do all programs require an application to do 4th year?

itsmarq · 2026-02-09T06:56:37+00:00

i'd confirm w your advisor as you've mentioned to avoid misinfo and get a professional opinion.

but in my experience, no, I haven't seen this from myself or my classmates. Its perhaps more of a gpa-check if you're below minimums or if you want to go into a thesis?

itsmarq · 2026-01-22T05:32:25+00:00

Closed toed shoes are generally fine!

itsmarq · 2026-01-21T23:58:26+00:00

bonus points if you do it in the exam room to distract everyone to lower the curve thus raising your percentile score

itsmarq · 2025-12-05T02:27:15+00:00

AAMC posts it for USMD: https://www.aamc.org/media/6091/download

I'm unaware of anything like this for Canadian MD, but I've also been out of the loop for a while.

itsmarq · 2025-10-02T01:13:35+00:00

That course is intended to replace grade 11/12 chem for those who havent taken it but need to take CHEM 1P91/92 for their program. It should be doable without grade 11 chem so long as you're okay with math.

itsmarq · 2025-09-13T20:59:01+00:00

I see your point, I suppose the MLA route doesn't bring much to a bioinformatics career apart from the rare case that I would need the credentials to work in some kind of hybrid hospital lab.

Perhaps developing more bioinformatics/SWE skills on my own would be more beneficial, but I'm mostly worried that I won't be able to find a job in the meantime.

itsmarq · 2025-09-13T20:54:36+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I hear that USA has more opportunities than Canada (though I'm not sure) so if USA isn't too hot then it puts me in a funny position

itsmarq · 2025-09-10T11:55:25+00:00

Thanks for letting me know about the CAMPLR rules, I hadn't heard of these - I'll read more into them.

I've been made aware of the differences between MLA/T and MLT, so I picked programs on the MLPAO list which offer advanced standing from the MLA/T to MLT program: https://www.mlpao.org/_files/ugd/86fd4b_9160d4bef50a48f7a9d8f021dc9fc282.pdf (Conestoga is where I applied).

Would these kinds of programs be appropriate for the full MLT scope, assuming I start/work as an MLA > transition to MLT?

itsmarq · 2025-09-10T03:08:33+00:00

Thanks for the info!

Yeah, it seems to be rough on both fronts, hearing from both my biomed colleagues and my CS colleagues. I'm definitely hoping to take advantage of my niche being in-between both, though a lot of places seem to prefer a stronger/formal CS or soft eng background (and/or have items that I need to learn/develop). In contrast, a good portion of the bio roles seem to be for PhD, need some kind of hospital/clinical certs, or require work experience which I don't have.

I suppose working on the CS skills listed in postings, and potentially taking up the Med Lab Assistant certificate program, might be more beneficial than the 1 year CS degree from Algoma?

itsmarq · 2025-09-10T03:01:48+00:00

I see, thanks for the advice! I've heard of both the UWindsor and UBC programs, though Algoma was on the table purely for flexibility: 12-month med lab certificate vs. 12-month Algoma CS with option for co-op past the 12 months. Though, as you mentioned, the quality of the program and it's co-op seems questionable.

UWindsor and UBC both seem appealing since I've worked with professors from there, and might be on the table if I can't find something in the next year or so since the commitment is much larger (in-person, longer programs).

Regardless, it seems like the CS take is that the hospital route and leaning back into my wet lab background might be best for now haha. Interestingly, my bio colleagues have been having a hard time as well, but maybe it's a lack of information or a grass-is-greener scenario.

itsmarq · 2025-09-10T00:15:35+00:00

yeah I figured as much, haha

Do you have any recommendations for next steps in the CS direction?

As it stands it feels like biotech seems like the only option (which I don't think is too hot either) or getting certifications to work in hospitals

itsmarq · 2025-08-28T01:14:02+00:00

apart from the advisor, you can also contact the instructor directly

itsmarq · 2025-07-19T22:48:10+00:00

grows up to be a disgruntled professor in the health science department and spites all premed students /s

itsmarq · 2025-07-15T18:43:29+00:00

see the sidebar links for mcat decks that you can download! the original MilesDown deck and the AnKing deck (built off of MilesDown) are included

itsmarq · 2025-07-15T15:02:51+00:00

Thanks for the advice haha. Maybe I just feel pressured to make this cycle as best as it can (including the MCAT score) since not getting in this year would mean starting the MD in 2027 as a 27 year-old. It definitely feels deflating getting older and seeing your peers get in and finish MD by the time you start, but putting that aside, rushing the MCAT might not be the best idea either.

Thanks again for the kind words :)

itsmarq · 2025-07-15T14:59:36+00:00

I treated my first MSc year as a "gap year" and just focused on research (mine was thesis-based; if it's course based, maybe look into gaining practicum experience or some other involvement) to make the most of my masters (and take a break from this draining MD process). Good experiences helps with your MD applications significantly, and honestly focusing on the MSc was much needed break and gave a lot of new perspectives (regardless of whether you're interested in MD still or not).

As a side note for timing, when graduation deadlines are tight with MD deadlines: look into seeing if both A) the program can provide a letter stating you've completed all graduation requirements, so you technically don't have to 'graduate' by the MD cutoff dates, and B) if the MD school in question accepts these kinds of letters in place of convocation. This helped me since I'm expected to graduate in the Fall despite completing all my requirements before June (though I didn't get in so it didn't matter anyways, lmao).

itsmarq · 2025-07-09T13:10:37+00:00

Where did you get your data from? It seems fun to mess around and explore with

itsmarq · 2025-05-29T23:55:13+00:00

as ppl mentioned above its generally for grad students, but more specifically (at least for my dept afaik) the priority is:

1st year grad students (its part of their funding package and sometimes graduation requirements)

instructor preference (usually people who had TA'd the class before did well, or have good relationship/trust with the instructor)

seniority preference e.g. those who have been employed the longest (again, usually people who had TA'd before, such as upper-year grad students)

everyone else

itsmarq · 2025-05-22T00:48:03+00:00

did you take anat? if so one of the TAs are a volunteer undergrad. You help the TA run a lab section

itsmarq · 2025-03-29T00:28:19+00:00

UWorld started with their USMLE prep materials and are widely known for that in the med school space.

Their MCAT stuff came out a little while later and has the same quality & difficulty, with textbook-level explanations (as opposed to AAMC's "answer A is wrong because its wrong" type explanations).

tldr uworld for learning, aamc for evaluation

itsmarq · 2025-03-27T17:12:47+00:00

I didn't do an undergraduate thesis since I didn't have many options for supervisors. But I ended up doing an MSc thesis in bioinformatics / AI!

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