV.
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

It is really a tough time for IMG in matching.

 

[deadsea]

A friend 98/97/pass got a rejection from Baylor Medical College IM program
said something like this:

We only have 1-2 spots for IMG, only those with double 99 will be considered
. Right now we have over 2000 IMGs applied and more than 100 of them are
double 99s. ............... Therefore you are not granted an IV.
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

It is really a tough time for IMG in matching.

 

[clairlila]

🙁

 

[zippetydooda]

 

[psymedicus]

It is really a tough time for IMG in matching.

I just want to get into medicine; I dont' mind doing HO and MO in Singapore then specializing.

 

[hippocrates80]

Nothing here either...🙁

 

[danierrr]

Baylor's ridiculously hard to get matched into!

If you don't mind doing a residency at a less well-known place in a "lower" residency like family practice or even internal medicine, there are actually more openings than people, and they *rely* on IMGs to scoop up those spots since US graduating medical school seniors go for the competitive or lifestyle fields: dermatology, radiology, surgery...

With scores like those, I'm sure your friend'd get in somewhere in the US, barring a bushy thick black beard and a thick Indian accent 🙂

 

[DrVanNostran]

This program seems really interesting. I probably will end up applying there next year. Besides the website, is there a place for more information (i.e. financial aid, etc). Thanks!

Good luck to those of you waiting.

 

[danierrr]

This program seems really interesting. I probably will end up applying there next year. Besides the website, is there a place for more information (i.e. financial aid, etc). Thanks!

Good luck to those of you waiting.

DrVanNostran: Sorry, what you see at www.gms.edu.sg is what you get for the time being. They told us 2007 applicants that they'd get back to us about financial aid. They also sent by e-mail a pretty generic need-based financial aid form, which I've attached here.

The program is trying to recruit people for RESEARCH/ACADEMIC medical jobs (Singapore's clinicians are undergrad-trained like in most British colonies), and who intend on remaining in Singapore, so if you're not sure about either, don't apply. They're also biased pretty strongly in favour of Singaporeans.

Their info e-mail address is very friendly, if you have other questions, ask them directly or post here and I'll tell you whatever I know 🙂

 

[psymedicus]

The program is trying to recruit people for RESEARCH/ACADEMIC medical jobs (Singapore's clinicians are undergrad-trained like in most British colonies), and who intend on remaining in Singapore, so if you're not sure about either, don't apply. They're also biased pretty strongly in favour of Singaporeans.

Actually that's not quite true. I think they are planning to aggressively recruit in other countries, and I'm sure US undergrads would be very welcome. They do prepare you to practise in the US; you have the option in 3rd year to take the USMLE, and I think that's one of their selling points.

 

[choklad]

Actually that's not quite true. I think they are planning to aggressively recruit in other countries, and I'm sure US undergrads would be very welcome. They do prepare you to practise in the US; you have the option in 3rd year to take the USMLE, and I think that's one of their selling points.

I do agree that GMS seems to be quite open to international students. However let's not forget the aim of setting up GMS is to grow Singapore as a biomedical hub and increase the supply of doctors in Singapore. Therefore, an international student would have to show the interest to continue to work and live in Singapore after graduation.

At this point, I don't think that is being emphasized. After all, international students have a longer bond to serve in Singapore after graduation, with the expectation that they'll want to stay on in Singapore once their careers get going. But maybe in the future when competition to enter the school gets tougher, it will be a big question for international candidates.

 

[hippocrates80]

Just out of curiosity..is anyone planning to re-take the MCAT if they don't get selected for this round (touch wood!)?

 

[AmyCheang]

Hi all,

I am delighted to find so many posts on Duke-NUS and so many of you hopefulls... and dejected bcos i think they already closed my appln... i havent even a call for interview..

Interesting the kind of patterns (saturday offer letters, Singaporean prefs etc) you guys have concluded.. reminds me of "beautiful mind".

All the best guys..

 

[psymedicus]

Just out of curiosity..is anyone planning to re-take the MCAT if they don't get selected for this round (touch wood!)?

I've been thinking about that, or whether I should take the GRE and do a Master's. I don't know if reapplying the very next year will make a difference, since I haven't had much time to brush up my app. What back-up plans do you guys have?

Hi all,

I am delighted to find so many posts on Duke-NUS and so many of you hopefulls... and dejected bcos i think they already closed my appln... i havent even a call for interview..

That's terrible, that they don't have the courtesy to send a rejection letter since they've obviously completed interviews. They don't really have anything to do but admissions since there aren't any students, yet they're so disorganized.

 

[Eloosive]

Hey Amy,

I'm really sorry to hear you weren't invited to attend an interview. You're probably right about them not considering your application this cycle since you haven't interviewed yet, and hippo said his/her interview Day was the last round for this cycle. But i suspect they could consider your current application for the next cycle if the reason for your not being invited to an interview is a late application.

 

[clairlila]

been looking at grad programs. but nothing really interests me other than a MD program... my MCAT is very bad, might consider retake, though it means another round of painful journey. 😳🙁

Just out of curiosity..is anyone planning to re-take the MCAT if they don't get selected for this round (touch wood!)?