lurknomore Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I was just reading a post on the U of C admissions blog that blew me away: http://mdadmissions.ucalgaryblogs.ca/ I must say that I really appreciate Dr. Walker's candor and honesty. This obviously must have been a difficult thing to talk about, but the way he said it was very genuine. It is so refreshing to see someone acknowledge something like this without trying to minimize or sweep it under the rug. I hope that one day I will possess the kind of professionalism that he has displayed. MAAAAD props goes out to this man. In my opinion, as long as U of C has people like Dr. Walker, I am confident that it is in good hands. Dr. Walker for Prime Minister! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBP Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 He certainly is the cat's meow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooty Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Good of him to talk about carms. I'm surprised he doesn't know why so many went unmatched. One 2011 graduate from u of c blamed it on the Malaysian students. Was hoping he'd confirm or deny that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehumanmacbook Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Good of him to talk about carms. I'm surprised he doesn't know why so many went unmatched. One 2011 graduate from u of c blamed it on the Malaysian students. Was hoping he'd confirm or deny that. Malaysian IMGs? That would be kinda weird... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndoe88 Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Good of him to talk about carms. I'm surprised he doesn't know why so many went unmatched. One 2011 graduate from u of c blamed it on the Malaysian students. Was hoping he'd confirm or deny that. Doubt it. IMG's can only match in the 2nd iteration for U Alberta only. It varies from province to province but most of the time IMGs are in their own separate category. Match rates for IMGs are pretty low and if you look at the results: http://carms.ca/pdfs/2010R1_MatchResults/Discipline%20Choice%20and%20Match%20Results%20of%20IMG%20Grads%20by%20Gender1_en.pdf you'll see that it is a very low number across the board with the vast majority of IMGs going into FM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurknomore Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Perhaps I'm missing something but does U of C have spots reserved for Malaysian IMGs or something? If so, how many seats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellorie Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I'm hoping they'll post more data about what exactly happened - if those students had short rank lists or only ranked ROAD or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehumanmacbook Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Perhaps I'm missing something but does U of C have spots reserved for Malaysian IMGs or something? If so, how many seats? I don't believe so... EDIT: Evidently they have seats reserved like Dal has for Saudi Arabian students. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatonekid Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I've noticed that Dr. Walker (and UofC) do an excellent job with discussing concerns and answering applicant questions through their blog. It's really nice to see lines of communication like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typical Premed Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 At MUN we have 4 med school spots for Malaysian exchange students. In terms of CaRMS, they are not considered IMG's if they apply to residency programs here at MUN, but they are considered IMG's if they apply to other Canadian residency programs. Not sure if sure if Calgary has a similar exception for their own Malaysian exchange students. Perhaps I'm missing something but does U of C have spots reserved for Malaysian IMGs or something? If so, how many seats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRR Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 About the CaRMs match... U of C and Mac do have a bit of a reputation as being less traditional and perhaps less 'serious' than some of the 4 year programs. Whether or not it is true, I think that some people do associate their style of education with producing less qualified physicians. Of course this is a generalization, but I doubt this time is the first people have heard of such a stereotype. So it does make sense to me that when med school spots go up, at a pace that does not match residency spots (as I have heard has happened), the first students to get penalized come from schools without heady reputations who want to go into the more competitive specialties. Whether or not they are excellent. I have heard of some program directors publically declare 3 year candidates to be weaker, on a whole. Doesn't really make sense given they have the same number of hours of education. Maybe also, 3 year candidates just haven't had enough time to find a specialty that fits and build up electives and relationships that further that interest. They also have had less time to learn how to play the game. I agree, I think Dr. Walker does an absolutely phenomenal job. I really appreciate his candour, as others mentioned. The reality is, every school has its 'warts.' I feel that he is opening to addressing possible downfalls at U of C (including major ones, such as CaRMs matching) and focusing on how to improve them. It is so incredibly refreshing to see that problems are identified rather than swept under the rug. It just makes U of C seem dynamic and responsive rather than old-fashioned and arrogant. The man is incredibly honest and forthcoming. I also probably shouldn't say this but he is a FOX. haha. I expect that the longer Dr. Walker is director of admissions, the more Calgary will attract excellent candidates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiomegaly Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 +++1. Dr. Walker is definitely a guy that you want on the face of your medical school. Dynamic and approachable for sure. I think Calgary is disadvantaged when it comes to electives, which is simply inherent to a condensed program. Looking at number of weeks, they are about equal with other 4 year programs (~16 weeks) but it their timing that might sink the boat. In a 4 year program, I have 5 weeks of electives in 3rd year and 12-16 weeks of electives in 4th year. I will have completed several core rotations (although that is dependant on your track) before I go on elective, so I'll be relatively (hopefully) competent by that time. And the majority of my elective time is in 4th year when I've seen all the different core specialties. In 3 year programs, they complete 6 weeks of electives at the start of 2nd year, and 6 weeks of electives before starting 3rd year core rotations. That leaves 4 weeks of electives in which you might be less green and excel as a clerk. And that's not even touching on the idea of clerks changing their mind once they hit a rotation - what if you've never considered internal med but during