Future IM Doc

I call bullshit how far must one run to experience it I haven't found it yet

Hi there! 

I definitely think work at a pharmacy could be beneficial to a pre-med. It gives you exposure to another field within medicine and allows to work with part of the multi-disciplinary team (and perhaps motivate you to keep your hand writing legible!). 

Keep in mind that many experiences can provide valuable life experience and not just those directly related to medicine - just because you don’t manage to get volunteer work in a hospital doesn’t mean you can’t learn from where you might gain that experience. I spent many years volunteering at a women’s shelter - and while I definitely didn’t learn any medicine - I learned how to interact in a very sensitive manner with the women and children who lived at the shelter. It also shows admissions committees that you are well rounded person - I didn’t have any medically related work experience prior to applying either. I worked at a hardware store, I worked in retail, and I had a summer job in a lab. 

All of your experiences build you as a person - whether related to your motivation to pursue medicine or not! 

Hi Fellow Canadian! 

1. Since electives are completed in the summer between your third and fourth year it’s time to start looking now. I’m sure you’ve already heard about the portal - it has of information (if difficult to locate at times) regarding deadlines for application teach individual school. 

As I mentioned on my tips page - if you are planning to apply to the US for electives check their timelines first. Many schools in the US have specific block dates for elective applications and you may need to fit your Canadian applications into those dates - Canadian schools are (or at least were) much more flexible with elective dates. 

2. I would apply for at least 3 electives for each block to avoid disappointment. It is hard to secure electives given the increasing number of medical schools (especially international) trying to complete electives in Canada. 

3. General tips - most students already know the boxes they need to check off for the residency applications: exam scores, extra-curricular, volunteer work or alternatively: leadership, research, scholarly activity, volunteer etc. I strongly recommend having ‘stuff’ you’ve done to put in each category. 

Scores are a pretty personal question - and if CaRMS were better at reporting the scores of successful applicants I probably wouldn’t disclose my scores. 

MCCEE: 390 NAC OSCE: 88 

We still don’t know what role these scores play in the application/interview process other than low scores are likely to exclude applicants rather than high scores guaranteeing interviews. A high score really just gets your over a cut off. 

For those applying to the USA there is tons of data for you to look up regarding average scores of successful applicants in different specialties, US vs IMG applicants, etc. Sadly CaRMS does not publish this sort of data leaving us really in the dark as to what a ‘successful’ score is. 

last exam of medical school complete

two long cases over two days - 15 minute history, 5 minute presentation and pimping, 10 minute exam, 10 minute pimping 

we have had almost two full weeks off in preparation and I have done histories, exams, and questions each day for about 4 hours with a couple of friends 

today we just couldn't anymore and so we watched the new game of thrones 

I have organized all my snacks, my examination tools, and my white coat 

I am ready-ish and I just want to be finished and I just have to pass 

flying home for the final time: 9 days