Comments on: Medical School Admissions: How important are non-academic components really? http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/ Entertainment and Advice for Budding Physicians Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:38:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1662 Joshua Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:20:53 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1662 Hi Marina, I would say it depends on the medical school - I don't know the rules off the top of my head, but the medical school websites will make it clear how they will interpret it. Hi Marina,

I would say it depends on the medical school – I don’t know the rules off the top of my head, but the medical school websites will make it clear how they will interpret it.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1661 Joshua Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:20:05 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1661 Hey Sandra, Thanks! =) Hey Sandra,

Thanks! =)

]]> By: Marina http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1644 Marina Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:06:53 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1644 Hey Joshua! Your website was splendidly helpful. I was wondering if I didn't take full course load but just 4.5 (4 half courses per semester and 5 half credited courses in another) does that affect my GPA calculation and med school admission. However, I do have 5 credits per year because I make up for it during the summer. Thank you so much for your help! Sincerely, Marina Hey Joshua! Your website was splendidly helpful. I was wondering if I didn’t take full course load but just 4.5 (4 half courses per semester and 5 half credited courses in another) does that affect my GPA calculation and med school admission. However, I do have 5 credits per year because I make up for it during the summer.

Thank you so much for your help!

Sincerely,
Marina

]]> By: Sandra http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1630 Sandra Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:14:53 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1630 Hi joshua! Congrats on getting in! On the U OF T website they were mentioning about eliminating lowest marks "The weighting formula is a method of GPA calculation eliminating some lower course marks".Since i end up with a D in genetics our prof was really bad! does that actually help!!! thnx Joshua Hi joshua! Congrats on getting in!
On the U OF T website they were mentioning about eliminating lowest marks
“The weighting formula is a method of GPA calculation eliminating some lower course marks”.Since i end up with a D in genetics our prof was really bad! does that actually help!!!
thnx Joshua

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1580 Joshua Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:29:21 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1580 Hi Claire, Honestly, I don't have much experience with this kind of thing. My only suggestion is to do as much research as you can, find people whose work interests you, and send off a bunch of emails with a CV and cover letter. Persistence is key. Best of luck! Hi Claire,

Honestly, I don’t have much experience with this kind of thing. My only suggestion is to do as much research as you can, find people whose work interests you, and send off a bunch of emails with a CV and cover letter. Persistence is key.

Best of luck!

]]> By: Claire http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1579 Claire Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:55:50 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1579 And just to let you know, I've applied for the Gene Cure Researcher For A Week Program you suggested me. Wish me luck! =D And just to let you know, I’ve applied for the Gene Cure Researcher For A Week Program you suggested me. Wish me luck! =D

]]> By: Claire http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1578 Claire Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:53:28 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1578 Hey Joshua, It Claire again. Please realize that you've been really helpful. Thanks! Because I recently graduated from high school but not yet in university, I plan to find a internship/research position at a medical research centre or hospital. I do understand that most of these are offered for undergraduate students, but I really want to gain some experience. Can you please provide me with some tips on how I can do this, or suggest some opportunities that you know of? Thanks. Hey Joshua,

It Claire again. Please realize that you’ve been really helpful. Thanks! Because I recently graduated from high school but not yet in university, I plan to find a internship/research position at a medical research centre or hospital. I do understand that most of these are offered for undergraduate students, but I really want to gain some experience. Can you please provide me with some tips on how I can do this, or suggest some opportunities that you know of? Thanks.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1577 Joshua Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:21:01 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1577 Claire: No problem, glad you are finding the blog helpful! I think it's fine to mention anything that occurs when you are 16 and older. So if you complete it at 16, I think it's fine to mention. I would say just get involved in things you like - I wouldn't worry so much about being strategic for medical school, because if you enjoy it, you will do well in it, and it will show. That being said, doing something medically related (e.g. volunteering, shadowing doctors, etc.) to learn more about the profession will be helpful both to your decision on whether medicine is for you, and also to show medical schools you have done your homework on the profession. You should also try and develop your leadership skills, and have some leadership roles - to show you can work in a team in all capacities. As for research opportunities for high school students, check out: http://www.genecure.ca/en/programs/gene-researcher-for-a-week/program-description/ http://www.drsa.ca/blog/index.php Claire: No problem, glad you are finding the blog helpful!

I think it’s fine to mention anything that occurs when you are 16 and older. So if you complete it at 16, I think it’s fine to mention.

I would say just get involved in things you like – I wouldn’t worry so much about being strategic for medical school, because if you enjoy it, you will do well in it, and it will show. That being said, doing something medically related (e.g. volunteering, shadowing doctors, etc.) to learn more about the profession will be helpful both to your decision on whether medicine is for you, and also to show medical schools you have done your homework on the profession. You should also try and develop your leadership skills, and have some leadership roles – to show you can work in a team in all capacities.

As for research opportunities for high school students, check out:

http://www.genecure.ca/en/programs/gene-researcher-for-a-week/program-description/

http://www.drsa.ca/blog/index.php

]]> By: Claire http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1570 Claire Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:11:59 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1570 Also, can you suggest a few thing we can do as high school students (gr10,11,12) that will help out medical school applications? Because I will need non-academic experiences and extracurricular for university applications, I want to be able to use them towards my medical school applications as well. Also, do you know of any research opportunities for high school students? Thanks for the help, Claire Also, can you suggest a few thing we can do as high school students (gr10,11,12) that will help out medical school applications? Because I will need non-academic experiences and extracurricular for university applications, I want to be able to use them towards my medical school applications as well. Also, do you know of any research opportunities for high school students?

Thanks for the help,
Claire

]]> By: Claire http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/medical-school-admissions-how-important-are-non-academic-components-really/comment-page-2/#comment-1569 Claire Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:07:54 +0000 http://www.medhopeful.com/?p=979#comment-1569 Hi Joshua, First, I want to thank you for setting this blog up to help fellow medical school hopefuls. My question is: If I register for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Silver) when I am 15 and complete it when I am 16, can I use this as one of my achievements for my medical school application? Since I started before I was 16, I'm not sure if I can still note this down on my medical school application. Thanks, your help is much appreciated! Hi Joshua,

First, I want to thank you for setting this blog up to help fellow medical school hopefuls. My question is:

If I register for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Silver) when I am 15 and complete it when I am 16, can I use this as one of my achievements for my medical school application? Since I started before I was 16, I’m not sure if I can still note this down on my medical school application.

Thanks, your help is much appreciated!

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