Pre-med students can't take MCAT in Quebec because of Bill 96
CTV
Areeba Ahmed says she's always dreamed of becoming a surgeon but her road to the operating room has become a complicated one ever since Quebec's French language law came into effect.
Areeba Ahmed says she's always dreamed of becoming a surgeon but her road to the operating room has become a complicated one ever since Quebec's French language law came into effect.
The 19-year-old says because of Bill 96, she and hundreds of other aspiring doctors in the province are no longer allowed to take their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) locally.
"I understand where they're coming from with Bill 96 but I feel encouraging the use of language is different than enforcing the use of the language," Ahmed tells CTV News. "Before, when Bill 96 wasn't applied, I was still studying here and I actually enjoyed immersing myself in the Quebec culture, learning the French language."
Though universities in Quebec do not require an MCAT score for enrolment in a medical program, Ahmed says she had hoped to send out applications to schools across Canada and the United States to improve her chances of getting an acceptance letter.
"Anglophones have really no other option than to look beyond Quebec, and now that I'm trying to look beyond Quebec, Quebec isn't offering me any services," she says, exasperated.
Ahmed explains she now has to take time off during the school year to travel to Ottawa, Ont. or Vermont, U.S., to take the exam -- something she tried and failed to do once already because all the slots were filled.
"All the test centres are booked. Why? Because obviously, residents of Ottawa and residents of Vermont, they're also looking at the MCAT dates," Ahmed said. "My next option is perhaps to take it next year in January. So, those dates would open in October and that's going to be my second try."
