Canadian Engineer - Recent Grad

[hijinxx7]

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Incorrect info... new post

 

[Catayst]

Physiology really helped me with the MCAT if you're taking that

 

[Podman]

I'm a fresh grad from mechanical engineering from U. Waterloo in Canada. I specialized with the Biomechanics designation.

I highly disliked my program and undergrad choice but decided to finish it as a plan B since it was a decent undergrad degree to have. Through my co-op experiences (6 four month work terms) I have realized that engineering just isn't for me. My CGPA was dismal. Graduated with a 69% (that's a 2.4??). My last two years was a 74%. Not sure what my science GPA would be since my program did not have bio's.

I am going back to school this september to take post-bacc courses. Im probably going to do it for a full year, two terms, with Bio 1&2, Microbio 1&2, organic and inorganic chem.


I decided that med school was not a realistic choice in my GPA situation. There was a joint program at the University of Waterloo for one year that a friend of mine was in. The program was 5 years and offered a BSc along with a DCh (diploma of chiropody) from the Michener Institute in Toronto (www.michener.ca)

The michener program is a 3 year program that allows you to become a registered chiropodist to practice in Canada. I heard that in the US with this diploma you can only be a podiatry assistant. However, my friend is now taking a prep course for the podiatry program at Temple. Not for MCATS, but for his GRE following michener. Apparently Temple puts you in advanced standing and 18 more months of school are required (middle of 3rd year?) before graduating and further residency.


I am planning heavily right now to pursue this path. It is cheaper too with only $5000 for tuition @ michener a year.




A few general questions just to put out there:

1) Since Canada doesn't have a formal podiatry school I was wondering if anyone else knows of Canadian students with advanced standing in podiatry in the US??

Can anybody give a similar story or confirm the above???

2) Any other courses to suggest to fill in pre-recs for med school/podiatry school?

Hey man,

In regards to your questions, a few observations here:

1) Canada does have a formal podiatry school opening up and it is supposed to be affiliated with NYCPM - i believe its located in Quebec - so look into that if interested - not exactly sure if it is currently running or if it has already opened this year. In regards to Canadian students in podiatry, you will see that every or almost every podiatry school will have Canadian students. As a matter of fact, OCPM has a Canuck in every single one of our classes - which is awesome but none of the Canadians in our school are "advanced standing" by virtue of being chiropidy graduates - they are all podiatry students who started school with us from year 1...

I never heard of the Temple advanced standing program before and i'd be curious if you are eligible to match for our 3-year residencies because the level of education (basic sciences and clinical - including board exams) are far beyond the level of depth and scope of chiropidy school. I don't mean to say this with any disrespect, but I am saying that podiatric medicine here in the US is treated as a full medical curriculum with clinical emphasis on the lower extremity - while chiropidy is still a diploma or "certificate" not a doctoral degree - big difference!

But since you say the program is in Temple, it would be wise if you call up Dave Martin from admissions there and ask about your residency eligibility and if the chiropidy program puts you at a disadvantage. I understand that you're saving alot of money with $5,000 tuition at the michner institute but I think you would also appreciate that even with with higher tuition costs - this is all an investment in your future.

2) Regarding pre-requesets I do believe u need the following:
- Organic Chemistry (full year plus lab - 8 credit hours)
- General Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- English

But again, since you say the program is with temple university, then make sure you confirm with the admissions people there.

 

[whiskers]

I sincerely hope to all things sacred and profane that none of the schools are offering advanced standing to any students other than successful MD/DO students....


But why do I get this incredible... inedible... creepy feeling????

 

[dpmgrad]

I'm a fresh grad from mechanical engineering from U. Waterloo in Canada. I specialized with the Biomechanics designation.

I highly disliked my program and undergrad choice but decided to finish it as a plan B since it was a decent undergrad degree to have. Through my co-op experiences (6 four month work terms) I have realized that engineering just isn't for me. My CGPA was dismal. Graduated with a 69% (that's a 2.4??). My last two years was a 74%. Not sure what my science GPA would be since my program did not have bio's.

I am going back to school this september to take post-bacc courses. Im probably going to do it for a full year, two terms, with Bio 1&2, Microbio 1&2, organic and inorganic chem.


I decided that med school was not a realistic choice in my GPA situation. There was a joint program at the University of Waterloo for one year that a friend of mine was in. The program was 5 years and offered a BSc along with a DCh (diploma of chiropody) from the Michener Institute in Toronto (www.michener.ca)

The michener program is a 3 year program that allows you to become a registered chiropodist to practice in Canada. I heard that in the US with this diploma you can only be a podiatry assistant. However, my friend is now taking a prep course for the podiatry program at Temple. Not for MCATS, but for his GRE following michener. Apparently Temple puts you in advanced standing and 18 more months of school are required (middle of 3rd year?) before graduating and further residency.


I am planning heavily right now to pursue this path. It is cheaper too with only $5000 for tuition @ michener a year.




A few general questions just to put out there:

1) Since Canada doesn't have a formal podiatry school I was wondering if anyone else knows of Canadian students with advanced standing in podiatry in the US??

Can anybody give a similar story or confirm the above???

2) Any other courses to suggest to fill in pre-recs for med school/podiatry school?

Temple, along with other Podiatry schools in the US, will only give you advance standing if you completed some of your basic science courses in a Medical School (MD/DO) or a graduate level science program. To my knowledge, completion of Chiropody program in Canada will not allow you to be advanced standing since the Canadian Chiropody program is considered to be an undergraduate certificate program and not a Professional Level / Graduate Level education. I heard a rumor that Michener is trying to convert the Chiropody program to a Graduate Level Diploma program starting in September 2006. You can check with David Martin at TUSPM admissions in regards about accepting any of the Chiropody courses for advanced standing at TUPSM. Podiatry schools in the US are considered to be Professional Schools, same as the Medical and Dental Schools in the US and Canada.

