So, anyone from the US taking the NMAT this fall?

[LocutusofBorg]

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[MedKev]

I might take it this fall or early next year. I want to apply to UST 2007 class. For those of you taking it soon (this year or next) how long did u study for the NMAT? How long do you think is needed to sufficiently cover the material and do well...are there any review books etc or is the sample NMAT questions enough to get a feel for how the test will be administered? Thanks.

 

[hentaisocrnmdph]

I might take it this fall or early next year. I want to apply to UST 2007 class. For those of you taking it soon (this year or next) how long did u study for the NMAT? How long do you think is needed to sufficiently cover the material and do well...are there any review books etc or is the sample NMAT questions enough to get a feel for how the test will be administered? Thanks.

Isn't it supposed to be snowing there already? Used to be in Winsconsin and if I remember correctly, it was snowing already this time of the year. Long time i guess- anyway, you'd have to take the NMAT this year (here in the Philippines its april or december) if you want to be included in the 2007 UST Med class. Application started this september and are already filing according to surnames (September is A- J, i think). Anyway, if you have plans to enter UST by 2007, youd better hurry.

 

[MedKev]

Isn't it supposed to be snowing there already? Used to be in Winsconsin and if I remember correctly, it was snowing already this time of the year. Long time i guess- anyway, you'd have to take the NMAT this year (here in the Philippines its april or december) if you want to be included in the 2007 UST Med class. Application started this september and are already filing according to surnames (September is A- J, i think). Anyway, if you have plans to enter UST by 2007, youd better hurry.

Thanks for the info. 🙂 It isnt snowing yet here. Im in NY.

Do you know if UST accepts April NMATs 2007 for June 2007 entering class? I wasnt planning on taking it until April in the Philippines. Some people on these forums have said that UST accepts April NMAts even though the start of classes is 2 months later...is there any truth to that? Thank you...

 

[LocutusofBorg]

Thanks for the info. 🙂 It isnt snowing yet here. Im in NY.

Do you know if UST accepts April NMATs 2007 for June 2007 entering class? I wasnt planning on taking it until April in the Philippines. Some people on these forums have said that UST accepts April NMAts even though the start of classes is 2 months later...is there any truth to that? Thank you...

Hey Kev, I am in NY too. I don't want to take a chance to stay behind, so I'm flying to LA this month to take the NMATs. Im SO not ready, but I'll do the best I can. If I do over 60 percentile, I can get into Cebu Doctors, or another second-tier school.

Since we are in the same locality, we should team up our research / application efforts. Are you applying to any other countries? Are you Fil-Am, or just a desperate guy like me? lol PM me!

 

[hentaisocrnmdph]

Hey Kev, I am in NY too. I don't want to take a chance to stay behind, so I'm flying to LA this month to take the NMATs. Im SO not ready, but I'll do the best I can. If I do over 60 percentile, I can get into Cebu Doctors, or another second-tier school.

Since we are in the same locality, we should team up our research / application efforts. Are you applying to any other countries? Are you Fil-Am, or just a desperate guy like me? lol PM me!

I am not really sure if UST takes April NMAT takers for the same school year- I think they wont accept NMAT takers April next year. Anyways, not only will there be no harm but if you do take the NMAT this december, it will be up to your advantage as it can be retaken (that is if you plan taking it for the 2008 Medical Academic Year).

My sister just took the NMAT december last year and she was so not that ready. There are some practice sets for NMAT but I dont know how they do it there (I mean the type of questions etcetera).

You know, just so under the table, if ever you are considering a medical course here in the Philippines and you want to target the Philippine version of the IVY League Medical schools, you might want to get letters of recommendation from your head master or deans (that is if you are also of a good school). You might also want to take a school in the greater metro manila area as it is the center of culture and science in the Philippines- UST, UP, UERM and PLM are among the better schools in the area. Although CIM and Cebu doctors produce good results in the Medical boards, the experience and the training is really not that rigourous as compared to the metro manila schools. Trust me, youll have good experiences in metro manila.

 

[LocutusofBorg]

I am not really sure if UST takes April NMAT takers for the same school year- I think they wont accept NMAT takers April next year. Anyways, not only will there be no harm but if you do take the NMAT this december, it will be up to your advantage as it can be retaken (that is if you plan taking it for the 2008 Medical Academic Year).

My sister just took the NMAT december last year and she was so not that ready. There are some practice sets for NMAT but I dont know how they do it there (I mean the type of questions etcetera).

You know, just so under the table, if ever you are considering a medical course here in the Philippines and you want to target the Philippine version of the IVY League Medical schools, you might want to get letters of recommendation from your head master or deans (that is if you are also of a good school). You might also want to take a school in the greater metro manila area as it is the center of culture and science in the Philippines- UST, UP, UERM and PLM are among the better schools in the area. Although CIM and Cebu doctors produce good results in the Medical boards, the experience and the training is really not that rigourous as compared to the metro manila schools. Trust me, youll have good experiences in metro manila.

PLM doesn't take foreigners. Aside from that, can you tell us a little more why Metro Manila schools provide a better education? Is it really the case, or just capital-centrism?

Also I spoke with someone who swears by the Southwestern University (Matiaz Aznar Memorial College of Medicine). She says that everyone she knows who went to that school passed the boards. Can someone here confirm this? If I don't get into CIM, would Southwestern be a good second choice?

 

[bakekang]

^

I think that based on statistics and facts at hand... Cebu Doctor's is next after CIM. I have heard good things about Southwestern too. But if you plan to work in the US someday, Cebu Doctor's name will hold more weight.

Try Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. Nice location. Cheap food and cost of living. Quality education.

