to continue to med school not to continue?

[bouncing siomai]

hello. i am new to this forum. i am 21 years old, filipina, born and raised in the philippines and recently graduated nursing in the philippines (UST) and just passed the board exams there. ( june 2007). though my parents have been in the USA for 5 years, they decided it is cheaper to send me to college in the PHilippines.

so now, I am in california and awaiting for my turn to take the nclex( the processing is sooooo long!) but the thing is, i really want to to go to med school. i just have no idea how to get there. I have no idea what classes to take in case i want to pursue it here in the states, like the prerequisites and the like. I also have no idea how to take the NMAT here in the states if ever i want to take med school in the philippines.

plus, people around me keep saying i just stick to nursing because it pays so much. but, seriously, i dont know if i will really be happy with it.

i hope you guys could give me information/adivice about how to go about my med school dreams. Like how to apply for NMAt and the like. and any of your opionons about nurses who, inspite of the whole "big salary" thing, still opt to go to med school, whether in the states or in the philippines.

any replies would be very very much appriciated. thank you!

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[bleudsky]

if you dream of becoming a doctor, then go for it!

i know a resident who had BS nursing as her pre-med. like you, she's a registered nurse, has processed her papers for NCLEX, TOEFL, etc. but she decided one day to drop everything & pursue medicine. did she have any regrets? no. she said "iba pa rin ang pakiramdam 'pag duktor na."

picture yourself 7 yrs from now. what would you choose to be - a registered nurse (not to forget independent & financially stable) or a struggling medical doctor?

i believe you can take the NMAT there. you can ask help/assistance from other fil-ams on how to apply, where to take & when the NMAT is given. as for the other needed pre-requisites, read the guidelines to see if u still need additional units.

suggestion: why don't you try to be a nurse in the meantime? there's no harm in trying, right? besides, it wouldn't hurt if you practice it before you decide to pursue another career path.

God bless and good luck!

 

[chatu11]

ya, why not try nursing for a while.

I have a friend who mentioned before about some scholarships for currently practicing US-nurses who wish to persue medicine, and the hospital would be the one to fund your education, something like that but i don't know the particular details.

well, goodluck, either way, hope you end up where you'd be happy in

 

[LocutusofBorg]

Hey there siomai,

I am a russian american studying medicine in the Philippines, and let me tell you: I envy you so much! Having taken nursing in the Philippines you are a far stronger applicant to medical school than us, US-prepared bare-minimum requirement premeds... In fact, I just withdrew from med school this sem so that I can take some more premed courses here in Phils and try med school again in June...

What I'm saying is, go for it!! The NMAT is coming up in Los Angeles, don't know the date, but call the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles and ask to speak with Godfrey Vergara. I believe it takes a week to register for the examination.

If you are a filipino citizen, you won't have to deal with visa issues, so enrolling in the Philippines should be easy. You'll pay lower tuition (since your undergrad is in the Philippines, foreign student fees don't apply to you), and you'll graduate as an MD on a budget 15 times smaller than the budget for med school in the US.

My advice is don't listen to anyone's advice, including mine. Follow your heart. I quit a kick ass job to come study here, because my passion is medicine. If thats what you truly want, you should let nothing stop you!

 

[titanjones]

i want to goto the phillipines...

 

[bouncing siomai]

ya, why not try nursing for a while.

I have a friend who mentioned before about some scholarships for currently practicing US-nurses who wish to persue medicine, and the hospital would be the one to fund your education, something like that but i don't know the particular details.

well, goodluck, either way, hope you end up where you'd be happy in

really? OMG! i guess i can ask the hopital in which i will apply to about that.... but i guess it has to be large hospitals? oh well thanks a lot!

 

[bouncing siomai]

Hey there siomai,

I am a russian american studying medicine in the Philippines, and let me tell you: I envy you so much! Having taken nursing in the Philippines you are a far stronger applicant to medical school than us, US-prepared bare-minimum requirement premeds... In fact, I just withdrew from med school this sem so that I can take some more premed courses here in Phils and try med school again in June...

quote]

did you study pre-med here in the states? really? you still lack requirements? wow.... which school did you go to? rather, which school are you going to this june? heheh i am a graduate of UST, i hope you study there. school is great and everything. heheh

 

[bouncing siomai]

well, i decided i will try nursing for a while... but the thing is, if i want to start my med proper on 2009, i can only try nursing for 8-9 months... or should i start at june 2010? you think i will be too old? heheh... im 21 now btw. hope you can tell me what you think guys! thanks!

 

[kenji07]

Hi!...
Perhaps, U need some time to explore the realistic world of a globally competitive healthcare profession. Since, U have ventured urself in the states why not make use of the opportunity to work as RN. It will give U the utmost experience of the 'real world'..Thus, once U have had reflected on it - whether pursuing a career in nursing or medicine - is not a daunting question - always follow what U wanted to do - never take 'what -ifs' - have the passion and focus in whatever decision U make. At the end of the day, its your decision that will matter - .

