- Joined
- Apr 20, 2013
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Hi
Canadian, graduating this year with mediocre 3.5 GPA (3.9 in each of two last years).
Last MCAT rewrite scored me a 127/128/129/128.
ECs are average - founded group, group member, two conference presentations (one unknown, one very major upcoming), worked as (clinical) research assistant on two different studies for 3 years, teaching assistant, a few months volunteering abroad at orphanage in europe, lifelong karate + folk dance, no awards apart from Dean's list + entrance scholarship
*I'm in the process of getting a staff/writer editorial position for good bioethics journal + working as volunteer for crisis hotline + plus working at mental health centre this summer; I have also been shortlisted for an essay award but we shall see. I have applied to MPH masters but acceptance seems unlikely.
Anyway, I am planning on rewriting my MCAT one last time to see if I meet the incredibly high cut offs for two Canadian schools that are lenient towards my GPA. However, I cannot guarantee that I will meet this cut-off and I have rewritten it a few times as is, so my chances for US schools are decreasing.
I think I am competitive enough for acceptance to a DO program (although I have a C- in physics so I'll retake), but I couldn't afford it. I don't have any family support or personal savings and I think the four years would not be feasible on bank + student loans. Same goes for UK (probably not competitive enough), AUS, and Ireland (impossible if I can't even afford US).
Yes, I am competitive for law + other health programs given that I've completed the respective standardized tests and scored much, much better than I have on the MCAT, but medicine is really my passion. I suppose I could reconcile myself to studying law in Canada and going from there, but my desire to be a physician is so visceral that...yeah. At this point, I just want to learn, get the degree, and be able to practice. I want to be a physician, and it doesn't matter where. Unlike other applicants, I don't need to come back to Canada and, quite honestly, there's not much keeping me here.
So. I am eligible for citizenship for Eastern European countries (i.e. Serbia and Bosnia) but these are not EU. I don't know when, if ever, they will be in the EU, so there's no point of banking on that. Nonetheless, I'm not opposed to attending school there, but it is 6 years (I'm too old for fresh outta high school kids!) and I'll have much less mobility and opportunity. If Canada isn't an option, my dream would be practicing in the EU (either UK or France - I speak fluent french). Again, if that really is my only chance at becoming a physician, I suppose I could remain and work in either Serbia or Bosnia because of citizenship.
Poland seems like a slightly better option. Specifically Jag. I've scored ~50 on their pre-interview score, so I'm confident enough that I could gain admission post interview. The fact that they have rotations in California (and Rochester NY, maybe?) seems very appealing. After residency in the US, I would try to come back to Canada. However, in the case that I do not match back to US/Canada, I'm sure I could pass the licensing exams to stay on for residency in Poland - I already find the language pretty intelligible due to my Serbo-Croat. Of course, this would be far from ideal since carving a life out for myself in US, Canada, UK is a much more appealing options, but I would manage.
The greatest pro for Poland is that, outside of Canada and Serbia, it is the most affordable option in my financial situation. And, most important, it seems like I can stay there for residency and be relieved that I will not have thrown ~100-150k out the window should I not match. Frankly, it's starting to seem like if I don't get into Canada I will have to abandon medicine unless I go through with Poland and/or Serbia.
What do you guys think? Should I go through with Poland immediately? Wait one more round? Should I apply to DO regardless and hope to figure out funding? What about Ireland or UK? I am currently dating an EU/UK citizen (long term), so maybe that could be an advantage in the future.
Canadian, graduating this year with mediocre 3.5 GPA (3.9 in each of two last years).
Last MCAT rewrite scored me a 127/128/129/128.
ECs are average - founded group, group member, two conference presentations (one unknown, one very major upcoming), worked as (clinical) research assistant on two different studies for 3 years, teaching assistant, a few months volunteering abroad at orphanage in europe, lifelong karate + folk dance, no awards apart from Dean's list + entrance scholarship
*I'm in the process of getting a staff/writer editorial position for good bioethics journal + working as volunteer for crisis hotline + plus working at mental health centre this summer; I have also been shortlisted for an essay award but we shall see. I have applied to MPH masters but acceptance seems unlikely.
Anyway, I am planning on rewriting my MCAT one last time to see if I meet the incredibly high cut offs for two Canadian schools that are lenient towards my GPA. However, I cannot guarantee that I will meet this cut-off and I have rewritten it a few times as is, so my chances for US schools are decreasing.
I think I am competitive enough for acceptance to a DO program (although I have a C- in physics so I'll retake), but I couldn't afford it. I don't have any family support or personal savings and I think the four years would not be feasible on bank + student loans. Same goes for UK (probably not competitive enough), AUS, and Ireland (impossible if I can't even afford US).
Yes, I am competitive for law + other health programs given that I've completed the respective standardized tests and scored much, much better than I have on the MCAT, but medicine is really my passion. I suppose I could reconcile myself to studying law in Canada and going from there, but my desire to be a physician is so visceral that...yeah. At this point, I just want to learn, get the degree, and be able to practice. I want to be a physician, and it doesn't matter where. Unlike other applicants, I don't need to come back to Canada and, quite honestly, there's not much keeping me here.
So. I am eligible for citizenship for Eastern European countries (i.e. Serbia and Bosnia) but these are not EU. I don't know when, if ever, they will be in the EU, so there's no point of banking on that. Nonetheless, I'm not opposed to attending school there, but it is 6 years (I'm too old for fresh outta high school kids!) and I'll have much less mobility and opportunity. If Canada isn't an option, my dream would be practicing in the EU (either UK or France - I speak fluent french). Again, if that really is my only chance at becoming a physician, I suppose I could remain and work in either Serbia or Bosnia because of citizenship.
Poland seems like a slightly better option. Specifically Jag. I've scored ~50 on their pre-interview score, so I'm confident enough that I could gain admission post interview. The fact that they have rotations in California (and Rochester NY, maybe?) seems very appealing. After residency in the US, I would try to come back to Canada. However, in the case that I do not match back to US/Canada, I'm sure I could pass the licensing exams to stay on for residency in Poland - I already find the language pretty intelligible due to my Serbo-Croat. Of course, this would be far from ideal since carving a life out for myself in US, Canada, UK is a much more appealing options, but I would manage.
The greatest pro for Poland is that, outside of Canada and Serbia, it is the most affordable option in my financial situation. And, most important, it seems like I can stay there for residency and be relieved that I will not have thrown ~100-150k out the window should I not match. Frankly, it's starting to seem like if I don't get into Canada I will have to abandon medicine unless I go through with Poland and/or Serbia.
What do you guys think? Should I go through with Poland immediately? Wait one more round? Should I apply to DO regardless and hope to figure out funding? What about Ireland or UK? I am currently dating an EU/UK citizen (long term), so maybe that could be an advantage in the future.
