Non-trad student needs advice

[rmd800]

Hi. Hoping a few ppl here might be able to give some much needed guidance.

 

I'm 33 (no kids/not married yet) and work as an energy trader for a large North American corporation. Yes, it's fun but the problem is I'm no longer fulfilled in the corporate world. My father is a healthcare professional which is where my interest for a more challenging and rewarding career stems from. I'm an Alberta resident.

 

I have two degrees. The first I completed when I was 22, computer science, with a terrible gpa of 2.65. I failed a couple courses (intermediate calculus etc) in my first two years but the final two i did better. My second degree was at the U of C (energy econ). I got a 3.7 gpa in two years of study of 3rd and 4th year courses.

 

My employment history is good. Fast upward trajectory but have little volunteer experience due to working a lot. I will look to fix this soon. To keep sane, I go to the gym and have been a member of local flying club for years.

 

Now.... some questions:

 

1. Assume i do my pre-sciences (U of C or elsewhere), and get a 3.7 gpa. Will the U of C look at my first two years of Comp Sci, when i did absolutely horrible, and toss my application? That was over ten years ago; I struggled with the material and my grades reflect it. I have no excuses. Worked full time and Comp Sci just didn't click with me.

 

2. What is good volunteer/EC experience? Does it need to be in healthcare? Id like to volunteer at the Calgary SPCA and perhaps at the flying club i'm a member of.

 

3. Given i have two degrees, when i do my pre-sciences, do i need to take four courses per term? Or can i do three given all the labs? And, one or two in the summer perhaps?

 

4. Do i pack up and do the IMG route? St. George is my backup. I know someone who went there and is now a specialist here.

 

My interests are Internal Medicine/Cardiology, and Pathology.

 

Thanks for ANY help.

[astrogirl]

Hi! Here are some answers that will hopefully help you.

 

1. They look at your best two full-time years to determine whether you meet the cut-off, and then they look at everything. It's not just GPA they look at and no one knows exactly how they determine the academic score, but I certainly don't think your situation is hopeless. Have a look through the accepted/waitlisted/rejected thread at the top and you'll see that IP applicants have gotten in without super high GPAs.

 

2. It does not have to be in healthcare. Do anything you're interested in, and remember that there's also a place to put employment on the application.

 

3. No. You've already met the IP best two years cut-off of 3.2, I assume, so you don't need to be full-time or anything if you take extra classes. You can do them however and whenever you want. Also note that the classes listed are recommended, and not required, and they say they reason they're recommended is to help you prepare for the MCAT. I prepared for and took the MCAT (and applied to Calgary this year) without having taken most of those classes.

 

4. I wouldn't yet. At least give yourself a chance to see if you can get in in Canada before you make that decision.

 

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions, and welcome to the forum.

[rmd800]

Thanks Astrogirl.

 

I've started reading the thread you mentioned. Lots of good information.

 

Either way my cGPA is going to be a problem. I hope there is forgiveness for courses I took over ten years ago versus the grades I achieved in my second degree (and what i'd hope to average in sciences) and some credit for career progression/mature student status.

[osmosis]

Thanks Astrogirl.

 

I've started reading the thread you mentioned. Lots of good information.

 

Either way my cGPA is going to be a problem. I hope there is forgiveness for courses I took over ten years ago versus the grades I achieved in my second degree (and what i'd hope to average in sciences) and some credit for career progression/mature student status.

 

Calgary likes more mature applicants with an atypical background. you fit the bill.

 

apply and see what happens.

[Jukie]

I agree - being a mature student who has had an established career, you'll want to draw on those experiences. Cover your bases but play up your strengths. Real life experience can be potentially seen as equivalent to, say, being a student council executive or club president.

 

Also your first degree will be looked at but will likely not have a real impact on your application. You were starting out, the classes you failed do not have high pass rates and you still got your degree. Plus since then you have done well with another degree.

 

The most important thing you can do is apply as a non-trad/mature/uniquely skilled applicant. You haven't followed the traditional path so your application should focus on that. To me it sounds like you have a very good chance.

 

Also I say all this because I'm also a mature applicant - 31 yrs old, established career, non-science degree, etc.

 

Good luck!

[rmd800]

Thank you for the replies and encouragement.

 

I dont have my U of C transcript in front of me. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure i took spring/summer courses and question if i have two full years from my Econ degree.

 

Given i have to do my sciences anyhow, i more than likely need one full time year. Can someone comment on taking 4 or even 5 pre-req science classes per semester, in terms of risking your gpa to the downside. Or should i do 3 science (possibly with labs) and 2 other classes (hopefully gpa boosters) which dont have labs?

 

And, wow, i didn't know UBC has a ten year rule where they'll drop old courses from your gpa. I'm not a resident but it'd be worth applying there (in my case) as well.

 

Thanks again everyone.