Some advice on future decisions

[MOH]

Hello all,

I wanted to ask some advice from you NOSM hopefuls and current students. I have a strong desire to pursue medicine and also practice in hard to reach Northern communities. I have received a great job opportunity within Health Canada working in Sioux Lookout with first nations community in a consultative health promotion role. I am currently working towards an MSc in epi, have never lived up north and will definately be making the most drastic change in my life if i take this full-time permanent position. My GPA for my undergrad was a bit below avg 3.5 cGPA. I would definately have to interrupt my MSc in order to take the job. At this point do you think I have a realistic chance at NOSM, and what would you think is most valued by the school, the masters or the experience this job opportunity would give me. How many years working in the North would suffice their requirement or imporve my chances? My decision is also a bit more complicated since I am married.

Any input, advice or comment will be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all!

[Real Beef]

Originally Posted by MOH

Hello all,

I wanted to ask some advice from you NOSM hopefuls and current students. I have a strong desire to pursue medicine and also practice in hard to reach Northern communities. I have received a great job opportunity within Health Canada working in Sioux Lookout with first nations community in a consultative health promotion role. I am currently working towards an MSc in epi, have never lived up north and will definately be making the most drastic change in my life if i take this full-time permanent position. My GPA for my undergrad was a bit below avg 3.5 cGPA. I would definately have to interrupt my MSc in order to take the job. At this point do you think I have a realistic chance at NOSM, and what would you think is most valued by the school, the masters or the experience this job opportunity would give me. How many years working in the North would suffice their requirement or imporve my chances? My decision is also a bit more complicated since I am married.

Any input, advice or comment will be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all!

After 5 years of working/living in the North your chances would improve significantly. Until then you are not considered a Northern Ontario resident and your chances are rather low. I was told my application was excellent back in 2007, the only weakness/flaw was that I had only lived/worked in rural NE Ontario for two years at that time (read LOW context score). The NOSM officer stated that there wasnt much I could do to improve my application besides 'exist' in Northern Ontario longer.

At that time it didnt seem to matter that I had already worked as a health professional for two years with Aboriginal populations in Northern Ontario, had started a masters at the time, applied with an OMSAS GPA of 3.7 (second degree) as I didnt even receive in interview (which was actually my only realistic goal that application cycle - 'get an interview'). After that I didnt bother applying until this past application cycle (Oct 2011) until I was considered a Northern Resident and had finished my masters to get the extra 0.2 on my GPA. I am not trying to discourage you just tell you what my experience was thinking I could at least land an interview with my experience, above avg GPA, plus moderately strong ECs at the time.

Beef

[MOH]

Originally Posted by Real Beef

After 5 years of working/living in the North your chances would improve significantly. Until then you are not considered a Northern Ontario resident and your chances are rather low. I was told my application was excellent back in 2007, the only weakness/flaw was that I had only lived/worked in rural NE Ontario for two years at that time (read LOW context score). The NOSM officer stated that there wasnt much I could do to improve my application besides 'exist' in Northern Ontario longer.

At that time it didnt seem to matter that I had already worked as a health professional for two years with Aboriginal populations in Northern Ontario, had started a masters at the time, applied with an OMSAS GPA of 3.7 (second degree) as I didnt even receive in interview (which was actually my only realistic goal that application cycle - 'get an interview'). After that I didnt bother applying until this past application cycle (Oct 2011) until I was considered a Northern Resident and had finished my masters to get the extra 0.2 on my GPA. I am not trying to discourage you just tell you what my experience was thinking I could at least land an interview with my experience, above avg GPA, plus moderately strong ECs at the time.

Beef

Wow seems to me like you are a shoe in for this application cycle! Thanks for answering my question. I really don't see myself living in Sioux Lookout for 5 years. The job requires a lot of sacrifice by my wife and I. Every morning at 8 AM I would take a plane from Sioux Lookout and fly to about 26 chief communities that go all the way up to Hudson bay and back.

[taiga gal]

would you fly every day to one of those communities?

that would be brutal, if it was everyday. i had a job one summer in which i travelled by plane to rural communities, but sometimes i spent a few days in community....

[Real Beef]

Originally Posted by MOH

Wow seems to me like you are a shoe in for this application cycle!

LOL .. no one is a shoe in and I certainly dont feel certain of anything regarding my application. Thanks for the vote of confidence however.

A year in Sioux Lookout in a Health Canada job will open you up to all kinds of other internal jobs within Health Canada. Perhaps after a year you may find another job within the Health department that is not so travel intensive, in the North and not a sacrafice for your wife.

I would still say apply anyway with your experience/background as there is nothing to lose (besides the application fees). I personally would keep the Health Canada career going, applying each application cycle which would increase in strength over time.

Having said that a Epi degree is a nice edition to the resume and pay increase within Health Canada and the public health sector in general ... its nice that you have options in this 'uncertain economic climate'.

Here are some unsolicited thoughts: Is there no way that Health Canada can pay for some master's level training for you once you are in the system and permanent/full time? Federal government has historically been generous in continuing ed. though I cant comment on that as I am provincially funded and none of my grad school was supported.

I would also see if you could take an Educational leave of absence (likely without pay but wouldnt it be sweet if they paid:-)) so you would not give up you seniorit within Health Canada, just in case Med never pans out. You may have to work in a position for 2 years before being allowed to take educational leave however, I know my current employer has this in the policy-procedure manual.

If I do get into med I will approach my employer to see if I can take an educational leave of absence during the 1st year med (8-9 months), than come back during summer break, make enough to pay 2nd year tuition. I suspect I would be pushing my luck after that trying to get a second leave of absence after that. Just a few thoughts that I am throwing out there ... some may be applicable, some not, but thinking about funding this dream/maintaining cash flow when you have other considerations (wife, life). I have a mortgage and a girlfriend to support so I think about these things.

Anyhow, enough of my babble. Good luck in your plans.

Beef

[MOH]

Originally Posted by taiga gal

would you fly every day to one of those communities?

that would be brutal, if it was everyday. i had a job one summer in which i travelled by plane to rural communities, but sometimes i spent a few days in community....

Not everyday but a big portion of the job is travelling to these remote communities... Some nights will necessitate a stay over but it is rare... We will see... I am really torn my wife is kinda reluctant to go... Thanks for all the inputs so far...

[MOH]

Real beef,

You definitely make some good points we will see what the Lord has in plan for for us!

[MOH]

Just a little update,

My wife and I have decided to move to Sioux Lookout! Thanks for all your inputs! It was much appreciated and we look forward to the adventure. Anybody here from Sioux Lookout currently or who knows the area and can tell me something about the town? Btw, I had an opportunity to speak to a NOSM admissions officer and she said that this experience no matter how long would really strengthen my application not only for NOSM but all schools. In the end, I am just really excited to finally experience the North and help its people.

[thehumanmacbook]

I lived in Sioux Lookout for a while. Send me a PM.

[Real Beef]

Congratulations and indeed good luck on the adventure.

I only visited Sioux Lookout once for a diabetes professional development event. It was a bit of a surreal place because of the bush planes flying in and landing on the water ... I had never seen anything like that in person ... LOL ... I also trained at the gym at the hockey rink/stadium ... not a bad place to train. Shopped at their grocery store, not much more than that.

I think you will enjoy yourself!

Beef