la marzocco

There is a special pathway for IMGs at McGill to receive a Canadian MD degree in 2 years instead of the standard 4. https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/applying/categories/international-medical-graduates If you complete the two-year program, you will be able to apply to CaRMS as a CMG and hopefully have a better shot at Gen Sx. But to qualify for this 2-year program, you will need to have written and pass the MCCQE1. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to apply as a normal applicant to all Canadian medical schools and get your Canadian MD that way, but that will take longer than 2 years as it will be the standard 3 or 4 depending on which school you go to.

Cutoff has not changed since April 2018. It is 226. The cutoff is established based on a standard-setting exercise that happens every 5 years or so. But the 2022 MCCQE marking is against the April 2018 standard. Of note, the mean has been 260+ consistently exam session after exam session. Based on the last technical report (https://h5a9c8a9.stackpathcdn.com/media/MCCQE-Part-I_Technical-Report_2020.pdf). The rate has been very high for CMGs first-time writers. The only major change that was made in the last two years was that exam questions that were considered "pilot" were not scored in the past, but they started scoring the pilot questions in the same session if it was psychometrically sound. 2020-2021 Technical Report: "The exam consists of 210 MCQs and includes pilot questions, also called pre-test questions, which are scored if they perform well psychometrically." 2019-2020 Technical Report: "The MCQ component of the MCCQE Part I consists of 210 items, of which 35 are pilot items that do not count towards the total score."

McGill is starting to require French language proficiency as well. Although not to the same standard as the three francophone universities. https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/applying/requirements/general-requirements/language "French Language Proficiency As of fall 2023 French-language proficiency is a pre-admission requirement for students starting the MDCM Program or Med-P qualifying year. This change is consistent with French- language proficiency pre-admission requirements of other health profession schools in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and with the Faculty’s Statement on Language Proficiency “To provide essential services and safe care to all patients within a Quebec-based healthcare setting, students must achieve an appropriate level of French before entering their respective health profession program’s clinical affiliations where they integrate their knowledge, skills and attitudes. This will ensure all students have every opportunity to maximize their learning with all patients, families and fellow health care workers they meet during their studies at McGill University’’. Fall 2023 French-language minimum requirements: B2 (mid-intermediate) for Montreal Campus C1 (advanced) for Campus Outaouais (where the language of instruction for all courses is French)"

I have found the Amboss questions to be much harder than the ones I encountered on the LMCC. So don't be discouraged. I would suggest that you do a practice MCC exam if $ permits. I think they are like $120 bucks on the MCC site, but it gives you a good sense of what to expect.

Hey there, there are many great things going on for you! Let's first not lose sight of that - you are now a licensed OT and you are starting a family. These are all great things. I understand where you are coming from in that you do not want to spend the first years of your marriage in medical school or in residency, but truth be told, you need to recognize that regardless of your age and life circumstances, your partner ends up "going" to medical school and residency with you anyway. They support you, they see your challenges, and they go through your struggles through the program, but just from a partner standpoint. Enjoying the first few years of marriage is one thing, but make sure you don't deter yourself so early on in the game, because even if you did go to med school let's say 2-3 years earlier, you and your wife would still be juggling residency (+ fellowship). You still have 3-4 decades of working life ahead of you! There simply isn't the best time to one thing to be honest - doing med school in your early 20s is the most convenient, sure - but end of the day, you need to make choices and choices that sit well with you. You will get old anyways, time will fly anyways. As long as your spouse is on board and supportive of your goals - and you both are willing to make it work - I don't think you need to throw in the towel just yet. We also wish "timing was a little better", but I also think that this moment is all we have, so make the most of it. There is no best time for anything. That said, there will be financial penalties - like lost income, opportunity cost, and your spouse may need to do some lifting in the interim (+ LOC debt). You and your spouse need to have an honest discussion about this, especially if you plan on having kids during medical school. There are many adjusted medical students who have families with kids. I am constantly so in awe at how able they are to cope with the demands of medical school - but hey, if there is a will, there is a way. The practical details are important, but just remember that time ticks away regardless, focus on what goals matter to you and your family Feel free to PM me.

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/18196/ca "For Pharmacists, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 12,500 , while 16,600 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them." Supply > Demand

I would never wish this colour upon anyone

So much this.

I think all schools including Quebec are now pass/fail. Sherbrooke was the last one to change I think a year or two back.

Surrounding the surgeon period. Let’s be cognizant of implicit gender biases.

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/18196/ca <-- some objective data for you. From my pharm friends, they noted that hospital pharmacist positions are very competitive - local Canadian experience (not necessarily Canadian education) is normally required for hospital pharmacist positions. If you are ok with community pharmacy, I believe demand > supply in non-metropolitan regions and provinces noted in the link above (like MB, NB, etc.).

Very interesting. Thanks for the heads up @frenchpress!

This is awful.

Expectations management is key.

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