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pre-interview formula, gpa worth 63%?


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that just makes it totally impossible for someone with a 3.0 to even get an interview...why don't they just be realistic and jack up the 3.0 cut off

 

Actually, I feel that it should be the candidate who should be 'realistic' moreso than the school. The school can basically set any admission criteria they wish. The candidate, on the other hand, is the one who has an onus to research the school and to see what type of candidates Mac typically takes. Mac makes it easy by publishing the stats of all of students in the previous three years. Just by looking at these stats you can see that average gpa's are between the 3.8 and 3.9 range. So if the candidate, knowing this information, still feels the need to apply with a 3.0 then that is completely up to him/her knowing that the risks of admission are slim to none.

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Actually, I feel that it should be the candidate who should be 'realistic' moreso than the school. The school can basically set any admission criteria they wish. The candidate, on the other hand, is the one who has an onus to research the school and to see what type of candidates Mac typically takes. Mac makes it easy by publishing the stats of all of students in the previous three years. Just by looking at these stats you can see that average gpa's are between the 3.8 and 3.9 range. So if the candidate, knowing this information, still feels the need to apply with a 3.0 then that is completely up to him/her knowing that the risks of admission are slim to none.

 

To add onto that, it's important to keep in mind that the cutoff applies to the undergrad GPA for every single applicant, including mature professionals who hold a PhD. In those cases, the 4% boost for the doctorate may push someone who had a poor undergrad GPA above the interview rank list cutoff. I think it's safe to say that most undergrads with a 3.0 GPA would have a tough time getting an interview unless they had perfect scores on the abs.

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success for invitation with the new formula:

 

just take applied basket-weaving to ensure you don't have to have the troubles of the 1000 and 2000 sciences (that's what they want you to do with no pre-reqs, I mean duh they don't want the biochemists!), save the children for a couple summers

 

basketweaving high gpa = $ 16 000

saving the children = $ 10 000

 

Knowing that you never have to step into a science lab or take the mcat to make up for your low GPA and still get in before the msc' phd' and other struggling pre-meds = priceless

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I smell sour grapes...

 

success for invitation with the new formula:

 

just take applied basket-weaving to ensure you don't have to have the troubles of the 1000 and 2000 sciences (that's what they want you to do with no pre-reqs, I mean duh they don't want the biochemists!), save the children for a couple summers

 

basketweaving high gpa = $ 16 000

saving the children = $ 10 000

 

Knowing that you never have to step into a science lab or take the mcat to make up for your low GPA and still get in before the msc' phd' and other struggling pre-meds = priceless

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success for invitation with the new formula:

 

just take applied basket-weaving to ensure you don't have to have the troubles of the 1000 and 2000 sciences (that's what they want you to do with no pre-reqs, I mean duh they don't want the biochemists!), save the children for a couple summers

 

basketweaving high gpa = $ 16 000

saving the children = $ 10 000

 

Knowing that you never have to step into a science lab or take the mcat to make up for your low GPA and still get in before the msc' phd' and other struggling pre-meds = priceless

 

Its kinda true - not really trolling here. Yet makes you think twice before bashing Queen's 'R' cutoff for the writing sample this year.

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From McMaster Stats 2010:

 

Masters in Progress 11

Masters Completed 10

PhD in Progress 3

PhD Completed 1

 

I'm just curious as to what in progress is because I thought you were not allowed to get accepted into med school if you were in the middle of your masters or phd.

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From McMaster Stats 2010:

 

Masters in Progress 11

Masters Completed 10

PhD in Progress 3

PhD Completed 1

 

I'm just curious as to what in progress is because I thought you were not allowed to get accepted into med school if you were in the middle of your masters or phd.

 

I agree... I'm interested to read more about this.

 

where are these stats from?

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From McMaster Stats 2010:

 

Masters in Progress 11

Masters Completed 10

PhD in Progress 3

PhD Completed 1

 

I'm just curious as to what in progress is because I thought you were not allowed to get accepted into med school if you were in the middle of your masters or phd.

