Haida Gwaii Health Center Work Opportunity.. Post Pone School?

[Thesilentknight]

Hi guys,

I"m a 24 year old, non traditional student, i've been accepted into Selkirk College's Rural Pre Medicine program, which has a bridge to obviously UBC, and U of C for their admissions, able to apply as an in province applicant for both. It is a great program, with a tightly knit community. I begin this September.

 

This past year I have completed a Medical Lab Assistant certificate. And now i've been offered a job in Masset, BC, as an MLA in their hospital. This is SUCH a wicked opportunity and I honestly see it as once in a lifetime. This can possibly give me a better idea of medicine, and to look at rural health issues at a closer scope.

I've had quite the interesting background, after highschool I took a forestry job, and worked in this industry for 4.5 years, in the off season I would travel, living abroad for one year, and I found myself working in Northern California on a regenerative cannabis farm, in the span of 2 years on and off.

I'm a very non traditional student, and i'm not necessarily in a "rush" to get things completed. I'm more healthy now than ever, and I truly believe I am able to pursue medicine and get accepted. I've been encouraged to pursue medicine by my professors.. But this Haida Gwaii opportunity seems like a great way to live for the next year, and possibly post pone my Selkirk program for one year.

I"m not freaking out, but i'm trying to reflect on a tough decision, and it would be amazing to hear some of your opinions. I tend to keep these thoughts to myself, but this is life altering, and will post pone the program another year, while I will be working in a rural area of BC.

 

What do you guys think of this? Have you guys dealt with similar dilemmas? For those that are willing to shed some light on my situation, i'd love to hear your words.

 

Sincerely,

 

Silent knight

[sangria]

I hope I don't come across as flippant, but I don't see much of a dilemma. It sounds like you are really excited about the opportunity, and you really want to go. Live long and prosper, Silent Knight.

It depends on what you want -- it doesn't seem like you care about getting into medical school and starting to practice ASAP, and your current future plan is already a bit of a long route. It doesn't seem like you are doing this just to increase your chances of getting into medical school (which I advise strongly against), but rather you are genuinely wanting to experience that life. Who knows where life will take you? Give it a year, and maybe there are other better things in life you would rather be doing than premed/med. 

 

 

[Thesilentknight]

 

19 minutes ago, sangria said:

 

 

[casajayo]

1 hour ago, Thesilentknight said:

Hi guys,

I"m a 24 year old, non traditional student, i've been accepted into Selkirk College's Rural Pre Medicine program, which has a bridge to obviously UBC, and U of C for their admissions, able to apply as an in province applicant for both. It is a great program, with a tightly knit community. I begin this September.

 

This past year I have completed a Medical Lab Assistant certificate. And now i've been offered a job in Masset, BC, as an MLA in their hospital. This is SUCH a wicked opportunity and I honestly see it as once in a lifetime. This can possibly give me a better idea of medicine, and to look at rural health issues at a closer scope.

I've had quite the interesting background, after highschool I took a forestry job, and worked in this industry for 4.5 years, in the off season I would travel, living abroad for one year, and I found myself working in Northern California on a regenerative cannabis farm, in the span of 2 years on and off.

I'm a very non traditional student, and i'm not necessarily in a "rush" to get things completed. I'm more healthy now than ever, and I truly believe I am able to pursue medicine and get accepted. I've been encouraged to pursue medicine by my professors.. But this Haida Gwaii opportunity seems like a great way to live for the next year, and possibly post pone my Selkirk program for one year.

I"m not freaking out, but i'm trying to reflect on a tough decision, and it would be amazing to hear some of your opinions. I tend to keep these thoughts to myself, but this is life altering, and will post pone the program another year, while I will be working in a rural area of BC.

 

What do you guys think of this? Have you guys dealt with similar dilemmas? For those that are willing to shed some light on my situation, i'd love to hear your words.

 

Sincerely,

 

Silent knight

Is it possible to defer your acceptance to Selkirk? If so, it sounds like you could have the best of both worlds - do a year in Masset doing something you're obviously super excited about, and then know that you have a spot secured for the next year in Selkirk. If you can't defer and you plan to re-apply to Selkirk in a year, would declining admission look unfavourably on your next application? I don't think it would necessarily, but would be something good to inquire about beforehand

[Thesilentknight]

6 hours ago, sangria said:

I hope I don't come across as flippant, but I don't see much of a dilemma. It sounds like you are really excited about the opportunity, and you really want to go. Live long and prosper, Silent Knight.

It depends on what you want -- it doesn't seem like you care about getting into medical school and starting to practice ASAP, and your current future plan is already a bit of a long route. It doesn't seem like you are doing this just to increase your chances of getting into medical school (which I advise strongly against), but rather you are genuinely wanting to experience that life. Who knows where life will take you? Give it a year, and maybe there are other better things in life you would rather be doing than premed/med. 

 

 

Thanks sangria! Good words, much appreciated. I believe this is a great opportunity, and I have been getting so caught up in the process, the race, the physician dream to being able to apply medicine and help people directly. But life is long and I have a long time to do this. I believe one year isn't the worst that I can do. I'll be 25 by the time I start the program at Selkirk, and possibly getting accepted in 3rd year, which makes me 28. If I get accepted into U of C, i'll be 31 by the time I am in residency. This is not old by any means, and I truly believe I'll be a great medical provider.

 

Thanks again for your taking the time to reply.

