University of British Columbia Application Thread

[iLLmatic26]

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Anyone know how many applied this cycle

225 students hopefully lol. But I remember hearing the number 1,000 somewhere

 

[Iqra]

^ Eeek, I was not expecting that many! 😱

 

[OptimistPrime]

225 students hopefully lol. But I remember hearing the number 1,000 somewhere

1000? highly unlikely based on it being at 600ish for a really long time. where did you hear 1000? i doubt they even give that information out yet.

 

[PharmPig]

1000? highly unlikely based on it being at 600ish for a really long time. where did you hear 1000? i doubt they even give that information out yet.

I agree, it'll probably not be that high. I think the number will be 600-700 based on last year's numbers, and because there's such a large number of first-year science students this year.

We also have to factor out the applicants who don't even qualify (incomplete application, mistakes, marks too low, etc...). So... maybe the number is around low-mid 600's? Some of them are OOP, and they're competing separately from BC residents for a set amount of seats (maybe 25-50?).

 

[ricedemon]

just for kicks.. i wonder what ubc would do if like only 225 total failure/rejects applied.. would they accept them all..? XDD

 

[Shiim]

Hey guys, as a student in the UBC pharmacy program I can tell you the topics of the interviews are kept confidential, and they'll be using the new format adopted last year. If anyone has any general questions let me know.

Also I have some good texts that are very useful for the interviews, as well as required texts for one of the first year lectures and labs. If anyone is interested in picking these up at a discounted rate send me a message!

- Remmington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy 21st Ed.
- Pharmaceutical Care Practice
- Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice

 

[PharMarley]

225 students hopefully lol. But I remember hearing the number 1,000 somewhere

I would not doubt a 1000 considering UofT change of curric which dramatically reduced the number of applicants there. Which means those students would have applied to Ubc and other schools. So realistically 800 applicants

 

[Hokuten]

Hahaha... I just made a few calls, and it turns out that the email was a mistake. Phewww... I'm soooo paranoid.. haha...

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster.

Gonna have to admit that it was probably me who caused all this ruckus. While I submitted my pharmacy application, I apparently forgot to submit my ubc admissions one. Margaret must have accidentally sent the email to other applicants. Great way to start this admissions cycle haha.

On a side note, even though I know interviews aren't given out until May, I still consistently check my email and this forum everyday. The next 2 months are going to be hell.🙁

 

[iLLmatic26]

I would not doubt a 1000 considering UofT change of curric which dramatically reduced the number of applicants there. Which means those students would have applied to Ubc and other schools. So realistically 800 applicants

Yea I can't remember where I heard it. 750-800 seems like a reasonable guess.

 

[OptimistPrime]

I would not doubt a 1000 considering UofT change of curric which dramatically reduced the number of applicants there. Which means those students would have applied to Ubc and other schools. So realistically 800 applicants

there is only a small quota for out of province applicants, so if it were inflated from 600 to 800, i would not worry as there will just be 200 more OOP applicants competing for those ~25 seats.

edit: Stay Optimistic 😀

 

[PharMarley]

there is only a small quota for out of province applicants, so if it were inflated from 600 to 800, i would not worry as there will just be 200 more OOP applicants competing for those ~25 seats.

edit: Stay Optimistic 😀

Hey do they really give only 25 seats for OOP? That's it?

 

[OptimistPrime]

Hey do they really give only 25 seats for OOP? That's it?

well from the UBC Pharmacy FAQs:

Do you accept out-of-province applicants?

We do receive a number of applications from students outside the province and they are reviewed. Although we have no quota for the number of out-of-province students we can accept, it usually amounts to a small handful each year, and this number depends upon the quality and quantity of total applications received. If selected for an interview, out-of-province applicants will be expected to travel to UBC at their own expense. They should be aware that this is a necessary part of continuing their application, though it by no means guarantees admission. In the selection of applicants, preference is given to well qualified residents of British Columbia who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
International applicants cannot be accommodated, and should not apply.

I heard the number 10 being tossed around for how many people were accepted out of province but that was before they went up to 225 seats. I said ~25 just as a rough estimate. Even if it is greater than 25, I don't see it being a significant amount higher.

