by Ryan NYC

Hi Everyone,
I am hoping I can get some advice and someone can help me.
I am an American of Filipino heritage (my parents are Ilocano and Visayan) I was born in Davao but came to the US when I was very young and now am an American Citizen.
About me: I am 33 years old and have lived in New York most of my life. Have had all my education in the US through HS and some college, but no Bachelors degree to speak of. My professional career has consisted mainly in finance most recently working in the mortgage business for the past 6 years which has not been fairing too well. Given current economic situation I have decided to change careers and go to Davao for nursing school and then after graduation return to NY to practice. I am conversational in tagalog and can understand but not speak cebuano .. obviously english is not an issue for me.
I have narrowed down my school selection to Brokenshire College, Davao Doctors College and San Pedro College.

My questions are this...
1. Is there an age restriction to enter the nursing program in any of these schools for a foreigner?

2. What are my chances for admission to any of these schools, given the fact that my HS transripts are from 1993 and my last formal tertiary education has not been since 1999? As a foreign student will I need to take an entrance exam?

3. How long would it take to obtain a Student Visa? I have been reading mixed information, The consulate says I need to have a notification of acceptance, while the college sites say I need to have the student visa to apply. I am hoping I find someone who has been through this for some clarity.

4. Assuming I am able to attend school and graduate being a US Citizen I realize I would not be able to take the NLE. I also realize i will need to get a CVS for to sit for the NCLEX in NY. How long will this process take and is there anyway to expedite this?

Now before anyone suggests it, I have already looked into the possiblity of going to nursing school in NY and the the competition is so fierce and and the waiting list for schools in the area is so long I have opted to go to school in the Philippines for a number of reasons.
1. Tution and Room and Board is a fraction of the cost it would be in NY
2. I would not need to work and be able to concentrate on school full time in Davao
3. It would be an opportunity for me to connect with my heritage and culture


My concerns
I am an older student (though I don't look old) I may have a hard time assimilating to college life and to my younger classmates

I am Filipino but a very Americanized Filipino .. I don't even associate with other Filipinos in NY other than my family.

I am attending school in Davao with every intention of returning to NY to practice. I'm not sure if this is frowned upon at the colleges I am attending

When I do return it will be very difficult to sit and pass the NCLEX and get licensed

Safety ... Although I hear that Davao City is the safest city in the Philippines I am still weary being a foreigner

If anyone out there can help me with some advice or better yet let me know if you have a similar situation and have been through this it would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for an honest opinion and trying to make and educated decision.

Thanks so much
Ryan

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

I really can't answer your question on what school you need to choose since I'm not from Davao. But for CVS, it took me about 5 months or so, since CGFNS will be the one to contact and pay your school, and PRC (Professional Regulations Commission) for the documents they'll be needing.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

CVS can not be expediated and can take on average 6-8 months to get eligibility to sit NCLEX but a lot will depend on how quickly CGFNS send for stuff and how quick the establishments respond.

Also remember you will always be classed as a foreign trained nurse when endorsing etc and may still have to meet requirements when endorsing.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

A BSN is 5 years in the Philippines and it would take months to a year to get the right to sit for the NCLEX. Changes are as a foreign grad the NCLEX could be a challenge. So it will take 6 years to become RN in New York. How long is the wait list in New York ? Is it less than 4 years ?

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Have you tried elsewhere in the States? The country is big, New York is not the only place...reason I ask, I would never ever recommend getting a nursing education in a different country than the country you intend to practice. No matter the costs, difficulties etc.
You will be a lifelong foreign trained and need to meet requirements for foreign trained when you should decide to move...the process of registering is lengthy, passing rate for NCLEX is relatively low (compared to US trained), you won't have any useful connection what you can make and establish during your training, you won't know how the system works,...it's takes about a year should you be able to get a job (after not working for a while due to registration issues) to adapt.
I worked in 4 different countries, 4 different systems, so I know what I'm talking about, and I'm very experienced you will be a newgrad.
Recent experience with applicants from the Philippines were not great, probably due to education/training issues.
You won't have a licence, since you are a US citizen, what can create a problem in the future.
Think very, very hard before you go that route.

5cats

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

My questions are this...
1. Is there an age restriction to enter the nursing program in any of these schools for a foreigner?
-Most Nursing schools don't have any age restrictions. I had a classmate who was in her 50s then. And someone I know had a classmate that were father and son.

2. What are my chances for admission to any of these schools, given the fact that my HS transripts are from 1993 and my last formal tertiary education has not been since 1999? As a foreign student will I need to take an entrance exam?
-In general, I don't see that to be a problem. I had a classmate who attended high school in the US.

3. How long would it take to obtain a Student Visa? I have been reading mixed information, The consulate says I need to have a notification of acceptance, while the college sites say I need to have the student visa to apply. I am hoping I find someone who has been through this for some clarity.
-The best thing to do is contact the school you'd like to apply in. If it's a big school, their registrar or one of their staff members should be able to help you with this one and should be familiar with this. My school before had a staff member who helped all foreign students with the processing of their papers as far as I know. But make sure that the Nursing program you will be attending is a legitimate and duly-recognized BSN program.