[Thesilentknight]

5 hours ago, casajayo said:

Is it possible to defer your acceptance to Selkirk? If so, it sounds like you could have the best of both worlds - do a year in Masset doing something you're obviously super excited about, and then know that you have a spot secured for the next year in Selkirk. If you can't defer and you plan to re-apply to Selkirk in a year, would declining admission look unfavourably on your next application? I don't think it would necessarily, but would be something good to inquire about beforehand

This is something I'm currently in correspondence with. They are probably thinking what a nut job this guy is haha. This definitely has given me a favorable point of view. Thank you. I'm waiting on a reply from Selkirk.

[Thesilentknight]

On ‎6‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 12:35 PM, casajayo said:

Is it possible to defer your acceptance to Selkirk? If so, it sounds like you could have the best of both worlds - do a year in Masset doing something you're obviously super excited about, and then know that you have a spot secured for the next year in Selkirk. If you can't defer and you plan to re-apply to Selkirk in a year, would declining admission look unfavourably on your next application? I don't think it would necessarily, but would be something good to inquire about beforehand

As it turns out, Selkirk has adapted their admissions and they have given me a deferral into the next cycle. So, I have a guaranteed seat!! All worked out in the end. Gives me time to review next years material, surf, create community, hunt... Excited!

[JohnGrisham]

Take the opportunity and start at selkirk next year.

That said:

"Selkirk College's Rural Pre Medicine program, which has a bridge to obviously UBC, and U of C for their admissions, able to apply as an in province applicant for bot"

Just in case anyone else reads this and mistakes things, aside from being able to apply as IP to both...it seems that UofC makes the exception and allows RPM to apply as in province(great!) but other than that (which is already huge) there is no formalized "bridge" or ANY direct benefit of the RPM program to get admitted into medical schools.   You will still need to get a very strong GPA and have really strong non-academics to make it to interview.  In other areas of the world bridge programs have a sort of gaurantee admission scheme to their partner medical school i.e. if you maintain a certain GPA you'll get in. This is not the case, just for anyone who may read and take that out of context.

That said, this work experience opportunity will help you work towards making that part of your application stronger

[plansformed2015]

What a cool program that I hadn't heard of before!  It sounds like a great "prep" school for MD, which I didn't think existed so much in Canada.  Is there a contact person for this program that you would recommend to learn more about it?  I'm glad to hear your mind frame that all experiences are important too, as this easily translates to the life-long learning that medicine demands!  

[BCelectrophile]

Deleted

[ploughboy]

No advice for you, just an off-topic question:  What on earth is a "regenerative cannabis farm"?

[Thesilentknight]

On 8/24/2018 at 12:31 PM, ploughboy said:

No advice for you, just an off-topic question:  What on earth is a "regenerative cannabis farm"?

Valid question.. in my early twenties, which was not far from present, I traveled through California and worked on a family run permaculture farm. Not sure I will add this into my future application but yes, they also grew cannabis. Regenerative farming methods indicate using resources only within a looped cycle.. organic fertilizer made from fungus etc.. as well as compostable teas to enhance the soils microbial biomass. 

 

[Thesilentknight]

On 8/23/2018 at 5:18 PM, BCelectrophile said:

Hi Thesilentknight. 

I would like to please offer you some thoughts on the Selkirk RPM program. I was a student in this program and I would discourage people from entering this program instead of a traditional bsc or ba program at a larger institution. If you would like to know more please pm me.

The Haida Gwaii opportunity sounds amazing! The islands are beautiful and the experience will definitely have a positive impact on your Rural & Remote Suitability Score for the UBC NMP & SMP as well as similarly at NOSM. Good luck!

Feed me your thoughts on this program... will use a critical eye when taking unsolicited advice from strangers in the other side of a computer. But go on, have your say. 

It should be known that no program will guarantee you admissions. You simply have to become an interesting and competitive candidate. You either have the drive, or not. The drive, or not. 

I don’t need to know more. I don’t need to live in a larger city and attend a large institution. 

Sincerely,

silent knight. 

[Thesilentknight]

On 8/22/2018 at 8:42 AM, JohnGrisham said:

Take the opportunity and start at selkirk next year.

That said:

"Selkirk College's Rural Pre Medicine program, which has a bridge to obviously UBC, and U of C for their admissions, able to apply as an in province applicant for bot"

Just in case anyone else reads this and mistakes things, aside from being able to apply as IP to both...it seems that UofC makes the exception and allows RPM to apply as in province(great!) but other than that (which is already huge) there is no formalized "bridge" or ANY direct benefit of the RPM program to get admitted into medical schools.   You will still need to get a very strong GPA and have really strong non-academics to make it to interview.  In other areas of the world bridge programs have a sort of gaurantee admission scheme to their partner medical school i.e. if you maintain a certain GPA you'll get in. This is not the case, just for anyone who may read and take that out of context.

That said, this work experience opportunity will help you work towards making that part of your application stronger

Yes, this is being done. I’m excited to get the ball rolling. I have learned much as to what rural medicine demands.. in all areas. What a challenging and rewarding vocation. I’ve learned an incredible amount within my laboratory scope of practice.

Haida Gwaii is incredible! The strong indigenous culture, the natural beauty, and the rural medicine...! Woot! 

Selkirk merely is suggesting that a small college has a difficult time recruiting strong, academically focused students, because they typically flock to larger institutions. I have been accepted to ubc and uvic, but feel compelled to attend Selkirk.

Although, it may be a difficult transition, due to the fact that Haida Gwaii is a water wonderland, within wondrous surfing during the winter... hmmm... overhead, clean waves.. only a 10 minute drive away!!