 

[Shiim]

well from the UBC Pharmacy FAQs:

I heard the number 10 being tossed around for how many people were accepted out of province but that was before they went up to 225 seats. I said ~25 just as a rough estimate. Even if it is greater than 25, I don't see it being a significant amount higher.

Most of the students in my year are from BC, but there are quite a few from out of province. There are quite a few from Alberta, some from Ontario, and a handful from around Asia. So if you're apprehensive about getting admitted into the program from out of province don't worry too much, if you get accepted to interviews just make sure you're calm, collected and confident and you'll be fine. The MMAs aren't too bad at all.

 

[UBCPharmacy]

For any who are nervous about their odds being an OOP, let me try and reassure your fears. I am an OOP, and I was not a straight 95's coming into pharmacy. But I was accepted into UBC pharmacy. A lot of it has to do with your personality. The interview is a huge part of it. Perhaps even more significant then your grades. So don't despair OOPs. 🙂 Plus with the increased admissions this year, your odds of getting in go up.

Additionally, if anyone wants to buy some of the first year pharm books off me, send me a msg I'd be happy to sell them

 

[deleted287769]

Additionally, if anyone wants to buy some of the first year pharm books off me, send me a msg I'd be happy to sell them

Nice.

 

[PharMarley]

Most of the students in my year are from BC, but there are quite a few from out of province. There are quite a few from Alberta, some from Ontario, and a handful from around Asia. So if you're apprehensive about getting admitted into the program from out of province don't worry too much, if you get accepted to interviews just make sure you're calm, collected and confident and you'll be fine. The MMAs aren't too bad at all.

What do u mean from around ASIA? I thought they didnt accept Internationals? 😕

 

[lllix]

What do u mean from around ASIA? I thought they didnt accept Internationals? 😕

I agree. I am all for a little bit of an interprovincial mixture, but last time I checked they pretty bluntly stated that international students need not apply. Considering that the number of pharmacy school seats across Canada is so limited, it actually kind of offends me that any pharmacy program would renege on that position. There is an overabundance of pharmacy schools in the States handing out degrees, so it's not as if there isn't a niche for international students. I sincerely hope that the "handful from around Asia" hold Canadian citizenships.

 

[EinmikroFreund]

I agree. I am all for a little bit of an interprovincial mixture, but last time I checked they pretty bluntly stated that international students need not apply. Considering that the number of pharmacy school seats across Canada is so limited, it actually kind of offends me that any pharmacy program would renege on that position. There is an overabundance of pharmacy schools in the States handing out degrees, so it's not as if there isn't a niche for international students. I sincerely hope that the "handful from around Asia" hold Canadian citizenships.

Well said, Illix! =)

I shall, however, offer another possible interpretation here: Maybe those students Shiim was referring to did come from other provinces/countries, but were living and studying in BC before they became pharmacy students, so they technically would be classified as "BC residents" (ie. not OOP) when they applied.

If this is indeed what the poster was talking about, which I think is a more-than-likely scenario, then we're back to square-one with respect to the possible OOP quota for this year... =/

 

[PharmPig]

-

 

[UBCPharmacy]

You are correct. No international students are accepted. I think what Shiim meant was that we have a few who were born and/or raised out of country, but who are now Canadian residents.

 

[PharMarley]

You are correct. No international students are accepted. I think what Shiim meant was that we have a few who were born and/or raised out of country, but who are now Canadian residents.

90% of the applicants and those that are accepted are Asians. Not being racist or anything but it's the truth. Not exactly multicultural as somebody above stated.

 

[lllix]

You are correct. No international students are accepted. I think what Shiim meant was that we have a few who were born and/or raised out of country, but who are now Canadian residents.

I am sure that is the case, but in the context of this conversation, I don't think we should be defining them as Asian pharmacy students, but Canadian ones, unlike how Shiim worded it.

90% of the applicants and those that are accepted are Asians. Not being racist or anything but it's the truth. Not exactly multicultural as somebody above stated.

We are talking about citizenship here and whether UBC is or is not accepting students who do not hold Canadian citizenship. The relevant proportion of ethnicities in the pharmacy program is completely irrelevant to this conversation because theoretically they all hold Canadian citizenship (or at least they ought to).

