Honours degree?

[claire_tea]

Hello! I was wondering if anyone could explain to me what is meant by Western's "Honours degree or equivalent" requirement? I apologize in advance if this has been discussed numerous times, I don't seem to be very good with the search function!

Is this simply the requirement that 60% of classes must be "upper level" (300 or 400) in your last two years, or is it actually required to receive a BSc Honors or BA Honors?

 

Thanks so much!

[future_doc]

I believe that you should be able to pursue a Master's program.

[runningdoc]

Honours degree or equivalent: applicants must have taken sufficient senior level courses during the second, third, and fourth year of their 4-year program to enable them to be eligible for admissions into a graduate (Masters Degree) program.

 

That is the definition of "Honours degree or equivalent" given in the Schulich admission information document. So yes, it is taking 2nd year courses in 2nd year, 3rd year courses in 3rd year, 4th year courses in 4th year.

[claire_tea]

Thank you

[claire_tea]

To bump this, I have a related question.

 

I am taking a 4th and 5th year to fulfill Western's requirements that 5 full time classes be taken, and 60% of the classes must be "upper level" (3rd and 4th) during the final two years of a degree. My question is, does it matter the distribution of classes between the two school semesters? For instance, if I were to take four/five 3rd or 4th year classes from September-December, is it acceptable to take two/five 3rd of 4th year classes from December-April, or does each semester independently require the 60% upper level course saturation?

 

Thank you again!

[rmorelan]

To bump this, I have a related question.

 

I am taking a 4th and 5th year to fulfill Western's requirements that 5 full time classes be taken, and 60% of the classes must be "upper level" (3rd and 4th) during the final two years of a degree. My question is, does it matter the distribution of classes between the two school semesters? For instance, if I were to take four/five 3rd or 4th year classes from September-December, is it acceptable to take two/five 3rd of 4th year classes from December-April, or does each semester independently require the 60% upper level course saturation?

 

Thank you again!

 

We consider entire years as a whole, and do not care about the semesterly breakdown. As long as collectively you hit the required 60% level you will be fine

[supafield]

To bump this, I have a related question.

 

I am taking a 4th and 5th year to fulfill Western's requirements that 5 full time classes be taken, and 60% of the classes must be "upper level" (3rd and 4th) during the final two years of a degree. My question is, does it matter the distribution of classes between the two school semesters? For instance, if I were to take four/five 3rd or 4th year classes from September-December, is it acceptable to take two/five 3rd of 4th year classes from December-April, or does each semester independently require the 60% upper level course saturation?

 

Thank you again!

 

In the past, I believe the special year (5th year) has a slightly different course requirement.

 

of the 5.0, 4.0 must be senior level (2nd, 3rd or 4th year courses) I don't know if this has changed.

[rmorelan]

In the past, I believe the special year (5th year) has a slightly different course requirement.

 

of the 5.0, 4.0 must be senior level (2nd, 3rd or 4th year courses) I don't know if this has changed.

 

If I remember correctly, you cannot have any first year courses during that year and no second year courses that do not have a first year prerequisite.

 

It one of those things that really has to be watched - no one wants to run into that kind of problem!

[supafield]

If I remember correctly, you cannot have any first year courses during that year and no second year courses that do not have a first year prerequisite.

 

It one of those things that really has to be watched - no one wants to run into that kind of problem!

 

I'm pretty sure no first year courses and only 1.0 of 5.0 can be 2nd year without pre-reqs

[rmorelan]

I'm pretty sure no first year courses and only 1.0 of 5.0 can be 2nd year without pre-reqs

 

Did something change, or am I being clueless?

 

13. Does Schulich Medicine allow applicants to take additional undergraduate years to improve their academic standing?

Applicants who have earned a degree from a recognized university, may elect to continue in full-time undergraduate studies (a so-called special year) so that their academic standing may be improved for application to medical school. Only the first special year taken by the applicant will be considered for determination of GPA.

 

(Applicants must already have one undergraduate year that meets the GPA cutoff.) A special year will only be considered if it contains five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) taken between September and April. First year courses, repeat/antirequisite courses, and second-year courses that do not require a first-year prerequisite are not acceptable in the special year. (Revised and approved by the Medicine Admissions Committee, May 2008)

[claire_tea]

Wow, I am very glad I posted this question! I had no idea there may be a shift in course level requirements for the 5th year. This may change the easy elective classes I planned to take next fall, since I'm running out of class options!

So to clarify, supafield/rmorelan:

For my 4th year, do 200 level classes count as senior level then? I see supafield listed them under senior level in his post, but I could have sworn I had read on these boards they had to be 300 or 400 level?

 

For my 5th year, 5/5 classes must be upper level (so 2nd/3rd/4th year according to your post), and every 2nd year class taken must have prerequisite requirements?

 

Again, that you guys SO much. I thought I had sorted out my classes for next year and understood all the requirements, but this may have turned things upside down.

