yup, the foundation is easy, like studying for SPM, nothing much actually.

So what's the min requirement of foundation for medicine in AIMST?

Grades A, B, B in Biology and 2 of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics and Maths with a minimum total of 215 marks (Grades A and B refers to A+, A, A-/B+, B,B-) GPA for grade B must be at least 3.0

quote from AIMST website. higher the marks better, if only reach minimum requirement they will ask u to wait for the seat.

There are no foundation in medicine, there's only a foundation in science which prepares graduates for entry to MBBS, BDS, Pharmacy and Biotechnology. However to qualify for MBBS, BDS and Pharmacy you need to score at least a B for all your SPM science subjects. Once you've gotten the minimum requirement, you will be offered the degree programme of your choice. Availability depends on the competitiveness and seats available.

, i've made a mistake.

Sounds rather easy. Well, i guess it's actually AISMT downfall to have its own foundation programme, since there's no one to actually assess the teaching quality and the students' academic capabilities. It will be better if AISMT abolishes its own foundation programme and take in students with other more reputable pre-U programmes.

foundation courses are also good money spinner.........

and allows for 'discretionary' decision making........

Yeah, probably it's an easy entry into medicine. BUT, like i've said long before the whole point of having a foundation/PRE-u is to prepare a school leaver for their university studies. Therefore, as long as one has got no problem in dealing with their degree programmes then the foundation/pre-u is considered as satisfactory.

Me, myself is also a foundation leaver and so far i do not find any problem in coping with the studies/curriculum. In fact, (This is not bragging, just to prove that foundation leavers is not THAT lousy.) i've gotten 5 distinctions for all the paper for year 1 including OSPE. AND, i've stpm/a-lvls leaver in my class too.

Probably the easy entry into medicine before was due to insufficient students intake as the programme was not recognised by MMC previously. But as the popularity increases, the school has now tighten the entry requirements. It's no longer like before as things are getting competitive these days. The present batch (Batch 14) has taken in more than half of top stpm and a levels scorer. Many are still on the waiting lists for next year's sept intake.

congrats czrulez..... i am happy that u got flying colour result...... but not all the foundie did well in their previous exam... this is include foundies in medicine, bds,pharmacy and even biotech....... this is because their basic pre-u wasnt not that good and easy... can say that not that challenging if compared to stpm and a level..... my point is why aimst set the requirements for certain course not that standard? this give a great chance for those foundie who didnt do well in their foundation course to'SPOILT AND DESTROYED THE COURSE AND AT LAST SPOILING THEIR FUTURE TOO???
THIS ONLY FOR CERTAIN FOUNDIE NOT ALL OF THEM........ SORRY IF ANY MISTAKE.

Yup, definitely there are some exceptions. Same goes to stpm/a levels or whatever pre-u programmes you can find around. I was just saying MAJORITY of us do not find any problem in handling with the studies. I don't know, probably we'll only know 4 years later after i've graduated.

I am not doubting the teaching quality of medical programme of AISMT, it's just that top Unis usually take in students from reputable Pre-U programme. Many said AIMST's entry requirement is dubious (not my words, but some other forummer's word) because of its foundation programme. Usually, there's no such thing as waiting list for medical programme in other Unis. You either get it or you don't.

BTW, even though more STPM leavers are taken into AIMST medical programme, foundation students are still being given privilege. I think a fair for all policy is a better choice.

No offense, just my 2 cents.

Oh, just wanna ask, you entered AIMST while it was still unrecognized? What mades you make such a bold decision?

This post has been edited by hypermax: Jan 14 2009, 10:43 PM

Yeah i understand. Same privelleges should be given to all students regarding where they're from. This i agreed with you. Anyways, it's really the university's call whether to continue their foundation. What i was saying was that the foundation programme wasn't that bad, though i know it is definitely of lesser quality if compared to internationally recognised pre-u programmes such as the stpm and a levels. We were even trying to suggest to the school in holding an interview before heading on to take in the students now as well. Hopefully it works.

Probably the entry to the medical programme do suck, i don't know. But hopefully they'll change the policy as we're gaining popularity now, as before the recognition people were doubting the quality of our medical education and therefore the school was at one time desperate to take in students to fill up the seats. Hopefully.

Answering your question above, i did. I did the foundation when the MBBS was not recognised, it was only recognised upon me graduating the found programme. Made that decision because this uni was the cheapest i can find locally and i've gotten many advices from proffesors around UMMC and also a doctor who's in MMC. They were saying eventually the programme will be recognised, and i did myself reviewed the curriculum in my own way too. I thought it was ok and feedback from our super senior was good. Lecturer and facillities wise (Dissection especially). In fact we've the best Clinical Skills Centre in M'sia as from what my professor told us. Not too sure about that though. Haha.