 

[lllix]

I believe that UBC takes that stand on international students because they do not want people to go back to their home countries where they can work near their family. There is a shortage of pharmacists in the rural areas of Canada, and UBC is taking these measures (favoring students from rural hometowns, rejecting international students, increasing seats) to solve this problem. When considering the welfare of patients in the rural areas of Canada, what UBC is doing right now makes logical sense to me.

Although we live in a rich, multicultural society, it is also important that people who apply to this pharmacy program are able to speak fluent, and clear English. This comes at a disadvantage for many international students, but I support the idea that pharmacists who want to train here must first be near-perfect in speaking English without large accents. I know this makes me sound like a @#!%, but patients and doctors depend on pharmacists to be able to pronounce medications, and give clear recommendations. There are hundreds of drug names that all sound nearly the same, and this is where speaking clear English is extremely important. I've read a lot of pharmacy blogs, and a lot of them complain about doctors and other pharmacists who sound unclear over the phone.

So, in a way, I believe that there will, sadly, be some (just a little) amount of discrimination against applicants who cannot speak fluent English. However, it is all for the care of the patient.

I have been thinking a lot on that topic, and those are only my opinions.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I was supporting UBCs decision not to accept international applicants and questioning why they would ever POTENTIALLY back off on that stance. I don't think it is is discrimination at all to turn away students coming from a different country since there is such limited space in the pharmacy programs across Canada anyway. Obviously Canadian students deserve priority. That being said, I also do understand the rationale behind trying to accept people from rural communities in BC as well, but I don't think this was really intended to become a discussion about UBCs admission policies as a whole or to be a tirade against immigrants who cannot speak English, but merely to correct those who suggested that there were students from outside the country (who do not hold Citizenship) in the pharmacy program.

 

[lllix]

Well said, Illix! =)

I shall, however, offer another possible interpretation here: Maybe those students Shiim was referring to did come from other provinces/countries, but were living and studying in BC before they became pharmacy students, so they technically would be classified as "BC residents" (ie. not OOP) when they applied.

If this is indeed what the poster was talking about, which I think is a more-than-likely scenario, then we're back to square-one with respect to the possible OOP quota for this year... =/

Whoops, looks like i am replying to all of the points in this conversation backwards.

Well I think it is important to point out, as I have been saying, that this is a question of citizenship. If you are coming from a completely different country (we aren't talking about out of province versus in province students here) and you do, say, a 4 year undergraduate or live here or whatever, but don't get citizenship, then you shouldn't be accepted to the program regardless of the fact that you might be considered a BC resident because you still aren't a Canadian citizen. There is no guarantee that you won't go back to your home country and practice or then later try and gain Canadian citizenship and practice pharmacy in Canada whilst someone who is actually a Canadian citizen when they applied might miss out on that opportunity? All I am saying, is if you aren't a Canadian citizen at the time of application, then I don't think it is fair UBC or any pharm school to accept you.

That being said, I am an OOP applicant so it may be hypocritical of me to suggest that schools not accept non-Canadian students while expecting UBC to give admission to non-UBC students. But I really would appreciate it if all of you in-province applicants would not judge us OOPs or feel threatened by us. I think that the policies of most pharmacy schools throughout the country has kind of given the impression that they give weight to in-province students first, which already probably keeps the number of people who try applying to OOP schools fairly low. But again, I think there is something to be said for allowing Canadian students the chance to apply to multiple schools and have the opportunity to choose which school they believe will suit them the best in the end.

I understand that BC is concerned about maintaining a proportion of pharmacists practicing in rural areas and I am sure that this is a concern in rural areas across the country. I also think that it is important to understand that people do move, not just from rural to urban or vice versa, but from province to province. So while accepting students who were born in a certain province does increase the chances that they will stay there and practice there, we should all remember that LIFE does happen and it is impossible to predict whether circumstances (marriage, family, work, etc.) will cause us to move. So please, don't hate me too much to applying to "your province." We all contribute to the Canadian economy and the country as a whole.

