Re: Welcome to the 2021-2022 Application Cycle-Delay in Accessing UCAN

Good evening future applicants (new and returning),

Welcome to the journey that is the 2021-22 University of Calgary MD Admissions Application Cycle.

I want to begin by apologizing for the delay that has been caused by the upgrade in our application platform (UCAN). The upgrade was necessary and promises to be an overall better user experience but as often happens there have been some IT issues that have hampered implementation.

Regardless, this does not mean you cannot begin getting materials ready that you will need for the application.

You may use the 2021-22 Applicant Manual as a guide:

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/4/Admissions/21_22Applicant%20Manual_June25FINAL.pdf

It details the admission policies and procedures and answers many of the questions that applicants may have. I would encourage you to read it thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the way we do things. Each year, including this year there are slight changes; so even if you have applied to our school before, please reread the manual.

We put as much detail as possible into the Applicant Manual as possible in order to answer common questions. Our expectation is that you have read the manual before applying.

So what can you do now:

1. If you have written the MCAT please release your scores to the University of Calgary. however, do not release your scores before July 30, 2021.

2. Request your transcripts from every post secondary institution you have attended and have them sent to our office (address listed in the Applicant Manual). REMINDER-if you attended an institution that provides paper copies, we will require paper copies. Once again refer to our transcript policy in the applicant manual.

3. As soon as the UCAN opens, please start reaching out to your three referees. So that means, think about which three referees you will be using and reach out to them now so they are on alert.

4. Begin thinking about and organizing your Top 10 experiences. Reflect now on what that list is going to be, what you are going to include, why is it a top 10, why is it meaningful, what does it say about you.

Being properly prepared will reduce stress and anxiety. Set a deadline for completing your application, I usually recommend September 15th. Hold yourself to it and don’t wait until the last minute.

We do ask that you refrain emailing or phoning the office about matters that are contained or easily answered in the Applicant manual. You may find that your email will go unanswered or receive a low priority if it falls into the category.

Finally, please remember you are applying to a professional school. During the application process, I would suggest that you conduct yourself in a manner that is consistent with the profession that we all respect and love so dearly. This relates to your interaction with the office, your peers and yes even your presence on popular blogs (Canada premed reddit or University of Calgary Premed 101) What you say and do when no one is looking (i.e. believe you are anonymous) is probably a greater reflection of you than anything you put in your application.

We wish you the best of luck during this application cycle and look forward to meeting many of you along this journey.