4. Assuming I am able to attend school and graduate being a US Citizen I realize I would not be able to take the NLE. I also realize i will need to get a CVS for to sit for the NCLEX in NY. How long will this process take and is there anyway to expedite this?
-If you're talking about the CGFNS paperworks, it takes some time before they can process it. But you can always review while waiting for it.

Now before anyone suggests it, I have already looked into the possiblity of going to nursing school in NY and the the competition is so fierce and and the waiting list for schools in the area is so long I have opted to go to school in the Philippines for a number of reasons.
1. Tution and Room and Board is a fraction of the cost it would be in NY
2. I would not need to work and be able to concentrate on school full time in Davao
3. It would be an opportunity for me to connect with my heritage and culture
-Well with the US Economy nowadays, I believe it is a good idea to study Nursing there. First, you wouldn''t have to shell out a big portion of your money as much as you would do here (I know NY could be very costly). Second, there are no long waiting lists. Third, although many people say that the Nursing education in the P.I. is no longer as good as before, I still believe that it depends on the person solely if he wants to learn things or not. There are very many schools to choose from too. There are still very many good and reputable Nursing schools in the Philippines.


My concerns
I am an older student (though I don't look old) I may have a hard time assimilating to college life and to my younger classmates

I am Filipino but a very Americanized Filipino .. I don't even associate with other Filipinos in NY other than my family.

I am attending school in Davao with every intention of returning to NY to practice. I'm not sure if this is frowned upon at the colleges I am attending
-Well when I was in Nursing school, most students' ultimate goal was to work overseas at that time-----so it's not really a surprise if you want to go back to be a nurse in NY!

When I do return it will be very difficult to sit and pass the NCLEX and get licensed
-I don't believe so. It all depends on you as i said. I passed the NCLEX in one attempt. I got a job right away and I never regretted my decision.

Safety ... Although I hear that Davao City is the safest city in the Philippines I am still weary being a foreigner
-Well sometimes things are scarier than it really is on tv-----when everythings could be sensationalized.

If anyone out there can help me with some advice or better yet let me know if you have a similar situation and have been through this it would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for an honest opinion and trying to make and educated decision.

Thanks so much
Ryan[/quote]

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Why would you want to go to school abroad? If your intentions are to work abroad there, then I'd say go for it. But if you want to come back after graduation and work here, I'd say just attend school here in the US. Keep in mind what Silverdragon has stated, you will always be looked as a foreign trained nurse. It can be very difficult trying to get licensed here because of that. Yes, you already have your American Citizenship, but the constant paperwork, and all these testings that need to be done, is it really worth it? Good luck in which route you decide on!

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

I have narrowed down my school selection to Brokenshire College, Davao Doctors College and San Pedro College.

San Pedro College was considered a good school when I was in the Philippines in the 90's. I think Brokenshire and Davao Doctor's are also older and more established schools.

My questions are this...
1. Is there an age restriction to enter the nursing program in any of these schools for a foreigner?

You'll need to get in touch with the specific schools. The posters here may not have first hand experience with the above schools.

San Pedro College's website seems to be down but the link is: http://www.spcdavao.edu.ph
Brokenshire's website link is: http://www.brokenshire.edu.ph/
Davao Doctor's website link is: http://www.davaodoctors.edu.ph/

I worked with an RN who graduated from Ateneo de Davao who happens to be an excellent nurse.

2. What are my chances for admission to any of these schools, given the fact that my HS transripts are from 1993 and my last formal tertiary education has not been since 1999? As a foreign student will I need to take an entrance exam?

Only the schools can answer that.

3. How long would it take to obtain a Student Visa? I have been reading mixed information, The consulate says I need to have a notification of acceptance, while the college sites say I need to have the student visa to apply. I am hoping I find someone who has been through this for some clarity.

The school should assist you with this.

4. Assuming I am able to attend school and graduate being a US Citizen I realize I would not be able to take the NLE. I also realize i will need to get a CVS for to sit for the NCLEX in NY. How long will this process take and is there anyway to expedite this?

I thought foreign nationals can now take the NLE. Don't know why this myth is still being spread in this forum.

My concerns
I am an older student (though I don't look old) I may have a hard time assimilating to college life and to my younger classmates

It will be different. But you're doing it for yourself not the other students. I bet the students would get a kick out of having you around the campus. They will surely make fun of your "broken Tagalog" and inability to speak Cebuano. You may either hate or love your "celebrity status" for a while.

I am Filipino but a very Americanized Filipino .. I don't even associate with other Filipinos in NY other than my family.

That will be a hard adjustment to make. You may find it hard to communicate with classmates. I don't know to what extent Tagalog is spoken in Davao. Many students will probably speak in Cebuano more so than Tagalog. I am originally from Manila and have a very tough time understanding other Filipinos who speak Cebuano, Ilocano, or Bicolano around me. But Filipinos are friendly in nature and you'll never feel like an outsider. Sooner or later, I'm sure you'll pick up basic skills in the native language.

