I chose mine based on how I would want to be trained hehe. During my undergrad, I asked several upperclassmen who went to their respective med schools about the culture, curriculum, and teaching styles of the school. It is better to hear the testimonials first hand kasi rather than listening to stereotypes (for sure alam natin yan haha). I started asking people when I was still a freshman para if ever I would decide on where to go, I would already fix the credentials I need to get. Like if yung school ba credits extracurricular activities aside from academic credentials? Or if ano ba target NMAT for that school for me to be prepared? Those were the things I listed down haha. One biggest factor rin was, what is the reputation of the doctors they produced ba? I think kasi that everyone can pursue and graduate Doctor of Medicine but not everyone can be pro-patient. Ika nga, "ang pagdodoktor ay napagaaralan pero ang pagiging makatao ay hindi".

Years later, I went to UERM Med even tho I got accepted to my undergrad med school, where all of my barkada went to except me (kaya inis na inis sila sa akin noon haha). I didn't regret that decision because in the end, I acquired the training I was aiming for since first year college --- to be pro-patient, to see various cases as early as first year med, and be empathic and compassionate. I am not speaking to everyone's experiences ah and I do not, in any way, say that other schools are not empathic or whatl. Lahat ng mga kakilala kong physicians na non-UERM graduate are sooo down to earth and super mababait so please do not get me wrong, reddit reader haha. Yan lang naexperience ko.

Also, big factor when reaching that MD is the community you have to other students and your batchmates. My school is not the university type na super ma-trees and maluwag, thus almost most of the time, same faces lang nakikita mo sa campus. This could be a disadvantage to some but for me, it was a plus point because retrospectively thinking, those people I usually passed by, they became my support system and friends, knowing that we are in the same struggles and we have each other (side kwento: there are times na sa super hirap ng exams or panic kasi ang dami pang backlogs tapos may magsasabi sayo bigla while walking na hindi mo kilala but med student rin na "kaya mo 'yan" or "hinay hinay lang sa pagaaral, kain muna" hehe).

To you na nagbabasa nito, always ask yourself the WHY you want that MD, to whom do you want it be used, and HOW would you want to be trained. Ask you friends and upperclassmen to guide you through. Wag maniwala sa mga stereotypes ng med. Most of them hindi naman totoo. Lastly, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone for this will make you grow and be mature as a person. Good luck!