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Hello, I am currently an x-ray technologist and I'm looking at applying to NOSM. NOSM has a Indigenous application track. I am Cree, but was adopted. I have my adoption paperwork stating that my birth family on my maternal side was Cree. Throught the adoption and no fault of my own I lost out on my connection to my people and culture. I am currently active in my local urban Indigenous community as an Indigenous Member of the Muskoka Indigenous Friendship Centre and volunteer with them. I am co-running my local chapter (get it up and running etc., all volunteer) under the Muskoka Indigenous Friendship Centre and am a member of the steering committee for that chapter as well (all members must be Indigenous). I plan programing for the local Indigenous community through the chapter and volunteer to run these programs and set them up. I am sure that the President of the Muskoka Indigenous Friendship Centre would write me a letter. I am also part of the Orange Shirt Day Organizing Committee for my home town. Should I apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream? My other question relates to the extenuating circumstances part of the application. I have two undergrad degrees. My first one I struggled, but didn't know why at the time (2.7 cGPA). Long story short, I had severe undiagnosed and untreated OCD which popped up during my last year of high school we believe. When I say severe OCD, I mean hours out of my day performing routines (yes I thought it was normal and my family didn't know I was struggling). During the beginning of my first year of my second degree I went to the doctor and was told I had the worse case of OCD they had ever seen. I was told it would take up to 6 months to see a psychiatrist, but they would push to get me in ASAP. I was in with the psych 3 days later. They diagnosed me formally with severe OCD and said that they normally wait 3-4 sessions minimum to medicate a patient, but I was told I would not be leaving without medication that first session. Between the psychiatrist and tweaking my medications, we found a working combo and my grades improved drastically. The cGPA for my second degree was 3.64 (vs. the 2.7 cGPA of my first degree). Is this worth filling out the extenuating circumstances aspect of the application for? Being diagnosed and treated seriously changed my life for the better. INFO Born and raised (33 years) in a community considered northern by NOSM (they have a Local NOSM group at the hospital I work at). Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO): 62 Undergrad 1: 2.7 cGPA Undergrad 2: 3.64 cGPA Mature Student Medical Work Experience as an X-ray Tech: Approximately 4 years (8720 hours documented) working directly with patients and an interprofessional team in the ER, OR, Endoscopy Suite, ICU, CT. Assisting radiologist with interventional procedures. Clinical Training Hours in Hospital with Patients for X-ray: 1347 hours. Worked directly with patients and an interprofessional team in the ER, OR (orthopedics), Endoscopy Suite, ICU, CT. Assisting radiologist with interventional procedures. 2.5 years as the Clinical Coordinator for X-ray Students at my current hospital with emphasis on retaining students to work at hospitals in our northern area. Working on developing our teaching program at the hospital from scratch. Educating students on how to perform all x-rays, working hands on with patients, performing cases in OR, Endo and fluoro. Working in a classroom setting each with x-ray students teaching them everything from image analysis, to image correction, studying for the licensing exam etc. Currently, I am trying to expand the program to our sister hospital so that we can have more students that can learn here and hopefully stay to practice in the north. Work with two other local northern hospitals (not including the two hospitals I currently work at) going above and beyond what is required of the college the students come from and letting the students experience rotations at other, bigger northern hospitals to spark interest in things such as orthopedics and interventional imaging and other possible work environments in the north. Helping students to apply for x-ray positions at northern hospitals as they come up, practicing mock interviews, going over cover letters and resumes to help retain students in our northern communities. Volunteer Work: Emergency First Responder with the University of Toronto Emergency First Response team for 2 years. Provided medical care to students and non-students on and around the UofT St. George Campus. Attended Bi-Weekly intensive medical aid training sessions (we carry an AED, oxygen etc. and needed to keep up on our knowledge). Volunteered with Toronto public school students for half a day on basic first aid techniques. Volunteered at a “Mock Refugee Camp” where various Toronto public schools sent students to learn about refugee camps. In our tent, taught them basic first aid for things like a minor head wound, broken wrist etc. Archery Coach at UofT 1.5 years (2016-2018) Participated in running archery classes teaching new members about archery and how to properly and safely shoot. Helped members improve their ability to shoot. Set up and ran various fun archery events for the members. Responsible for opening the archery range and all ensuring safety of all members present while open. Hosted an archery event for at risk Indigenous High School students in downtown Toronto. Taught them about archery and how to shoot properly. Ensured a safe, fun and educational environment while providing one-on-one instruction. Volunteer Student Ambassador for the Union Station College Show (downtown Toronto) Represented the Michener Institute/University of Toronto’s Radiological Technology program from the student perspective. Answered questions regarding the program, outlook after graduating, life at Michener and the University of Toronto etc. to prospective students and their families. Michener Institute Campus Day (2015, 2016) Volunteer tour guide. The Michener Institute of Education at UHN Spring Fling (2016) Volunteer tour guide. The Michener Institute of Education at UHN Spring Fling (2017) Volunteered as a Radiological Technology Program Ambassador UofT Radiological Sciences Calling Campaign (2017) Called prospective students who had applied for the joint Michener Institute/University of Toronto Radiological Technology program. Answered any questions they had about the program, student life, my experience so far as a student of the program, residence, MMI style interviews etc. The representatives for the Michener Institute/University of Toronto Nuclear Medicine program did not show up, so I stayed later once finished with the phone calls for my program and also called prospective students of the Nuclear Medicine program and answer questions to the best of my ability about the program as well as the other aspects of student life listed above. Awards Dr. Jim Sieniewicz Radiological Technology Scholarship Must be nominated to be eligible to receive. Nomination submitted by teacher and Michener's Radiological Technology Program Chair Alex Gontar. This award is presented to one student who has made a significant contribution to the Radiological Technology program. The recipient of this award is selected by the Program Chair. Criteria 1: Maintained good academic standing. Criteria 2: Consistently made positive contributions to the program. Thank you for your time! -
I've heard that ECs are not really looked at by U of T, but to what degree? I have some community volunteering and am an executive on some clubs, but I have no research nor publications. I don't know what the application process for U of T is like. If their personal essays ask what you've done during undergrad, doesn't that technically mean they count ECs? Do they ask about shadowing? Or, are these all helpful for you at the interview stage? This seems like such an obtuse question but I could really use some guidance.