your August rotation you decide it's what you want to do, then have a few months to change everything in your CaRMs application? Our deans stressed to not do important electives early in our clerkship career, especially not in the summer between 2nd and 3rd year - Carms stats show that people who load up on the specialty of their choice before they've done proper clinical rotations do worse than those who wait till later. AKA don't do 6 weeks of plastics in TO the summer before 3rd year. I can't help but wonder if this is part of the reason that 3 year programs sometimes have a higher rate of unmatched students. I am positive that 3 year programs pump out excellent and competent doctors, but perhaps they just don't play the CaRMs game as well as schools who have more time. About the CaRMs match... U of C and Mac do have a bit of a reputation as being less traditional and perhaps less 'serious' than some of the 4 year programs. Whether or not it is true, I think that some people do associate their style of education with producing less qualified physicians. Of course this is a generalization, but I doubt this time is the first people have heard of such a stereotype. So it does make sense to me that when med school spots go up, at a pace that does not match residency spots (as I have heard has happened), the first students to get penalized come from schools without heady reputations who want to go into the more competitive specialties. Whether or not they are excellent. I have heard of some program directors publically declare 3 year candidates to be weaker, on a whole. Doesn't really make sense given they have the same number of hours of education. Maybe also, 3 year candidates just haven't had enough time to find a specialty that fits and build up electives and relationships that further that interest. They also have had less time to learn how to play the game. I agree, I think Dr. Walker does an absolutely phenomenal job. I really appreciate his candour, as others mentioned. The reality is, every school has its 'warts.' I feel that he is opening to addressing possible downfalls at U of C (including major ones, such as CaRMs matching) and focusing on how to improve them. It is so incredibly refreshing to see that problems are identified rather than swept under the rug. It just makes U of C seem dynamic and responsive rather than old-fashioned and arrogant. The man is incredibly honest and forthcoming. I also probably shouldn't say this but he is a FOX. haha. I expect that the longer Dr. Walker is director of admissions, the more Calgary will attract excellent candidates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloh Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I think you hit the nail on the head cardiomegaly. I still don't understand the point behind a 3-year program. Figuring out what area to go into is hard enough with 4 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaHatingBrit Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 About the CaRMs match... U of C and Mac do have a bit of a reputation as being less traditional and perhaps less 'serious' than some of the 4 year programs. Whether or not it is true, I think that some people do associate their style of education with producing less qualified physicians. Of course this is a generalization, but I doubt this time is the first people have heard of such a stereotype. So it does make sense to me that when med school spots go up, at a pace that does not match residency spots (as I have heard has happened), the first students to get penalized come from schools without heady reputations who want to go into the more competitive specialties. Whether or not they are excellent. I have heard of some program directors publically declare 3 year candidates to be weaker, on a whole. Doesn't really make sense given they have the same number of hours of education. Maybe also, 3 year candidates just haven't had enough time to find a specialty that fits and build up electives and relationships that further that interest. They also have had less time to learn how to play the game. I agree, I think Dr. Walker does an absolutely phenomenal job. I really appreciate his candour, as others mentioned. The reality is, every school has its 'warts.' I feel that he is opening to addressing possible downfalls at U of C (including major ones, such as CaRMs matching) and focusing on how to improve them. It is so incredibly refreshing to see that problems are identified rather than swept under the rug. It just makes U of C seem dynamic and responsive rather than old-fashioned and arrogant. The man is incredibly honest and forthcoming. I also probably shouldn't say this but he is a FOX. haha. I expect that the longer Dr. Walker is director of admissions, the more Calgary will attract excellent candidates. Except that Mac matched phenomenally last year. And the year before that. I didn't look too much further back, but I highly doubt the trend you are suggesting is contagious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medtech Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I will name my first child after Dr. Walker if I get in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erk Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr. Walker was born in a log cabin...that he built with his own bare hands. You are a funny person and I hope we go to med school together. That is all. Well, that and, Dr. Walker's tears cure cancer. Too bad Dr. Walker never cries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gb35 Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr. Walker's full title is actually Dr. Walker, Texas Ranger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanMaverick Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr Walker once had a son - his name was Chuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehumanmacbook Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr Walker once had a son - his name was Chuck. Dr. Walker eats rainbows to taste the skittles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogo Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 His personality is so magnetic, he can't carry credit cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erk Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 He's so intelligent, he easily picks up and masters new skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehumanmacbook Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr. Walker scored a 46 U on his MCAT. They started standardizing the test after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurknomore Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I heard Walker Texas Ranger is based on his childhood years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRR Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Dr. Walker can ride a bike with no handlebars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooty Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Taking chuck norris facts and putting in dr. walker = lame imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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