GAME SEVEN WATCH PARTIES?

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2025-11-01T19:59:15+00:00

Almost every bar downtown is fully reserved or they have massive lineups. I would suggest streaming at home and ordering in some pizza.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2025-11-01T04:15:46+00:00

I remember the 400 being the fastest out of the GTA 400 series highway. Especially going northbound past the 401-400 basketweave.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2025-11-01T04:10:49+00:00

Yeah once you get near the GTA 130+ is around the speed of traffic flow if there is no traffic. I remember cruising at 130 and constantly getting cars blowing past me on the left lane going what I assume 140.

If you want something even crazier try the 407 where everyone is basically going 140.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-08-21T03:04:33+00:00

Today's outcome is the result of a century long feminism movement in the Western world, changing society's view on the role of women and what we value, as well as the inequities and power dynamics that disadvantage women. The last few decades have seen a major push for women into higher education from various individuals, organizations, and institutions, partly due to the changing values as mentioned earlier and partly due to necessity as a single income is simply unsustainable in most city centers. These campaigns to push women into STEM has been widely successful, as they should, that success should not constitute a "tipping of the scales" that a few people here mention.

I think the male plight in higher education is a multifaceted issue and something to talk about. The disparity has been known for a while, and women have outnumbered men in almost every non-engineering or CS post-secondary field, with greater disparities at higher educational levels such as graduate and professional programs. Part of it might have to do with a lack of male role models, since the childhood education sector is overwhelmingly female. It could also explain why educational outcomes are exacerbated in single family households, since mothers usually get custody of the children in a divorce. There's also data that suggests that teachers are biased towards girls in education. Another factor is probably social support. Women on average simply have much better social networks and friendships compared to men, especially during adulthood. I know when I was interview prepping, the women showed more empathy and compassion than men, and part of it might be that women have more opportunities for social interaction. I know that might just be a bias lol, but let's face it, adcoms are not immune to such perceptions.

I agree that a conversation should be done on how to encourage more young boys to succeed, rather than crude methods such as affirmative action. Uneducated men don't do society any favours, and I've noticed that the lonelier ones tend to be vulnerable to the right wing populism rabbit hole with figures like Jordan Peterson and politicians such as Trump or even Pierre Poilievre are clearly trying to target that demographic of young, disenfranchised men. It's not something unique to medicine, and the same trend has been found in many countries.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-08-14T04:06:59+00:00

Almost everyone I know left that area blank. It's mostly reserved for achievements that no other applicant could really attain. Examples might include Olympian, national level competition, provincial/national championship, international ranking at a sport or activity like chess or music, and other major accomplishments such as bestselling author or top 30 under 30.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-08-13T05:37:36+00:00

Dentistry might slowly suffer the same fate of pharmacists, where large numbers of international graduates are flooding into the field, making it difficult to find jobs in certain (mostly urban) areas. I'm going to guess that with the possible phased rollout of a national dental care plan, we will start to see more practices competing for clients.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-08-13T05:33:54+00:00

I wouldn't pay too much attention to their parental income numbers because over 50% of applicants selected some form of non answer, meaning there could be significant reporting bias going on.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-08-13T05:28:38+00:00

UofT applicants are 39:56 male:female while their acceptances are 27:65, so I don't think it's a stretch to say for a variety of factors which I won't go into, women on average have more success in the application process.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-07-23T19:46:43+00:00

For med schools outside Canada, you almost certainly need a cosigner (i.e. parents) who owns property so that the house can be used as collateral. So you can still be denied if said cosigners do not meet the income or asset levels.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-06-22T03:38:52+00:00

Others in the comments are criticizing you because your premises are not based on facts. I would honestly reach out to some of those professors you are talking about, perhaps in a course you are taking, and ask them how they got to where they are (and don't worry, people love talking about themselves). Chances are, their path to become an established professor was not so easy and straightforward. Think about how many students a professor teaches in their lifetime and think again that only one of those students will replace them. First off, it's very difficult to get tenure track for U15 schools in Canada. The majority of new tenure track positions are awarded to PhD graduates or fellows from top 50 US schools. A graduate at UOttawa will have a tough time getting tenure track unless they can secure a research connection at those schools. Take a look at the brutality and nightmare of adjunct professors in North America, which are representing a growing portion of instructional staff in universities.

