foregoneconclusion Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hey guys, I'm an Ontario resident who didn't have luck this prior application cycle and am hoping to broaden my pool of schools. I have heard rave reviews about UBC (especially its campus) and it seems like a great place to be. I'm just not sure whether I have a chance? My overall GPA on the OMSAS system was a 3.8 but I believe that UBC uses averages? I don't know what my overall average would be but it would probably be around 85%. My MCAT was 10/11/12/R. My extracurrics are not the greatest: heavy involvement in student politics, working full-time at a medical clinic for a year after undergrad and volunteering a children's hospital and a lot of random creative writing. I have no idea about this process. I can't even seem to find the reference letter requirements (I haven't registered on the system yet). Sorry if I sound ignorant or if I sound like I haven't looked into this much, I just feel like PM101 is the best place to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng_dude786 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 AQ (Academic Qualifications) Score and NAQ (Non-Academic Qualifications) Score is used to determine if you get invited for an interview or not. UBC looks at the MCAT post-interview. Ultimately, as an OOP, it really depends on how well your NAQ score. It is determined out of 25. AQ and NAQ is added together to get a number out of xx/50 If that XX is bigger than a cutoff then UBC invites OOP for interview. The cutoff last year was around 42.44 Reference letters are only required if you get an interview. Here are some stats from previous years. http://www.med.ubc.ca/education/md_ugrad/MD_Undergraduate_Admissions/MD_Undergraduate_Admissions_Statistics.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mei_Mei_girl Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hey there, I got accepted this year to UBC as an OOP from Ontario. Eng_dude is right in that most people will have 25/25 or pretty close for AQ (85% grades give you 25 AQ) so to distinguish yourself you need some solid NAQ. You really have to spend the time to figure out who you are and why you want to be accepted to medical school since it will come across in your essay and other aspects of NAQ. What I recommend is being truthful, make a comprehensive list of all you've done, and take the time to write a stellar essay. If you are applying this year, START NOW!! The UBC application is much more intense than the Ontario OMSAS applications I found, so be forwarned --- you won't submit a good one if its too last minute. If there's anything I can help you with feel free to PM me -- and I"ll try my best. Really, when I submitted my application, I was thinking, "well -- I'm one of the 600 OOP who is applying -- " Theres always that question mark in your mind. All the best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foregoneconclusion Posted July 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 AQ (Academic Qualifications) Score and NAQ (Non-Academic Qualifications) Score is used to determine if you get invited for an interview or not. UBC looks at the MCAT post-interview. Ultimately, as an OOP, it really depends on how well your NAQ score. It is determined out of 25. AQ and NAQ is added together to get a number out of xx/50 If that XX is bigger than a cutoff then UBC invites OOP for interview. The cutoff last year was around 42.44 Reference letters are only required if you get an interview. Here are some stats from previous years. http://www.med.ubc.ca/education/md_ugrad/MD_Undergraduate_Admissions/MD_Undergraduate_Admissions_Statistics.htm Thanks so much. Now is there any way at all to know what a high naq equates to? I don't have any science publications and only have an 8 month thesis as research experience but have done a lot of other things during the past 5 years... It just seems that OOPs need to be absolute superstars to get into some schools (I think University of Saskatchewan wanted a 92% avg??!?!?)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mei_Mei_girl Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 hey again, it seems that we posted a message at teh same time (weird!!) -- but read my message above the one you just wrote!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foregoneconclusion Posted July 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 hey again,it seems that we posted a message at teh same time (weird!!) -- but read my message above the one you just wrote!!! Thanks for the advice, I'll sign up and get started right away. I wrote an essay for American medical schools so I may be able to adapt that. Do you know the reference requirements that they require after things are said and done? I'm contacting the referees now regardless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mei_Mei_girl Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hey there, Its good that you have an essay to work off of...that will save you alot of worrying! As for the references (the three formal references), they are ONLY requested if you are invited for an interview. So don't worry about them right now. (please note: this is how it was last year, unless they have changed it this year). The three requirements for references are straight forward too: one academic, one personal, one community (there's detailed info in the link they provide if you get an interview) so really just worry about the referees for all of the activities you will list...the interview invites are usually sent in February; this past year 49 OOP out of about 600 were invited for interview gl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitaminC Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Apparently, because of the extended Reading Week due to the Olympics in Vancouver, the interviews are starting by the end of January! This also means interview invites will be sent out by mid-December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurkandJD Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 does the prerequisites for UBC med have to completed before/during the year of application or is it possible to take it the summer prior to enrollment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitaminC Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Nope, they have to be completed by the time you get accepted. i.e. for entry in September 2010, courses needed to be done by April 30, 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng_dude786 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 in regards to the essay, maybe I am wrong, but I was under the impression they looked at the essay post-interview? I thought to get an interview it was essentially AQ and NAQ scores? Maybe someone can clarify...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 I haven't applied but from what the website says, the essay is part of the NAQ which would be pre-interview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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