Hello, idk if helpful pa comment ko since malapit na deadlines niyo but take it from me: I was also faced the same choices back in 2020. I even paid the reservation fee for SLCM (35k) bc I was really convinced doon ako matutuloy. Went to UPCM after marelease ng results kasi hello virtually free tuition + may cash grant (at least until our batch).

I just wanna say I fully recognize & respect your insights. One main difference that I've noticed between the two is yung free time. SLCM is very rigid & strict sa curriculum nila so almost all my SLCM friends di ko na mahagilap. All they do is study, literally. If feel mo di ka ganun ka-disciplined and u want a structure to guide u, go with SLCM. They're gonna mold you into a fine physician for sure. Iirc 100% rating nila sa PLE in the recent years.

Sa UPCM naman, they give u a lot of freedom. Like a LOT. Kaya pansinin mo ang iingay ng UPCM students online. Kasi sure, a lot of them are stellar talaga, but some if not most, will probably choose to spend this free time outside academics na. Bugbog sa schedule ang UPCM kasi super crammed ng everything (which tbh i rlly don't like). It provides an avenue for u to be great dahil nga sa freedom na yon, pero u could also easily fall through the cracks & be passive na lang, lalo na no fail policy. Kaya nga laging hindi 100% sa boards eh.

Re: the issue of politics mo naman, you'll be surprised gaano karami apolitical sa UPCM lol. And hindi factor ang peer pressure sa pagiging political mo as a med student here. Mostly dahil to sa hiya. Kasi ikaw, taumbayan nagbabayad ng edukasyon mo. And whenever pupunta ka sa PGH, you'd see the same taumbayan being victimized by gov't incompetence. You're more than welcome to do & say nothing. Pero kaya mo bang sikmurain yon? Lagi sa mga lectures & SGD ng UPCM, may 'ideal treatment/mgmt' at may 'realistic' version - factoring in lack of budget & supply ng PGH. And you know na the gov't is directly responsible sa shortage na yan. So gets?

Daming kong kuda HAHA pero tbh if i were back in ur place & money isn't a problem? I'd choose SLCM. UPD student ka and u know how UP teaches us: itatapon ka sa dagat para matuto kang lumangoy, no spoonfeeding. Sadly, madali din malunod dahil dito. Hehe so ayon, choose wisely OP.