I am attending school in Davao with every intention of returning to NY to practice. I'm not sure if this is frowned upon at the colleges I am attending

It's common to have foreign students in large universities and colleges in the Philippines. When I attended a university in Manila, we had students from other Asian countries and the Middle East. The nursing programs usually have one or two Filipino-Americans in the entire batch. The one classmate I had back then spoke Tagalog really well though.

When I do return it will be very difficult to sit and pass the NCLEX and get licensed

You'll have to meet the requirements as a foreign-trained nurse. NY requires the CVS which does take months to get approved. If the school you attended is a reputable one, you have a better chance of passing the NCLEX. You'll also need to meet requirements as a foreign-trained nurse when you endorse your license to another state or when you seek admission to graduate schools for a master's or doctoral degree. It's not a big deal for me as someone with a Philippine BSN and I've endorsed my license to other states. I also have a graduate degree here in the US...but it can be a source of frustration for others.

Safety ... Although I hear that Davao City is the safest city in the Philippines I am still weary being a foreigner

Safety can be an issue for any foreigner in the Philippines regardless of location. Poverty has pushed some to engage in illegal acts and certain individuals do take advantage of unsuspecting foreigners. You can't just trust anyone in the street just like it is in NY where you live now. Most universities are secure when you're inside the campus. Outside of the campus, it is key to avoid drawing attention to yourself as a foreigner. As an individual of Filipino descent, you'll probably blend in better if you dress and look like the rest of the crowd. You'll have to live with family - I don't suggest you live on your own at all. You don't know enough of the culture to be able to get by on your own.

Weigh the pros and cons well. I think it's a good idea to get in touch with your heritage and spend time in the Philippines while attending college there. Obviously, the trade off is that you will be considered a foreign-trained nurse when applying for licensure and educational advancement.

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

I thought foreign nationals can now take the NLE. Don't know why this myth is still being spread in this forum.

Only if they have Permenant Residency status; if you are only here on a Student Visa then you cannot according to my conversation with BON here a few weeks ago.

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

That will be a hard adjustment to make. You may find it hard to communicate with classmates. I don't know to what extent Tagalog is spoken in Davao.

When I was in Davao I was very well understood by people with my limited Tagalog and English.
The first day I was there my local staff showed me a few things in the area and after that I had no problem going around the city on my own and conducting business as well as haggling for prices and getting directions or help from local, random people I encountered.

Most people in Davao understand and use Tagalog and/or English even though the Davaenos prefer Visayan.
You'll be able to pick up a lot of Visayan quickly if you know Tagalog fluently; if you only know Tagalog partially like me then you'll take longer to get the Visayan terms and accent.

Originally Posted by NP Gilly

Safety ... Although I hear that Davao City is the safest city in the Philippines I am still weary being a foreigner

Safety can be an issue for any foreigner in the Philippines regardless of location. Poverty has pushed some to engage in illegal acts and certain individuals do take advantage of unsuspecting foreigners. You can't just trust anyone in the street just like it is in NY where you live now. Most universities are secure when you're inside the campus. Outside of the campus, it is key to avoid drawing attention to yourself as a foreigner. As an individual of Filipino descent, you'll probably blend in better if you dress and look like the rest of the crowd. You'll have to live with family - I don't suggest you live on your own at all. You don't know enough of the culture to be able to get by on your own.

I agree with Gilly on this.
I've lived in Manila for more than two years now and I have to say that my time in Davao was the most carefree in regards to FEELING safe walking around at any time of the day or night.
In terms of feeling, I'd rank these other cities:
Cebu - Least safe, most dangerous.. my "spidey sense" was going off the whole time I walked the streets there and had multiple incidents just passing from the office to my lodging (less than a half-mile away).
Bacolod - Very close to Davao's level of Safety with minimal incidents - VERY walkable city
Manila - Guarded, but moderately safe there are, however, areas that foreigners should avoid completely

In Davao I walked alone, a white blonde and blue-eyed American, even late at night without any fear or concern. Now, that isn't to say I was completely carefree; one has to be on-guard in the common sense level, but Davao is definitely far safer than New York or Chicago.

That being said, Gilly has a lot of points, had I gone to Davao before I'd already lived in the Philippines for a while I would have been lost, confused and scared. It is probably the least Americanized area that I've visited in the Philippines so far. So you should make sure that you have acclimated to the Pinoy culture before you "go it alone" and adventure throughout the city.

Make sure you have the deep fried Hito (local Catfish) at Penong's (walking distance from People's Park) and Alligator steak at Crocodile Park!
Don't forget the Durian shakes, candy and of course the raw fruit everywhere! YUM!

Re: New Yorker looking to attend nursing school in The Philippines

Makes me want to eat a Durian fruit right now Hushdawg lol