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Need Realistic Advice On Application


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First Time:

 

GPA: 78.29
AGPA (if applicable): 80.43
MCAT: 31Q
ECs: 
Year: BSc
Geography: IP
NAQ (if applicable): 38.50
AQ (if applicable): 15.90

Interview: Average

 

Second Time:

 

Everything was the same, except that my NAQ dropped 12 points so I did not get an interview. I tried to get an explanation from UBC but they didn't seem to care much. I didn't even know it was statistically possible for NAQ to fluctuate by 12 points. 

 

Third Time: 

 

Pretty similar to first try but interview came out below average.

 

 

 

 

I am fully aware of my lacking GPA but I did not bother to take more courses because I was able to get an interview with my NAQ score. However, 2nd year really scared me because at the end of the day, AQ does not fluctuate as much as NAQ score I think.  I don't want to gamble whether I will get an interview or not. 

 

I was pretty surprised with the interview score this year as well because I felt so much more confident and relaxed compared to the last interview. I didn't bomb any stations and the interviewers were interacting with me naturally. However, compared to the last interview, which was average, this year was below average. I must be doing something wrong.

 

At this point in time, I was planning to go to Ireland for medical school but it seems like I cannot even get a loan to  cover the tuition. Lots of thoughts about options going through my head right now.

 

I will have to take the MCAT again so I am looking for an opening in BC. Also, I am considering taking a one year Masters perhaps in Ontario. Recommendations for any other programs or degrees that are good for mark boosting and also counts as a second options would be appreciated.

 

If you need some advise on how to get a high NAQ score, please feel free to message me.  I think I have that portion of the application down after many trials. 

 

Thank you!

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First Time:

 

GPA: 78.29

AGPA (if applicable): 80.43

MCAT: 31Q

ECs: 

Year: BSc

Geography: IP

NAQ (if applicable): 38.50

AQ (if applicable): 15.90

Interview: Average

 

Second Time:

 

Everything was the same, except that my NAQ dropped 12 points so I did not get an interview. I tried to get an explanation from UBC but they didn't seem to care much. I didn't even know it was statistically possible for NAQ to fluctuate by 12 points. 

 

Third Time: 

 

Pretty similar to first try but interview came out below average.

 

 

 

 

I am fully aware of my lacking GPA but I did not bother to take more courses because I was able to get an interview with my NAQ score. However, 2nd year really scared me because at the end of the day, AQ does not fluctuate as much as NAQ score I think.  I don't want to gamble whether I will get an interview or not. 

 

I was pretty surprised with the interview score this year as well because I felt so much more confident and relaxed compared to the last interview. I didn't bomb any stations and the interviewers were interacting with me naturally. However, compared to the last interview, which was average, this year was below average. I must be doing something wrong.

 

At this point in time, I was planning to go to Ireland for medical school but it seems like I cannot even get a loan to  cover the tuition. Lots of thoughts about options going through my head right now.

 

I will have to take the MCAT again so I am looking for an opening in BC. Also, I am considering taking a one year Masters perhaps in Ontario. Recommendations for any other programs or degrees that are good for mark boosting and also counts as a second options would be appreciated.

 

If you need some advise on how to get a high NAQ score, please feel free to message me.  I think I have that portion of the application down after many trials. 

 

Thank you!

How many years of undergrad contribute to your current GPA (or how many credits)? I think a 5th year of undergrad to pull up your GPA would potentially be more beneficial than a Master's as a Master's only gives you 1 extra point and you have a lot more room to earn points by pulling up your AQ. Is it an option to do a minor in something that interests you and you think could do well in, pulling in As/A+s?

In terms of NAQ fluctuation you say "everything was the same". Does that mean that you hadn't continued in your NAQ activities in the time between 1st and 2nd applications? Only having old activities and nothing recent could potentially have been frowned upon. Beyond that, there is definitely huge variability in how NAQ is scored. 

Finally, how did you prep for the interview? Most people spend at least some time practicing scenarios (you can look up sample questions on the internet) with other applicants/family/friends to become familiar with the format, develop some strategies, and work out bad habits. 

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How many years of undergrad contribute to your current GPA (or how many credits)? I think a 5th year of undergrad to pull up your GPA would potentially be more beneficial than a Master's as a Master's only gives you 1 extra point and you have a lot more room to earn points by pulling up your AQ. Is it an option to do a minor in something that interests you and you think could do well in, pulling in As/A+s?

In terms of NAQ fluctuation you say "everything was the same". Does that mean that you hadn't continued in your NAQ activities in the time between 1st and 2nd applications? Only having old activities and nothing recent could potentially have been frowned upon. Beyond that, there is definitely huge variability in how NAQ is scored. 

Finally, how did you prep for the interview? Most people spend at least some time practicing scenarios (you can look up sample questions on the internet) with other applicants/family/friends to become familiar with the format, develop some strategies, and work out bad habits. 

 

I was continuing my regular volunteering activities until now. Nothing new was added even on the 3rd try except more work experience. Also attended the practice sessions every year and kept updated on recent issues as well for the interview. 