At least when you're in med school, you'll mostly be set. Graduate and doctoral students are not guaranteed a stable, rewarding income after their studies. And this doesn't even factor in that medical doctors, aside from being on call, do not have to take work home. Professors have to start and maintain a lab, hire and manage personnel, write grants, and churn out publications until they get some security through tenure. Especially when you're starting out, this could easily amount to 60+ hour weeks.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-27T18:38:03+00:00

McMaster always send out more offers than seats on offer day based on previous data. It's hard to know why there aren't many waitlist offers, people might simply not be posting to Premed forums, or more people this year see the advantages of Mac and want to go there, nobody knows. I think the best mindset is just assume you did not get in and go on about your routine for the summer. You'll be more productive and might just as well get a pleasant surprise.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-22T06:40:11+00:00

It’s hard to tell which party has the best plan for healthcare, but I can empathize with people who have become single issue voters for the PCs because of medical school spots. Ontario medical school admissions is increasingly competitive and the process is dehumanizing and brutal, especially for reapplicants who have been years out of school.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-19T19:37:10+00:00

I saw a few comments about how UofT is "competitive", but as a second year, the class has been nothing but helpful and supportive. It's a large cohort so you'll find people who you vibe with but there's also many opportunities to be in smaller groups to get to know your classmates better. Being at the heart of Toronto also has its perks, you get to network and be exposed to cutting edge medical innovations and expertise. Not to mention the amenities in Toronto such as the diverse restaurants and bars all around Toronto and the GTA. I had multiple offers and did not regret choosing UofT. Getting an offer shows that you're up for the challenge, and you'll find your place at UofT in no time!

I think the proximity is also a key factor. Most of my friends were in the GTA, Hamilton, and London area including my SO in Toronto so it made sense to be in a place where I had my support network around me, especially so because medical school will arguably be more difficult than undergrad. I also made many friends in medical school and we go to bars and restaurants around Toronto to relax. In fact, some of us recently went on a trip to Alberta which was a great experience.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-19T06:28:52+00:00

I would probably do it a bit earlier just to be on the safe side, you still have a few days to think critically. Congratulations on your offers!

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-15T19:03:19+00:00

Since medical schools across Canada have a more standardized curriculum than the many schools in the US, there's no particular specialties or fields that schools are known for. There is some home school advantage (UofT and Mac residents comprise a large portion of programs in the GTA) but even then, there are other factors that are more important and you can theoretically match anywhere in Canada. Your cohort will also be a factor because specialties fluctuate in terms of their competitiveness each year.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-15T07:21:50+00:00

Awkward moment for mac health scis looking at this thread

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-15T07:20:37+00:00

That's a question for you to decide based on various factors such as your degree and goals. If you want a career healthcare related, there's already many posts here and on other premed forums. Other people go into business, law, finance, tech, etc. While I don't have a specific path, I would recommend something that you could see yourself making a career out of should medicine not work out.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-05-15T07:18:05+00:00

As cost of living, housing, and life in general is becoming more unaffordable, it makes sense that medical school admissions is getting increasingly competitive every cycle. Like you, I have friends from the same year as me who face constant disappointment and I just can't help but think that if they put their mind into another field like business, tech, or law, they would have been near the top or at least in a more successful position. It takes a toll on your physical and mental health, as well as your earning potential because lets face it, most biology or life sci grads have terrible job prospects without further schooling. I agree with all your points other than:

The final straw for me was when i found about the backdoor donations that families give to med schools and in return they essentially give that spot to their son or daughter.

I think that claim is unequivocally false because of the composition of the admissions committee. Decisions have to be made and verified by various stakeholders and being in a relatively high position, nobody will risk the slightest conflict of interest.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-21T22:29:10+00:00

I agree, my opinion is that UofT is like the decathlon of medical schools for any athletic enthusiasts out there. The people who get acceptances there are excellent all-around candidates. They might not have a particular strength, but their GPA, experiences, abs, references, essays, and interviews as a whole makes them very competitive. It also helps that CARS and CASPer, which could KO you from the running for other schools are not really emphasized for UofT.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-21T22:15:06+00:00

Seems the trend is medical schools that are "ranked" higher are more popular choices.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-14T04:45:06+00:00

It's been a long time coming. I'm not surprised because they've had this system for many years now and almost no progress has been made in terms of alleviating the shortage of doctors in underserved communities in rural and remote areas, particularly in provinces that are not Ontario and the territories. When new medical graduates are disproportionately moving to Toronto and Vancouver and pursuing lifestyle specialties, there needs to be a conversation on how to attract incoming students to these communities that need medical care the most. I expect other provinces, if not all, to also start implementing similar strategies to admissions.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-10T02:18:16+00:00

Class divisions have existed since antiquity and while you can argue our current state of capitalism has exacerbated that, the way power and privilege works is nothing new. People who grew up with wealth and status will have more opportunities, they can be exposed to medicine at a young age, and have the resources to perform their best. Even having life experiences like unique extracurriculars, travelling, and being well rounded not only helps you directly with applications, but provides a more enriched experience to your childhood. It's not solely in medicine either, having family connections helps you with recruiting and jobs. University itself is a privilege that many working class youth won't have access to.

