Acceptance Letter!

So on the 15th, I finally worked up the courage to check my email at 930. It had been waiting for me for almost an hour; short and sweet. "Offer of Admission - McMaster University MD Program" and that there's a package in the mail. The package arrived a few days later. You know you've finally made it when there's real signatures =D

With the package came a quite-extensive list of requirements to get done before you can start. There's the usual Police check with Vulnerable Sector Screening. There was also a whole bunch of blood-tests done to ensure I don't have Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis B and TB. An upgrade to CPR-HCP (Health Care Provider) was also required. Lastly I needed to send in 2 registration forms, confirm my acceptance, and then a nice big fat cheque for them. Tuition is pretty equal to the other medical schools, so I figure I'm saving ~$18k by not doing a 4th year, plus living expenses, plus I start earning sooner. A win-win situation!


Also they gave me a brief overview of what the next 3 years would consist of (since I really didn't worry about the details of med school before I got the acceptance).
It's kind of hard to fathom the amount of material I'm expected to learn by next Nov 19 when I finish all 5 of my medical foundations (i.e. major units). But I love a challenge, so I'm up for it! As you can see from the schedule, my "Summer Break" spans all of 1 week which is a bit of a shock, but it's worth it.

So what would you do when you get the good news? I decided to only work until the end of May, spend time with my friends that I'm now leaving behind, and then travelling Europe in July/early August. This past month has been probably the best of university so far; no responsibilities and just lots of good memories. I worked really hard in 1st and 2nd year, and never quite let myself relax. If I have spare time you'll find me in the gym working out.

Convocated on June 11th; if you do get in early, I would definitely suggest waiting the year to convocate with your class. It felt a bit hollow without my friends there. I graduated in shorts, but nobody was from my class and understood my year-round shorts policy, so perhaps they just thought I was streaking :/