UBC BSN September 2017

Daisy2016 · Mar 14, 2017

@tdmah. I am glad everything is done. Casper and transcripts in etc. The wait is driving me crazy .how are you doing?

@Ellie11 how did your exams go?

Ellie11 · Mar 14, 2017

Hi @Daisy2016, they went okay thank you! One of them was slightly harder than the other but I am happy they are over now. Just got to wait for the grades to send the transcript over to UBC. It's an awful waiting game to find out if we get accepted isn't it?!

tdmah · Mar 14, 2017

@Daisy2016 the wait is awful! I hate not knowing where I'll be in six months. And I'm still working on Biology 235 through Athabasca, so I feel a huge sense of urgency to get the course done ASAP. I'm trying to remain optimistic though :)

mdana93 · Mar 14, 2017

It's awful you guys. I notoriously check SSC like a mad woman haha. How do you guys cope with waiting? I thought I could ignore it but it doesn't seem like I can...

bcastle · Mar 14, 2017

Keep an eye out on your e-mail, I think they send you a letter before they will update your status on the SSC.

Daisy2016 · Mar 14, 2017

@Ellie11 Glad to hear they went well. I found one was easier than the other when I did the course as well. The waiting game sucks!!

@tdmah one day at a time you can only do what you can do. I understand the urgency, and that course is quite a heavy courseload. I did my Anat and Phys through Norquest College in Alberta. In my first talks with ubc they told me I would have to retake them and I was discouraged. Then Ruxandra told me to apply PLAR. glad I did no retaking of the course they accepted it.

Anat and Phys was lots of memorization.This too shall pass!

@mdana93 I also check SSC like a crazy person. I thought I could handle it and distance myself but I cannot help checking everyday multiple times.

@bcastle Thank you will do!

wonkknow · Mar 14, 2017

The main issue was the short time limit to answer all of the questions but I'm sure it was also designed to test how quick we are to think on our feet.

Hi Ellie11,

I think most of us understand that one of CASPer's function is to test our ability to think on our feet. What some of us are questioning (at least I am) is how effectively and accurately it's able to do this.

I've compared some scenarios in the test with actual events in my life; When I'm put on the spot in real life, I answer orally â€“ which I can do almost as fast as I think. In comparison, when I type, my fingers are always trying to catch up to my thoughts. Additionally, when Im interacting with others, I can take pauses in my thought stream and conversation to consider their verbal and nonverbal reactions to what I've said and mold what I'm about to say to become more appropriate responses. Typing answers out didn't allow for this type of interaction nor consideration. I think I'm an average typer, yet I don't think there was a single answer that I answered the way I possibly could have orally in a conversation.

Perhaps what CASPer could do is give the option for people to answer orally through the microphone in the future. That may be somewhat of a reasonable compromise. Of course, there'd still be a time limit and a clock to for reference etc.â€¦

I recognize CASPer is a cost saving tool but it still has kinks that need to be worked out - which is unfortunate as it's probably going to be critical this year with the larger than normal influx of American students applying to Canadian schools. I'm not opposed to this trend, I think it makes this year's application process even more competitive and adds to the panorama of perspectives for students to experience. I just doubt that I'm going to be able to take part in it, all things considered.

I hope I don't sound bitterly critical, that wasn't my intention, I just wanted to share my thoughts on how this assessment format still needs to evolve to make it effective and fair for everyone.

wonkknow · Mar 14, 2017

How's everyone feeling? Hopefully just over one month to go! :)

Hi tdmah,

Thanks for starting this thread! As a second time applicant, I don't have any courses to complete so right now I'm trying to keep myself busy by volunteering and reviewing some material and topics I think might be useful. Its definitely helpful to take part in this community, to know we're all going through similar emotions.

to-be-nurse · Mar 15, 2017

@bcastle is right, they will send things out by email before they update SSC!

@ wonkknow, that was my comment at the end of CASPer, to have an oral section since I also resolve issues orally. My written responses compared to oral ones are a lot more organized and flow better!

@tdmah, good luck with the exams!! I think having done A&P recently might help you out in the courseload! My A&P is unfortunately on the older side and advanced A&P doe not count. Which means if I don't get in this year I will need to upgrade it sadly.

The wait game begins... Someone posted previously that we should know by mid-April, whereas the FAQ on the admission site said they hope to inform applicants by end of April. Might put off checking my email like a freak for another month.

wonkknow · Mar 15, 2017

@to-be-nurse: Glad to know I'm not the only one who felt that way and commented! I was beginning to think my post sounded whiney and bitter lol.

@everyone else taking prereq courses: remember your grades aren't yet set in stone! You can still make a difference! If you've read the material you'll be fine. If you want to do better than fine, study your ass off!! Lastly, don't forget to take care of yourself and get good sleep!

mdana93 · Mar 15, 2017

@to-be-nurse I don't think they updated the FAQs with the new Casper system. I'm hoping mid April but yeah definitely put off checking emails, drives you crazy

to-be-nurse · Mar 15, 2017

@mdana93, I double checked, this is what they have under the FAQ. I guess they did not say how much everything is worth but my guess is start checking mid-April and we will know by the end of it !!! fingers crossed

"The admission average, supplemental application score and CASPer assessment score will be used in making the final admission decisions. We plan to inform all applicants of their status by the end of April."