Dear Valvbartos,
This is a very difficult question to answer, because most medical
schools do not publish their "actual" screening process; because
medical schools admission processes are so competetive, that even the
slightest "glich" could result in rejection; and certainly, because
this is not part of their usually FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): no
medical school would plainly admit that they'd accept someone who have
had problems, even if they would.
However, lets' start with the official polies and go on from there.
Medical school admission policies consist of several parts:
(1) Entrance exam - has naturally nothing to do with your misconduct.
Not all Canadian medical schools require such an exam.
(2) College Transcripts and GPA
(3) Interview
(4) Other elements
Your misconduct does not appear in the transcripts, which is good.
Keep it that way. This sort of behaviour, while naturally not
condoned, will not appear on your transcripts, if you haven't been
suspended or expelled.
Nevertheless, there are some parts of admission where you might
encounter problems:
First, during the interview. They may ask if you have ever been
disciplined and for what. Remember, that part of the objectives of the
interview is to see how you cope and answer the questions, so looking
very nervous when answering such a quesiton wouldn't help. The best
policy here - if asked - is to tell the truth, and to discuss this
event, what you have learnt from it and how you have improved your
conduct since; and to stress that it has happened during your first
year, you were young, and ever since you will have had no problems.
Now, the chances of being asked of your problems are not very high,
since interviewers are more interested in other aspects, such as your
reasons for studying medicine, and a good preparating to the interview
could:
(a) help you present the sides that want to present, lead them to
questions regarding topics, in which you are more secure;
(b) help you deal with inconvinient questions.
Second problem, or problems, might arise regarding the "other
elements", those things written in your application form, or in the
letters from your lecturers. Most schools do not require a letter from
the dean, stating that you have never been expelled, suspended or put
on probation, but some do. So, this is a major obstacle. For example
for those who do, see Yale Medical School (yes, I am aware to the fact
that you were asking about Canadian universities, but the admission
policies are very similar):
Yale University - Applying to Medical School
p. 19 - <http://www.yale.edu/career/students/gradprof/media/redbook.pdf>
Most of the forms for Pre-Health Professions Advisor Reports, or
letters of reference, *do not* ask for information and in fact, I have
failed to see one Canadian university that requests such information
in their letters of recommendation, or requests a letter from the
dean. However, it is possible that some schools do ask for such
information - this is not the general policy. Here, again, I should
note that the dean's letter refers to four cases, all but one are not
relevant to your case:
(1) Expulsion
(2) Suspension
(3) Placed on Probation (forgot to ask you that, and therefore this is
the only one that might be relevant)
(4) There are disciplinary procedures going on against the student at
the moment (by the time you'll have arrived your final year, this will
be all behind you).
Other factors that could influence the admission policy is your proven
willingness to live in remote, northern or rural communities; your
proven record of extra-curricular/volunteer activities, especially
with underserviced populations; your ethnicity and status in Canada
(many admit no students, who are not permanent residents of Canada);
etc.
See for example the Northern Ontario School of Medicine admission policy:
http://www.normed.ca/prospect/admissions/criteria.htm
Here, in fact, what you do of yourself in the next 3-4 years of
school, could have a gerat impact. If you will not only cease your
misconduct, but also volunteer, show commitment to the community where
you live, and show true "remorse" for your past behaviour, I am quite
certain that you will get good letters of recommendation and
references, that would discuss the last years of your school.
Now, letters of recommendations and interviews are the "secret"
channels to know more about the individual. No medical school would
invest much time and effort in clandestine investigation into eahc
candidate: they ask your teachers for references and conduct the
interview in order to know more about you as a person.
Further Reading and Recommendation
===================================
You can read the admission policies of all of Canada's medical school
at McGill University's "Red Book" :
The Red Book
<http://redbooks.sus.mcgill.ca/medical.html>
Medical Schools Interview feedback
<http://www.studentdoctor.net/interview/interview_read.asp> - this
site will let you know what kind of questions are being asked during
the interviews. None mentions questions regarding misconduct and
disciplinary procedures.
University of Waterloo: "So you?re thinking about Medical School?"
<http://www.careerservices.uwaterloo.ca/resources/ThinkingAboutMedicalSchool.asp>
- clear, concise ad comprehensive guide to the admission process, to
the possible pitfalls in the interview process, etc.
Mom MD - Medical School Interviews
<http://www.mommd.com/interview.shtml>
Admissions Advice Page for Canadian Pre-Meds
<http://www.geocities.com/mdpremie/>
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification on this answer before you rate it. My search
terms:
[site:ca "medical school" admissions misconduct],
["DISCIPLINARY REPORT" site:ca medical school],
[DEAN'S DISCIPLINARY REPORT],
["Pre-Health Professions Advisor Report"],
["medical school" canada interview],
[site:ca "medical school"],
[site:ca canada "medical school" admissions probation],
[canada "medical school" admissions probation],
[canada "medical school" admissions suspended] |
Request for Answer Clarification by
valvbartos-ga
on
25 Aug 2005 04:36 PDT
Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my question. I just require
a bit of clarification.
Bureaucratically, I'm ok. There is no suspension, probation or
expulsion on my transcript. My only real concern is, to use your word,
a "clandestine" operation of sorts.
I figure that if there are 1400 or some odd applicants, each
submitting an autobiographical essay, transcripts, a list of
non-academic experiences and MCAT grades, --what problem would it be
for the committee to request that this list of names be run through
campus security computers?-- They're already dedicating a good block
of time to each candidate and I don't think it would take much
additional effort. I don't think it would be legal, but this is
definitely a concern of mine. Each candidate will require a large
amount of money to train, including equipment, professors, etc. I
wonder to what extent they want to know each candidate.
Also, you said:
"Most schools do not require a letter from
the dean, stating that you have never been expelled, suspended or put
on probation, but some do. So, this is a major obstacle."
I'm wondering what you mean by "..this is a major obstacle". I was
never expelled, suspended or put on probation, so I'm not quite sure
what you mean by this.
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