U of T Frequently Asked Questions

[anxious_101]

Thanks, anxious_101!

 

I fired off an email late last week to UTadmissions, so hopefully she gets back to me soon.

 

Yea, it is a bummer!! So close! And what's more I actually wrote a solid essay for UofT (in my opinion, of course).

 

I wonder if it would be cheeky of me to bring up the fact that they should really be more "precise" on their posted GPA numbers... the words of a desperate man

 

Post the question on the official blog - you'll get a reply within 24 hours from Deborah. They're terrible with responding to regular email queries.

 

Good luck man, I can imagine how frustrating it must be to sit on a 3.59. Ever thought about appealing one of your undergrad marks to see if it can get boosted by even 1%? I had a friend who had a 2nd year orgo chem mark boosted by 1% two years after he took the course just to meet a GPA cutoff for a grad program. Even if one mark goes up from 84 to 85, you'll clear the 3.6 cutoff. Something to thing about man. I think the stakes are high enough that you should look into all possibilities.

[Applemanv3]

Good point, but not possible in the program I am in.

 

I actually had to get an exam remark to go from a 3.69 in my final year to a 3.7, thereby meeting UWO's present cutoff for each of the best years' GPA. Doing that was in itself ridiculously complicated.

 

But its ok, I will hope for the best. And thanks, I will post on the blog if that's what it takes.

[Applemanv3]

I got the answer from Deborah regarding the above few posts.

 

A wGPA of 3.5945 will NOT be rounded up to a 3.60.

 

Also, when UofT states 3.6/4.0, they mean 3.60/4.00.

 

Finally, Deborah encourages that we not read too much into things and take them at face value as much as possible, which I do agree with.

 

P.S. The UTAdmissions blog is the QUICKEST way to get a response. Thanks again for the heads up, anxious_101!

[thehockeykid]

do u of t med grads get a class ring?

[rogerroger]

do u of t med grads get a class ring?

 

Nope, not that I am aware of and I am months away from convocation.

[kc752]

Is the 2nd year schedule still similar to this: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11914 ?

[lloyder34]

During fourth year are you allowed to undertake electives at other medical schools in Canada (ie Vancouver, Halifax) as you wish to explore these places before residency placement, or are such electives limited to the three month period following 3rd year?

Thanks

[mattg]

During fourth year are you allowed to undertake electives at other medical schools in Canada (ie Vancouver, Halifax) as you wish to explore these places before residency placement, or are such electives limited to the three month period following 3rd year?

Thanks

 

you can do electives anywhere you want in canada (provided you are able to get an elective there) in 4th year... the 3 month period following 3rd year IS elective time... there's no break after 3rd year

[DanInVan]

Is the 2nd year schedule still similar to this: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11914 ?

 

Not quite like that anymore.

 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: We start at 9 am and have lectures until noon. Afternoons are either more lectures, the Family Medicine Longitudinal Experience (~28 afternoons per year, each student must do six minimum), seminars (ethics or related to the subject matter of the week), or sometimes self study time.

 

Tuesday morning is time for your DOCH independent research project (9am-noon).

 

Thursday morning is clinical skills at your hospital (8am-noon).

 

Tuesday and Thursday afternoon is PBL time at your hospital (somewhere between 1-6 pm, varies by week/tutor).

 

This is the general schedule, but can fluctuate based on exams, holidays, etc.

[maadaputtar]

hey,

if someone is interested in doing their residency in the states, are their opportunities during the undergrad that will allow us to explore US schools/hospitals?

also, if one were to do their undergraduate in canada and then their residency in the states, can they come back and practice without jumping through hoops, or then they are treated the same as an IMG?

[Andie]

hey,

if someone is interested in doing their residency in the states, are their opportunities during the undergrad that will allow us to explore US schools/hospitals?

also, if one were to do their undergraduate in canada and then their residency in the states, can they come back and practice without jumping through hoops, or then they are treated the same as an IMG?

 

I think that for 4th year you can go to any accredited medical school for your electives, they just have to be approved by UofT in advance.

 

If you do your residency in the states, it depends. They have some programs that do not have an equivalent program in Canada, so there is no equivalent route for licensing. For the most part though it is feasible, you should be aware of what the licensing requirement in Canada is for your specialty and make sure you are in a comparable program. For most specialists, you need a 5 year training program and then pass the various levels of licensing exams, and then you should be ok to practice in Canada. The trouble is some of their programs are 4 years, vs 5 here... so where/how do you do a 5th year?

 

If you are thinking of working in Canada it doesn't make sense to do your residency there. Matching to the US is a huge hastle. You have to write the USMLEs and do really well, its like the MCAT all over again. The american match is after the Canadian one so you have to forgo trying to match in Canada. Matching in the states is tough, many people interview at 30+ schools, and may still not match. I think a better route is to do residency in Canada, then a fellowship in the states. Less risky in terms of going through the match, easier for licencing, you only have to pass the USMLE not get 99 percentile...

 

 

When I talk to students attending other med schools, it seems like they almost universally believe that everything is much more difficult and stressful at Toronto than at other schools. Is there any truth to this? Does being in class 9-5 make doing things outside of school more difficult?

 

We were really only 9-5 during the anatomy block in the fall of first year, it eases off after that. That being said I think we have the most class hours of any school. If you want to do other stuff, you can skip and go shadow or whatever and watch the lectures later. I personally think that UofT produces very knowledgeable students, so the extra time/intensity is worth it.... but in the end we all pass the board exams and match to residency, so it doesn't really matter.

 

There are a lot of stereotypes about every school, some sort of true and some not. Medical school is a lot of work at UofT, but medical school anywhere is a lot of work. But despite that, our class is super busy out side of school with shadowing, volunteering, research, student council, intermurals, sports, clubs, hobbies or just hanging out. There is still lots of time for fun and personal time

[123izme]

I was wondering if anyone knows that the exact post-interview formula is. I remember reading somewhere that the interview is only worth 20% but I can no longer find that post.

[rmorelan]

I was wondering if anyone knows that the exact post-interview formula is. I remember reading somewhere that the interview is only worth 20% but I can no longer find that post.

 

The office on the blog refused to answer that question lately - meaning there is no official answer.

[Leon]

ArchEnemy and I will be compiling an updated thread with all Admissions related information for UofT. If anyone has any FAQs that has not yet been brought up in the stickies, please post below and we will incorporate them into the thread.

Cheers

[wasp]

ArchEnemy and I will be compiling an updated thread with all Admissions related information for UofT. If anyone has any FAQs that has not yet been brought up in the stickies, please post below and we will incorporate them into the thread.

Cheers

 

Where could I find this thread?

Thank you!

[Leon]

Where could I find this thread?

Thank you!

 

I'm still making it! February was more busy than I anticipated- I hope to have it ready by the end of March and it will be posted here as a sticky. All the other FAQ threads will be archived since the new one will contain all the content.

[ACHQ]

I'm still making it! February was more busy than I anticipated- I hope to have it ready by the end of March and it will be posted here as a sticky. All the other FAQ threads will be archived since the new one will contain all the content.

 

Also maybe get a few upper years to check it out maybe to add FAQ's about 2nd, 3rd and 4th year.

[Leon]

Also maybe get a few upper years to check it out maybe to add FAQ's about 2nd, 3rd and 4th year.

 

That's a good idea! I'll reach you guys when I have it ready later this month.