Graduate Student Applicants

[IsItTooLate]

Anyone know if this policy applies to UBC Graduate students only? It seems like it's only for UBC grad students but it's not clear. In other words, does it apply to graduate students at some other university, because not everyone wants to complete their program before switching to Med.

https://mdprogram.med.ubc.ca/admissions/before-you-apply/admission-requirements/

 

[frenchpress]

It applies to all applicants, from all universities. Not sure where you get the impression from that content that it would only apply to UBC grads. 

While you’re correct that some people may start a graduate program that they ultimately decide not to finish, the point of the policy is to discourage applicants from starting/committing to a graduate degree that they will not complete just to make their med school application look better. If you’re in a graduate program and want to quit to switch into med, you either need to quit and do something else for awhile before applying, or finish it. 

[IsItTooLate]

On 1/31/2023 at 3:58 PM, frenchpress said:

It applies to all applicants, from all universities. Not sure where you get the impression from that content that it would only apply to UBC grads. 

While you’re correct that some people may start a graduate program that they ultimately decide not to finish, the point of the policy is to discourage applicants from starting/committing to a graduate degree that they will not complete just to make their med school application look better. If you’re in a graduate program and want to quit to switch into med, you either need to quit and do something else for awhile before applying, or finish it. 

Thank you for the clarification. That's a tough policy then with the no exceptions part. 

Interesting policy. Well it's what it is so I guess the trick is to make sure a withdrawal happens by that application deadline. In that case, people can still take courses before then to bolster their chances, just no longer be able to finish the Masters program.

 

[frenchpress]

10 hours ago, IsItTooLate said:

Thank you for the clarification. That's a tough policy then with the no exceptions part. 

Interesting policy. Well it's what it is so I guess the trick is to make sure a withdrawal happens by that application deadline. In that case, people can still take courses before then to bolster their chances, just no longer be able to finish the Masters program.

 

It’s not a universal policy, but I am pretty sure that UBC is not the only school with that policy. In addition, I would be careful about signing up for programs/courses in such a way that it makes you look like you’re trying to bolster your application and nothing else, as this could be frowned upon.
 

From the UBC faqs: “We do note course withdrawals, but in the context of an entire application withdrawal from one course is unlikely to have a significant negative impact. Applicants who withdrew from multiple courses or who withdrew from their academic program should provide an explanation on the application.”  And “Students who enroll in unclassified, non-degree programs for the sole purpose of improving their academic qualifications are advised that only a small proportion of such candidates gain admission.”