My NAQs for critique, along with some questions...

[Janitor]

First my NAQs, then a few questions.

 

I posted my NAQs a while back, but this list is far more comprehensive and up-to-date. I've calculated my AQ to be about 17/25 (77% oGPA, 78.5% L60), so I'm looking at about 18.5/25 NAQ needed to score an interview, afaik. Hoping this, plus my autobio and my employment history is at least close. Also, I do/did the vast majority of this while in school.

 

Leadership

 

Human Anatomy Lab TA - 95 hours - current

Inline hockey (team captain) - 432 hours - current

 

 

Capacity to Work with Others

 

Wheels in Motion volunteer (wheelchair race) - 11 hours

Mustard Seed Street Church volunteer - 104 hours

Alzheimer's program volunteer - 45 hours - current

 

Service Ethic

 

Mustard Seed Drive-by Breakfast volunteer - 34 hours - current

Blood bank volunteer - 49 hours - current

Hospital ED volunteer - 38 hours - current

 

Diversity of Experiences

 

Gymnastics - 208 hours - current

Ice hockey (team) - 104 hours

Blood donation - 4

Motivations for Physical Activity volunteer - 110 hours

Piano - 463 hours - current

Police Camp (Valedictorian) - 195 hours

Solo Travel (Southern USA/Caribbean, 3 months) - 1275 hours

Chiropractor Shadowing - 5 hours

French lang - 360 hours

Spanish lang - 300 hours

Japanese lang - 510 hours

 

High Performance in an Area of Human Endeavour

 

Kung-Fu - 2420 hours

Athleticism/fitness - 1560 hours

--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

As for my questions...

 

1) The above section is not complete. I have studied French, Spanish and Japanese for a number of years each - would I just put, for example, "French language" as the activity title, then calculate the number of hours I spent learning and practicing it, and put one of my teachers as a verifier?

 

2) I go to the gym about 4 times a week. It's not listed above because I was thinking of putting it in High Performance. I have had a super strict diet and training regimen since June 2004 (1560 hours to current). I am most assuredly "at a level that exceeds what can be expected of a typical, average applicant." I maintain a bodyfat of about 5%, year-round, with a very impressive strength to weight ratio. I'm not a genetically super-lean person either - it takes intense dedication, discipline, and mental strength. I'm looking for advice on this.

 

3) This is probably the list of NAQs that will go to UBC in my application seeing as it's mid-August - is this competitive? It's tough to call because no one among us really knows the calculation...but I hope I reach that 18.5/25.

 

Very appreciative of the help!

[keepontrying]

Honestly, i really don't see how that list can score you a 18.5/25. I think you'll probably get only 14-15 /25. Other than the diversity section, everything else is pretty weak relative to what other applicants have accomplished in terms of commitment, diversity, and responsibilities. And the fatal blow is that nothing really makes you more outstanding than the rest of the crowd. You might think that your intense workout is pretty unique and deserves some score in the high performance department, but were you recognized for your hardwork in someway or another? Like, did you win some provincial or national level fitness competition/marathon/etc? If not, then I highly doubt UBC will give you any score for high performance because how can UBC tell if what you have described is legit? And just so you know, 18.5/25 is a pretty high NAQ score. If you search the forum and look at other applicants' CV, you'll know exactly how hard it is to have a high NAQ score.

[new member]

how many entries and hours do most people have?

[TankMasterFlex]

Generally people that are accepted with averages below 80% either have a very high last 60 credits average, or have significant research contributions (published papers, conference presentations etc...). Scoring the bare minimum for an interview may get you an interview, but to actually get accepted you have to stand out somehow. I agree with the above post that your NAQ would likely get you 14-15/25. I would suggest going back to school to boost your last 60 credits to somewhere around 85%, or doing a course based masters.

 

UBC is pretty strict with awarding points for the high level of achievement so that first authors on papers in major journals, athletes who competed nationally at a sporting event, musicians with significant music achievements, and olympic athletes will stand out. I don't think your athletics and fitness will get you any points in that section, as you haven't really "achieved" anything. Definitely include it in the application, but I wouldn't use up a lot of your characters describing it...

