U of T essay format (order)

[Guest vitegeist]

The guideline for the U of T essay basically suggest the following outline:

 

Personal background,

-        particular interests

-        extracurricular activities

Medicine,

-        preparation for

-        choice of

Pre-medical studies

-        why you chose to pursue this

-        how this has prepared for the future, incl. med.

 

Does anyone know if they are very strict about the organization of the essay? It seems that some things would just fit together so much better if a different order were used (i.e. lump al the explicitly 'prep for medicine' things, etc).

 

Also, I wonder how creative one can get with this thing? My logic is that, as long as you answer all the questions, they won't mind if a common thread or theme is used throughout. Right? Wrong?

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<thread>Y</thread>

<threadtitle>Things done before 16 YOA</threadtitle>

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<username>Jake</username>

<dateline>1091896560</dateline>

<title>Things done before 16 YOA</title>

<pagetext>For the 48 item sketch, if there is something that I started doing before 16 YOA but am still doing now (21 YOA), may it be included?

 

Thanks,

Jake

P.S. Thank-you to everyone who has responded to all my other questions! You guys are great.

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<thread>Y</thread>

<threadtitle>Queen's - Self-directed learning question</threadtitle>

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<username>avisee</username>

<dateline>1091077380</dateline>

<title>Queen's - Self-directed learning question</title>

<pagetext>I'm having trouble coming up with an inspired response to Queen's question about self-directed learning. I was recently arranging to pursue an activity that might have made for a great response, but after 2 months of planning, the activity fell through at the last minute, and I'm finding it hard finding an alternative activity to use as example. I'm not sure if I have no real examples to use, or if I've just been spoiled by the prospect of such a great opportunity to direct my own learning, that any alternative response seems bland in comparison.

 

I'd appreciate it if any of you could share the sorts of things you are considering mentioning, or have heard that others have mentioned in this response. Do you use self-organized activities like foreign exchanges or working abroad? Do you use formal activities like distance ed or reading courses? Or do you describe how you learned in the workplace, like by developing your own experiments in a research lab?

 

It would be great to have an experience that is undeniably self-directed, but if you have to settle, is it better to describe how you learned in a not highly quanitifiable setting (eg, developing skill in an independent hobby), or in a formal setting that might not be viewed as entirely independent learning (eg, distance ed class, research lab)?

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<thread>Y</thread>

<threadtitle>who to pick for letters of reference??</threadtitle>

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<username>amd20</username>

<dateline>1080346920</dateline>

<title>who to pick for letters of reference??</title>

<pagetext>I know this has been discussed previously, but i'm still really torn as to who to get to write my letters of references...

 

I have a lot of highschool teachers and my highschool principal that I know very very well and who would probably write excellent letters, but how would these be viewed by the medschools? not recent enough?

 

Unfortunately, as my program is very large, and I don't really require a lot of help from profs, I don't have a prof that I know well at all. Is it really necessary to have a university prof as a reference? and is it a bad idea to get a letter from one you don't know very well?

 

I also don't know any doctors well enough to ask for a reference. Is that really important? I know I can get some great letters from the groups I volunteer with though...

 

So, I guess my question is, is it really necessary to stick to the "typical" references (ie doctor, prof, volunteer), and if I don't follow those exactly, will my application be looked upon less favourably??

 

Thanks!

amd20

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<thread>Y</thread>

<threadtitle>A few questions</threadtitle>

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<username>coolguy3650</username>

<dateline>1094533020</dateline>

<title>A few questions</title>

<pagetext>I have a few questions. Regarding reference letters, does OMSAS require you to have a prof write one of the letters? I don't think they do, but I wanted to make sure.

 

Also, I read that you don't necessarily have to have reference letters in by Oct.1. How late is too late for reference letters?

 

Finally, some schools seem to require first aid/CPR. Do you need these done before you apply, or before you enroll after you are accepted?