(Repost) How to Get an Elective in UCLA
For my 2012 friends, here was my original post last July 15, 2008.
Note that for UCLA, only a regular tourist visa is required - no need to apply for a student visa.
***
1. Decide that you will get an elective in UCLA. You will need to be an ICC (i.e. LU 5) to be able to apply.
2. Orient yourself with the College of Medicine's OCEP program. (note, orient first, no need to accomplish the forms just yet)
3. Sign up for an application form from UCLA.
HERE --> http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/visitingstudents/internq2.cfm <-- HERE
*** Note that the website requires you to be an incoming graduating medical student. But UP has a unique curriculum, so we're the only medical school in the galaxy that graduates as interns, and not as clerks. But for all intents and purposes, you're eligible for this elective as long as you satisfy #1. Don't worry, you can ask the college for a letter clarifying and certifying all of this. So in the website, under Enter your anticipated date of graduation, put in the month and year you'll finish clerkship.***
4. While waiting for the package from UCLA to arrive (it will take weeks), accomplish the local OCEP forms. This includes getting a local preceptor, finishing your learning contract, getting a bajillion vaccinations given and titers taken, then having like seven very busy doctors sign the so-called "sig sheet". Good luck.
5. (I'm assuming you already have a passport and US visa. If not, then this is actually STEP ZERO)
6. When the package arrives, accomplish it then send it out ASAP. (Take note that accomplishing it also requires filling out the HIPAA compliance, which is online. The application form has the address.) Remember that you can't send it out unless you complete all the vaccinations/titers, so make sure you got injected/extracted early on.
7. If you have a relative in the US who is near UCLA, mail it to them, so they can send it to UCLA. Otherwise, mail it through the Philippine Post Office (they have a booth in front of Max's, 4th floor Rob Place Manila). UPS or Fedex won't accept the package because the address is a PO box. As you have seen in movies, these delivery services require someone to countersign the package, and that's not gonna happen if it's a PO box.
8. Wait. Pray that nothing wrong happens to your package. Be productive by completing the OCEP requirements. (yeah, I know you haven't finished them yet) Scout around (via relatives, or the internet, ex. craigslist.org) for potential places to stay. If you can stay at your relatives', even better.
9. Once you get your confirmation letter, flaunt it around. Quietly. Since the letter is sent via e-mail, you can't really flaunt it, unless you print it out then flaunt it, but that's super tacky.
10. Time to book a flight. Don't fly American Airlines, for the love of the Lord God. I had to learn that the hard way.
11. Confirm everything: Your flight, your papers, your housing, your budget, your cellphone's roaming status (if a lot of you are going to the US, consider investing in a US cellphone. Most of the providers have unli calls in their plans, some even have out-of-state unli calls. Consider Metro PCS, that's what I used, no hitches).
12. Congratulations! If you're rotating in Endocrinology at the Gonda Diabetes Center, say hi to Ate Joy for me. If not, say hi to the Filipino cashiers at the Med Cafeteria for me. Huwag yung masungit na lalaki(?) ha, ung babaeng mabait. hehehe.
Note that for UCLA, only a regular tourist visa is required - no need to apply for a student visa.
***
1. Decide that you will get an elective in UCLA. You will need to be an ICC (i.e. LU 5) to be able to apply.
2. Orient yourself with the College of Medicine's OCEP program. (note, orient first, no need to accomplish the forms just yet)
3. Sign up for an application form from UCLA.
HERE --> http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/visitingstudents/internq2.cfm <-- HERE
*** Note that the website requires you to be an incoming graduating medical student. But UP has a unique curriculum, so we're the only medical school in the galaxy that graduates as interns, and not as clerks. But for all intents and purposes, you're eligible for this elective as long as you satisfy #1. Don't worry, you can ask the college for a letter clarifying and certifying all of this. So in the website, under Enter your anticipated date of graduation, put in the month and year you'll finish clerkship.***
4. While waiting for the package from UCLA to arrive (it will take weeks), accomplish the local OCEP forms. This includes getting a local preceptor, finishing your learning contract, getting a bajillion vaccinations given and titers taken, then having like seven very busy doctors sign the so-called "sig sheet". Good luck.
5. (I'm assuming you already have a passport and US visa. If not, then this is actually STEP ZERO)
6. When the package arrives, accomplish it then send it out ASAP. (Take note that accomplishing it also requires filling out the HIPAA compliance, which is online. The application form has the address.) Remember that you can't send it out unless you complete all the vaccinations/titers, so make sure you got injected/extracted early on.
7. If you have a relative in the US who is near UCLA, mail it to them, so they can send it to UCLA. Otherwise, mail it through the Philippine Post Office (they have a booth in front of Max's, 4th floor Rob Place Manila). UPS or Fedex won't accept the package because the address is a PO box. As you have seen in movies, these delivery services require someone to countersign the package, and that's not gonna happen if it's a PO box.
8. Wait. Pray that nothing wrong happens to your package. Be productive by completing the OCEP requirements. (yeah, I know you haven't finished them yet) Scout around (via relatives, or the internet, ex. craigslist.org) for potential places to stay. If you can stay at your relatives', even better.
9. Once you get your confirmation letter, flaunt it around. Quietly. Since the letter is sent via e-mail, you can't really flaunt it, unless you print it out then flaunt it, but that's super tacky.
10. Time to book a flight. Don't fly American Airlines, for the love of the Lord God. I had to learn that the hard way.
11. Confirm everything: Your flight, your papers, your housing, your budget, your cellphone's roaming status (if a lot of you are going to the US, consider investing in a US cellphone. Most of the providers have unli calls in their plans, some even have out-of-state unli calls. Consider Metro PCS, that's what I used, no hitches).
12. Congratulations! If you're rotating in Endocrinology at the Gonda Diabetes Center, say hi to Ate Joy for me. If not, say hi to the Filipino cashiers at the Med Cafeteria for me. Huwag yung masungit na lalaki(?) ha, ung babaeng mabait. hehehe.