[supafield]

You're right RMorelan.... when I initially considered the special year, it was pre-2008....

[supafield]

\!

So to clarify, supafield/rmorelan:

For my 4th year, do 200 level classes count as senior level then? I see

 

They're considered senior level for a 5th special year (as long as the require a pre-requisite to take)...

 

But in your 4th year.... 3.0/5.0 courses must be 3rd or 4th year courses.

 

Tricky business.

[Angelia]

Does anyone know if those rules apply for a second degree? The information on their website says:

 

Applicants who embark on a second degree program are allowed to apply only during the final year of their program which must be an Honors Degree or equivalent program. Three out of 5 full or equivalent courses taken in each of the upper years of the second degree program must be senior-level courses. GPA consideration is based on the two best years of the second degree program. Applicants who are given a conditional offer must complete all program requirements for the second degree prior to registration in the M.D. program. (Approved by the Medicine Admissions Committee, May 2008) Students who choose to take a second undergraduate degree cannot expect the Admissions Committee to consider a mixture of GPAs from both degrees. Only the most recent degree work will be considered.

 

Due to the fact that I am completing a whole another degree in two years I don't really have any choice in what I take (no electives). I am hoping that the senior level courses are 'second year and above', because I satisfy that requirement. Has anyone else dealt with this before?

[rmorelan]

You're right RMorelan.... when I initially considered the special year, it was pre-2008....

 

That's the trouble, they are always changing the rules on everyone

[Bets]

I'm not positive about this anymore, but I think adding a fifth year to your degree before graduating is not considered a "special year", it's just a 5th year within a degree. Therefore, the usual rules regarding course load and course level would apply (3/5 must be senior level courses). If you are taking a fifth year AFTER obtaining a degree, you must follow the "special year" rules. I would suggest contacting admissions to confirm this.

[BigM]

They're considered senior level for a 5th special year (as long as the require a pre-requisite to take)...

 

But in your 4th year.... 3.0/5.0 courses must be 3rd or 4th year courses.

 

Tricky business.

 

Any idea how this would work if I took 6.0 courses? In my third year I had the following:

 

1.5 credit 000 level

0.5 credit 100 level

0.5 credit 200 level

3.5 credit 300 level

 

Taking my top 5.0 credits from the year it would be

1.0 credit 000 level

0.5 credit 200 level

3.5 credit 300 level

 

Would this year be usable even though less than 60% of the 6.0 credits were 300+ level. I imagine they would take the top 5.0 and see that over 60% there is 300 level. Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

Thanks,

BigM

[MDhopefull]

I have a related question..

 

If you are in a bachelors program but you switch at the end of your 3rd year into honours, can that year still be counted as one of the two years used to calculate your gpa?

 

Thanks in advance!

[BigM]

I have a related question..

 

If you are in a bachelors program but you switch at the end of your 3rd year into honours, can that year still be counted as one of the two years used to calculate your gpa?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

From my understanding, it shouldn't matter. I have heard Schulich say that you need an honours level or equivalent. I believe what they are trying to say here is just that at least 3.0 credits must match your year level. I.e. the fact that you switched into an honours program in year 4 is fine. Year 3 should be usable as long as 3.0 credits were 300+ and year 4 should be usable as long as 3.0 credits were 400+.

 

Of course, don't take this answer as being absolute as I'm still waiting for an answer to the question I asked above

[rmorelan]

Any idea how this would work if I took 6.0 courses? In my third year I had the following:

 

1.5 credit 000 level

0.5 credit 100 level

0.5 credit 200 level

3.5 credit 300 level

 

Taking my top 5.0 credits from the year it would be

1.0 credit 000 level

0.5 credit 200 level

3.5 credit 300 level

 

Would this year be usable even though less than 60% of the 6.0 credits were 300+ level. I imagine they would take the top 5.0 and see that over 60% there is 300 level. Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

Thanks,

BigM

 

I asked them about this a bit ago - as you know they drop the lowest courses to get 5.0 for consideration. However they said they would not drop a course if dropping it would put you below 60% courses that the right year or higher. So in you case they could drop only a single senior level course (if it happened to be lower) - does that makes sense to you?

[rmorelan]

I have a related question..

 

If you are in a bachelors program but you switch at the end of your 3rd year into honours, can that year still be counted as one of the two years used to calculate your gpa?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Shouldn't matter, as long as that year would still have the correct number of courses at the corresponding year level or higher.

[BigM]

I asked them about this a bit ago - as you know they drop the lowest courses to get 5.0 for consideration. However they said they would not drop a course if dropping it would put you below 60% courses that the right year or higher. So in you case they could drop only a single senior level course (if it happened to be lower) - does that makes sense to you?

 

Yep, that makes sense to me. Luckily in my case its the low level courses that had significantly lower grades (needed to get my arts & essay credits in... turns out I wasn't born to study philosophy or classics).

 

Thanks for the confirmation.