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Some people like to start enjoying their life before 65

Hello, I just wanted to get some insight into if it's a thing or if there are docs who have done the FM+1 in EM that practiced EM for some time and later switched to work or open up their own clinic (FM). Based on reading some stuff on this forum it seems like burnout and physical strain is a real thing in EM and I heard in general it's not a good idea to juggle both at the same time. So, I just want to know if switching from EM to FM is a thing doctors do or if it even is possible after years of working in the ED. Also assuming there was interest to work in both fields (not just EM). Thank you

Merci pour les détails @keipop !

Yeah I meant that more in case you wanted the certainty. But tbh it would be such a petty thing for them to ban you over I wouldn't even worry about it.

Looking forward to seeing you around again here—if that means you are coming back west

If you click the help button on the document tracking tab it says "Beginning in November, you will have access to your OMSAS GPA calculations" so they should pop up there sometime next week

I know this is purely anecdotal, but I had a slightly higher GPA than you and MUCH lower MCAT and got accepted this past cycle! You'll definitely get an interview with those stats so just focus on doing well on that! You're in a pretty good position.

I received an email this morning, see below.

Thanks LL. I was locuming for the summer, and something lined up to start back where I trained in Sept. But also noticed things were slow, so was curious to see if it was still slow for others or if things had picked up. COVID has been a curveball for many things.

From the Medscape Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2020 Most of my classmates who bought expensive cars - ended up selling them or trading it for something low maintenance. Clerkship/residency is busy, the last thing you want to do is spend time looking after your car. Usually the opposite happens. Your life style inflates as your income goes up, you get caught in the hedonistic treadmill and adaptation makes material objects not as fulfilling. The Porsche that was your "dream car" ends up being meh, and you start to look for the next car to replace that one. If you can afford it - go ahead and buy it. But most students I know... heck residents and staff... don't go from public transit to porsches.

From what I have heard a lot of people had been talking about making interviews virtual even before covid citing the burdensome cost and environmental impact. I figure they decided to avoid the uncertainty of a potential vaccine and pulled the trigger for virtual interviews for the next cycle.

Although I definitely understand the frustration from a lot of the OOP applicants, please try not to let it get to you personally! Applying to OOP med schools is such a low percentage payoff statistically, and sometimes it's hard not to feel like it's a rejection of you as a person. But, just think of the numbers, and that might help take the sting off it! Say there's 10 OOP seats at Dal (no idea what the actual numbers are), but there could well be 500 OOP applicants, especially this year with COVID throwing off all previous years estimates for literally everything. It's really hard to tell without stats from the admissions office, but I don't believe that that number is too far fetched, and if anything could even be higher, but lets say it's 500 for this example. That means you have a 1:50 chance of getting in (assuming you're all perfectly equal candidates). Basically you need to beat out 49 other people to get one of those spots. That's a crazy ratio, and at a certain point, deciding between those top candidates is going to be a matter of luck anyways. And then we all know that we're NOT all equal candidates. Thinking about all the people I know that are applying to med school, if you put me up against any one of them, I'd feel confident that I'm the better candidate. Against two? Absolutely. Five? Sure. Ten? Maybe. Forty nine?!? Not so much. I still think I'm a pretty good one, but 49 people is so many different experiences and lives lived! All one of them has to do is edge me in just one area of my application, and I'm toast. (You can play this exercise with the exact numbers if you have them, but I suspect that in real life, the ratio is even higher. I'm also aware that this is for the final seats, not just interviews, but this is a thought exercise that I use when I get rejected) From Dal's perspective too, just imagine how crazy it has to be with that number of people applying, that they've got to set the cutoffs insanely high, and only let people with 4.1 GPAs and 529 MCATs in. It doesn't mean you're not an amazing candidate, it's just a matter of OOP pool saturation! Competition to med school has always been insane, and I can't imagine this year has gotten any better than previous years. They have to rely on imperfect statistical measures to boil your life down to a few numbers, despite who you are as a kind, compassionate future healthcare provider. I know it hurts, and it's always tough seeing others succeed when you believe you should be there too. This rejection sucks, but keep your head up, and know that the system rejected a number, not you. Wishing you all the best of luck! And kudos to everyone who DID receive an invite, IP or OOP! I hope you smash that virtual MMI with all the rage 2020 deserves.

OOP Applicant - Interview Invite MCAT: 508 Dal GPA: 3.7 Casper: felt okay about it Maritime Connection Essay: I've never been there but I wrote about my experiences working with physicians now practicing in the Maritimes as well as my interest in global health. My second time applying to Dal and this is my first Canadian Med school invite. Posting here because I used to look at these forums and think I would never even be considered for an interview. Congrats to everyone who received an interview and good luck! If anyone is interested in doing MMI prep together, please feel free to reach out!

a mustang is not a luxury car. far far from it

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