I am a nurse by profession - achieved my BSN in Phils too, and had a similiar ambition to be a doctor someday.. I have been in the nursing profession for almost 10 yrs now..I did work in London for 7 yrs (Intensive care/high dependency unit and went to operating theatres (operating room - specialising in cardio-thoracic surgery in the latter years) and I also work as a travel nurse in New York, New Jersey and Las Vegas.. I am always thankful to my profession as to where I am now and of course to the unselfish support of the significant others..

By the way, I am currently studying medicine in University College of London. Very tough vocation but a highly rewarding profession...

Taking NMAT is pretty different when taking MCAT...
NMAT - pretty much basic stuff you need re academics as others would say 'stored-knowledge' (Part 2 exam) and IQ and numeracy skills (Part
1)
MCAT - needs a very solid foundation and in-depth knowledge to all science subjects + essay writing (2 essay part test)..As your BSN qualification earned in the Phils - U will be considered as a non-traditional applicant -Talk to a pre-med advisor - mostly they are very helpful but U need to book an appoinment with them, if U are interested I would advise U to take their post-bac programs ( @least 2yr program ) before taking the MCAT - u can look up at AMCAS/post-bacc - it will give U all the necessary infos u need to assimilate - that includes on how to finance ur medical degree..

Pros and cons
NMAT/Med school in the Phils - everythin' is affordable - a practical approach, less stress and pretty much U will be accepted in the top unis..plus its' ur hometown...'no place like home'

USMLE fees/each step - $695..?..check website/EFCMG

MCAT/US Medical schools - very very expensive and u will end up with LOANS...but Im sure U will be able to pay it off soon while enjoying ur profession..

By the way, I passed both exams few yrs back.

If U have further queries , don't hesitate to pm me..

have a great day ahead!

 

[kenji07]

Hi!...
Perhaps, U need some time to explore the realistic world of a globally competitive healthcare profession. Since, U have ventured urself in the states why not make use of the opportunity to work as RN. It will give U the utmost experience of the 'real world'..Thus, once U have had reflected on it - whether pursuing a career in nursing or medicine - is not a daunting question - always follow what U wanted to do - never take 'what -ifs' - have the passion and focus in whatever decision U make. At the end of the day, its your decision that will matter - .

I am a nurse by profession - achieved my BSN in Phils too, and had a similiar ambition to be a doctor someday.. I have been in the nursing profession for almost 10 yrs now..I did work in London for 7 yrs (Intensive care/high dependency unit and went to operating theatres (operating room - specialising in cardio-thoracic surgery in the latter years) and I also work as a travel nurse in New York, New Jersey and Las Vegas.. I am always thankful to my profession as to where I am now and of course to the unselfish support of the significant others..

By the way, I am currently studying medicine in University College of London. Very tough vocation but a highly rewarding profession...

Taking NMAT is pretty different when taking MCAT...
NMAT - pretty much basic stuff you need re academics as others would say 'stored-knowledge' (Part 2 exam) and IQ and numeracy skills (Part
1)
MCAT - needs a very solid foundation and in-depth knowledge to all science subjects + essay writing (2 essay part test)..As your BSN qualification earned in the Phils - U will be considered as a non-traditional applicant -Talk to a pre-med advisor - mostly they are very helpful but U need to book an appoinment with them, if U are interested I would advise U to take their post-bac programs ( @least 2yr program ) before taking the MCAT - u can look up at AMCAS/post-bacc - it will give U all the necessary infos u need to assimilate - that includes on how to finance ur medical degree..

Pros and cons
NMAT/Med school in the Phils - everythin' is affordable - a practical approach, less stress and pretty much U will be accepted in the top unis..plus its' ur hometown...'no place like home'

USMLE fees/each step - $695..?..check website/EFCMG

MCAT/US Medical schools - very very expensive and u will end up with LOANS...but Im sure U will be able to pay it off soon while enjoying ur profession..

By the way, I passed both exams few yrs back.

If U have further queries , don't hesitate to pm me..

have a great day ahead!

 

[bleudsky]

well, i decided i will try nursing for a while... but the thing is, if i want to start my med proper on 2009, i can only try nursing for 8-9 months... or should i start at june 2010? you think i will be too old? heheh... im 21 now btw. hope you can tell me what you think guys! thanks!

that decision is up to you. you're the only one who can plan for your own future - like how long to practice nursing before going to med school. you're mature to decide for yourself & take responsibility for your own actions. whatever makes you happy, then go for it! don't worry about age. i bet you'll be having classmates or batchmates older than you are.