Emily Chen (IG:@em.chenn) got rejected from the McMaster Health Science program. However, she is now studying at the University of Toronto’s, arguably the best in Canada. Keep reading to learn how she got into medical school and her advice for pre-med students. 

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Emily’s reaction to getting rejected from McMaster Health Science (4:09).

So I actually did apply to health science at McMaster. Thought I would go, thought I would get in and everything. But I actually got rejected from the health sci program, that was a big, that was a very healthy wake up call for me. Because I had all my eggs in one basket and when I got the rejection letter I realized: “Where am I going to go? What am I going to do?”. 

So I started researching other schools, and I looked into Western’s Medical Science program and it really caught my eye. I did a campus tour there and I just fell in love with the campus and the program was so great because all of the modules that you can choose in upper years and a lot of the course that you pick are focused on the human body and the medical sciences, which is what I wanted to take away from an undergraduate science program.

How Emily got into medical school in 3 years (6:45).

So I got into U of T [medical school] after my third year. At that point I didn’t finish my four year bachelor of Medical Sciences degree. But I thought about it and decided to take summer courses to finish up a three year major as a bachelor of science. I just wanted to do that because I knew that I spent so many years at Western, I loved what I was studying and I spent so much time and effort walking towards that degree I just didn’t want to leave it at that.

Emily’s advice for pre-med students (16:07).

Okay, first for people who are considering going into medicine. I think it’s very important to establish why you want to go into medical school, for one, and most importantly why you want to be a doctor. So in order to do that I think a lot of self-reflection is very important. Figuring out who you are and why you want to do this, as well as gaining some exposure in the field. Either it’s in the hospital or the clinic or whatever. Because really if you commit yourself to this, this is going to be the rest of your life. You have to be very passionate, you have to have a love for learning, and a love for what you love for the career to avoid burnout and to keep that motivation.

I would also say do some research because applying to medical school, in Ontario, in Canada, in the States, wherever can be very competitive. So it’s important that you fulfill all the requirements that you have as well as maintaining your own integrity in who you are as a person. 

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