How much longer...

[KG]

Until we hear from the Ontario schools? I know for U of T it can be soon (like mid Feb.), but can also be as late as April. What about the rest?

[KG]

Other than Mac, which is like 11 mothns, do all the schools have school years (in the pre-clerkship years) that run from early September until the end of May?

[Ian Wong]

UBC does. Med 1 begins in late August and ends at the end of May. Your first year summer is three months until late August when Med 2 starts. Med 2 ends at the end of May as well, and Med 3 doesn't start until late August, however, you need to do a 4-8 week elective in rural medicine during this time interval, so you only get between 1-2 months off in the second year summer.

Hopefully the other moderators can help you out with the other schools. I'd expect that Calgary, with its three year curriculum, would be different just like Mac in terms of summer's off, or lack thereof.

Ian
UBC, Med 3

[Carolyn]

At Mac you get 2 weeks off each summer - and usually one or two weeks at Christmas. The first year your summer consists of 8 weeks of elective so you end up having a bit lighter of a load depending on what you do for your elective. Some chose to do research for a part of that as well. By our second summer you are in clerkship - I'll be spending my summer in surgery (ugh) but as I said I'll get two weeks holiday during the summer as well.

Most people in most other careers only get 2 - 3 weeks off so it really isn't so bad and it is nice to finish in three years.

Take care.