 

[LocutusofBorg]

^

I think that based on statistics and facts at hand... Cebu Doctor's is next after CIM. I have heard good things about Southwestern too. But if you plan to work in the US someday, Cebu Doctor's name will hold more weight.

Try Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. Nice location. Cheap food and cost of living. Quality education.

I wonder how much "weight" any Philippine school has in the US. My feeling is that I'll be received as an IMG regardless of where I attend. What will make or break my career will be my USMLE scores. I need a school that prepares my KNOWLEDGE BASE in medicine sufficiently that I can come back to the US and STUDY for the USMLE on my own. In other words, I need a quality education. I doubt that a stellar Filipino school like U of P will impress anyone if I score low on the USMLE. Vice versa, i doubt anyone cares if I go to Xavier if I can pull off scoring better than US grads on the same test. And certainly, few people in the US will make distinctions between second-tier schools......

Am I wrong?

 

[RaaMD]

I wonder how much "weight" any Philippine school has in the US. My feeling is that I'll be received as an IMG regardless of where I attend. What will make or break my career will be my USMLE scores. I need a school that prepares my KNOWLEDGE BASE in medicine sufficiently that I can come back to the US and STUDY for the USMLE on my own. In other words, I need a quality education. I doubt that a stellar Filipino school like U of P will impress anyone if I score low on the USMLE. Vice versa, i doubt anyone cares if I go to Xavier if I can pull off scoring better than US grads on the same test. And certainly, few people in the US will make distinctions between second-tier schools......

Am I wrong?

I would agree with you even though I do not know much about the process. Perhaps someone can give you a more informed reply. From what I know, your USMLE scores will be very important, as well as your third and fourth year evals, especially your US evals. I do not think there will be a clearcut distinction among most residency directors between UP and Xavier for example. But, I would add that there are probably more UP grads or UP affiliates in the states that could help when looking for connections.

 

[hentaisocrnmdph]

Whats an IMG? Is it something used for USMLE? What are the hardships in entering a US med school other than MCAT?

 

[MedKev]

Whats an IMG? Is it something used for USMLE? What are the hardships in entering a US med school other than MCAT?

I think they mean International Medical Graduate (IMG) or Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG). When a foreign (non-US) medical graduate seeks licensure in the states they need to have an ECFMG Certification. Educational Commision for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is an agency that certifies medical graduates from med schools other than the US. And yes, in order to sit for the USMLE one must register and be certified by the ECFMG.

There are various factors in applying to med school in the states. MCAT and GPA are of course the 2 most important. But there are also too many qualified applicants and there are not enough spaces for them. Yes, many are qualified, but its a competitive game of other factors such as research, extra-curricular activities, letters of recs, etc. that also play a factor.... so you see, many people are qualified but there isnt space for everyone...so people who do not get in either look elsewhere or wait another year and apply again.

 

[bakekang]

I wonder how much "weight" any Philippine school has in the US. My feeling is that I'll be received as an IMG regardless of where I attend. What will make or break my career will be my USMLE scores. I need a school that prepares my KNOWLEDGE BASE in medicine sufficiently that I can come back to the US and STUDY for the USMLE on my own. In other words, I need a quality education. I doubt that a stellar Filipino school like U of P will impress anyone if I score low on the USMLE. Vice versa, i doubt anyone cares if I go to Xavier if I can pull off scoring better than US grads on the same test. And certainly, few people in the US will make distinctions between second-tier schools......

Am I wrong?

I wouldn't say, that in general, Philippine Medical Schools do really hold much weight in the US, but I couldn't totally count it out either, especially now that big hospitals in the US keep a list of good medical schools of other countries, as I was told.

Like you said, there could be nothing more important thing than passing USMLE if you wish to work in the US. That's really the first and foremost thing you need to comply so you can market yourself there, or even to become eligible to work there. However, after that, what's next for you?

I think this is where connection comes in. And when it comes to connection, UP (and to some extent, UST) have a slight edge over other Philippine medical schools because they have a considerably good number of alumni working in the US. I'm not very sure how many eventually work in the US from UP-CM in each year, but in year 2001, I've heard at least 59 of them left for the US (this figure does not even include those fil-am graduates). There was even a series of years back in the late 90's when about 80% of UP-CM graduates left for the US which alarmed the Philippine Senate and which laws were eventually passed to discourage them from leaving.

My cousin is currently working in Rush Hospital, Chicago. She earned her medical degree from UP in 2000 and passed the local board on the same year. I have no idea how big this hospital is but if she has to describe it herself, you would think that it's quite a well-known hospital in Chicago area. According to her, Rush hospital alone reserves like 5-15 slots for UP grads each year. The high level of performance, high intellectual aptitude, attitude and great work ethics are some of the reasons which drive Rush HRD personnel to continuously hire UP-CM graduates. There are about almost a hundred UP alumni in Rush right now.

Bottom line here is that, school's prestige count and it encompasses one's total marketability when applying for jobs. As to how much weight it holds is hard to quantify. I would presume that Philippine medical schools, in a general, are not popular in the US as there are several hundreds established medical schools there. An ordinary guy in the street would not know what the heck is UP-CM, or worse, Cebu Doc. But those who know – doctors, HRDs of established hospitals, med school professors -- would not hesitate to reward you with respect.

 

[weng]

Hi! My Sister Wants To Take The Nmat. Please Help Me Out With This Few Questions... When Is The April Nmat? What Are The Requirements For You To Be Eligible In Taking It? And How To Apply? Is There An Online Registration Or Something? Usually, Saan Po Nag-aapply Ng Nmat? Please Reply... Please Please... Thanks...

Weng🙂