INSIDE OUT: UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
“The biggest, the brightest, the best”
How is the application process in your school?
Before delving into the application process, I want to
discuss about UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS)’s rate of acceptance.
About 450 candidates are accepted per school year, and most of the slots are
for UST graduates (70%-75%). 25%-30% of the slots are reserved for non-UST
graduates, while foreign students comprise about 5%-7% of the total first year
population. If, by any chance, you are still in the process of deciding your
school for college and are interested in UST as your future med school,
consider having your undergraduate studies in UST as well. And if you are
studying college in another school but are aspiring to be a Thomasian doctor,
you might want to up your game by maintaining good grades in your undergraduate
program and scoring high in the NMAT!
The process of application to UST FMS is convenient
and smooth-sailing. For the step-by-step process, it’s the same with other med
schools! Taking the NMAT is a requirement, with a two-year eligibility period.
Always be on the lookout for announcements of application dates at their official
application website (https://medadmission.ust.edu.ph/), although the application period usually starts
around November. This page (https://tinyurl.com/y9j4z9od ) contains a comprehensive list of
requirements, and note that UST Med is one of the schools that don’t
require Physics units as a prerequisite, so if your degree program
doesn’t’/didn’t offer Physics classes, fret not! Applicants are also required
to pay an application fee of 5000php either through bank or straight to the
Office of Admissions in UST.
As for the recent applications, for most of it, it was
done online and through LBC. They didn't require the applicants to go to UST
just to pass requirements.
Unlike other schools, UST Med doesn’t interview the
applicants anymore, and they usually release the first list of applicants who
made the cut by March. Accepted students are required to pay 50,000php
(recent), AY 2020-2021) to reserve slots, otherwise these slots will be given
to other applicants. Another list of accepted candidates will be released after
the initial reservation of slots, and if unfortunately, you still aren’t
included, you can opt for reconsideration by writing a letter to the dean
and/or to the Father Reagent of FMS. Students for reconsideration are usually
interviewed.
If you have more questions about the particulars of the application
process, you can find answers here: https://tinyurl.com/y6wqsdad
Tuition fee
For 1st year to 3rd years,
the tuition fee ranges from 120k to 150k, and the fluctuations are due to the
different course loads per semester and the laboratory subjects that tend to
need more resources and finances (for example, first years have anatomy,
physiology and biochemistry laboratories). On the other hand, 4th years
have higher tuition fee (200k+) because of clerkship.
NMAT Score needed
The required NMAT score for UST Med is at least eighty-fifth percentile (85%ile), but it is also important to have good grades in your undergraduate program with a GWA of at least 2.00/B+/86%, with no failures! However, if you really intend to enter UST Med, aim for a higher NMAT score than 85. It's competition in UST Med. Aspiring students can be presenting themselves with an NMAT of 99. It's best to do really well in your NMAT. UST focuses their criteria in NMAT and undergraduate performance. Having high NMAT score with low performance may put you on the rocks. Being proactive in school organizations is also a plus. Basically, in my opinion, UST wants well-rounded future doctors.
If you need more info, it can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ybwz7x6m
School Address
UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is located in San
Martin De Porres building at University of Santo Tomas, Sampaloc, Manila 1008.
The building is currently shared by other courses in the medicine track, but
there is an ongoing construction for a new building exclusively for medicine,
which I think will be operational by 2022! This building will also be located
in the Sampaloc campus, beside TYK.
If you’re curious about the different
facilities/classrooms we have, or if you just want to get a feel of UST Med,
here is a wonderful tour by Ate Ian! https://youtu.be/JBoscZ4Kyyw
1. Scholarships available that you know of
1. Santo Tomas Scholarship Program – This is handled by UST, and is renewable every
term (with the maintaining average of at least 88.50% and with no failing
grades in both academic and non-academic courses). The requirements are:
a. Must be a Magna Cum Laude (50% partial scholarship),
or Summa Cum Laude (full scholarship) graduate of UST;
b. Must be a confirmed enrollee of the UST Faculty of
Medicine and Surgery.
For more information: https://tinyurl.com/ya6p4kjc
2. Regent’s Scholarship program – This is handled by Anargyroi, FMS Foundation, Inc. The
ultimate requirements are the ITR of parents and Certificate of Indigency. More
information can be found in the image below and this link https://issuu.com/fidesarrogancia/docs/rsp:
What is it like in your school? The culture, socials...
