r/medschoolph

Got rejected from ASMPH :(( So sad ateneo was one of my prio damn,, maybe it’s something I said from the interview hahaha

I attended the 8am April 21 Oathtaking for March 2026 PLE passer.

Doc Erwin was given the chance to give a speech during the oathtaking and what a story.

To summarize his speech,

First take - he failed but according to him it was not because he wasn't smart enough but life happened. Immediately before taking the PLE he found out his then girlfriend now wife was pregnant and it was unplanned. Naturally, he felt very overwhelmed and was unable to focus during the PLE. Paanondaw siya magiging doctor kung hindi niya alam paano maging tatay

Second attempt - he was a new father to a new born and his priority was his family so he decided to not push through with his supposed second take. Add to it more sleepless night as a new father.

Third attempt/second take - his name was not in the list of passer and he was devastated for failing again. Sinisi pa niya un top 1 na name withheld na kaya daw siya hindi nakapasok sa curve dahil sa tao na yun buti nga daw sakanya HAHA ONLY to find out later na siya pala un top 1 na name withheld

It took him 10 years to get this license hindi pa daw kasama pre-med. Redemption arc indeed.

Sobrang deserve ni doc. Gave an inspiring speech especially to other retakers and just hope for all MDs no matter where they are in now and what their past has been.

Congrats to all our new MD and sana wala ng fake news about allegedly cheating kaya na name withheld. Just shows how we ought to be careful in making assumptions and spreading unverified information.

Grabe si dokie 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Naiyak ako slight sa kanyang speech

Very motivational and very inpsiring.

I'd say super dasurv.

Will go down as one of the most controversial but probably one of the best topnotchers not just in PLE, but in all PRC.

Thank you for sharing your story dokie!

Hello po! Currently not residing in Baguio but received information that I should do my medical in SLU on April 28. I just have a few questions kasi I really need to plan out yung pag akyat ko dahil malayo and magastos :((

For current slu som students who already went through the same process:

- Do I really need to process my medical on the single day indicated sa email? Or is it okay to do it within the submission of med cert deadline (up until May 6)

- Is 2 days really enough to process the whole medical, since yun yung nakaindicate sa guide? Or should I extend one more day of stay just to be sure?

- Is it possible to have some of my labs made here sa baba (a day before) bago ako umakyat and just submit that to have my medical record sa HSU ng SLU?

For applicants who received their emails already:

- Does anyone have the same sched (Apr 28) and wants to process together? Non-SLU undergrad kasi ako so it would be really helpful to navigate through the campus w someone..

Thank you!

hi yall! i called the office to inquire and they told me that sometime this week daw yung release of batch 3 results hehe i saw some posts kasi asking rin so might be helpful :) good luck to us all!!!🫶

Hi, me and my friend have been kinda weirded out sa fixation ng mga tao sa name withheld and recent announcement ng Top 1. to the point na content creators are literally benefitting from the situation through monetizing short form vids. kayo po ba?

For us, it was only just for the PRC to double check his rating because medj malayo and first time in history (??) na ganito kataas ang top 1 and may kalakihan nga naman ang agwat nila ng sumunod na topnotchers. and since recently lang din naman na-lift yung ruling na pwede maging topnotcher ang no-shows/retakers rule sa PRC, kung retaker nga talaga si doc 😅. Fortunately, sobrang galing talaga ni doc and malinis ang pagtake niya. super idol. and, looking forward kami tomorrow (apr 21) sa speech niya if ever meron and magpakita siya sa oath taking sa manila.

PS: PRC should have done better sa release pero dapat tigilan na ng mga tao si Doc and yung naging situation niya

Hi everyone! I’m currently at a crossroads and could really use some perspective from med students/doctors who have been in a similar spot.

I took my undergrad at UST. It was my dream school, and I even moved from the province to enter the university. However, mid-college, I had to take a leave of absence due to my mental health and was diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Despite that, I decided to continue. I came back, finished my degree, and I am currently in a gap year to recharge before entering medical school. While I’m still waiting for the results of my application, I’m genuinely torn between two choices:

1. UST-FMS

It’s been the "dream" of my younger self. I’m familiar with the campus and the system, and I also have friends there. However, I’m worried about the "trauma" of the environment; I’m scared that being back in the same setting where I struggled might trigger old anxieties. I also know the culture is very traditional, high-pressure, and often described as "survival of the fittest."

2. SLMC-CM

Everyone tags SLMC as being "mental health friendly." They have smaller batch sizes, more approachable faculty, and a more supportive culture. It would be a completely clean slate—a fresh start where I can move forward without the weight of my past struggles in the same hallways. However, it wasn’t my original "plan," and I’m wondering if the clinical experience feels different compared to the "battle-hardened" reputation of UST. I am also aware that they have a different curriculum compared to UST’s traditional style, and I’m wondering how much of a shift that would be for me.