As for Temple offering a podiatry prep program, I have never heard of this. It is possible that your friend is taking one of those commercial prep courses for GRE exam. The only two programs that Temple has for Pre Podiatry students are the Summer Internship Program (where undergraduate students have a chance to learn more about Podiatry) and the SARP Program (which is a program for students who have been admitted to Temple and wants to get a head a start on the basic science courses).

You are right about that the Chiropody degree in Ontario Province will allow you to function as a Podiatry assistant in US. The training between the US Podiatry School and the Canadian Chiropody School differ greatly. The US Podiatry School basically trains and prepare students to enter into residency training programs where the graduates will be able to render all aspect of foot and ankle care (both surgical and conservative management). If the Podiatry graduate enters into a three year residency program, they can potentially be board certified to perform all aspects of foot and ankle surgeries that a foot and ankle fellowship trained Orthopedic Surgeon can do. Chiropody Schools in Ontario will only train you to do the conservative (none surgical) management of various foot and ankle ailments. Hence, obtaining advanced standing into the third year at the US Podiatry Schools after getting a Chiropody diploma is difficult since the Chiropody program lacks many of the surgical courses and certain basic science courses that are taught in the first two years of Podiatry School. In addition to the Podiatry relevant courses, US Podiatry School students takes pretty much the same basic science courses that one would take in the first two years of US Medical (DO/MD) schools. This is the major reason why majority of the Canadian students opted to come to US for Podiatry school training and not go to one of the Chiropody school in Ontario. If you do not want to leave Canada for Podiatry school training, there is a Podiatry school in Quebec that is founded with the aid of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

As for the requirements for entry into the US Podiatric Medical Schools, the previous poster already listed them for you.

My recommendation is for you to decide what you want to do in terms of what type of foot care you hope to render. If you wish to render both surgical and conservative management, then I would recommend skipping Michener and go directly to a US Podiatry School program. If you are only interested in rendering conservative foot care only, then go to the Michener Program and don't waste your money in a US Podiatry School program. Remember, the laws in Ontario restricts a Podiatrists from doing surgery in hospital. I know that the laws are changing, such as in British Columbia, Podiatrists are able to operate in a hospital. I hope that this helps. Good luck.

 

[hijinxx7]

Thanks

 

[hijinxx7]

thanks

 

[sunglasses]

Temple, along with other Podiatry schools in the US, will only give you advance standing if you completed some of your basic science courses in a Medical School (MD/DO) or a graduate level science program. To my knowledge, completion of Chiropody program in Canada will not allow you to be advanced standing since the Canadian Chiropody program is considered to be an undergraduate certificate program and not a Professional Level / Graduate Level education. I heard a rumor that Michener is trying to convert the Chiropody program to a Graduate Level Diploma program starting in September 2006. You can check with David Martin at TUSPM admissions in regards about accepting any of the Chiropody courses for advanced standing at TUPSM. Podiatry schools in the US are considered to be Professional Schools, same as the Medical and Dental Schools in the US and Canada.

As for Temple offering a podiatry prep program, I have never heard of this. It is possible that your friend is taking one of those commercial prep courses for GRE exam. The only two programs that Temple has for Pre Podiatry students are the Summer Internship Program (where undergraduate students have a chance to learn more about Podiatry) and the SARP Program (which is a program for students who have been admitted to Temple and wants to get a head a start on the basic science courses).

You are right about that the Chiropody degree in Ontario Province will allow you to function as a Podiatry assistant in US. The training between the US Podiatry School and the Canadian Chiropody School differ greatly. The US Podiatry School basically trains and prepare students to enter into residency training programs where the graduates will be able to render all aspect of foot and ankle care (both surgical and conservative management). If the Podiatry graduate enters into a three year residency program, they can potentially be board certified to perform all aspects of foot and ankle surgeries that a foot and ankle fellowship trained Orthopedic Surgeon can do. Chiropody Schools in Ontario will only train you to do the conservative (none surgical) management of various foot and ankle ailments. Hence, obtaining advanced standing into the third year at the US Podiatry Schools after getting a Chiropody diploma is difficult since the Chiropody program lacks many of the surgical courses and certain basic science courses that are taught in the first two years of Podiatry School. In addition to the Podiatry relevant courses, US Podiatry School students takes pretty much the same basic science courses that one would take in the first two years of US Medical (DO/MD) schools. This is the major reason why majority of the Canadian students opted to come to US for Podiatry school training and not go to one of the Chiropody school in Ontario. If you do not want to leave Canada for Podiatry school training, there is a Podiatry school in Quebec that is founded with the aid of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

As for the requirements for entry into the US Podiatric Medical Schools, the previous poster already listed them for you.

My recommendation is for you to decide what you want to do in terms of what type of foot care you hope to render. If you wish to render both surgical and conservative management, then I would recommend skipping Michener and go directly to a US Podiatry School program. If you are only interested in rendering conservative foot care only, then go to the Michener Program and don't waste your money in a US Podiatry School program. Remember, the laws in Ontario restricts a Podiatrists from doing surgery in hospital. I know that the laws are changing, such as in British Columbia, Podiatrists are able to operate in a hospital. I hope that this helps. Good luck.

TUSPM does have an advanced standing program for Michener chiropody graduates as of 2006. 6 graduating students from michener are applying for 2007.