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| My subsec practicing for zumbanatomy! |
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| Birthday surprise after a couple of hell weeks! Admittedly, this isn’t much of a surprise since we do it for everyone in the subsec, but it still feels amazing |
UST FMS culture in general is supportive. The student
body, especially the student council and upper batches, make valiant efforts to
welcome freshmen at the start of classes. This continues through the years, as
everybody shares notes and reviewers through google drives and the cloud
(believe me, I got reviewers way back from 2007) and guides new students into
the confusing world of medical school. Personally, my experience in my own
block and subsection is good and healthy. We really don’t compete, and instead
help each other out in difficult subjects. I can’t promise this to be the case
for everyone, as I’ve heard some subsections can be very competitive as it
depends on the students, so I’m glad that I got a pretty good bunch of people
as my family. We even find time to surprise each other on birthdays even though
we have quizzes and exams all the time!
As for socials, UST med tries to incorporate social
events in our busy schedules. For example, subjects like anatomy and
biochemistry have year-end activities that promote good fun while accomplishing
goals, such as the “Zumbanatomy” and “Nutrition
fest”. It’s a way for subsections to bond and release
pent-up stress from academics. Also, different organizations such as AMSA and
Med Mission Inc have events that promote drive and passion to the students.
There are also different sports clubs for volleyball, swimming, etc that train
med student athletes for sports fests (UST-wide or intermed school). Finally,
organizations also collaborate and spearhead events such as the “Medwards” and “Freshmen
night” for students to socialize and showcase their talents while
helping out different hospital wards and engaging in fundraising/donation
drives!
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| My Cluster’s (A) performance for Medwards 2020! Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/francescagamps |
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| Cluster D as winners for Medwards 2020! Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/ustmedwards/ |
What’s the system of teaching in your school, your school's forte? What's unique in your school?
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| My subsection for Medicine I with Dr. Tapispisan! Honestly, one of the most exciting subjects ever! Partially because we get to use stethoscopes already, heh. This class has one-on-one sessions that aim to teach us the basics in physical examination, diagnostics, basic life support etc. At the end of the course, we undergo OSCE, a practical examination to gauge if we’re learning well. |
First off, what I really like about UST FMS in
comparison with undergrad is every department gives out the entire
schedule for the semester even before the first meeting. They post
tables at their respective bulletin boards so that students will be able to see
when’s the lecture, quiz, etc, and what topics to study in advance. This makes
learning more seamless, as we abide by the Outcome based education system
in UST FMS, and this requires multiple steps per topic. The professors will
first hold a general symposium/ lecture for each topic,
and they will give out cases and guide questions for a “Student
group discussion” (SGD) for the next meeting. This SGD will be spearheaded
by the students themselves, with a facilitator overlooking the meeting and
asking additional questions. For some subjects, they give out a recorded short
post-lecture quiz to make sure students listened to the lecture (or better yet,
did advance study for the lecture). So not only should the students rely on the
lectures, but should do an individual study session as well, and the SGD will
serve as a good way for group integration of the topic while applying the
theory into clinically practice based on the cases given.
Some subjects also require other learning procedures
like laboratory experiments (Biochem, Physiology,
Pharmacology), microscopic viewings (Histology,
Pathology, Microbiology) and one-on-one skill teaching and
demonstration (Anatomy, Surgery, Medicine, clinical pathology).
After all the scheduled activities for a topic or group of topics, the
departments will give a departmental “long quiz” that
everyone in the batch takes at the same time to avoid leakage of questions and
answers. Some subjects give out rotating practical exams and OSCE to
check students’ skills and ability to answer questions off papers. At the end
of each shift/quarter, the subjects will give the shifting
examinations. For semestral subjects, there will be only 2 shifting
examinations as there will only be 2 shifts, but for yearly subjects, there
will be 4 shifting exams (Shifting exams are equivalent to the prelims and
finals from undergrad). Finally, we have the yearly finals and
comprehensive exams. These are cover-to-cover exams that help us
prepare for the revalida in fourth year, and the board exams
after graduation. D2022’s year ender video project (in physiology) “This is UST
MED” (https://youtu.be/sREgMGpwvY8) summarizes our learning system well!
