OntarioHopefully Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 I've heard many stories of students receiving admission after completing a masters. However I have not heard much from those that chose to do a 5th extra year of their undergraduate studies (to improve their GPA). Has anyone taken this route, and if so was it successful? Would you do it again, or were there disadvantages you hadn't considered. Any insight would be very appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathToMed Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Be careful with this - many schools have a policy in place that only courses taken in full year studies that lead toward completion of a bachelors degree can be used in the GPA calculation. Double check for your particular prospective schools! Only a few schools offer the possibility of taking a "special year" (Western comes to mind) or calculate GPA using absolutely all post-secondary courses (McMaster comes to mind). Be sure to check the OMSAS handbook for the schools you're interested in, to see their particular policies on GPA calculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equus Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Be careful with this - many schools have a policy in place that only courses taken in full year studies that lead toward completion of a bachelors degree can be used in the GPA calculation. Yes, but you can also complete a 5th year of undergraduate studies by simply continuing in a 4-year program without graduating (which is what I'm doing this year). As long as your 5th year courses are considered part of your 4-year degree, there should be zero problems with recognition of the 5th year by med schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OntarioHopefully Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yes, but you can also complete a 5th year of undergraduate studies by simply continuing in a 4-year program without graduating (which is what I'm doing this year). As long as your 5th year courses are considered part of your 4-year degree, there should be zero problems with recognition of the 5th year by med schools. Yes this is what I am considering. Just to confirm: is it still okay to do this if you met all degree requirements after your 4th year? That is, I would have been eligible to graduate after 4 years. Also (if you don't mind me asking), what were the deciding factors that led you to choose to complete a 5th year? Over perhaps working in a lab or pursuing graduate studies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
equus Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Just to confirm: is it still okay to do this if you met all degree requirements after your 4th year? That is, I would have been eligible to graduate after 4 years. Also (if you don't mind me asking), what were the deciding factors that led you to choose to complete a 5th year? Over perhaps working in a lab or pursuing graduate studies. For your first question, it depends on your university; some will force you to graduate if you've met all the requirements. I wasn't sure what my university's policies were, but after speaking with my program's dean, I figured it would be best to play on the safe side. The dean agreed to let one of my courses that were supposed to count towards my degree NOT count, so that my student account said that I was missing one course to graduate. I decided to do a 5th year because I am extremely close to being competitive for Ontario med schools; my grades are fine, and the only thing standing in my way is my MCAT score. If I did a master's degree after graduating from my 4-year degree, I wouldn't be able to reapply to med school for another 2 years. But since I am only doing a 5th year, I can rewrite the MCAT and reapply to med school this year. As well, I am taking some courses this year in order to be eligible to apply to some professional masters programs, in case I still do not get accepted to med school after this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OntarioHopefully Posted August 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 For your first question, it depends on your university; some will force you to graduate if you've met all the requirements. I wasn't sure what my university's requirements were, but after speaking with my program's dean, I figured it would be best to play on the safe side. The dean agreed to let one of my courses that were supposed to count towards my degree NOT count, so that my student account said that I was missing one course to graduate. I decided to do a 5th year because I am extremely close to being competitive for Ontario med schools; my grades are fine, and the only thing standing in my way is my MCAT score. If I did a master's degree after graduating from my 4-year degree, I wouldn't be able to reapply to med school for another 2 years. But since I am only doing a 5th year, I can rewrite the MCAT and reapply to med school this year. As well, I am taking some courses this year in order to be eligible to apply to some professional masters programs, in case I still do not get accepted to med school after this year. Thanks for answering my questions You brought up an issue I had not considered (possibility of being forced to graduate). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OntarioHopefully Posted August 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Also still hoping to hear more from students that have completed their 5th year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OntarioHopefully Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 I apologize for bringing up an old thread. Just wondering, now that Ontario interview invitations have been sent out, were any students that completed a 5th year and were invited for an interview, and feel their 5th year contributed to this? Was it worth following this route? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbsare Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 OntarioMedHopeful, I think I can speak for all who took a 5th year to be eligible for schools like Western and Queens, and have received invites (or even those who are in 4th year and have received conditional invites from Western) will say that it was worth taking an extra year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspiringdoctor14 Posted April 20, 2017 Report Share Posted April 20, 2017 I was just wondering if this thread can please continue. I'm quite lost as to whether or not I should take an extra year from Undergrad (5th year). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExercMed Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 I was just wondering if this thread can please continue. I'm quite lost as to whether or not I should take an extra year from Undergrad (5th year). It depends on what you want out of it. Are you looking to improve your GPA? Do an honours/research? Or feel like you should still be doing school if you don't get in this round (not necessarily a great reason). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepingfaith Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 I am about to finish my fifth year, but debating if I should do a sixth year. I pursued a fifth year to increase gpa and planning to apply to schools which looks at two years (western, queens). My first fours years are not competitive at all. Is there anyone else who had success after 6 years of undergrad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspiringdoctor14 Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 It depends on what you want out of it. Are you looking to improve your GPA? Do an honours/research? Or feel like you should still be doing school if you don't get in this round (not necessarily a great reason). I was looking to improve my GPA and possibly do some research on the side if I find one. I am about to finish my fifth year, but debating if I should do a sixth year. I pursued a fifth year to increase gpa and planning to apply to schools which looks at two years (western, queens). My first fours years are not competitive at all. Is there anyone else who had success after 6 years of undergrad? Doing fifth year can be pretty scary but I admire your dedication. I don't have any experience with doing 6th year or knowing someone who did 6th year but its up to your current GPA and your MCAT score. If your current GPA is high enough then I think that doing a 6th year may be unnecessary. By the way, I don't want to ask a too personal question but does student aid still helps out a student who does a 5th year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExercMed Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 I was looking to improve my GPA and possibly do some research on the side if I find one. In that case, then I think that it is a good use of time. I did a 5th year to get my honours and raise my GPA and it work out really well! I am about to finish my fifth year, but debating if I should do a sixth year. I pursued a fifth year to increase gpa and planning to apply to schools which looks at two years (western, queens). My first fours years are not competitive at all. Is there anyone else who had success after 6 years of undergrad? If you are looking to increase your GPA, as I assume you are, then it would be possible. There is a poster above that has taken a 6th year. However, as they say in their post, but it will be important to justify why you took 6 years to do an UG in an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepingfaith Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 I was looking to improve my GPA and possibly do some research on the side if I find one. Doing fifth year can be pretty scary but I admire your dedication. I don't have any experience with doing 6th year or knowing someone who did 6th year but its up to your current GPA and your MCAT score. If your current GPA is high enough then I think that doing a 6th year may be unnecessary. By the way, I don't want to ask a too personal question but does student aid still helps out a student who does a 5th year? Do you mean OSAP? I don't think they usually do but in my case, I had to justify my reasons for taking an extra year. However, if I decide to pursue one more year (6th), they will not provide any financial aid. In that case, then I think that it is a good use of time. I did a 5th year to get my honours and raise my GPA and it work out really well! If you are looking to increase your GPA, as I assume you are, then it would be possible. There is a poster above that has taken a 6th year. However, as they say in their post, but it will be important to justify why you took 6 years to do an UG in an interview. Is it acceptable to use "low GPA" as a justification, of course with valid reasoning as to why the GPA was lower in the first couple of years. I guess it will all depend on my mcat score this summer and if I can do well, then sixth year is a definite possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExercMed Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Do you mean OSAP? I don't think they usually do but in my case, I had to justify my reasons for taking an extra year. However, if I decide to pursue one more year (6th), they will not provide any financial aid. Is it acceptable to use "low GPA" as a justification, of course with valid reasoning as to why the GPA was lower in the first couple of years. I guess it will all depend on my mcat score this summer and if I can do well, then sixth year is a definite possibility. Well, I think it can be put a little more eloquent than "low GPA". Taking more school to make yourself a better applicant is, in my mind, a perfectly acceptable justification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marriat Posted March 24, 2018 Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 I am doing a fifth year, mainly to raise my GPA. However, I added a minor to my BSc degree so that I have an "excuse" to take a fifth year LOL all in all, my cGPA isnt that great, probably 3.6 ish at most by the end of my fifth year.. but I figure, it's still better than nothing at all.. i am not sure, can any one offer some insight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plastics91 Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 On 3/24/2018 at 3:44 PM, marriat said: I am doing a fifth year, mainly to raise my GPA. However, I added a minor to my BSc degree so that I have an "excuse" to take a fifth year LOL all in all, my cGPA isnt that great, probably 3.6 ish at most by the end of my fifth year.. but I figure, it's still better than nothing at all.. i am not sure, can any one offer some insight? ALWAYS do extra years to boost up that GPAs. Canadian med schools don't care what school, program, degree, courses, and why you took any of them as long as you got a good GPA according to each school's algorithm. MSc, work experience, etc. don't really do much to improve your chances, but each .1 increase in GPA sure will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.