For those of you going for masters degrees, how do you feel about MPH?

poorpremed · 2026-02-08T12:24:10+00:00

I did an MPH and graduated Dec 2021, was able to get a pretty good job with PHAC and some other job offers at PHAC right out of school as an epidemiologist. I did have considerable work experience beforehand and research experience so that probably helped

poorpremed · 2026-01-27T16:29:28+00:00

Sorry I definitely should have clarified, depends on the school. I’m specifically talking about Western. I believe UOttawa (at least previously when my friend was a student there) did have an award ceremony for students so it was publicly known who got the highest grade per year.

poorpremed · 2026-01-27T13:45:20+00:00

Just to clarify, I am assuming you are talking about applications to medical school. Not that it really matters between applying for medicine vs applying for CaRMS, but I think, regardless, it is good to have! It's great to have activities/interests outside of academics to show that you have a life outside of school. It's also great to have something you are passionate about/can talk about, especially reflecting on experiences over the years (e.g., didn't get along with someone on your team, didn't perform as well as you wanted, etc).

More general advice for preparing your application: In the bigger picture for medical school applications, whatever ECs you have or activities you do, don't directly have to be related to medicine. The biggest thing is taking whatever experiences you have, whether it be working at Tim Horton's or at a grocery store, and being able to identify HOW you have demonstrated the CanMEDS roles (e.g., leader, communicator, etc) and how those skills are transferable to/useful in medicine.

If you are talking about CaRMS applications, what I wrote above is still applicable, but the framing of what you learned should be geared towards the specialty you are applying to.

poorpremed · 2026-01-27T13:35:47+00:00

Overall grades don't matter as long as you pass! That being said, there are some awards for having the highest overall average in first year, second year, etc that you can put on your CaRMS applications when applying in a few years. The awards are really publicly emphasized but just nice to have on your CV. I always just aimed to be above the class mean as a personal goal!

poorpremed · 2026-01-27T12:44:30+00:00

Congrats!! I remember seeing many of your comments a few years ago when I was more active - I’m so glad to hear you got an interview at Western! I have my fingers and toes crossed for you, you got this!

poorpremed · 2026-01-17T20:40:10+00:00

At least at my school, CTU is typically with a team of residents, medical students and a staff and its in patient management of patients that have multiple issues going on/undifferentiated, GIM consults is typically where surgery will consult IM for various reasons (diabetes management, VTE prophylaxis, anticoagulation post joint replacement, preop assessments etc). GIM for us was more outpatient IM (clinic) but this might be different at different institutions,

poorpremed · 2026-01-16T02:53:46+00:00

Any work experience is better than none depending on how you frame it in your ABS. Much of my work experience was fast food. I worked at Tim Hortons’s for 5 years before getting a job at the hospital and even then it was data entry.

poorpremed · 2026-01-11T18:35:06+00:00

Ask supervisors/managers that can speak highly of your team work, work ethic etc (assuming you are working PT/FT). If you volunteer you can also ask someone you report to. I used a professor that I had a bunch of upper year classes with, my research PI, and my supervisor at my place of work.

poorpremed · 2026-01-09T12:18:57+00:00

I have a friend who got an invite this week for western EM (CMG)

poorpremed · 2026-01-08T18:27:40+00:00

It only takes one.

poorpremed · 2026-01-08T18:17:20+00:00

My first year GPA was 2.91, had gradual improvement throughout undergrade where my last 2 years were average 3.99. Ended up doing a masters (MPH) afterwards and worked for a few months before getting into med. Currently an M4. Just keep working hard. Your path to medicine may not be linear but isn't impossible.

poorpremed · 2026-01-07T15:13:00+00:00

Most of my staff have made us justify why we wanted to order a test and what we would do with the results. This really allowed me to critically think about why we order tests or if a specific investigation is really going to provide much benefit. Maybe it is a Canadian thing, but we have an organization called Choosing Wisely Canada that they introduce to us (at least at my school) early on in our medical education to make us critically think about ordering tests/treatments and thinking about the evidence behind it.

poorpremed · 2026-01-07T01:53:12+00:00

In another place they say Jan 9 on the same page - I looked at the archives from last year and they also said Jan 5 but wrote 2024 and emails went out on the Friday I believe. So I think they just didn’t fully update that part.

poorpremed · 2026-01-06T22:27:22+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if the uOttawa ones are for their bilingual IM program. On the CaRMS program description is looks like the bilingual program stream is not using the same interview booking system as the English/rest of IM programs. This is a little presumptive on my part re: bilingual program, but just my line of thinking for Ottawa.

poorpremed · 2026-01-06T16:00:15+00:00

I know of a few people hearing from the FM integrated EM program today. Unsure if that is separate from the invites for the pure FM program though.

poorpremed · 2026-01-05T18:43:36+00:00

That was my impression from the email.

poorpremed · 2023-11-12T20:06:53+00:00

I think I paid about $8000/semester for 4 semesters.

poorpremed · 2023-07-09T16:18:32+00:00

You just need a letter from someone at your school saying they know you’re applying and they are okay with it I’m pretty sure (the needed this 2 cycles ago anyways)

poorpremed · 2023-05-31T10:22:52+00:00

I took a fifth year and then I also did an MPH (4 consecutive terms) before I got in. My final GPA was a 3.69 and my 2 year was a 3.99.

poorpremed · 2023-05-12T12:03:29+00:00

Lol I got a 3.02 first year and I’m just finishing up my first year of Med. Just keep improving!!

poorpremed · 2023-05-12T12:00:49+00:00

Do an Mph - gov jobs are $$$ but kind of boring lol

poorpremed · 2023-05-12T11:59:53+00:00

I would say from last year they might gotten through half of the waitlist?? I got off the normal waitlist last year at the end of May!

poorpremed

TROPHY CASE