In addition to all these, we have MDIs in first year
and MPPRC subject in second year. MDI happens twice a
year, and this symposium aims to integrate all the first year subjects by
discussing two cases. The firs step would be receiving the clinical case, and
discussing this case among our subsection. Then we would try to explain the
case by making use of our different subjects, like biochem, physio, anatomy
etc. After which, we will have a discussion with our respective facilitators.
For second year, the MPPRC subject serves to correlate
medicine, pathology, pharmacy and radiology through clinical cases as well. For
the first sem, we were given theoretical cases, but for the second sem, we were
given real patients that we had to take history for ourselves to come up with a
suitable discussion.
I think my school’s forte comes in theoretical
learning, because there are feedbacks that UST FMS lacks in the
practical department. I have a limited knowledge about this since I haven’t had
my clerkship yet, but I can say that UST FMS students are rigorously
trained with our basic theory and how it correlates in the clinical setting, as
seen from my explanation about the school’s learning system. This results
into UST FMS being regarded as one of the best top performing schools in the
board exams! Compared to other schools, UST FMS has the biggest number
of students per batch, and the largest number of board passers. This
is where our motto, “The biggest, the brightest, the best” comes from.
Aside from doing good on boards, Thomasian
doctors really are passionate and full of compassion. I see this well
through my professors, and from my upperclassmen, my classmates. My
professors often tell us that at different hospitals in different provinces
(and even different countries), once you meet a Thomasian doctor, you’ll just
know. Kinship, maybe? I have yet to know the feeling. I hope that I can
know someday, and if you want to study in UST FMS, then may you feel it
someday, too!
What
do you like most about your school?
What I like most about my school? Paskuhan? HAHA jk.
Etched on the front walls of the med building are the words: “Art is long, life is short, opportunity fleeting,
experimentations perilous, and judgment difficult” (or at least the Latin version). This is
what I like most about UST FMS: it opened my eyes and showed me that being a
doctor isn’t just pure dreams and magic (here’s some medicine, poof, you’re
well!), and that there is an actual art and science involved. We are constantly
being reminded (by the saying on the wall and by our professors) that judgement
IS difficult, so we have to train our clinical eye hard and listen to the
experts well. We really don’t have forever to master this art and science, so
we do our best and try to learn the basics within four years, and continue
learning outside our four walls into the entirety of our short lives. And since
I am a sap, I’m going to share C2019’s
year ender video “Beyond what We Can C” (https://youtu.be/nvuk3_cwd4U) that will hopefully help you understand what I mean.
What do you like most about your school?
What I like most about my school? Paskuhan? HAHA jk. Etched on the front walls of the med building are the words: “Art is long, life is short, opportunity fleeting, experimentations perilous, and judgment difficult” (or at least the Latin version). C2019’s year ender video “Beyond what We Can C” (https://youtu.be/nvuk3_cwd4U) that will hopefully help you understand what I mean.
How is the lifestyle in your school? Food, utilities, accessibility of transpo
Since
UST is situated along España boulevard and Lacson
Avenue, there is easy access to transportation from the northern and
southern parts of NCR! You can commute through jeepneys, and UV Express. LRT
Line-2 is also accessible through the Legarda station, a tricycle away from
UST. But since this is med school and it’s super busy, I think
it’s more ideal to live near UST, although some of my classmates from QC still
travel home everyday (but they do have their own cars, so it’s convenient).
Most of us have dorms/condos near UST, and there are lots of options! The immediate
street borders of UST (Dapitan, P. Noval, Lacson and España) all have options
available. But there are also other condos that are a jeep away within a
manageable distance. Personally, I think having a dorm/condo in Dapitan or
Lacson cor. Dapitan is the most convenient location because the gates here are
nearest to the med building and UST hospital. I’ve lived in University Tower,
España since undergrad, so I have to walk for about 8-15 minutes everyday. The
only upside is I’m not that easily tempted to go home and take naps in between
classes (lol).
Moving on to the food options, there is a cafeteria
within the med building, and it’s pretty convenient for quick snacks and meals
(the delicious turon is my fave!) especially if we’re cramming
for quizzes during lunch hours (or if there is a quiz DURING lunch hours, which
sadly happens a lot). If you get tired of the med caf and can spare a bit of
your time, there is always the UST carpark (which features lots of fast food
restaurants and food stalls) and of course, Dapitan street. In Dapitan, there
are lots of fast food restaurants and also carinderias if you’re on a budget
(Angkong and Hapag, anyone?). Of course, med students run on caffeine often
(er…always) so coffee shops are a must. Luckily, we have vendo machines in the
med building, and there is always coffee available in the med caf. Not to
mention all the Starbucks, cafes and milk tea places within UST and around UST!