 

[PharmPig]

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I was supporting UBCs decision not to accept international applicants and questioning why they would ever POTENTIALLY back off on that stance. I don't think it is is discrimination at all to turn away students coming from a different country since there is such limited space in the pharmacy programs across Canada anyway. Obviously Canadian students deserve priority. That being said, I also do understand the rationale behind trying to accept people from rural communities in BC as well, but I don't think this was really intended to become a discussion about UBCs admission policies as a whole or to be a tirade against immigrants who cannot speak English, but merely to correct those who suggested that there were students from outside the country (who do not hold Citizenship) in the pharmacy program.

Yeah, you're right, I misread your post, hahaha... 😳

And I'm sorry for being sidetracked, waiting for the interview invites is so stressful, that I constantly feel the need to blurt out stuff on admissions... I'm so paranoid on that stuff!! 😀

 

[EinmikroFreund]

Whoops, looks like i am replying to all of the points in this conversation backwards.

Well I think it is important to point out, as I have been saying, that this is a question of citizenship. If you are coming from a completely different country (we aren't talking about out of province versus in province students here) and you do, say, a 4 year undergraduate or live here or whatever, but don't get citizenship, then you shouldn't be accepted to the program regardless of the fact that you might be considered a BC resident because you still aren't a Canadian citizen. There is no guarantee that you won't go back to your home country and practice or then later try and gain Canadian citizenship and practice pharmacy in Canada whilst someone who is actually a Canadian citizen when they applied might miss out on that opportunity? All I am saying, is if you aren't a Canadian citizen at the time of application, then I don't think it is fair UBC or any pharm school to accept you.

That being said, I am an OOP applicant so it may be hypocritical of me to suggest that schools not accept non-Canadian students while expecting UBC to give admission to non-UBC students. But I really would appreciate it if all of you in-province applicants would not judge us OOPs or feel threatened by us. I think that the policies of most pharmacy schools throughout the country has kind of given the impression that they give weight to in-province students first, which already probably keeps the number of people who try applying to OOP schools fairly low. But again, I think there is something to be said for allowing Canadian students the chance to apply to multiple schools and have the opportunity to choose which school they believe will suit them the best in the end.

I understand that BC is concerned about maintaining a proportion of pharmacists practicing in rural areas and I am sure that this is a concern in rural areas across the country. I also think that it is important to understand that people do move, not just from rural to urban or vice versa, but from province to province. So while accepting students who were born in a certain province does increase the chances that they will stay there and practice there, we should all remember that LIFE does happen and it is impossible to predict whether circumstances (marriage, family, work, etc.) will cause us to move. So please, don't hate me too much to applying to "your province." We all contribute to the Canadian economy and the country as a whole.

I agree.

However, I just want to clarify here that my original post was to attempt to clarify any confusion some of us had with regards to whether UBC was changing its stance with regards to accepting international students, nothing else. 🙂

 

[farmwithaPH]

90% of the applicants and those that are accepted are Asians. Not being racist or anything but it's the truth. Not exactly multicultural as somebody above stated.

Just to weigh in, I am part of the Class of 2014.

My class is basically 45% caucasians, and 45% asians. and there is prboably 5% east indian, and another 5% misc.

So UBC doesnt acutally accept all asians, its based on competitiveness

 

[OptimistPrime]

Just to weigh in, I am part of the Class of 2014.

My class is basically 45% caucasians, and 45% asians. and there is prboably 5% east indian, and another 5% misc.

So UBC doesnt acutally accept all asians, its based on competitiveness

Thanks for sharing this, it makes me feel better because i am not asian. what about the ratio of males to females?

 

[lllix]

Yeah, you're right, I misread your post, hahaha... 😳

And I'm sorry for being sidetracked, waiting for the interview invites is so stressful, that I constantly feel the need to blurt out stuff on admissions... I'm so paranoid on that stuff!! 😀

No worries, glad to clear everything up. Best thing we can do now is literally forget about pharmacy until after finals and just focus on our classes 😛

I agree.

However, I just want to clarify here that my original post was to attempt to clarify any confusion some of us had with regards to whether UBC was changing its stance with regards to accepting international students, nothing else. 🙂

Sounds good to me =)

Just to weigh in, I am part of the Class of 2014.

My class is basically 45% caucasians, and 45% asians. and there is prboably 5% east indian, and another 5% misc.