I know medical school is hard everywhere, but I want to set myself up for success without sacrificing my mental health or burning out again.

• Is the "mental health friendly" reputation of SLMC still true in practice?

• For those who stayed in their undergrad "dream school" despite a rough history there, was it worth it? Or did you find a fresh start elsewhere more beneficial?

• In terms of skills, environment, and learning style, which would you recommend for someone who prioritizes both clinical excellence and staying mentally healthy?

I’d love to hear your honest thoughts. Thank you so much.

I know a lot of you are wondering which review center (RC) to join. I’m also aware of the issues surrounding some of them lately. As a retaker who has enrolled in the most well-known centers—yes, na-try ko na po sila lahat (hahaha)—ito yung take ko:

1. Topnotch (TN)

The "Famous" one, kumbaga ang Kapamilya Channel.

• The Pros: High-yield information and very reliable reviewers; it’s the perfect ensemble. The review process is very detailed, especially the schedule and handouts. They assign mentors to each group and they definitely have that "magic formula" to pass.

• The Cons: It is overwhelming. Because they want to include everything, they have to stick to a strict schedule. Once you lose track or pause to rest, disrupted na ang schedule mo. It takes a lot of time and effort para makahabol. Kawawa ka kung average or below-average student ka because something will have to be sacrificed. The pressure can really induce anxiety. They often assume everyone is smart enough to keep up with the pace.

• The Reality: Since there are so many enrollees, hindi lahat ng students ma-cater. Personally, yung assigned mentor ko didn't feel genuine—parang for the sake of the task lang. Mangungumusta, then wala na; they’d snooze for weeks, haha. Once results are out, they congratulate the passers, give a short speech for those who didn't make it, then boom—wala na yung GC.

• Verdict: If you are academically strong, prefer a high-pressure environment, and are financially blessed, pwede ka rito.

• Personal Experience: I enrolled here twice. At first, I thought ako lang ang kailangang mag-adjust, but after the second time, I realized hindi siya sakto sa study rhythm ko. My anxiety worsened because of the pressure to finish everything on time. Luck na lang din if the mentor you get actually cares about your well-being.

2. ExpertMD (EMD)

Similar to TN, but with a more compassionate approach.

• The Pros: Very high-yield handouts. They always ask students about their concerns and find ways to help. You feel "at home" because they are genuinely concerned about you.

• The Cons: During my time, maybe they were still adjusting, kaya medyo kalat pa ang handouts and videos. However, I’ve seen that their materials have improved significantly since then.

• Verdict: They are constantly improving, and the testimonies from students speak for themselves. It’s a great choice if you want high-yield content with a more human touch.

3. Focus

The "New Player" that is very promising.

• The Pros: Lectures and handouts are very reliable. They prioritize mastering concepts first. I like how they chunk topics per subject so you actually have time to finish. The test bank in Telegram is a great help.

• The Exam Prep: During checkpoint exams, the questions are formatted like the real PLE, and the ratios are very high-yield.

• The Vibe: It’s great for someone with anxiety or those who hate too much pressure. Very relaxed ang atake. At first, I wondered why it felt too calm, but that calmness actually helped me focus.

• The Specials: Their Final Coaching, Rapid Review, and Master Class are very helpful (just make sure you’ve finished the core subjects first). Plus, Doc Chino is very approachable and a high-yield lecturer.

Final Thoughts

My journey went: TN - EMD - TN - Focus.

At the end of the day, you have to know yourself to know your RC. Attend their pre-review sessions and see if their style matches yours. For me, passing is 50% the Review Center and 50% you.

Is everyone still at “For Processing” or “For Deliberation”? Or is there anyone who has been updated to “For Releasing of Results”?

grabe im so scared sana mag-release na ng results this week ang ust huhu grabe yung waiting game nakakabaliw (from nmat results to medschool application results) HAHSHAHAHA 🥲

Hello fellow med students. Please check your friends in the same field. We know sobrang hirap ng journey natin and affects all aspects in our life (physically, mentally, financially).

Our fellow med student done s*icide, failed, revived, but condition got worse, then eventually d*ed.

Reason: Triggered s*icidal episode from being bullied by a resi.

Please, check your friends out there. Kahit simpleng "Hi/Hello, kamusta ka na?" will do.

- From a Blue school somewhere in Region 1.

pa vent lang po

i kinda feel so behind thinking im starting med at 25 years old. When I could’ve started at 23, unfortunately, circumstances were not on my side.

I know that life has no deadline but it still feels….sad. especially thinking i have parents to make up to.

Hi, everyone! Good morning po. I will be taking NMAT this coming May 10 and I would like to ask for recommendations for review centers and or reviewers. Kung may kakilala po kayong nagtake ng NMAT recently or nagbebenta ng reviewers nila, it would really help me as someone na walang kakilalang nagtake ng nmat :>. Thank you so much pooo!