For utilities, there are banks and ATMs inside and around UST (BPI, BDO,
Metrobank, and plenty of remittance and bayad centers). There are also lots of
convenience stores within/outside. The nearest groceries would be Savemore and
Puregold along España. And the nearest mall would be SM San Lazaro/Tayuman, one
jeep away. For churches, there is a church within UST, and Quiapo church is
just a jeep away.
Med school lifestyle description is incomplete without
mention of study, so here it is: I usually study in the Health Sciences library
located at the 4th floor of the med building,
since it’s free and very conducive for learning. For group studies, we usually
stay at the library as well, since there are discussion rooms available (with
wifi per room, v sweet!). There are also plenty of study hubs/cafes around UST,
but you do have to pay for those. For computer and printing usages, there is a
computer lab of sorts within the med building called “MIC”, and you can use the
computers for free (with wifi) but you have to pay for the printing services.
Actually, there is an available free wifi service around the whole campus, but
it does tend to get stronger within the MIC and library.
How bearable is your med school?
To be honest, I had a hard time answering this
question. It’s just that generally, life is bearable in UST FMS, but studying medicine
sometimes… isn’t. It’s more than the school, per se, but medicine itself. I
really do love learning, and I love my subjects. But in medicine, there’s A LOT
of information we have to deal with, and all at the same time. This can get
really tiring. I understand why our professors teach the way they do, and as
much as possible they plan things out to make the students’ lives more bearable
by not scheduling major quizzes at the same time, for example. Or shortening
the class time once they find out that we have scheduled exams next
period. Their empathy shines through the multiple hardships. This
helps to a certain extent, and I’m thankful. But their consideration also has a
limit, as it really is impossible to space out everything to accommodate the students.
At this point, we just have to grit our teeth, drink lots of coffee, bear the
unbearable, and before we know it, it’s done, we made it through hell day, hell
week, hell month, hell semester!
One of my biochem professors said in his introductory
class that “The days are long, but the years are short”, and
I couldn’t agree more. I really can’t proportionally equate my everyday toil
for two years into two years’ worth of hard work. My everydays were hard, so
hard, but looking back in retrospect, the hardships I’ve faced have lost their
painful sheen, as I know I’ve made it through. This is what makes everything
bearable, and this is what gives me courage for my remaining two years in UST
FMS! To illustrate, I’m going to share my class’ year ender Physiology video
project: A2022 (Cambiare ‘v’) which can be found
at https://youtu.be/OeiyklcX_JA. “Cambiare” means “to change, to
modify”, and that’s really the answer into bearing med school’s hardships:
changing one’s perspective.
Do you regret choosing your school?
I don’t regret choosing my school! It’s been my dream
to study here ever since high school, and 3 years into med I still can’t
believe my lucky stars that I’m able to study in THE UST med. Some of my
expectations were certainly different from reality. Some things are better to
be expectations and just dreams, and I feel that way sometimes when studying
medicine becomes unbearable. But I do believe that the majority of my reality
in UST FMS has been good, and this keeps me grounded enough to continue
achieving my dream.
I hope I’ve given sufficient “insider” info to help
make decisions for you aspiring medical students so that you WON’T regret
choosing your school, or shed light to how med school works for those who’re
still deciding career paths, or alleviate worries of incoming med student
readers, or provide general entertainment to some lost souls who made it here.
Thank you for your time!
(A. Barroga, UST FMS Batch 2022)
Read the other features on this medical school series:
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Furthermore, the assumptions, views, and opinions made by the writer of this blog does not reflect those of the medical institution and its management nor does it intend to degrade and offend the medical institution or medical student. It is only used for educational and recreational purposes.
Medical School Series claims no credit for any images from the medical institution and management except those of the authors and writer's personal images featured on this site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyright to its respectful owners.
Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies; we do not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site’s content. If you own rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact me via e-mail, and they will be promptly removed.
The views expressed here are solely those of the authors in his/her private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of the medical institution and its management.
Furthermore, the assumptions, views, and opinions made by the writer of this blog does not reflect those of the medical institution and its management nor does it intend to degrade and offend the medical institution or medical student. It is only used for educational and recreational purposes.
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