 

i'm pretty sure that was only for toronto; mac doesn't make any such statements regarding MD admission

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i'm pretty sure that was only for toronto; mac doesn't make any such statements regarding MD admission

 

Mac includes this data on their admissions web site, Toronto does not. I must somewhat agree that no prereqs (basketweaving may be a bit extreme but feasible), no MCAT and a 3 year PBL structure may shock a few students when they get hit with the realization that knowledge of biological sciences are required on medical exams and there is nation-wide competition for residency positions

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From McMaster Stats 2010:

 

Masters in Progress 11

Masters Completed 10

PhD in Progress 3

PhD Completed 1

 

I'm just curious as to what in progress is because I thought you were not allowed to get accepted into med school if you were in the middle of your masters or phd.

 

I think "in progress" means at the time of application. There is a very good chance those grad students who have a degree in progress are in their last year of the program when they apply. Mac might differentiate the two groups because the "in progress" do not get special treatment, while the "completed" get that pre-interview boost.

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I think "in progress" means at the time of application. There is a very good chance those grad students who have a degree in progress are in their last year of the program when they apply. Mac might differentiate the two groups because the "in progress" do not get special treatment, while the "completed" get that pre-interview boost.

 

This is correct, however, not all grad applicants need to be finished their graduate degree in order to be accepted to McMaster (like some other schools). McMaster only requires that grad applicants have a letter from their supervisor/department head stating that they are aware that the student intends to apply for medical school the following academic year. Therefore, a grad applicant can apply in their first year of a graduate program and can be admitted to Mac prior to starting the second year. As long as your graduate program is aware of your intentions to apply to med school, there are no other restrictions or conditions that you complete it first.

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This is correct, however, not all grad applicants need to be finished their graduate degree in order to be accepted to McMaster (like some other schools). McMaster only requires that grad applicants have a letter from their supervisor/department head stating that they are aware that the student intends to apply for medical school the following academic year. Therefore, a grad applicant can apply in their first year of a graduate program and can be admitted to Mac prior to starting the second year. As long as your graduate program is aware of your intentions to apply to med school, there are no other restrictions or conditions that you complete it first.

 

really eh? Is this officially posted by McMaster somewhere? I'm curious as I'm interested in starting a masters but also applying.

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really eh? Is this officially posted by McMaster somewhere? I'm curious as I'm interested in starting a masters but also applying.

 

In this case, it is more important to note what is not posted by McMaster as opposed to what is posted. Mac does not specifically state that you need to complete a masters before you can be admitted. That's all that matters. If they do not state a specific requirement (such as needing to complete a masters before admission) then why go looking for something that isn't specifically laid out in their admissions protocol?

 

If they wanted or required you to complete a masters prior to admission, they would have an duty and obligation to lay this information out in their admissions package. If it isn't specificallly outlined in this manner, it means that it isn't required. You can always contact the admissions office for this information as well if you want to obtain this information directly from the source. Cheers and best of luck.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just wanted to share this piece of information I read in the 'Medicine at McMaster 2008-2009' pdf booklet off the website:

 

"Graduate work will not be considered unless it is complete and the degree has been conferred by the application deadline, October 1, 2008. Individual grades received for course work taken as part of a graduate degree will not be included in the calculation of the grade point average."

 

I take it this has changed now for this application cycle, then? I wasn't aware of this specification in previous years.

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Just wanted to share this piece of information I read in the 'Medicine at McMaster 2008-2009' pdf booklet off the website:

 

"Graduate work will not be considered unless it is complete and the degree has been conferred by the application deadline, October 1, 2008. Individual grades received for course work taken as part of a graduate degree will not be included in the calculation of the grade point average."

 

I take it this has changed now for this application cycle, then? I wasn't aware of this specification in previous years.

 

No, as far as I'm aware thats the way it has always been with them - its probably a more a point of clarification.

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