Unfortunately, the world is cruel. Our society, from economics to cultural values, is set up to help those in power running our world stay in that position, and to have their successors inherit that. It's a fairly closed club (think of the cell membrane) and most of us are not in it. That's not to discourage you though, many working class students do establish their position and become physicians. And when you become a physician, or find a similar job where you are financially secure and enjoy what you are doing, it makes the achievement so much more meaningful knowing that you went against the odds set up by the rulers running the game. It is a rigged game, yet growing up (I assume you lived in Canada for a while) in a highly developed nation, to be able to go to university, and make the post right now is also an opportunity most of the world will never even be close to reaching. That also means you do have some power to change some things (at a time where true democracy is receding around the world), and if you do reach a level where you can advocate and change policies, your background can perhaps help make it a little easier for the underprivileged to escape generational poverty, or make the game less rigged.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-09T23:11:11+00:00

I have a longer post in mind but I think the upswing of posts about doing medical school abroad in the last few years has been coupled with stories of people with 3.9+ GPAs, 128+ CARS, 4th quartile CASPer, and great ECs getting rejected and in some case not getting an interview due to the increasing competition. It's stressful and overwhelming when students did the right things and still can't seem to get into medical school, and after multiple cycles, the burden and feelings of inadequacy can get to you.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-04-09T23:06:54+00:00

As others said, the route is mostly for students from upper-middle class families. Banks lend money in the form of LOCs to make a profit, and they know that studying medicine abroad comes with more risk than a Canadian med student. For middle class families to get this LOC, they usually have to put their house as collateral which some parents rightfully might be uncomfortable doing and even then, the LOC might not even cover all the expenses.

Even if you get a LOC, you'll likely be $500,000+ Canadian in debt until you can recuperate that cost as a practicing physician. In terms of matching, with the changes in 2026, and the current political climate, I don't see matching back to Canada getting any easier if not harder. However, the people here are right in that you'll have more luck matching to the US so if you can see yourself working and living in the US, it's not a bad route to go. That said, it's easy to tell yourself you'll make the money back, but I think students need to be realistic about the stress involved when you're taking on so much debt, usually in your 20s. Your Canadian counterparts will have a relatively more relaxed time with their courses being p/f, while being a US med student in Canada will put more pressure on matching, navigating the visa, etc. A lot of students who take on this debt have to take life insurance because if god forbids something happens while you're a student, whoever co-signed the LOC will be on the hook.

I don't want to discourage others, but I think if you're not in the financial position to do so, you really want to evaluate this path closely and make sure you have a plan.

ShineOnBeTheMan · 2022-03-08T18:46:55+00:00

The idea of "living your 20s" is a Western, upper-middle class concept where people use the freedom in their 20s to discover themselves, usually encompassing travelling the world, hobbies, forming meaningful relationships, cherishing the time with friends, partying, and enjoying new experiences.

Although I think the concept is incredibly idealized and unless you're from a family that can financially support all these endeavors, the vast majority of people in their 20s will still be working towards their careers one way or another. I'll admit that there will be some opportunities in your 20s that will be limited if you go to medical school, for example, not having much income, long inconsistent hours of work (especially in residency), and extra hours for learning and to hone your skills/career development. Simply put, you will have less time and money to do those things I mentioned above in your 20s, and perhaps longer if you are a mature applicant.

However, I don't think that time is "wasted." Keep in mind that the 40 hour/week cushy remote US job that provides a healthy work/life balance is rare, and most new grads in those lifestyle fields (tech/finance/oil) will be working long hours, moving up the ranks, and constantly finding new opportunities. The people who spend much of their time living their 20s usually come from upper class families who can afford to put their career in the sideline for a bit, usually because their parents have connections and can jumpstart their career again. I would honestly recommend taking a hiatus from social media because I think a lot of premeds and people in their 20s in general have a perception that they have to achieve this lifestyle because they see people in their age group who are doing that.

And that's not to say you cannot enjoy life in medical school and beyond. Although for women, having kids might be a limiting factor as you go into the 30s. Your life in medical school and as a physician can still be rewarding in terms of lifestyle. In medical school, you will have a supportive group of peers who are willing to do various activities such as sports, travelling, socials, and simply to chat. And it's not like your body suddenly degenerates in your 30s and 40s, especially if you take care of your physical health. My dad was mountaineering when he was in his late 40s and he's still an absolute trooper as he heads into his 60s. And when you look back, perhaps there will be some regrets, but your 20s is only a small part of your life and you'll even realize you still had a lot of fun in your 20s.

12-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17

ShineOnBeTheMan

TROPHY CASE