[huzaifa47]

Originally Posted by PTGregD

To get into Med School/Law School/Grad School etc.

I mean, that really is the point for a lot of the people pursuing those goals, and really, can you blame them? Admissions these days are so competitive, you don't really have a choice but to do volunteer experiences, and unfortunately not everyone enjoys it. Some people do, but some people are just in it for the big $$ at the end of the tunnel.

It's too bad really, but that's why people dawn that attitude towards volunteer experiences -- they really are just doing it for the ability to type out a line or two on their resume so they can further their chances of achieving their goals.

hmm yes but don't you reckon someone will be a better lawyer and a better human being overall if his philosophy towards life is less self serving and cynical? I mean once again I am more likely to hire a person who has 5 volunteer things but he has distinguished himself in every single one of them as someone who genuinely cares for the betterment of the establishment and the society then someone who has just logged hours for 10 positions without really achieving much!
I dunno, like for example whenever I join a volunteer oppurtunity I only do so because I really care about its objectives and its potential for the overall utility of society, hence the amount of work and initiative I put in is equal to probably someone working full time! Its basic professionalism and if you don't have it you shouldn't get any respect simple!

[Matthew K]

Originally Posted by sara_h216

No problem Matthew! Just to let you know though, I saw a graph somewhere that said 50% of the Health Sci students go on to professional schools (med. optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, etc). So, yes the majority.. but definitely not all. I'll look for the link though

Wow, that's interesting...I'd love to see that link

[PTGregD]

Originally Posted by huzaifa47

hmm yes but don't you reckon someone will be a better lawyer and a better human being overall if his philosophy towards life is less self serving and cynical? I mean once again I am more likely to hire a person who has 5 volunteer things but he has distinguished himself in every single one of them as someone who genuinely cares for the betterment of the establishment and the society then someone who has just logged hours for 10 positions without really achieving much!
I dunno, like for example whenever I join a volunteer oppurtunity I only do so because I really care about its objectives and its potential for the overall utility of society, hence the amount of work and initiative I put in is equal to probably someone working full time! Its basic professionalism and if you don't have it you shouldn't get any respect simple!

That's a very fair argument. Unfortunately, you need to really put yourself in the perspective of an admissions officer at one of these prestigious schools. They get hundreds upon hundreds of qualified applicants. All they get to look at are pieces of paper. They can't feasibly meet with every single applicant to determine what they have gained from each of their volunteer experiences. Instead, that just have to somehow make a judgement call, and that tends to come down to who padded their resume better.

[huzaifa47]

Originally Posted by PTGregD

That's a very fair argument. Unfortunately, you need to really put yourself in the perspective of an admissions officer at one of these prestigious schools. They get hundreds upon hundreds of qualified applicants. All they get to look at are pieces of paper. They can't feasibly meet with every single applicant to determine what they have gained from each of their volunteer experiences. Instead, that just have to somehow make a judgement call, and that tends to come down to who padded their resume better.

Unfortunately though, chances are you most probably are right! Which is sad really!

[FireDragoonX]

Originally Posted by Matthew K

Wow, that's interesting...I'd love to see that link

let me guess, you're in health sci right?
last year (for 07/08 grads) 65% of them went to med school. The year before it was 82%
edit: they're not percentages, but the actual number of students. actual percentages are about 38% and 48%. whoopslol

this is the link.
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/bhsc/graduates.html

[PTGregD]

Originally Posted by FireDragoonX

let me guess, you're in health sci right?
last year (for 07/08 grads) 65% of grads went to med school. The year before it was 85%

this is the link.
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/bhsc/graduates.html

The numbers on the pie chart aren't %, they're actual students.

[Matthew K]

Originally Posted by FireDragoonX

let me guess, you're in health sci right?
last year (for 07/08 grads) 65% of them went to med school. The year before it was 85%

this is the link.
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/bhsc/graduates.html

I'm not in Health Sci, I was just wondering.

Thanks for the link though!

[FireDragoonX]

Originally Posted by PTGregD

The numbers on the pie chart aren't %, they're actual students.

lol
that's so unconventional. thanks for pointing that out.

[~*Sara*~]

Exactly, so it's not like all of them go in with the goal of med school in mind.

[PTGregD]

Originally Posted by sara_h216

Exactly, so it's not like all of them go in with the goal of med school in mind.

That might not be the right conclusion to draw. I think it's more that not all of them get accepted into Med School.

(Not to say that no one in Health Sci has no other goals besides Med School)

[huzaifa47]

Originally Posted by FireDragoonX

lol
that's so unconventional. thanks for pointing that out.

Exactly, wonder why they did that! Percentages would have more sense and would have been compareable longitudnally(sp)

[~*Sara*~]

Good point, but I just don't like the assumption that if you're in health science, then your pathway is set out for you: health science-> medschool -> doctor ......Ta Da! Not always, and i know a lot of people who applied/a few got in without medical school even being an option. I guess it's just another one of those faculty stereotypes..

[PTGregD]

Originally Posted by huzaifa47

Exactly, wonder why they did that! Percentages would have more sense and would have been compareable longitudnally(sp)

Percentages would have been lower; This way people quickly glancing at it may believe that McMaster's Health Sci program is 100% the right choice for a Med School oriented student. They would just incorrectly compare those number against other schools' % based numbers.

Standard Marketing Trick.

[.:callen:.]

Originally Posted by PTGregD

Percentages would have been lower; This way people quickly glancing at it may believe that McMaster's Health Sci program is 100% the right choice for a Med School oriented student. They would just incorrectly compare those number against other schools' % based numbers.

Standard Marketing Trick.

lol that's really clever. even though their site just screams 'WE ARE NOT A PRE-MED PROGRAM' over and over again.

[~*Sara*~]

Ohh! Never thought of it that way.. Hmm, their method of bragging I guess? it gives the incoming students a really bad view though, since it means that if you're not in Health Sci.. you can't go to med school :S. The first impression anyway :S