Site preference

[med-dream]

I know normally a lot of IP would select main campus as the first choice. What about Okanagan & Victoria sites, what are the main features of each them? How do you guys select your second choice?

[GREGtotheHOUSE]

I know normally a lot of IP would select main campus as the first choice. What about Okanagan & Victoria sites, what are the main features of each them? How do you guys select your second choice?

 

I actually chose Prince George as my first choice. Really like the rural life + the amount of cool stuff you get to do right away. Southern was second, downtown was third and Victoria was last. They talked about how hectic the ferry schedule could be ; P

[med-dream]

I actually chose Prince George as my first choice. Really like the rural life + the amount of cool stuff you get to do right away. Southern was second, downtown was third and Victoria was last. They talked about how hectic the ferry schedule could be ; P

 

When I applied at the very beginning, I didn't pick northern site because there were lots of questions asking why you select that site and if you have any contact there or not. Now at post-interview stage, can I still put it in as one of my choices? And in the General Discussion Thread, somebody posted a statistic table showing that they will weigh your GPA much heavier than others (EC, MCAT) if your first choice is the rural site. Is that the case?

By the way, do you mind to tell me what cool stuff you like at the northern site? Thanks.

[Espresso]

You can't select Northern as top choice if you haven't filled out the rural suitability section of the primary application.

 

Speaking of site preference, would any Victoria students be willing to share their thoughts on the program? Specifically, why they picked Victoria over Vancouver?

[med-dream]

You can't select Northern as top choice if you haven't filled out the rural suitability section of the primary application.

 

Speaking of site preference, would any Victoria students be willing to share their thoughts on the program? Specifically, why they picked Victoria over Vancouver?

 

So not top choice, but could be other choices as followed, right?

[optimism101]

Unfortunately, if you did not fill out the Rural Remote Suitability Score form, then you cannot select the northern campus as 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice - you have to select N/A. It's kind of too bad, I didn't fill out the form, because I have literally zero rural experiences longer than 6 weeks (or was it 6 months? Either way). I think it might be kind of neat up there, especially for a rigorous degree like med, to have a small class size, and to have not much to do other than study, I can see how the class would be very tight nit, and you would have more opportunities to get hands on experience that you might not otherwise get in a big city. Just because I don't already have rural experience doesn't mean I'm not interested in that campus - but, those are the rules, I guess.

 

I'll be selecting VFMP as my first choice, but I am also having a hard time choosing between vic and kelowna for 2nd. I haven't been to victoria in a really long time, but I have been to Kelowna several times in recent years. It kind of seems like just a really big suburb, I'm not sure I'd be happy there...but then again, the summers are beautiful, and the winters have snow which is a plus since I love snowboarding. Tough decision!

[med-dream]

Unfortunately, if you did not fill out the Rural Remote Suitability Score form, then you cannot select the northern campus as 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice - you have to select N/A. It's kind of too bad, I didn't fill out the form, because I have literally zero rural experiences longer than 6 weeks (or was it 6 months? Either way). I think it might be kind of neat up there, especially for a rigorous degree like med, to have a small class size, and to have not much to do other than study, I can see how the class would be very tight nit, and you would have more opportunities to get hands on experience that you might not otherwise get in a big city. Just because I don't already have rural experience doesn't mean I'm not interested in that campus - but, those are the rules, I guess.

 

I'll be selecting VFMP as my first choice, but I am also having a hard time choosing between vic and kelowna for 2nd. I haven't been to victoria in a really long time, but I have been to Kelowna several times in recent years. It kind of seems like just a really big suburb, I'm not sure I'd be happy there...but then again, the summers are beautiful, and the winters have snow which is a plus since I love snowboarding. Tough decision!

 

What I heard that vic. site may get more sunlights in winter while the southern site is new branch of school.

[herewego]

A response regarding IMP vs. SMP would be greatly appreciated. I did stay for the Site Preference presentation but didn't find it very helpful in terms of clinical rotations, research, lectures, etc.

[PiKi]

I am considering vancouver but I am worried that due to the large number of students it will feel like you are just a number in a class.

 

I like the idea that with the IMP/SMP/NMP, the classes are smaller and you actually have a chance to get to know your classmates/teachers and even the academic dean. What are the chances of having that happen in the vancouver program? Can anyone who is going to the VFMP elaborate on the benefits of the program from this perspective, if there are any? How do you manage when you have 192 students?