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I think a 5th year of undergrad to pull up your GPA would potentially be more beneficial than a Master's as a Master's only gives you 1 extra point and you have a lot more room to earn points by pulling up your AQ.

 

Does a completed masters actually give you an additional point on AQ? I've looked on their website but can't seem to find that information, could you point out where it is?

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First Time:

 

GPA: 78.29

AGPA (if applicable): 80.43

MCAT: 31Q

ECs: 

Year: BSc

Geography: IP

NAQ (if applicable): 38.50

AQ (if applicable): 15.90

Interview: Average

 

Second Time:

 

Everything was the same, except that my NAQ dropped 12 points so I did not get an interview. I tried to get an explanation from UBC but they didn't seem to care much. I didn't even know it was statistically possible for NAQ to fluctuate by 12 points. 

 

Third Time: 

 

Pretty similar to first try but interview came out below average.

 

 

 

 

I am fully aware of my lacking GPA but I did not bother to take more courses because I was able to get an interview with my NAQ score. However, 2nd year really scared me because at the end of the day, AQ does not fluctuate as much as NAQ score I think.  I don't want to gamble whether I will get an interview or not. 

 

I was pretty surprised with the interview score this year as well because I felt so much more confident and relaxed compared to the last interview. I didn't bomb any stations and the interviewers were interacting with me naturally. However, compared to the last interview, which was average, this year was below average. I must be doing something wrong.

 

At this point in time, I was planning to go to Ireland for medical school but it seems like I cannot even get a loan to  cover the tuition. Lots of thoughts about options going through my head right now.

 

I will have to take the MCAT again so I am looking for an opening in BC. Also, I am considering taking a one year Masters perhaps in Ontario. Recommendations for any other programs or degrees that are good for mark boosting and also counts as a second options would be appreciated.

 

If you need some advise on how to get a high NAQ score, please feel free to message me.  I think I have that portion of the application down after many trials. 

 

Thank you!

Which one-year masters are you considering meekika91?

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Does a completed masters actually give you an additional point on AQ? I've looked on their website but can't seem to find that information, could you point out where it is?

I can't find it! I was positive I read it on their website (as opposed to hearing it second hand) but can no longer find any information on extra points for graduate degrees. I thought the policy was 1 extra point for a Master's, 4 extra points for a PhD. 

 

However, that isn't coming up anywhere on their website so maybe they either changed their policy or I mixed up information from different schools when I was comparing a lot of institutions for the 2015/2016 application cycle. So sorry - if anyone else can confirm whether such a policy exists or has changed, I would appreciate it.

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The extra points you speak of (1 for masters and 4 for PhD) is for McMaster I believe. I don't recall UBC ever having that policy.

Yes, I think it was McMaster that gave bonus points for completing a Master's degree or PhD. I believe that if you have completed a PhD degree then UBC considers the applicant as IP for the purposes of the application even if the applicant would normally be considered OOP.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 2017-5-18 at 3:46 PM, meekika91 said:

First Time:

 

GPA: 78.29
AGPA (if applicable): 80.43
MCAT: 31Q
ECs: 
Year: BSc
Geography: IP
NAQ (if applicable): 38.50
AQ (if applicable): 15.90

Interview: Average

 

Second Time:

 

Everything was the same, except that my NAQ dropped 12 points so I did not get an interview. I tried to get an explanation from UBC but they didn't seem to care much. I didn't even know it was statistically possible for NAQ to fluctuate by 12 points. 

 

Third Time: 

 

Pretty similar to first try but interview came out below average.

 

 

 

 

I am fully aware of my lacking GPA but I did not bother to take more courses because I was able to get an interview with my NAQ score. However, 2nd year really scared me because at the end of the day, AQ does not fluctuate as much as NAQ score I think.  I don't want to gamble whether I will get an interview or not. 

 

I was pretty surprised with the interview score this year as well because I felt so much more confident and relaxed compared to the last interview. I didn't bomb any stations and the interviewers were interacting with me naturally. However, compared to the last interview, which was average, this year was below average. I must be doing something wrong.

 

At this point in time, I was planning to go to Ireland for medical school but it seems like I cannot even get a loan to  cover the tuition. Lots of thoughts about options going through my head right now.

 

I will have to take the MCAT again so I am looking for an opening in BC. Also, I am considering taking a one year Masters perhaps in Ontario. Recommendations for any other programs or degrees that are good for mark boosting and also counts as a second options would be appreciated.

 

If you need some advise on how to get a high NAQ score, please feel free to message me.  I think I have that portion of the application down after many trials. 

 

Thank you!

Hi Meekika91.

As someone else posted, you may be better off living in a rural location like the Yukon, if you want the best possible odds of getting in. I recognize that your AGPA isn't the strongest, but it would give you first hand insight into rural medicine, and after a year of living/working there, would give you the opportunity to apply in province at both UBC and UofA. The only reason I say that is because in my last year of studies, I had an average of 90.5%, but it only brought my adjusted grade point average up by 1-1.5 percent. Alternatively, trying to find things that would strengthen your interviewing skills would also help. Perhaps invest in an interview coach for a few sessions?

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