Medical School Graduate Student Policies

[neuronix]

I believe they are.



Also, I'd like to add that while Ottawa used to consider grad students...it doesn't anymore. While most schools are going forward in to the future with regards to research, Ottawa is regressing to the 1950s.

[Dr.Henderson]

Originally Posted by sparkles3288

That IS good news! Does your graduate degree have to be completed for them to count it? I'm doing an MSc in UofC fac med and for my degree we only take two classes. Do those two classes count as the best year along with undergrad?

Yep, that's how it works I believe!

I had to take 5 courses for my masters and got all A/A+'s so it allowed me to meet the U of C cut off that I wouldn't make for OOP based only on my best two ugrad years!

I still consider my chances relatively slim, but you only have a 0% chance if you don't try!

I'll be in better shape after getting a year into a second ugrad degree I think, since then I'll hopefully have near to a 4.0 over my best two years.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by neuronix

I believe they are.



Also, I'd like to add that while Ottawa used to consider grad students...it doesn't anymore. While most schools are going forward in to the future with regards to research, Ottawa is regressing to the 1950s.

Yeah I really don't get that either. One of the qualities most med schools are looking for is a dedication to lifelong learning... you would think that Ottawa would realize that a graduate degree is a very obvious way of showing a commitment to continuing education.

I certainly feel much better equipped to solve any sort of problem as a direct result of my graduate degree.

Obviously the undergraduate degree should be the primary selection factor as that's how they compare all candidates, but some sort of acknowledgment of the extra effort, degree of difficulty, and independent study related to a graduate degree should be made. /end rant

[Star1234]

I heard that the reason Ottawa got rid of the grad student review was because they were seeing a consistent trend of the accepted grad students performing worse on exams than the undergrads....

So I guess that kind of makes sense....but sucks big time for us.

[The Law]

Thanks again to everyone for contributing. Wow, maybe I have a chance at Calgary if I do well on the MCAT and rock my grad school courses. Seeing as I haven't taken any grad school courses yet (I am saving them for the last year of my program), does anyone know if the courses I end up taking in the fall term of the year I apply will be considered? If not, maybe I should try to get one done in the summer!

[Dr.Henderson]

Originally Posted by The Law

Thanks again to everyone for contributing. Wow, maybe I have a chance at Calgary if I do well on the MCAT and rock my grad school courses. Seeing as I haven't taken any grad school courses yet (I am saving them for the last year of my program), does anyone know if the courses I end up taking in the fall term of the year I apply will be considered? If not, maybe I should try to get one done in the summer!

I don't think they will, I think they have to be on your transcripts when you submit them.

Good luck to you!

[The Law]

Thanks, I figured as much. I wonder if there is any summer course I can take, subsequently kill, and set myself-up for a wickedly good U of C 2 year GPA.

[Star1234]

The thing for Calgary is that a sub-par GPA can be overcome by a really good MCAT (in particular, a good verbal score).

For example, the cutoff for OOP interview this year was a score of ~451 using the following formula:

62.517 (GPA) + 12.122 (MCAT,VR) + 6.757(MCAT,BS)

So, say you have a 4.0, 10VR and 12BS. Total score = 452.36

Now, say you have a 3.6 but a 12VR and 12BS. Total score = 451.5984

So basically just do really good on your verbal and bio on your MCAT and you're set (haha, easier said than done, I know).

[sparkles3288]

Originally Posted by Star1234

The thing for Calgary is that a sub-par GPA can be overcome by a really good MCAT (in particular, a good verbal score).

For example, the cutoff for OOP interview this year was a score of ~451 using the following formula:

62.517 (GPA) + 12.122 (MCAT,VR) + 6.757(MCAT,BS)

So, say you have a 4.0, 10VR and 12BS. Total score = 452.36

Now, say you have a 3.6 but a 12VR and 12BS. Total score = 451.5984

So basically just do really good on your verbal and bio on your MCAT and you're set (haha, easier said than done, I know).

Too bad the same can't be said for IP!!!

[Slashsev01]

Originally Posted by neuronix

I believe they are.



Also, I'd like to add that while Ottawa used to consider grad students...it doesn't anymore. While most schools are going forward in to the future with regards to research, Ottawa is regressing to the 1950s.

ahhahahaha...thats funny!!

[Dr.Henderson]

I was just surfing through the University of Saskatchewan admissions page and found this:

Originally Posted by U of S

C. Graduate Students. In considering graduate students, the average may be based on the following, or the two best full undergraduate years, whichever works to their advantage:

- Course-based graduate program, which may or may not include a research project. The average of all grades in the program will count as one full year combined with the best two full undergraduate years. The post-graduate program must be comparable to at least one full academic year (30 credit units).

- Master’s thesis-based program. The average of all Master’s grades will count as one full year combined with the best two full undergraduate years.

- Ph.D. thesis-based program. The average of all graduate grades will count as one full year combined with the best full undergraduate year

Similar to Dal I guess