[herewego]

I am considering vancouver but I am worried that due to the large number of students it will feel like you are just a number in a class.

 

I like the idea that with the IMP/SMP/NMP, the classes are smaller and you actually have a chance to get to know your classmates/teachers and even the academic dean. What are the chances of having that happen in the vancouver program? Can anyone who is going to the VFMP elaborate on the benefits of the program from this perspective, if there are any? How do you manage when you have 192 students?

 

I can definitely relate to your train of thought. Someone must have posted the pros/cons of each site somewhere on premed101... Anyone feel like digging up some fossils?

[Amadeus89]

I am considering vancouver but I am worried that due to the large number of students it will feel like you are just a number in a class.

 

I like the idea that with the IMP/SMP/NMP, the classes are smaller and you actually have a chance to get to know your classmates/teachers and even the academic dean. What are the chances of having that happen in the vancouver program? Can anyone who is going to the VFMP elaborate on the benefits of the program from this perspective, if there are any? How do you manage when you have 192 students?

 

The distributed model has been so successful that they are eventually planning to break up the 192 students at VFMP into 6 groups of 32, separated into Academic Learning Clusters or something.

 

Re: research - you're still a UBC student and can do research province-wide in the summer, regardless of your site. There's almost no time to do research during the academic year anyway (more importantly, why would you want to).

 

Educational experiences are identical at all sites, so selection is more about what area you would like to live in for the next three years or so.

 

Good luck and choose well!

[med-dream]

The distributed model has been so successful that they are eventually planning to break up the 192 students at VFMP into 6 groups of 32, separated into Academic Learning Clusters or something.

 

Re: research - you're still a UBC student and can do research province-wide in the summer, regardless of your site. There's almost no time to do research during the academic year anyway (more importantly, why would you want to).

 

Educational experiences are identical at all sites, so selection is more about what area you would like to live in for the next three years or so.

 

Good luck and choose well!

 

Can you please confirm if I could still add northern site as one of my site choices (not the top one) even though I didn't fill out the form at the very beginning? Thanks.

[in2bat0r]

From my understanding you cannot be considered for the NMP at this point if you did not fill out the rural suitability section of the application initially.

[optimism101]

From the interview information PDF that we all received:

 

"Please remember that if you did not fill out the Rural, Remote and Northern Training section on the application, you are not eligible for the NMP and should put N/A for that site. Unfortunately, the cut off to complete this section has passed."

[med-dream]

From the interview information PDF that we all received:

 

"Please remember that if you did not fill out the Rural, Remote and Northern Training section on the application, you are not eligible for the NMP and should put N/A for that site. Unfortunately, the cut off to complete this section has passed."

 

Thanks. In another word, has anyone heard that somebody was accepted who filled the form & actually didn't have any contact/ a lot of experience at northern area?

[chuppa4]

I chose IMP as my first choice primarily because all my friends and family live here, but it also has some great advantages for those who are interested.

 

1. It has a diverse range of communities to practice in: from downtown Victoria, to close suburbs (Sidney and Langford), to smaller communities (like Duncan and Cowichan), to remote towns further up the island.

 

2. The two main hospitals in Victoria are close together and are close to UVic.

 

3. The weather is milder compared to SMP & NMP, allowing for year-round biking, hiking, outdoor sports. - this is possibly a disadvantage if you want to participate in snow activities (we don't get much snow on the island)

 

4. Housing is likely cheaper than Vancouver (though not cheaper than NMP) and I am not sure about SMP.

 

5. Everything is relatively close and accessible: to get out of Downtown Victoria only takes 10-15 mins, if that.

 

The list goes on.... I guess ultimately since the programs are so similar, one needs to determine what lifestyle they want to have during the program and pick a site that allows for that lifestyle.

[in2bat0r]

I also picked IMP first, followed by SMP, and then NMP. If I am accepted I would love to study in one of the small satellite programs.

[PiKi]

The distributed model has been so successful that they are eventually planning to break up the 192 students at VFMP into 6 groups of 32, separated into Academic Learning Clusters or something.

 

Re: research - you're still a UBC student and can do research province-wide in the summer, regardless of your site. There's almost no time to do research during the academic year anyway (more importantly, why would you want to).

 

Educational experiences are identical at all sites, so selection is more about what area you would like to live in for the next three years or so.

 

Good luck and choose well!