So UBC doesnt acutally accept all asians, its based on competitiveness

That sounds a little bit more accurate to me. I would also like to point out that there is a high population of non-caucasian students at my school too. It's not just UBC. It's just the way things are in major cities. No big deal.

 

[UBCPharmacy]

Thanks for sharing this, it makes me feel better because i am not asian. what about the ratio of males to females?

I'd say it is pretty close to 50:50. Maybe a few more males than females, but not by much

 

[PharMarley]

It seems like UBC really takes a look at everyones apps closely and choose who they really want to have in their schools. I like how they make that much effort into getting to know the applicants on paper and then inviting those 350 to the interview. Schools such as UofT dont really know their applicants aside from the PCAT and GPA before the interview. I like that about UBC 🙂

 

[lllix]

It seems like UBC really takes a look at everyones apps closely and choose who they really want to have in their schools. I like how they make that much effort into getting to know the applicants on paper and then inviting those 350 to the interview. Schools such as UofT dont really know their applicants aside from the PCAT and GPA before the interview. I like that about UBC 🙂

This. UBC, from my research, definitely takes first plate at giving everyone a shot to shine in several different areas. There are some schools that don't even interview, and some schools pretty much only look at your transcript. Or at least that is the way it seems.

 

[PharmPig]

This. UBC, from my research, definitely takes first plate at giving everyone a shot to shine in several different areas. There are some schools that don't even interview, and some schools pretty much only look at your transcript. Or at least that is the way it seems.

Yeah, and this system UBC's using weeds out the ones who only want to use pharmacy as a stepping-stone to med school.

 

[Shiim]

This. UBC, from my research, definitely takes first plate at giving everyone a shot to shine in several different areas. There are some schools that don't even interview, and some schools pretty much only look at your transcript. Or at least that is the way it seems.

It's true, if you make it to the interviews you have basically shown that you have the academics to make it into and through the program. The interviews are set up to figure out which of those applicants will excel as pharmacists. They look more at communication, how you deal with real life issues, and how you approach sensitive situations. It loos more for individuals who can communicate with others...it may be all well and great to memorize the CPS and everything about every market approved drug, but if you can't interact well face to face with a real person...they may choose in favor of someone who has less knowledge, but more interpersonal skills.

PS...first year books are still for sale 😀

 

[deleted287769]

Yeah, and this system UBC's using weeds out the ones who only want to use pharmacy as a stepping-stone to med school.

Except I still know people in pharmacy who only want to get to med. So their system isn't as fool proof as people say it is.

 

[hotpink12]

Just to weigh in, I am part of the Class of 2014.

My class is basically 45% caucasians, and 45% asians. and there is prboably 5% east indian, and another 5% misc.

So UBC doesnt acutally accept all asians, its based on competitiveness

I am in this class as well and I would have to disagree with the stats...its more like 65% asian....30% caucasian and like 5% indian...majority of the cacasians are from outside the mainland as well.....but people should not be concerned about getting in or not getting in based on race

 

[Farmasy]

So it seems like two people are interested in forming a interview practice group so far:
-reason
-lulz

anyone else?

p.s. thanks for clearing up my question about pcat composition! 🙂

I would be interested as well if these are still happening

 

[Springsheen]

I know everyone's probably getting busy with the finals! Good luck with them to everyone, and once they are over, let's get some interview prep sessions going!

I've compiled the names of everyone who showed interest:
-springsheen (myself)
-reason
-lulz
-ubcperson
-iLLmatic26
-EinmikroFreund
-Iqra
-PharMarley
-Degree
-pharm 5765
-PharmPig
-EmRoo
-Farmasy

Potential Location
-TBD; somewhere near a skytrain station (Lougheed or Metro)

Date
-TBD; probably after the third week of April

Good luck with studying guys!!

 

[PharmPig]

I know everyone's probably getting busy with the finals! Good luck with them to everyone, and once they are over, let's get some interview prep sessions going!

I've compiled the names of everyone who showed interest:
-springsheen (myself)
-reason
-lulz
-ubcperson
-iLLmatic26
-EinmikroFreund
-Iqra
-PharMarley
-Degree
-pharm 5765
-PharmPig
-EmRoo
-Farmasy

Potential Location
-TBD; somewhere near a skytrain station (Lougheed or Metro)

Date
-TBD; probably after the third week of April

Good luck with studying guys!!

