UPM: What To Do When Your Shifting Application Is Accepted

            Usually, after the last day of submission of application for shifting to The National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences (NGOHS), you have to wait for one and half months for the release of the result. For first semester, the deadline of application submission is on last Friday of April. It’s by midweek of June that the results will be posted on the website of NGOHS (http://ngohs.upm.edu.ph/).

            If you checked the website for the result and your name is not in the list, call first the NGOHS at 526 5870 or 523 1495 to verify your name. Sometimes, the results are forwarded by batch which may delay the posting of your name.

            Now, if your application is accepted. Here are the practical steps to do:

1. Visit the NGOHS and get your acceptance letter, program of study and instructions.

2. IMPORTANT: Ask the NGOHS staff if they can change already your program in your SAIS account. In my case, Sir Allen offered this help generously. 

            Why is this important? It’s because if your program is not yet changed to your new program, you CAN NOT enlist courses when enrollment starts. The Office of the College Secretary (OCS) of your College may instruct you to go to the office of Information Management Service (IMS) which is in Padre Faura. In my case, College of Public Health (CPH) is a block away from IMS. It will save you time and sweat when you do this at the time you get your acceptance letter.

3. IMPORTANT: Go to UPM’s Health Service (UPM-HS) located inside the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Get a Physical Exam (PE) form. 

            You don’t need to do all this on the day you get your acceptance letter, but you may start.

• Photocopy, scan and keep a copy of the form because you will need that every first semester of the year. You save going back and forth to the UPM-HS every year.

• Fill out the form already. Not all your copies, just the one you need on the current semester.

• Have a chest xray (CXR). No need for other results like CBC except if you’re a real freshman student because you need dental certificate which I got mine outside.

• Attached the XRAY result.

• Visit again the UPM-HS for FREE physical exam at UPM-HS, you’ll just wait for your turn and relax. Our college posted suggested scheduled PE, but you may visit whenever your free schedule is.

• If you don’t want to fall in line at UPM-HS for physical exam, you can do it outside. Just make sure that the half form attached to the PE form, which is the MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, is signed by the physician that examined you. Then go to the UPM-HS for VALIDATION of that medical certificate.

• Next, the UPM-HS staff will just give you the medical certificate because you need that to submit to your OCS when registration starts. I suggest you scan or photocopy that for future purposes. Trust me you need to document every transaction you make. I will tell you why on my next post.

4. After that, do these following:

• Wait for the posts of your college’s Office of the College Secretary (OCS) regarding the schedule of pre-enlistment, advising and registration/enrollment. Like, follow or friend your college’s all social media accounts. Click the ‘See First”.

•  Fill out your Program of Study (POS). The program brochure available at NGOHS office and website is of great help in planning. Just fill out what you are sure about. You need your adviser’s advice on what to write on your major and/or elective courses. You may also ask your acquaintances for courses to enroll and pieces of advice.

• Remember I asked you to keep a copy of Request for Validation of Courses (RVC) from from OCS or NGOHS. Fill out that out now with courses that you have taken. Secure THREE copies and one receiving copy.

• Ask OCS who’s your new adviser. You can email them or call them.

• If you know already your adviser, email or call his or her department to ask for his or her available schedule for advising. DO NOT go to your college without this information to avoid wastage of time, leave and money.

• When you visit your adviser, bring your POS and RVC for signing. Don’t forget to get signature from your program’s chair as well. 

            That’s all for now. I hope I was able to help you.