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Hi everyone, I was looking for someone who has second degree experience with applications and tips/info on some of my questions, or knows someone who can help. I have contacted the schools but gotten some vague answers as replies, so I am unsure as to what to do. Essentially, my cGPA from my first degree is pretty awful (6.8/7.4/5.4/7.4/8.4 per year breakdown on uOttawa's scale), okay MCAT (130/125/130/129, likely retake for CARS) and I am looking to do a second degree. I found what I wanted to do later than most others so its my price to pay but I will work on it. Here is the dilemma: first degree was in BCH, second will be in BPS, with the courses carrying over, my second degree will take 2 years to complete. I can keep the 3rd year level or higher reqs for Western. But here is the problem/problems: 1) clearly most of my bad grades are early on, which are also the ones that carry over in terms of degree requirements. UO says on my transcript, a new cGPA will be part of the second degree based on the classes I take. Will schools see these on applications? Will they affect me negatively? 2) Is 2y enough for a second degree? most schools just say "we accept second degrees as long as they are equivalent to a 4y degree", but I am literally cutting it in half and the school will only use grades for 2y to give me a cGPA. This seems... slightly unfair? 3) Can i apply the summer before the second year of my second degree? 4) I am supported financially on this, and really do want this. My only concern is if this is the right way to go about it (ie. this will be ok as an application). I need to do massive GPA repair and this is the fastest, most efficient, and financially smart pathway for me to take, but only if its acceptable. Please let me know and thank you everyone! -
Hello! I am in sixth year uni and my cgpa is 3.575, but I need 3 more credits to graduate. I am in specialist Biology Comparative Physiology degree at University of Toronto. I finished my mcat with 520.. I am a 23 years old female who was born and raised in Canada. ( idk if that's important) My first two to three years sucked like my average gpa because I was extremely sick and it turned out I had spinal cancer and had to have surgery to remove it and was not sure if I would be able to walk again, so uni was the last thing on my mind.. However, I did it!! I am healthy and in remission!!!!! I got back to uni finding out i got 0 in 1.5 credits and a 50 in 0.5... so I worked super hard with back to back 4.0s and if i complete the next 3 credits with 4.0 i will be able to graduate with 3.636 gpa... I could just do less classes next sem and take more classes next year to boost gpa more ?? but that would be going into 7th year at uni and idkk?? Extracurriculars: - I have done two research credits at UTM ROP for Bio299y and Bio399y - I have been volunteering at this hospital doing usual basic things for two years. - I am a first aid person at the mississauga campus it is linked with an ambulance in Toronto so i have done that for 2 years. - I even did 4 months research with a prof in the summer I am planning on becoming a research assistant soon and maybe becoming a TA for a class.. I am applying for doing my MD McMaster, BC, Queens, Alberta, Western. Do i have a chance at any of these medical schools?? My number 1 is Mcmaster and I really just want to do good. With my current gpa and mcat score will they even consider me??? should i do another year to boost gpa so when im applying it'll be in the 3.65s rather than 3.575... what chances do i even have??
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Hello everyone, I am a Canadian applicant who graduated in 2018 with a 3.69 cGPA/3.8 GPA to Western/Queen's & 3.7 GPA to US schools. My MCAT is 516 (129/127/130/130) (2019) (Past: 509, 512) and I have a very strong EC and research experience with no publications. I had no interview invites the last 2 years (Canada & US) and I'm afraid it was due to my low GPA for Canadian schools. For US schools, my options were very limited as I did not meet some course pre-reqs, and I understand space is limited for Canadian applicants. I feel like I'm getting no where in my 3rd application cycle and I thought of some future plans, but not sure if these would be helpful 1) Should I retake the MCAT (Feb/Mar) and aim for a CARS 128+ (Would open up Western) 2) Should I go to Grad School (2yrs) would this investment be worth it (Would make it easier for UofT & Queen's). Also wondering if there is a disadvantage to a course-based grad program. 3) Instead of Grad, should I go back to school to meet pre-reqs for US schools? Even with them would it really increase my chances? 4) Should I apply abroad (Ireland, Australia, etc)? I heard there are 6 year programs which would take the same amount of time as going to grad school here + 4 yrs med. I'm also afraid of the debt I'll be in as well as having to live in extremely rural areas. I know this is what I really want, but I feel like I'm spending too much time stuck in the application cycles and want to find a way to be more beneficial to my application. I'm wondering if there are truly no options for a student who is stuck with their GPA. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!!