Wow, that's a lot of people! hahaha....
We're going to have to find a big enough room to hold all of us... which is why I would like to suggest UBC, where we can hold meetings in the small study rooms in Irving, Woodward, etc...

But I also hope we find a place closer to a skytrain station, since most of us don't really like the idea of traveling to UBC...

Any ideas on how we're going to run these sessions?

 

[mochaswirl]

Wow, that's a lot of people! hahaha....
We're going to have to find a big enough room to hold all of us... which is why I would like to suggest UBC, where we can hold meetings in the small study rooms in Irving, Woodward, etc...

But I also hope we find a place closer to a skytrain station, since most of us don't really like the idea of traveling to UBC...

Any ideas on how we're going to run these sessions?

well i won't be participating b/c im all the way in toronto, but here's a suggestion:

you could have it sort of like a bell-ringer. So have half of you act as interviewers and the other half as applicants. The interviewers sit at a desk and at that desk is the scenario. Each applicant has 2 mins to read the scenario then 7 mins to discuss. Then they move to the next station. The interviewers should ask probing questions also.

Then when every applicant has been through the stations, you switch. If you look online there are MANY practice scenarios, so you can print those out and put then on index cards. There would definitely be enough so that each set of people gets different scenarios.

 

[OptimistPrime]

could anyone please list the UBC classes required for the U of T pharmacy program? I know many have applied to both universities

 

[OptimistPrime]

GO CANUCKS (bump)

 

[gigagiga]

I know everyone's probably getting busy with the finals! Good luck with them to everyone, and once they are over, let's get some interview prep sessions going!

I've compiled the names of everyone who showed interest:
-springsheen (myself)
-reason
-lulz
-ubcperson
-iLLmatic26
-EinmikroFreund
-Iqra
-PharMarley
-Degree
-pharm 5765
-PharmPig
-EmRoo
-Farmasy

Potential Location
-TBD; somewhere near a skytrain station (Lougheed or Metro)

Date
-TBD; probably after the third week of April

Good luck with studying guys!!

Hey Springsheen
I'd like to join this study group as well if it's not too late to say it now ! 😛 ~ I'm pretty flexible with time and location too!! Good luck on your finals everyone!!

 

[Pineapplesss]

I am in this class as well and I would have to disagree with the stats...its more like 65% asian....30% caucasian and like 5% indian...majority of the cacasians are from outside the mainland as well.....but people should not be concerned about getting in or not getting in based on race

I'm in this class too and I agree both the stats and not worrying about race. Acceptance to the program is based on your overall admission score (PCAT, GPA, and interview scores).

 

[OptimistPrime]

did they send out emails for interviews? some of my friends were sent emails that they were declined, I did not receive one yet. :s

 

[realrusty]

did they send out emails for interviews? some of my friends were sent emails that they were declined, I did not receive one yet. :s

I can't imagine that anyone has received any emails for interviews as second semester grades have still not been submitted in most cases. I am pretty sure that what has always been said is that interviews offers will be sent in mid-late May.

If people have received e-mails indicating that they were declined, I would suspect that they did not submit a complete application.

 

[OptimistPrime]

I can't imagine that anyone has received any emails for interviews as second semester grades have still not been submitted in most cases. I am pretty sure that what has always been said is that interviews offers will be sent in mid-late May.

If people have received e-mails indicating that they were declined, I would suspect that they did not submit a complete application.

no, i had 4 friends get declined. the email said their pcat was not sufficient even though they got over 65 percentile. i believe two of them were in the 70s.

edit: nvm they had something incomplete with their applications.

 

[Burrows14]

I'm interested in the mock interviews as well, I can make it anywhere in lower mainland and pretty much anytime as well.

 

[Iqra]

no, i had 4 friends get declined. the email said their pcat was not sufficient even though they got over 65 percentile. i believe two of them were in the 70s.

...I am in so much trouble! I am at 65 and didnt get the email yet. I hope to never get that email!

 

[OptimistPrime]

...I am in so much trouble! I am at 65 and didnt get the email yet. I hope to never get that email!

if you didn't get it yet i guess you don't have anything to worry about until late May