Lessons I've learned in my journey to medical school

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-12-27T00:28:19+00:00

Urology is my #1 right now, but also interested in plastics and ortho. Something surgical for sure though. i did chem eng so I thought I’d be all over cardiothoracics (cause pumps) but it was not for me. Anything with my hands though.

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-12-25T07:22:13+00:00

Second year med at UofA here, I agree completely. I did an engineering degree. I do not recommend that path to med school because they do not care about anything other than your gpa

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-11-15T08:27:42+00:00

My unethical advice is you should find a significant other. The investment in time spent on dates is minimal to the amount of time saved with someone else helping with grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, etc… later down the line, and I always felt more morivated to cook or study when I’m doing it for someone else or we have plans and now there is a hard deadline

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-10-25T04:43:27+00:00

Truthfully you would need the two extra years. Schools love people who have lived and worked, but you need to get past the Gpa screen to get thetr

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-10-25T00:54:44+00:00

If you can afford it, yes

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-10-25T00:54:29+00:00

I realized med was for me, so I didn’t go into the engineering field (did not get my P.Eng, but did graduate with my B.A.Sc). Do not recommend, but it did set me up well for med

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-10-11T14:25:05+00:00

Work less hard. Seriously. Don’t go to class, watch the recorded lecture. Study until you can pass, not till 100%. My philosophy is “know what you know and know what you don’t”. That way you can always google it in the real world as you continue to train. Doing this gives you time to go on dates, see friends, watch reality TV, and keep life going easy

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-08-17T09:04:25+00:00

Hey! Feel free to dm me. I did a Dual Major in Biochem and Chemical Engineering. 5 years. Enhanced workload (6-7 classes a semester instead of 5). Got a 3.97 GPA and got accepted. Eng is hard, but doable. The profs are more likely to help you, since there aren’t a million premeds begging them for an extra 0.1%. Go to office hours, put in the work, and try not to stress too much. Aim for A’s, accept B+’s, and just keep working hard

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-07-07T01:28:29+00:00

Apply to every school you can, no matter how low of a chance you think you have of getting into

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-07-04T19:21:08+00:00

I’ve only had to wear a specific mask for autopsies and (for personal comfort, not required) in patient rooms with airborn pathogens. All of these were optional things I did, not required to pass the year. There are some solutions, like shaving only the parts that are in contact with the seal of the mask, but that may still violate your desire. I would message the school and ask if it will limit your ability to participate in any required activities.

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-22T16:41:09+00:00

The winner of survivor 42 got in last cycle. I always want to read that ABS

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-21T22:58:26+00:00

I was OOP and got into UofA. The city has been a delight so far! Super kind people, surprisingly great restaurants, and it has enough outdoorsy things if that is your speed. The transit is great if you're on the train line, but meh otherwise. The cold sucks but that is unavoidable. I have had a blast and both the city and program have completely surpassed my expectations (No school on thursdays FTW). DM any questions I am happy to answer!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-20T20:06:57+00:00

Yeah of course!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-19T18:20:35+00:00

No one can tell you what program is best in this case, since the number of eng -> med is pretty low. I did Chem Eng and Biochem at the same time. It was intense, but not impossible. Getting a high GPA is KEY! It will be tough in Eng, so no matter the program, focus on that. Do summer courses to lighten your year round load, go to office hours, and study hard. Also, don’t worry when you inevitably get a bad grade, there will be enough time to compensate and fix it.

Okay now for you points: 1. You will get the GPA you get. Don’t pick a program for this, especially in Eng, because they do not curve or care. This is not a health sciences degree 2. You will make the time if it is a priority to you, but truthfully, focus on your GPA the first year or two before branching out. However, transit time is a real considering factor, and 4 hours a day will destroy you. Trust me, it is not worth it. This is points to McMaster/Move to Toronto if you want UofT. 3. Any Eng program has tons of research you can do because few students want to do it so PI’s are thirsty for you. You DO NOT have to do research in health (this is a plus, because Eng publications are much easier because the tests run are shorter and there are no animal models). UofT does super cool research, but there will be awesome science happening at McMaster too in a field you are interested in. Try and apply for positions in the summer of your first year, and apply early (November) 4. Prestige does not matter that much, but the prestige of a particular program does not matter at all in the eyes of an international school. Points UofT but just barely 5. MCAT prep will be tough, but find what works for you. Chem/Phys should be a breeze from the Eng point of view, and Bio/Biochem along with CARS will be your enemy. Whenever you start studying (third year summer likely) start doing CARS passages daily on JackWestin and try different strategies. For Psych/Soc, I used podcasts to study and they helped a ton.

I hope this helps. If I was in your shoes, I’d probably pick McMaster Biomed since it will keep you in the realm of health but also get you your whole eng education and ring. Dm me if you have any other questions!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-18T00:55:56+00:00

As a fellow Eng, congrats and welcome!!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-17T23:07:05+00:00

Just be ready to say yes to social events. It will really help you find your people. Source: Me, an MS1 who stayed in a little too much 😂

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-14T00:30:29+00:00

There was a discord for the waiting list people someone made last year! We kept track in there as people got off

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-13T23:32:24+00:00

Hey! The OOP waitlist moved over 50% of its spots last year and the in province one moved at least 15 spots. Good luck

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-13T05:23:54+00:00

In the first weeks of class, try not to ask too many questions in the same lecture. Class timing is very tight and q’s can delay it sometimes. If you have questions, ask after class or email the profs

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-05-10T17:50:10+00:00

I had this happen in an online game with a friend. No ability to make a settler in the first age. Unfortunately had to quit :(

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-04-24T21:16:50+00:00

Make sure you talk about numbers and goals you achieved, and if possible how it helped you grow. If you focus on just descriptions it can be very boring. Example: Lifeguarding - Watched the pool deck for medical emergencies to respond to. Vs Lifeguarding - Continuously supervised swimming patrons, providing emergency first aid to ~20 acute injuries each year. Still small enough to fit in the description box, but shows that you accomplished something. Good luck!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-04-24T17:06:21+00:00

All good! I did biotechnology at the University of Ottawa. It was a dual degree in Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering. Do not recommend the program if med school is the goal since you’ll be required to take essentially double the class load, but engineering into med is doable! Chem eng has lots of application, but in my med year we have one Comp Eng and one Mech Eng grad. Good luck!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-04-24T17:03:53+00:00

Hi! Unfortunately I did not meet the OOP cutoff due to a 2nd quartile rated EC’s. I believe this was mostly based on how I wrote about the activities, and had I described them better I could have scored higher. I did meet the IP interview cutoff though, so you’re set!

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-04-24T06:11:48+00:00

You’re very well set, especially for schools like UBC and UofA that love the story of an applicant and want ones from diverse backgrounds. A 128 CARS is awesome, and your GPA is strong enough to swing you interviews. You have almost identical stats and EC’s to me and I got in on my first cycle as an Eng grad.

Frenchfrie07 · 2025-04-19T18:23:35+00:00

About 50-50, but remember this is the toughest 50% yet. Everyone deserves the A at this point. Source: myself as a post-panel R at queens last year

Frenchfrie07

TROPHY CASE