[Janitor]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll take it into consideration. Guess my autobiography is going to have to rock, hard.

 

Edit: PM'ed you chewbacca

[Laura_333]

And just so you know, 18.5/25 is a pretty high NAQ score. If you search the forum and look at other applicants' CV, you'll know exactly how hard it is to have a high NAQ score.

 

This is true, but keep in mind those who get in don't see their scores, so maybe its harder to know what gets you a really high score. Mine must have been on the lower since my CV was slightly less impressive than yours, but with more research. I def agree that going back to school (undergrad) for a year or two will likely help you more than killing yourself for better NAQ scores.

[intouch]

I'll echo what the others said.. it looks like an extra year of everything could really help. Its not a big deal, I would definitely still apply, if anything, you get the practice, you get the MCAT out of the way, AND you get an idea of where you stand if you're rejected when you get your scores back... very valuable info.

 

Bring up your GPA... enter some competitive training/weightlifting programs where there is potential to win awards etc at competitions... and you're TAing already? great, now use your connections to do a sweet directed study or research project, possibly that gets published. Those three things could make all the difference in your app.

 

Remember that TONS of people get in on their second, third, fourth attempt. Not being ready or getting in first shot is nothing to worry about.

 

 

Good luck!

[medisforme]

FYI

 

I emailed the admissions regarding criteria for the "high performance section" and they said that many successful applicants do not score at all in this category. they included it in the application so that certain applicants can score needed points if they devoted most/all of their time to one particular area of their life (as has been mentioned it is reserved for olympic athletes, gifted artists, those who created/invented something unique etc...).

[Janitor]

Thank you medisforme!

[djmackj]

wow, some negative energy in here. Considering none of us really know how the NAQ is scored, let's not crush the guy's confidence into the ground. What I see here is a very well-rounded individual with long-term committments in a variety of activities and endeavours. In applications like these, every little thing helps, if you don't write it down, it could never help you out. So do write down your athletic abilities/accomplishments, even if they're on a personal level. I don't know if the lack of research will hurt you, but UBC has always stressed that one need not to have research to be competitive. Write a stand-out essay and feel proud about your application, if you don't get in, you'll know how you scored on the NAQ and you'll definitely know what to do to improve at that point. Cheers.

[guitarded27]

While the points made by other students here are indeed valid, I personally know a person who had a far less impressive list of ECs and came out with a 17/25. Apparently, this person listed only 10 activities in total, and most of them were fairly standard, average sorts of ECs like senior home and hospital volunteering. Safe to say, I was shocked, but then remembered that my friend was an ingenious writer and was exceptionally apt at polishing turd to sell as gems.

 

It is mostly in the wording that you use, so focus mainly on that. You never know, you may end up with a score as high as the 20's, or as low as 12. Nobody can predict these things with any certainty.

[JazzyJ]

I know I'm getting in on this thread late, but I have a feeling guitarded is on the money. I had a much less impressive list of ECs last year and got an 18, without any hospital or clinic work. Maybe I wrote a good essay, or maybe my work history was above average, but quantity wasn't it.

[AndreaM]

Back in the day when I first started applying (2002) they would do one on one councelling if you didn't get in and tell you where you were weak and what you could do to improve. I wish they still did that. What I got from the councelling I had was that they like to see long standing service/participation in what you are doing and you will get more marks for that than for doing many different activities for a short period. Also, there were marks for things like applying for a second time or having a relative who had a serious medical condition (eg. aunt with cancer or parent who's a parapalegic) that come up in your essay that don't fit in your ec's.

 

I don't know how much is still relevent, seeing as it was 7 years ago and it's been 4 years since I last applied, but I can't see them changing that much. I don't know if you will get the 18 that you're hoping for. I would guess probably closer to 16 based on my previous attempts, but you never know. There is a lot in how you describe things.

[agray33]

Prob a dumb q, but going by the last reply on this thread, would it be at all advantageous to put in our essay that we are a re-applicant?

[AndreaM]

There is a question on the application towards the end that asks if you have ever applied before. If it works into the story of your essay that you've applied before then by all means put it in, but if it doesn't fit then they will see that you have applied before based on your answer on the application. Also, if you applied last year then they still have most of your application on file.