I used to think that every Filipino knew what the University of the Philippines was about and that we didn’t need to try to recruit students. But through the years, I’ve come to realize that yes, many Filipinos do think highly of UP, but maybe too highly, to the point of being intimidated. I’ve met many very bright high school students whose parents, or teachers, tell them they just aren’t good enough to even try to get into UP. These are usually kids from middle- or low-income families, and from areas outside of Metro Manila.

So for today’s column I want to talk about getting into UP, mainly about its college admission test (or Upcat). It’s tough getting in, but always worth a try. If you think a child—your own, a relative’s or a friend’s, even a neighbor’s—has the potential to make it, do urge them to take the Upcat. At the end of the column I’m going to give some information on entrance exams in some other state universities, but I do want to push hard for UP.

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There’s a website (upcat.up.edu.ph) packed with information about the exam, including downloadable application forms, but I thought I’d still give some of the highlights, alternative government schools, as well as a tip for getting into UP even if you don’t pass the Upcat.

The main requirement to take the Upcat is quite simple: You have to be a senior in a Department of Education-accredited high school. Surprisingly, there is no minimum grade requirement in your high school grades, perhaps a tacit recognition that you can’t measure a student’s aptitude by his/her grades alone.

The application period began last May 22 and will end on June 15 for Metro Manila schools and June 22 for schools outside of Metro Manila. The exam itself will be on Aug. 4 or 5. Note that two dates are given but the exam only takes a day—five hours of tests in language proficiency, science, mathematics and reading comprehension.

Through the years UP has expanded the opportunities to allow more people to take the exam. The website has a list of testing centers, and you’ll find them in every region, as far north as Batanes National Science High School, down to West Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City. (I hope that someday we’ll see the test being offered in Sulu or Tawi-Tawi.) The application fee can be paid through postal money orders, manager’s check or direct deposits with Land Bank or the Philippine National Bank.

Why UP? Many people think of UP mainly for its low tuition. Full tuition is, on the average, about P20,000 a semester, made possible because of taxpayers’ subsidies. There’s also a Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) that allows students from lower-income households to pay less, in some cases not paying anything at all and getting a monthly stipend.

But there’s more to UP than low tuition. We are a secular university so students are encouraged to think for themselves, not bound to any political or religious ideology. “Tatak UP” is mainly about strong general education courses that allow most UP graduates to adapt to all kinds of environments. In fact, I often think we train them too well, making them too easy to export and work anywhere in the world.

Premed, prelaw

We have the widest range of degree programs, including some which are unique to UP alone. The Upcat site lists all our campuses and undergraduate degree programs, but let me name our units again: UP Diliman (with an extension campus in Clark, Pampanga), UP Manila, UP Baguio, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas (with campuses in Iloilo City, Miag-ao and Tacloban), UP Cebu, UP Mindanao (with campus in Davao). We also have an open university. Upcat applicants will have to indicate two preferred campuses and can indicate two degree programs per campus. Competition for the Diliman and Manila campuses is particularly tough.

Let me briefly discuss choices for a premed or prelaw degree program. Many parents still think that you have to take a BS Biology or BS Psychology degree to get into medicine, and an AB Political Science degree to get into law school. In reality, any undergraduate degree can function as a premed program. Some medical schools do require a specified number of units in biology and chemistry, but the “premed” degree can be in any field, even the arts and humanities. In fact, UP once had a strong premed program based on the humanities.

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All medical schools require applicants to take a National Medical Admissions Test, but you don’t have to be a biology major to do well in it. There’s a similar exam for law schools called the Law Aptitude Exam and again, the prelaw degree can be in any field, not necessarily political science.

Does it help to take review classes? You’ll find, on the Upcat site, a streaming message warning that “no individual, group or entity, public or private, is authorized to conduct Upcat review sessions.” I’ve written about this before: The Upcat review sessions aren’t so much about content as about process, getting students to learn to take the pressure of any tough college admissions test.

You can only take the Upcat once, and you have to go to the campus which you indicated on your application form. The Upcat website has this important information for students who don’t make it: Enroll in another school and earn at least 33 academic units, aiming for a high grade point average (at least an equivalent of 2.0 in UP, or a B), and then apply to transfer into a UP campus. The deadline for applications to transfer take place around April. I’ll remind readers about this next year.

Other state universities

UP is the Philippines’ national university. In addition, there are 200 state universities and colleges offering low tuition. I’ll mention the three oldest state universities and their entrance exams. All three universities have several campuses now within and outside Metro Manila.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) gives several entrance exams each year, and even has one more entrance exam coming up on June 9 for its College of Technology and for its San Juan campus (limited to San Juan residents). Check their website (pup.edu.ph).

The Philippine Normal University, which specializes in the training of teachers, gives entrance exams in September, December, February and April. Applicants should have no grade lower than 80 percent in their senior year. No announcements yet for the entrance exams for the schoolyear 2013-2014, but keep checking its site (pnu.edu.ph).

The Technological University of the Philippines has courses in architecture, engineering and various technology courses. It gives exams in November, January, February, March and April. Again, no announcements yet for the schoolyear 2013-2014 but check its site (tup.edu.ph).

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