JanF Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Does anyone know if it matters what Math I should take? As in should I take Calc II or Linear Algebra? This is to fulfill the one year of math requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orcamute Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Does anyone know if it matters what Math I should take? As in should I take Calc II or Linear Algebra? This is to fulfill the one year of math requirements. Sorry I forget, what Canadian school requires 1 year of math again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Sorry I forget, what Canadian school requires 1 year of math again? Haha, do I detect a hint of sarcasm? Some US schools require math, so perhaps that's what he means. Edit: And as long as it's a MATH course, you're fine (unless it specifically requires Calculus) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanF Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Unnecessary sass, but thanks for answering haha. Edit: what am I even saying it's the Internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bk201 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Hi everyone, I realize this question has probably been asked a lot but I am going to ask anyways; can you really bounce back from a bad first semester? I just estimated my GPA for Fall 2013, and I projected about a 2.74, which is completely horrible but I now realize what I need to do/should do next semester and hopefully go from there. Overall though, it just seems really discouraging right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bk201 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I still have a couple of finals to go, it's just really stressful thinking about the way this whole semester went grades-wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Squeeze Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I still have a couple of finals to go, it's just really stressful thinking about the way this whole semester went grades-wise. learning experience for next semester. All I can say at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fresh fry Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 no one said undergrad was going to be stress-free... especially when you're trying to get 4.0s in every single course, or anything close, you're going to be met with disappointment. how you deal with that disappointment is up to you This is one of the best things I've read on here in a while. Its a hard road, keep expectations reasonable and remember you are only human, all you can do is your best. GL luciferase 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrewmrew Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I'm in second year biomed right now and so far I've found undergrad to be very demanding and stressful, especially second year, since they stacked all the difficult courses all in one year. I think the most stressful part of the whole thing is the fact that you need to consistently (almost without fail) score 90s on all your midterms and finals to get the 4.0s. Sometimes this pressure can be immense. Looking at my friends in engineering, where the material is definitely harder, non of them seem to be too burdened, which I think is due to the fact that they don't need to consistently score at the top of their class. So far I haven't found undergrad to be enjoyable due to consistent pressure and uncertain future of doing a science degree. I don't hate it, but I don't find it enjoyable by any means. I found that actually getting high grades and seeing the results is one of the major things that motivates me to push through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10wattbulb Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I'm in second year biomed right now and so far I've found undergrad to be very demanding and stressful, especially second year, since they stacked all the difficult courses all in one year. I think the most stressful part of the whole thing is the fact that you need to consistently (almost without fail) score 90s on all your midterms and finals to get the 4.0s. Sometimes this pressure can be immense. Looking at my friends in engineering, where the material is definitely harder, non of them seem to be too burdened, which I think is due to the fact that they don't need to consistently score at the top of their class. So far I haven't found undergrad to be enjoyable due to consistent pressure and uncertain future of doing a science degree. I don't hate it, but I don't find it enjoyable by any means. I found that actually getting high grades and seeing the results is one of the major things that motivates me to push through The work habits that you develop now will be very useful once you get in med school, and getting good grades shows that you have strong work habits more than anything else. Even if you don't do as well as you could have in a course or two, it's no big deal. Just don't forget to also plan for some free time as well - think of your favourite hobby and plan to spend 4-5 hours on it each week. Try to spend one afternoon per week with friends as well. And realize that a lot of what you're learning now will be quite handy once you're in med school (or wherever you end up). Realize that you have little control over your distant future (i.e. what's going to happen to you in 3+ year's time), but what you do now can definitely help push you in the right direction. PS. All the crazy biochem, anatomy, physiology, histology, embryology, pharmacology and microbio stuff will come back to haunt you in med school, so if you can learn it well now, then you're already ahead of the game. luciferase 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanF Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I had a question about the five course requirement? Can I take a second Arts class as opposed to having a class I have difficulty in? For example, I really struggle in Physics and I think it would be best for me to take it in the Spring/Summer to save my GPA for this year, I didn't do that good this first semester. Edit: Just to quickly explain my situation, so I didn't do good in my first semester and I was planning on taking four courses only, but after reading that only a very little amount of schools will take four courses as full time then I decided I should probably take five, but the issue is taking the next Physics will be extremely difficult for me and I don't want to screw