This post has been edited by csrulez: Jan 14 2009, 10:52 PM

You mean there's no interview for your medical programme?? That's seriously a shocking revelation. No wonder many are accusing medical schools for selecting people with the wrong attitude.

Well, i seriously think you should suggest to your Uni to abolish foundation programme and start holding interview. Currently, your Uni has the cost advantage (cheapest IPTS currently recognized by MMC). I am sure even with tighter entry requirement, many still wanna join AIMST because of the cost.

Anyway, dun feel bad. Just work hard and do your best. Btw, let me give you a warning, students from IPTS are usually being looked down by MOs and specialist graduated from IPTA until proven otherwise. However, the same can't be said for Ukrainian and Russian grads, as they will be looked down even though they are quite good (this is the sad fact of Msia, people judge you based on where you are from, not what you are capable of).

Well, i guess it's just like limeuu said, all medical schools will eventually be recognized one way or another.

However, i do agree that AISMT has the best facilities in our country, as depicted by my cousin who's currently in year 2 in AIMST medical.

This post has been edited by hypermax: Jan 14 2009, 11:02 PM

i am sounding like a stuck record (if the present generation knows what that is), but there has never been, and will never be, any local med school which did/does not receive mmc recognition by the time the 1st batch graduates......no matter how bad, or how much problem the med school is/has.......

You dun have to, we all know.

I was only asking whether he was aware of such fact before entering AIMST.

BTW, i wonder will the situation change if the PR wins the next election. Lim Kit Siang is aware of such situation and he even blogged about it.

This post has been edited by hypermax: Jan 14 2009, 11:06 PM

Yup, no interview. I know how shocked you'll be while other university took their entrance interview so seriously. I was even doubting the attitude of my juniors from the latest batches, some are just not fit into be in the medical field. Anyway, these are definitely beyond our (the student's) control. We'll be writting in and hopefully the school does take our suggestion into consideration. But to abolish the foundation programme, this seems to an impossible thing to do. Probably a stricter entry requirements and interview shall be enforced.

And yeahh, i know how difficult it is when it comes to the hospitals in real life. I was hoping the take the usmle exams and do my residency in US, but it seems to be a very very tough idea. Probably for now i shall just hope that our graduated seniors are doing fine in the hospitals, at least things are not that bad after us the juniors have graduated and are working in the hospitals already. Haha. God bless.

Anyway hypermax, you're in your final year already? Or have you already graduated from MMMC?


Yup, i was aware of all the risks and consequences when i was choosing AIMST to be my medical school. Even to the extend if our medical graduates are unuseable in the society.

This post has been edited by csrulez: Jan 14 2009, 11:08 PM

2 months more before final.

Actually, you can try doing AMC. Some of my seniors have gone down that path. But i think you need some connection for your visa and working permit.

AMC not a bad choice, i shall see after graduation. Hahaha. Still really early to make that decision. I haven't even finish my pre-clinicals year. Still a long long way to go i realize. Hopefully things will go well, medicine is really not easy from what i've experience till now. Lots of studying, understanding and memorizing needed to be done constantly.

And hey, all the best to your finals 2 months later! There shall be another good doctor coming out to serve humanity soon! Haha. Planning to work in M'sia?

Good doctor?? nah, i dun think so. I have talked to my friends studying in NZ recently, and they told me that every medical student has a specialist and MO to tag during ward round, where as we have 10 students to tag 1 consultant, 2-3 MOs, 4 housemen, and a bunch of nurses for ward round.

Seriously, medical education in Msia is really bad if compared to those in 1st world countries. But then again, the fee we are paying is substantially lower than those in 1st world. Therefore, nothing really to complain about.

I guess in the end, it's really up to yourself. Hope to work is either US, AUS or NZ if possible. Don't think i wanna stay here for long.

Anyway, good luck to you too. Judging from the style of your posting, i am quite convinced that you will be a competent doctor. Cheers.

This post has been edited by hypermax: Jan 14 2009, 11:21 PM

I agree with that. Anyways, as long as the whole medical education has prepared us with sufficient knowledge and skills, i guess other aspects are totally up to the student they themselves as well. Lotsa self learning needa be done even after graduation. I think the medical field will be very competitive in coming years as well. Hopefully the standard of education would improve as well as the future prospects for doctors. Can't speak much about that though, lotsa politics are involved. We can just sit, hope and watch.

US, Aus and NZ is a good choice i guess. But hopefully there would not be saturation of doctors happening anytime soon, like what has happened to UK now. As i've said, still 4 long years to go. Couldn't predict much now as things are changing very rapidly.

Thanks for the compliment there and i think your style of posting made you sound matured and ready to serve the community too! Best of luck! People from the same field should always keep in touch and i shall look forward to many advices from you later on, senior! Haha. Cheers.