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Pabloo

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  1. Here is what I anticipate to be my game plan: My plan is to continue my job until next fall, to save some money to go to school. How can I maximize the time while I’m only working? I’m in a pretty fortunate position where I can network with our local healthcare providers and am in good standing with the academics at my school. I’m thinking of continuing my research from my undergraduate thesis, and assisting other laboratories at the university. Would this be enough to prove I understand quantitative methods? Alternatively, can I retake the statistics courses to prove I’m proficient at them? Would schools consider these grades? They will be part time study in a fifth year, and I would only have one of the two courses completed by application time. My current job does not involve any data analysis, and the only way I can get exposure to it is by volunteering at the schools laboratories and retaking the statistics courses. Should I instead focus on quantitative section of the GRE? Are quantitative methods the only thing I’m really missing? Is there anything else I can do for my application? Should I retake the other course I failed to boost my GPA or should I do more volunteering? Thank you all for your time and feedback.
  2. Hello everyone, I’m looking for some guidance on my potential prospects for grad school, and help on selecting the best route to get there. I apologise if this is a long read, but I want to provide as much information as possible to help guide the decision. Also, as a disclaimer I am a Canadian. Undergrad: I am about to complete my undergrad in the social sciences. I took the majority of my science & stats courses in my third year, performed poorly (3.0 in sciences/third year). I performed the best in my fourth year with a 3.7% and finished overall with a 3.3%. Relative work Experience: I completed a yearlong empirical thesis in a biological laboratory in my last year, no publication but my supervisor is reviewing the data. I worked as a TA for one course as an undergrad. I work fulltime with an organization that focuses on healthcare. I routinely meet with doctors, patients and community members alike. It was one of the physicians that upon hearing about my undergrad research and work experience, suggest that I reconsider applying to med school. Alternative Routes Considered: I have considered a MSc in Neuroscience, or a MPH/MSc in Epidemiology. I have a dwindling interest in this route, mainly due to my desire to work with people and research job prospects. However, this is where I conducted my thesis, and have a plethora of vocational experience related to it. I have considered the MPH/MSc in Epidemiology most recently as the job prospects seem better and similar to my current duties. They combine the areas of research I’m interested in (experimental design, statistical analysis, data collection, public promotion) without the dissections. Potential Plans: I want to apply for fall 2018 induction, which means applying by this winter. Aside from my job, I have nothing else on my itinerary. I’m willing to put everything into getting in. I failed a course in first year, it was not related to my major at all, but has decreased my cumulative GPA. I have considered retaking this course as it would increase my cumulative GPA by 1-2%. On the OMSAS scale, this is the difference between a 3.3 and 3.7 GPA. I have also considered retaking the statistics courses I performed poorly in (2.7), because I am competent with statistics, but due to how exams were weighted, I’m worried this performance will not be evident to grad schools and certain schools place more weight on stats, especially for epidemiology. Unfortunately, retaking all the science courses is not an option to me, or taking a second undergrad. I have no financial support, and have only my income to depend on. Moreover, the class times compete with my work hours. This is why I had planned to retake the smallest amount of courses that would reduce the financial repercussions while having the largest return on my immediate GPA and application. Should I forgo this plan all together, or is it worth increasing my GPA by 1-3%? Will this be negatively viewed as a way to falsely increase my grades? I’ve considered instead of retaking courses, or maybe in conjunction with courses, is applying to other laboratories in the university to garnish more references and experience. Alternatively, offering my time as a volunteer with in the hospital. I’m not sure which looks better. The other option I’ve considered is pouring it all into the GRE for the schools that require it. Despite my marks, and after reviewing a few practice GREs online, I think I could perform well. But, is my GPA so poor that even if I perform extraordinarily on the GRE, I will not be as competitive? Obviously an applicant with an extraordinary GPA and extraordinary GRE would be favoured. Based on what I’ve viewed, the GRE seems like it will take less to prepare for than the MCAT for example. Conclusion: I have the next four months or so before I need to start applying to grad and schools and finding an advisors alike, how can I make the most of my time? Am I even a competitive grad school applicant?
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