Application season has hit once again, and I'm having people ask me left and right for tips on filling out the application. Though from the applicants' perspective I remember it seeming quite overwhelming and complicated, it seems remarkably straight-forward from the other side. A lot of what I say comes directly from the help manuals, just phrased differently.
Perhaps the best advice I can give is to keep it real. Certainly be proud of what you've done and show it in your descriptions, but playing it up to "sound impressive" will just look foolish. Cut the fluff, because after reading 1000s of applications, reviewers will see straight through the crap. Remember that prestige is not a criterion, nor is the number of spots you fill up in the application system. Secondly, be mindful of what you're being asked to do. Describe your experiences to give the reader a picture of who you are, what you've done, and why you have the qualities that are important in a doctor. It is not a place to reflect on how it has changed your life or strengthened your desire to pursue a career in medicine (unless it's a University of Calgary impact statement). Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, stop comparing yourself to other people. There will always be someone else better in category A, someone else better in category B, or someone else who's just better than you in all categories. What matters more, I think, is that you are not just a copy of someone else but your own unique person. Find that identity and grasp onto it, because you will need it for your sanity, self-confidence, and for personal questions in the interview.
Long story short, unless you know someone who is directly familiar with the admissions process, no one can tell you what your chances are for sure. Every year, many impressive people get rejected without an interview. Every year, many people with comparatively little qualifications get interviewed. There is a lot of hearsay and supposed "factual data" about what gives you a better chance of getting in, but criteria changes every year. Just because someone has gotten in, it does not mean he/she is an expert on the admissions process. Beyond cutoffs for GPA, cutoffs for MCAT scores, and published formulas, your fate is more or less in the hands of who is scoring your application. (Is this supposed to be comforting or disturbing?) Of course, absorbing all I've written is easier said than done. And perhaps I'm wrong, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me.
I remember how my emotions oscillated like a sine wave, rebounding between optimism and disheartened defeat. If you've decided at some point to apply this year, just do it or you will regret it later. Keep your chin up, and keep doing what you enjoy. The worst thing you can do is put all your eggs in one basket and bank on this one application cycle. You will need a healthy dose of distraction while you play the admissions game, and you'll have things to bolster your next application should it come to that. You can start thinking about interviews if you want, but it's probably too early for that. I firmly believe that too much preparation is a hindrance. Instead, familiarize yourself with the Canadian health care system and hot topics about the medical system - public vs. private systems, shortages of doctors in rural areas, health care access for refugees, payment and patient allocation systems for doctors (i.e., fee-for-service, rosters), multidisciplinary health care centres, stem cell research, and general medical ethics to name a few. By no means will you be expected to know about any of them in depth or know about all of them, but being aware is a good thing.
In contrast to the mad scramble for applicants, things have been extremely slow on the Class of 2016 side. There were a few forms to fill out and immunizations to take care of, both of which were very simple and easy to complete. Course registration was remarkably anti-climactic - I literally clicked a single button and all of my courses were added for me. I am anticipating the start of classes, but not having anything to prepare for it makes me restless.
I'm also feeling a sense of nervous anxiety, similar to how I felt entering university. I don't really know anyone in the program, meaning I will be introducing myself to my 280-or-so classmates for the first time. Many people will disagree, but first impressions are extremely important and have considerable power over what niche you will occupy for the remainder of the program. For example, in undergrad, the friends I made in Frosh Week really were the friends I grew close to and stuck with. People who rubbed each other the wrong way tended not to mix even as time smoothed things over. I will not re-invent myself or pretend I'm someone that I'm not. However, I do confess to nervous anticipation about meeting my future colleagues. Maybe, despite all my preaching, I still feel intimidated and assume everyone else is a ridiculously accomplished superstar?
Other than that, there is nothing further to report. It's hard to believe that the medical school journey will begin in just over a month, which is so close, yet so far. The waiting game continues!