 

Do you know when they are planning to break the VFMP class into 32-student groups?? it sounds interesting

 

For now tho.. how does it work at the VFMP? I assume it must be a bit different than at the distributed sites... Is everyone crowded in the same lecture room? How accessible are profs and staff considering the large number of students?

[UBCMD]

Do you know when they are planning to break the VFMP class into 32-student groups?? it sounds interesting

 

For now tho.. how does it work at the VFMP? I assume it must be a bit different than at the distributed sites... Is everyone crowded in the same lecture room? How accessible are profs and staff considering the large number of students?

 

VFMP is a big program and you are in a lecture hall with 192 med students + 50 dental students. You won't feel like a number, but you won't feel the same closeness as distributed site students may have with each other. That said, everyone can get help when they need it, and it's not as if you suddenly disappear. Every site has small group sessions (PBL, DPAS, INDE, Anatomy, etc.) and you will get attention and help if you request it. There is no such thing as a bad site, each has its own unique perks.

 

Moving on to curriculum renewal and the future of VFMP:

 

UBC is in the midst of a major curriculum renewal, and they have proposed breaking up the VFMP in to distributed sites across the lower mainland (perhaps something like UBC Hospital - 32 seats, St. Paul's - 32 seats, VGH - 32 seats, Surrey Memorial - 32 seats, Royal Columbian - 32 seats, Richmond Hospital - 32 seats). There would effectively be 6 distributed VFMP sites plus the three actual distributed sites (IMP, SMP, NMP). UBC's rationale for breaking up the MD program into what they call "Academic Learning Communities" or ALCs is to create a more longitudinal experience. That is, the med student will have experienced being in a hospital for the first 2 years of their MD program. They will have visited patients in wards who have the same disease while they are learning about it in their lectures, and also suffer less of a "culture shock" when they go into their third year clerkships, compared to 3rd years now.

 

The entire program would likely be linked together via video conference for large group lectures (as is already done now for the four sites), and small group training like clinical skills and PBL would reside in their respective ALC. When the student starts their clerkship, the majority of their clerkship time will be spent at the particular hospital where they began their ALC. There is still the option to do electives at different hospitals (Children's Hospital for example), but the main goal is that students will spend most of their clinical time within the ALC to foster a stronger relationship and status there.

 

There is no point in worrying about the curriculum renewal changes right now, as the timeline for breaking up VFMP into these ALCs is still very much in the air right now. The manpower involved in breaking up the VFMP into six satellite ALCs is still very much a logistical nightmare, and not likely to affect the class of 2017.

 

Also, UBC is changing its teaching curriculum into what they call a spiral curriculum, that is, instead of learning about medicine in separate blocks, like renal, cardiovascular, etc., the curriculum consists of 150 core cases for 2 years (i.e. - 150 most common clinical cases you will encounter in your career). This spiralling curriculum lets students revisit the same material three times over the 2 years, but with deeper integration and detail each time, in the hopes that it drives the student to focus less on memorization and more on actually understanding medicine. This spiral curriculum will likely be rolled out for the class of 2018.

[wendyokoopa]

Where can we learn more about the UBC medical program - like specifics, what makes it special?

[PiKi]

VFMP is a big program and you are in a lecture hall with 192 med students + 50 dental students. You won't feel like a number, but you won't feel the same closeness as distributed site students may have with each other. That said, everyone can get help when they need it, and it's not as if you suddenly disappear. Every site has small group sessions (PBL, DPAS, INDE, Anatomy, etc.) and you will get attention and help if you request it. There is no such thing as a bad site, each has its own unique perks.

 

Moving on to curriculum renewal and the future of VFMP:

 

UBC is in the midst of a major curriculum renewal, and they have proposed breaking up the VFMP in to distributed sites across the lower mainland (perhaps something like UBC Hospital - 32 seats, St. Paul's - 32 seats, VGH - 32 seats, Surrey Memorial - 32 seats, Royal Columbian - 32 seats, Richmond Hospital - 32 seats). There would effectively be 6 distributed VFMP sites plus the three actual distributed sites (IMP, SMP, NMP). UBC's rationale for breaking up the MD program into what they call "Academic Learning Communities" or ALCs is to create a more longitudinal experience. That is, the med student will have experienced being in a hospital for the first 2 years of their MD program. They will have visited patients in wards who have the same disease while they are learning about it in their lectures, and also suffer less of a "culture shock" when they go into their third year clerkships, compared to 3rd years now.