up this semester's GPA as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I had a question about the five course requirement? Can I take a second Arts class as opposed to having a class I have difficulty in? For example, I really struggle in Physics and I think it would be best for me to take it in the Spring/Summer to save my GPA for this year, I didn't do that good this first semester. Edit: Just to quickly explain my situation, so I didn't do good in my first semester and I was planning on taking four courses only, but after reading that only a very little amount of schools will take four courses as full time then I decided I should probably take five, but the issue is taking the next Physics will be extremely difficult for me and I don't want to screw up this semester's GPA as well. The Arts class won't be an issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xClashx Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 That is a really good strategy. I did not know about the full course load either, so the first two years, I didn't have one. If there are courses that you will do **** in, take them in the summer, it won't affect your GPA in many schools since they don't look at ur summer marks, but you still get the credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanF Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 So any class would be okay? Seeing as most other arts options are full right now, I might have to take an Econ class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 So any class would be okay? Seeing as most other arts options are full right now, I might have to take an Econ class. Yup, not a problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanF Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 OK, well thanks for letting me know! But I do have another question, can someone please tell me what a half-course is exactly and if/how that affects anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 OK, well thanks for letting me know! But I do have another question, can someone please tell me what a half-course is exactly and if/how that affects anything? A half-course should refer to a 1 semester course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeynut Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 OK, well thanks for letting me know! But I do have another question, can someone please tell me what a half-course is exactly and if/how that affects anything? half course is a one semester course. OMSAS 0.5 credits or at a 30 credit school worth 3 credits (or more/less if your at McGill) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling Posted December 29, 2013 Report Share Posted December 29, 2013 I feel strange asking, but I figure I might as well: I spent 6 months full time taking care of a family member who had a terminal cancer. 8am to 8pm (2 hour break for work everyday). Cooked, fed, everything including cleaning (2 caretakers helped for 2 hours each day total) Do I write this into my ECs? I almost don't want to, but I don't currently have any healthcare related ECs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 I feel strange asking, but I figure I might as well: I spent 6 months full time taking care of a family member who had a terminal cancer. 8am to 8pm (2 hour break for work everyday). Cooked, fed, everything including cleaning (2 caretakers helped for 2 hours each day total) Do I write this into my ECs? I almost don't want to, but I don't currently have any healthcare related ECs. I say to go for it luciferase 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookiemonster99 Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 I feel strange asking, but I figure I might as well: I spent 6 months full time taking care of a family member who had a terminal cancer. 8am to 8pm (2 hour break for work everyday). Cooked, fed, everything including cleaning (2 caretakers helped for 2 hours each day total) Do I write this into my ECs? I almost don't want to, but I don't currently have any healthcare related ECs. not sure if i would count it as EC.... I personally wouldn't count it as EC and would never use it as an EC I would try to use that as an reason for pursuing medicine if asked in an interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 not sure if i would count it as EC....I personally wouldn't count it as EC and would never use it as an EC I would try to use that as an reason for pursuing medicine if asked in an interview. I would be compelled to agree, but OMSAS says that it's acceptable: Applicants should include experiences, both structured and non-structured, that demonstrate an ability to determine needs in their community and a willingness to play a part in filling those needs. For instance, volunteer work is often perceived as only those activities that are coordinated by an organization. However, there are many forms of volunteer work. For instance, if an applicant was raised in a farming community and helped to run the farm of a neighbour for a period of time when the neighbour was sick, this work would be considered volunteer activity. However, applicants should ensure that they have a contact for each of the activities that are listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookiemonster99 Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 I would be compelled to agree, but OMSAS says that it's acceptable: ultimately it's up to the person I would use it as part of an answer to the generic question: why do you want to be a doctor? just my 2 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 not sure if i would count it as EC....I personally wouldn't count it as EC and would never use it as an EC I would try to use that as an reason for pursuing medicine if asked in an interview. It is my reason for pursuing medicine. I don't want to put it on my application, and I think I'll only do so if I feel it provides a significant boost. I have plenty of time before I apply to get some meaningful volunteer work done. Thanks for the responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanF Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Are individual grades scrutinized? Or is it just the overall GPA they will look at? Rough semester 1 but my GPA boosting class did its job and the GPA I got (though I feel like I don't deserve as a science major) would be quite different without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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