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Me11y

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  1. Like
    Me11y reacted to jphogenbach267 in Does anyone have the interview tab on their UCAN application?   
    I think the people who had applied before have that interview tab.
  2. Like
    Me11y reacted to Butterfly_ in Success Stories- Non Trad Style!   
    This thread inspired me and gave me hope to pursue my medical school dream. Thank you to all that have posted on here before. You have all truly touched my heart.
    It is because of your stories, that today, I also have the pleasure of posting here and sharing my own journey.
    When I was younger and about to head to university, I had a tough time choosing between pursuing a business degree or a science degree. At that time, I knew my interests were in biology and psychology, but seeing my parents labouring hard on the farm, I felt pressured to help support the family and make money fast. So, I decided to pursue a finance degree, work in investment banking, and provide enough money to make my family comfortable, then pursue my interests afterward.
    It was a naïve and misguided plan.
    From the first moment in business school, I already felt like I didn’t fit in.
    This feeling got worse 4 years later when I began working in investment banking. The hours were grueling, and I was completely uninterested in what I was doing. I kept at it for 2.5 years because it helped me pay my debts, supported my family, and made my parents proud.
    But one day, I reached my breaking point.
    I was out of shape, burnt out, and depressed.  I woke up dreading the new day to begin. So, I finally quit, at the shock of my parents. They didn’t understand why I would give up a lucrative and prestigious career. I didn’t know how to explain it to them either.
    So, I decided to travel. Backpacked by myself across Southeast Asia for 6 months. When I was in Cambodia wandering the night markets, I walked past a bookstand selling novels for $1 USD. Not sure if it was fate or intuition, but I chose to buy the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
    It was a book that changed my life.
    It helped me rediscover my passion and interests in life. I started focusing on things that I loved to do. Travel. Eat. Exercise. Health. Science. Languages.
    During this process of self-discovery, I developed a strong interest in healthcare and medicine. However, I was still too afraid to pursue it. The time, the commitment, and the financial burden all seemed too daunting. I also convinced myself that I wasn’t good enough to be a doctor. That I wouldn’t be able to handle the responsibilities that came with life and death.
    So, I became a travel agent instead.
    I had a lot of fun, met many amazing people, and excelled at the role. I traveled to over 35 countries.  Life was exciting, and I felt content. However, the idea of medicine never left my mind. It kept gnawing at me every day and I eventually began to feel too comfortable at my job.
    It was at this time I met my fiancée (on Tinder, lol.) He was in his 3rd year of pharmacy and applying to medicine at the same time. His mother was a nurse. His grandmother was a military doctor. 
    I was suddenly immersed in a world of healthcare. 
    Watching my fiancée work hard and challenge himself every day made something click in me. I started to think that I might still have a chance at medical school.
    Couple months later, I went on a Mediterranean cruise with my family. I was sitting in the hot tub and decided to strike up a conversation with the person next to me.
    We talked, and he asked me what I did. I'm not sure what came over me, but for the first time in my life, I told someone out loud, "I'm going to become a doctor." 
    It was a liberating moment. Everything suddenly felt real and achievable. 
    And fate would have it, the person whom I was talking was an army doctor who graduated from McGill Medical School.
    He was traveling with his wife in Europe before beginning his next station in the UK.
    He said, "Go for it!" And I did.
    I quit my job in December 2016 and began studying for the MCAT full time.
    I also enrolled in 2 semesters of English to obtain enough credits to meet the UBC admission requirements.
    After 5 years without reading a textbook, it was a brutal transition. 
    And with zero science prerequisites under my belt, it was so much harder than I thought.
    Furthermore, some of my friends and family did not take me seriously and discouragingly told me not to "waste my time."

    It was a challenging few months. Many days, I felt overwhelmed. 
    But, I survived due to a wonderful support network. I listened to those who believed in me and ignored the ones who were negative.
    I acknowledged my weaknesses and sought help and advice.
    I studied 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 7 months and self-taught myself the sciences.
    I took the exam in July 2017 and achieved a score of 508.
    It was below the average admission score, but good enough to give the application a try. I applied widely to as many schools as I could. 
    5 schools rejected me.
    3 schools interviewed me.
    And a miracle happened.
    I got an acceptance.
    It was an unbelievable moment.  I felt all the worry, pain, and doubt just wash away. All the time I spent, all the risks I took, all the sacrifices I made, paid off.
    Everything was worth it and I was the happiest girl in the world.
    Finally, at 27 years old, I will begin medical school in Fall of 2018.
    The moral of my story:
    Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot achieve. Only you can decide that for yourself. 
    Also, remember that:
    "We are, at any moment, capable of pursuing our dreams...
    And, when you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
                                                                                                                    - The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

    If medicine is your dream, don't give up. Never, ever give up.  

    I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your journey.
  3. Like
    Me11y reacted to Butterfly_ in Accepted/Rejected/Waitlisted??? (for current applicants)   
    Result: Accepted
    Geography: OOP
    GPA: 3.96
    MCAT: 508 (129 CARS)  <--Yes, you can get in with a low MCAT as an OOP! 
    Degree: Bachelors of Commerce (2012) (No science prereqs)
    E.C: Non-trad applicant.  Years of work experience in Investment Banking, Travel Agency.  My volunteering activities are mainly cultural or entrepreneurship related. Won some top-level business awards. Black belt in Taekwondo. Grew up working on a farm. Traveled to over 35 countries. Fitness Mentor/Advocate.  (No research at all)
    Interview:  Felt most prepared for the U of A interview as it was my last of 3. The questions were more straightforward than UBC or McMaster.  I really, really enjoyed the panel. I felt like I finally had a chance to talk about myself and show my personality.  The panel interviewers were very nice and conversational as well. I felt iffy on the MMI. On 2-3 stations I did blah and the rest of I did okay. I think my ECs and Panel Interview really pulled through for me. 

    I'm just so grateful right now to have received this opportunity. As I am writing this, I still can't believe it. After 6 years of contemplation, denial, and self-doubt, I finally now get the chance to become a doctor. When I found out that the results were released on this forum, I was at my desk at work. I literally just got up and ran out the door. I nervously tried to login to my account and ended up keying my password wrong 3 times. To avoid getting locked out, I had to call my fiancee to check my result on my home laptop where the password was already saved. When he read the admission decision to me over the phone, I crumbled to my knees and started crying.  It was an unbelievable moment. I felt all the worry, pain, and doubt just wash away. I'm sure everyone that walked past me thought I was crazy.  But I didn't care. This was the best day of my life. 

    We are, at any moment, capable of pursuing our dreams. - The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
    If medicine is your dream, don't give up. Never, ever give up.
  4. Haha
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