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There are over 50 medical schools currently operating in the Philippines. This number can be overwhelming, especially if you are an aspiring doctor who is still finding the right medical school. Therefore, before deciding which school to apply for and enroll yourself in, it is essential to consider certain factors to help you determine the best medical school for you. Here, we listed seven things to consider first before choosing a medical school. We also narrowed down the list of the best medical schools in the Philippines that should be on your list of choices. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Medical Schools to Apply to

Academic Focus

While all medical schools will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to become an excellent doctor, some medical programs also emphasize other areas such as business administration, medical research, or specialty medicine. Therefore, it is best to enroll yourself in a school where your planned career path in medicine will be best cultivated.

Teaching Quality

The best way to assess the teaching quality of a medical school is to ask medical students who are currently enrolled in the medical school you wish to apply for. If you do not know anyone, you can read online about the feedbacks about that school. It is also necessary to look into the teacher-student ratio of the school to assess whether you will be getting the attention you need and deserve once you begin studying medicine. 

Learning Environment

Some schools have a reputation of being extra competitive. In contrast, some have a unique approach to making their students feel comfortable despite all the hardships they face in medical school. The learning environment can have a significant effect on your ability to thrive in medical school. Hence, it is one of the factors that you should consider. 

Opportunities for Students

You will be spending four years of your life in medical school if you aspire to become a doctor. Therefore, it is best to look at what your student life will be like once you are already in the medical school you wish to apply for—research about the extracurricular activities and student engagements you can be involved in once you are already there. 

Location

The location of the medical school where you will be enrolling should also be an essential consideration. If you were studying far from home, it would mean additional expenses for your board and lodging. In addition, studying far will also entail being away from your friends and family. However, if you are the type of person who has always been independent, the location of your school should not be a problem regardless if it is far from home or not. 

Tuition Fee

It is no secret that the tuition fee and other expenses in medical school are expensive. Therefore, if you are on a strict budget, it is best to research and compare the tuition fees in different medical schools to not be surprised with the amount of money you have to shell out once you are already there. 

Passing Rate

The overall passing rate of the medical school you wish to apply for is one of the indicators of the quality of teaching in that school. Therefore, you should research the performance of the schools you want to apply for in the Physician Licensure Examination and the number of top notchers they have produced in recent years.

List of Different Medical Schools in the Philippines to Go to

University of Santo Tomas, Manila – Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is deeply committed to pursuing quality health care. It strives to improve the lives of Filipinos through progressive research and education and policy formulation. Having consistently attained academic excellence, The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is known for producing highly competent general surgeons, academicians, scientists, business leaders, medical administrators, and nurses.

University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Manila

The University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC) is a leading medical education/training and health sciences research in the Philippines. UERMMMC is one of the recipients of the “Center of Excellence” award issued by the Commission on Higher Education. This university is also highly recognized for its innovative medical school curriculum and consistent high passing rate in the Physician Licensure Exam. 

 University of the Philippines, Manila – College of Medicine

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UP-CM) is the first medical school in the Philippines established on September 28, 1905. Training at this medical school is excellent because of its direct affiliation with the Philippine General Hospital, which gives students a chance to have hands-on experience with different kinds of patients. 

Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation

Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) is a medical college in the Philippines located at Regalado Ave, Novaliches, Quezon City. The school has been identified as both a Top Performing and Most Competitive Private Medical School by the Professional Regulation Commission.

De La Salle University – Health Science Institute

De La Salle University’s Health Science Institute offers various study avenues beyond the Doctor of Medicine, including Physical Therapy and Nursing. DLSU is also an official member of the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), which confers its authority in the whole group of ASEAN countries.

Cebu Institute of Medicine

Cebu Institute of Medicine is an academic institution located in Mandaue City, Cebu, in the Philippines. It is one of the eight educational institutions under the Cebu Doctors’ University System (CDUS), composed of six tertiary schools and one national high school. The CIM enjoys the statute of Center of Excellence awarded by the Philippines Center for Higher Education since 1996.

Davao Medical School Foundation

The Davao Medical School Foundation is a teaching hospital for the medical and allied health students of the University of Mindanao. The Colegio de San Pedro serves as its training school while coordinating with the Davao Doctors Hospital Incorporated. By 1963, the university already had a curriculum that provided education programs in fundamental studies, pre-clinical, and clinical courses.

Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health – Pasig

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health aims to achieve its vision through the systematic integration of research, education, and service, with a strong belief in the unlimited potential of the human spirit, an unwavering commitment to social justice, and a passion for scientific inquiry. Students of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health can also obtain a joint MD-MBA degree from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

Southwestern University PHINMA School of Medicine

Southwestern University, established in 1951, is the first medical school outside Manila. This university’s flagship program is now housed in a building with seven stories and other advanced facilities, such as a training hospital, to enhance its educational system. The School of Medicine forges physicians of the future who continuously push for revolutionary innovations in medicine.

What are the best scores to get from taking NMAT?

The NMAT is a test in which you get two types of scores: standard scores (SS) and percentile ranks (PR). For admissions purposes, the Commission on Higher Education stipulates a cut-off of 40 PR. This is the threshold score for qualifying as a bona fide applicant for admission. However, this does not guarantee a slot in an applicant’s preferred medical school as other medical school admissions requirements need to be considered. That is why it is better to achieve a high percentile rank in the NMAT to ensure that you will be among the top applicants that will be considered by the medical school you wish to apply for. 

How do you know which medical school is right for you?

The first step to know which medical school is right for you is to consider your metrics, such as your grades and NMAT score. Each school has its grade requirements and NMAT cutoff score. Therefore, the most feasible medical school to get accepted is where your metrics fit the most. 

The second step is to determine what kind of doctor you want to be in the future. As mentioned earlier, some schools specialize in certain areas. While it might be too early for some to decide on the career path in medicine they want to take, it is still essential to have a shortlist of the possible sectors they wish to enter after graduating from medical school. This way, they can already align their plans to the specialization of the medical school where they want to join.

The third step is to consider your preference. For example, do you want to study far from home? Do you want to enter a school where your friends are already in? Do you want to enter a more competitive school? All these should be considered because they will eventually affect how you will be enjoying your journey towards becoming a doctor. 

The last step is to create the decision for you and only for you. You are the one who will be going through all the experiences medical school will throw at you. You might end up regretting your decision to enroll in a particular school because you based it on others’ preferences. Hence, ensure that you choose the medical school that you think is the best for you. 

What do I need to prepare to apply to the right medical school?

• Good Grades

To apply to the right medical school, you first need to have good grades. This means that you need to start working on your dreams as early as your freshman year in college.

• NMAT 

Your NMAT percentile rank can help the admissions committee distinguish you from the rest of the applicants. That is why you must prepare and do well in the NMAT to have a higher chance of getting accepted into the right medical school.

• Important Documents

Aside from your transcript of records and NMAT results, medical schools will also require you to submit multiple documents to prove your identity. Therefore, ensure that you have checked the documents needed for the application and request them from relevant offices ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary stress of procuring them at the last minute.  

• Panel Interview

Almost all medical schools require their applicants to undergo a panel interview. Here, you will be asked questions about yourself and why you want to pursue a career in medicine. This step is crucial and can make or break your application. Interviewers want to test your ability to answer questions correctly, even under pressure. You can prepare for this interview by participating in mock interviews and practicing how to speak in front of an audience. 

Other Factors to Consider When Considering Medical School

Housing

It is good if you no longer have to worry about where you will live once you start going to medical school, either because your house is close to the school or you have a place near it. However, if you have to rent because you will be studying far from home, you also have to think about your board and lodging expenses. Next to tuition and other school expenses, board and lodging are the next most expensive things you have to a lot your budget for

Support System

Medical school can be highly taxing. It will drain you emotionally, mentally, and physically. That is why you must have a solid support system you can run to when things become difficult in school and remind you to keep moving forward despite the hardships you are facing. 

Yourself

Always remember that you are the best person who can judge if you can take all the challenges in medical school. Therefore, consider yourself first and asked if you are ready to enter medical school. It is okay to take a gap year after graduating from college to think about your future career or prepare yourself for medical school if you are not ready yet. 

How do you know if being a doctor is right for you?

A career in medicine will take you along a journey through life that will be long and challenging but never dull. During your training, you will have the opportunity to work with many unique people who will teach you much about medicine and society. If this sounds interesting, it might well be for you. If not, it’s unlikely that medical school will hold any magic for you.