IB transfer credits in McGill University and GPA

[james12698]

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[preppy038]

Nope the transfer credits dont show grades on the McGill Transcript.

 

But for med school applications you would need to send in IB transcripts to them so they will have access to the grades (all schools require official transcripts from all previous post-secondary education you received, which would include IB IF you receive credit exemptions using IB).

 

IB is effective in eliminating prereqs but they will ask you for your IB transcript when you apply, meaning they will have access to your grade (Whether it be 5/7 or 7/7)

 

In general, if IB credits are used as prereqs, the grades 'may' count. But if not, they will not count but just count as credits toward your degree.

 

Ontario schools don't look at IB at all. Some western schools ask you for IB transcripts and may calculate GPA based on them (e.g. UBC) you would need to visit their websites for details on how they're converted into GPA

[james12698]

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[Cass]

Nope the transfer credits dont show grades on the McGill Transcript.

 

But for med school applications you would need to send in IB transcripts to them so they will have access to the grades (all schools require official transcripts from all previous post-secondary education you received, which would include IB IF you receive credit exemptions using IB).

 

IB is effective in eliminating prereqs but they will ask you for your IB transcript when you apply, meaning they will have access to your grade (Whether it be 5/7 or 7/7)

 

In general, if IB credits are used as prereqs, the grades 'may' count. But if not, they will not count but just count as credits toward your degree.

 

Ontario schools don't look at IB at all. Some western schools ask you for IB transcripts and may calculate GPA based on them (e.g. UBC) you would need to visit their websites for details on how they're converted into GPA

 

According to OMSAS instructions from last year's application cycle "OMSAS does not require IB transcripts unless these courses

satisfy a prerequisite". I know for a fact that Ottawa does not require IB transcripts as long as (assuming you received transfer credits from IB upon entering university) the transfer credits show up on your university transcript. Hope that makes sense.

[james12698]

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[Cass]

What if for example:

 

I receive a 5 in IB English which qualifies for transfer credit at McGill but the University of Alberta only accepts 6 or 7 in order to satisfy prerequisites. In that scenario, if I retake the courses in which I am granted credit in, will it count as a second attempt?

 

Is there a way to not take the IB transfer credits because it seems unfair that IB applicants are disadvantaged because very few people score 7s on all their IB subjects.

 

Will cGPA be affected by taking a course in which I already have IB credits in?

 

1. Are you able to decline the transfer credit? At U of T for instance, you can decline the transfer credit and that way, you can take the course in which now the gpa will count towards your cgpa. In regards to retaking the course to satisfy U of A's requirement, I'm not sure if you can do (might want to email). I know for UBC for example when I emaild them, they required a 6 in HL chemistry but I only had a 5. Since I accepted the IB transfer credit that was given to me, I didn't retake general chem in university because it would've been like a spare credit for me. UBC said that due to this situation, I would now have to take upper year level general chemistry courses (orgo doesn't count). Nonetheless, I think you should email your med school of interest to be safe/

 

2 and 3. As I mentioned in #1, U of T did have the option for me to state that I wish to forfeit my transfer credits so I'm not sure if Mcgill has the same rule.

 

I hope this kind of helps in answering your questions!

[preppy038]

What if for example:

 

I receive a 5 in IB English which qualifies for transfer credit at McGill but the University of Alberta only accepts 6 or 7 in order to satisfy prerequisites. In that scenario, if I retake the courses in which I am granted credit in, will it count as a second attempt?

 

In that scenario, you must retake the course. It won't count as a second attempt because the University of Alberta doesn't specify the type of English coursework they are looking for (or do they?). In my experience it could be any course from the English department.

 

e.g. your IB credit maybe just a generic English literature course covering everything from poetry, Shakespeare to modern literature.

However, you can take another course such as, American Literature 1 or Intro to Shakespeare which are completely different courses from the IB course you received exemptions from.

So no, it won't count as a second attempt.

 

Is there a way to not take the IB transfer credits because it seems unfair that IB applicants are disadvantaged because very few people score 7s on all their IB subjects.

 

Will cGPA be affected by taking a course in which I already have IB credits in?

 

For McGill, unless you used your highschool diploma to gain admission then you don't necessarily have to send them the IB transcript.

BUT since IB applicants to McGill are accepted based on their IB diploma, you must submit your IB credits.

 

Your cGPA won't be affected since McGill doesn't take/show IB grades on your university official transcript. You only receive credits but no grades.

[preppy038]

Thanks for the reply.

 

Another question:

 

I am aware that some medical schools only accept 7s or no IB credits at all for admission. Since McGill automatically considers new undergraduate applicants for IB credits, is it possible to take the course in which you are qualified for transfer credits without totally screwing up your cGPA. If McGill's cGPA is calculated by the formula from http://www.mcgill.ca/conted/studentres/records/grades/gpa/, would taking a course in which you are already qualified for transfer credits be considered a second attempt which would thus harm your cGPA?

 

James, that formula only applies to credits you earned AT McGill, not prior to admission (e.g. AP or IB transfer credits).

 

i.e. the denominator of that equation doesn't include your transfer credits.

 

Also, IB English shows up on your McGill transcript as ENGL1XX so taking the introductory English course at McGill (ENGL200 or 201) does not count as a second attempt but just as an elective course.