I'm starting this topic for those who are applying to 2nd-entry programs, to start in 2014.
A bit about myself:
I'll be applying to University of Ottawa and University of Toronto.
Graduated with a Social Science degree from Ottawa U w/ 7.2 CGPA (aka 3.33 on 4.0 scale, or a B+)
A lot of community involvement in health promotion, youth counseling programs, women's health research..
Currently taking the prerequisites...
I'm kind of nervous about the applications because I know how competitive these programs are... Any advice from current 2-year BScN students would be great!
If you don't mind, can you share your stats with us?
Thanks!
No problem!
I'm currently completing my fourth year of undergrad at UofT and I have a cGPA of about 3.3 and sGPA of 3.8 - 3.9. Though my cGPA is on the low side, I had a conversation with one of the people from admissions and I was told that if you've already completed your undergrad or if you're applying during your last year of undergrad, your sGPA is weighted significantly more than your cGPA.
My prereq course marks were mostly A-/As except for a half course that was a B-. I worked a retail job throughout undergrad (ate up a lot of my time) and I only started volunteering in the past year. I volunteered in a stroke program and took on RA positions in a lab at my school and a hospital.
I also got a letter from Western yesterday telling me that my application is deferred until final grades are received. So fingers crossed that all the spots aren't taken by then. If not, I'll be going to Queen's!
For those of you who got a letter from Western, is that all you have received? Like no update on the website or email?
I got an email saying that I have a new letter on the UWO student center, and the letter just said:
"We have begun to evaluate our applicants, and while we have extended some offers of admission, a decision on your application has been deferred until a final transcript of your current academic studies has been received"
and
"Upon receipt of your transcript we will reassess your application and notify you in writing, of the final decision. We will continue to consider your application as long as there are spaces available in the program"
I got an email saying that I have a new letter on the UWO student center, and the letter just said:
"We have begun to evaluate our applicants, and while we have extended some offers of admission, a decision on your application has been deferred until a final transcript of your current academic studies has been received"
and
"Upon receipt of your transcript we will reassess your application and notify you in writing, of the final decision. We will continue to consider your application as long as there are spaces available in the program"
Ok thanks for letting me know! I don't know why they send them out like that as a deferral? it seems so strange. I'm assuming its the same as a conditional acceptance?
Ok thanks for letting me know! I don't know why they send them out like that as a deferral? it seems so strange. I'm assuming its the same as a conditional acceptance?
I spoke with the counsellor, it's not a conditional acceptance. Everyone who is still completing a year or a prereq (or both) gets the deferral. And she explained that the average is quite high still at this point, so final marks are going to have to be quite competitive to receive an offer.
I just got accepted into McMaster today. Still waiting on UWO and UofT but I definitely won't be going to UWO.
I haven't seen anyone post here about McMaster yet. Has anyone else heard back? I kind of have mixed feelings towards McMaster and I'm not sure between Mac and UofT which would be my first choice. Has anyone heard feedback on McMaster's program? I've heard good and bad things and I really can't find much information on the program.
I just got accepted into McMaster today. Still waiting on UWO and UofT but I definitely won't be going to UWO.
I haven't seen anyone post here about McMaster yet. Has anyone else heard back? I kind of have mixed feelings towards McMaster and I'm not sure between Mac and UofT which would be my first choice. Has anyone heard feedback on McMaster's program? I've heard good and bad things and I really can't find much information on the program.
I haven't heard back from McMaster yet, but I am hoping for an offer admission! I don't believe I have one of the pre-requisites for it however, but we'll see. Would you mind sharing your stats?
A couple people have addressed the teaching style of McMaster's Problem Based-Learning (PBL) approach in this thread a few pages back if you'd like to take a look. It sounds challenging but I've heard many more positive things about PBL than negative. It's intimidating to think that for this class you'll have to think and do a lot of work on your own but at the same time I think it allows you to really understand the material as opposed to just typical memorization that accompanies much of the learning in many of the other programs. McMaster forces you to think and not just regurgitate through this PBL approach. I think it's really a matter of preference in terms of how you learn best.
I'm surprised I got the offer from McMaster actually because my cGPA was really low, and they were the only school I applied at that looks at cGPA. The admissions advisor did say they take into account your prereq grades a lot too though. I did my undergrad in Fine Arts at UBC. My cGPA was only 3.0 (74%) but I had A+ on all my prereqs. I work full time as a pharmacy assistant so I haven't done any volunteer in almost 2 years. I did do medical volunteering in Ghana for a month two summers ago but that was about it. I talked a lot on my application about how I would fit in well with the PBL classes.
And I have heard good things about the PBL approach (I did read the posts a few pages back) and I think it would suit my learning style. I'm just curious as to how prepared McMaster grads are fresh out of nursing school compared to people from other schools and what hiring hospitals think of Mac grads. I live 10 minutes away from Mac so it would also be the most convenient choice for me.
cclibry
5 Posts
No problem!
I'm currently completing my fourth year of undergrad at UofT and I have a cGPA of about 3.3 and sGPA of 3.8 - 3.9. Though my cGPA is on the low side, I had a conversation with one of the people from admissions and I was told that if you've already completed your undergrad or if you're applying during your last year of undergrad, your sGPA is weighted significantly more than your cGPA.
My prereq course marks were mostly A-/As except for a half course that was a B-. I worked a retail job throughout undergrad (ate up a lot of my time) and I only started volunteering in the past year. I volunteered in a stroke program and took on RA positions in a lab at my school and a hospital.