 

The entire program would likely be linked together via video conference for large group lectures (as is already done now for the four sites), and small group training like clinical skills and PBL would reside in their respective ALC. When the student starts their clerkship, the majority of their clerkship time will be spent at the particular hospital where they began their ALC. There is still the option to do electives at different hospitals (Children's Hospital for example), but the main goal is that students will spend most of their clinical time within the ALC to foster a stronger relationship and status there.

 

There is no point in worrying about the curriculum renewal changes right now, as the timeline for breaking up VFMP into these ALCs is still very much in the air right now. The manpower involved in breaking up the VFMP into six satellite ALCs is still very much a logistical nightmare, and not likely to affect the class of 2017.

 

Also, UBC is changing its teaching curriculum into what they call a spiral curriculum, that is, instead of learning about medicine in separate blocks, like renal, cardiovascular, etc., the curriculum consists of 150 core cases for 2 years (i.e. - 150 most common clinical cases you will encounter in your career). This spiralling curriculum lets students revisit the same material three times over the 2 years, but with deeper integration and detail each time, in the hopes that it drives the student to focus less on memorization and more on actually understanding medicine. This spiral curriculum will likely be rolled out for the class of 2018.

 

Thank you sharing this information! This is all news to me, I had heard of a curriculum renewal but had no idea what it meant. I really like the idea of breaking the VFMP class into 6 groups located in different hospitals of the lower mainland, I hope they do make it happen!

 

At this point, I will probably wait until the site information sessions and the campus tour to make my final decision on whether to rank the VFMP first or not

[Imhotep]

Thanks. In another word, has anyone heard that somebody was accepted who filled the form & actually didn't have any contact/ a lot of experience at northern area?

 

I filled out the form, got matched to PG and had never been North of Kamloops. I recall that I listed plenty of experiences highlighting self reliance. Best decision I ever made. NMP is a super solid program - you graduate ready for any residency program anywhere in the country and have solid references that will propel you in the direction you want to go. Big city medicine is totally accessible in the 4th year to challenge yourself as well.

[songofdovely]

There is one advantage to being in VFMP that I think many people tend to ignore. As much as I hate to say this, your ability to match into a competitive residency program is largely dictated on your letters of reference and your research. I would think that it is easier to network here in Vancouver given your classes and clinical skills are based in a large tertiary hospital. I'm not saying that it is impossible for a student at a distant site to network/find a good research opportunity, but in my opinion it has been advantageous being here in Vancouver.

 

I'll tell you the order of events that have unfolded that allow me to come to this conclusion. One of our lecturers featured a VERY high profile doctor in this particular field (divisional head, well known, and plays a role in resident selection for his field). I approached him, introduced myself, and asked if I could shadow him. That same weekend I went in and shadowed him for the day and got to know him quite well. Throughout the term I continued to shadow and he offered me to take on a research project that he was doing. This research project was not confined to the summer...it was year long and I had to make multiple visits to VGH. This led to a first author publication and him looking forward to seeing me on rounds. I can tell you after speaking to many residents in the field that a solid LOR/co-publication with this man is something that is very sought after. I would imagine that such an opportunity would be much more difficult if you were from a different site.

 

Also, note that the summer breaks are tentatively going to be removed through the curriculum renewal, so it will be harder to find time to do research or win summer student scholarships (since they require 2 consecutive months of full time work).

[med-dream]

I filled out the form, got matched to PG and had never been North of Kamloops. I recall that I listed plenty of experiences highlighting self reliance. Best decision I ever made. NMP is a super solid program - you graduate ready for any residency program anywhere in the country and have solid references that will propel you in the direction you want to go. Big city medicine is totally accessible in the 4th year to challenge yourself as well.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. At the very end of site preference form, there are 1 questions with 3 options. Will those options (Yes, No, undecided) play a big role when they make the final decision on the site?

[oneshotwonder]

UBC is in the midst of a major curriculum renewal, and they have proposed breaking up the VFMP in to distributed sites across the lower mainland (perhaps something like

 

UBC Hospital - 32 seats

St. Paul's - 32 seats

VGH - 32 seats

Surrey Memorial - 32 seats

Royal Columbian - 32 seats

Richmond Hospital - 32 seats

 

 

This looks like a great idea, but it seems as though the UBC/RH students will get the short end of the straw there as I am sure the clinical experiences can not be compared to those of the larger care centers.