Need Help!! Canadian, 3.51/32Q reapplicant

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1) Get a job. Try getting exposure to a different clinical milieu (nursing home, clinic, hospice). Work on gaining some nonmedical/noncampus community service which is something I'm not seeing on your list. If physician shadowing is permitted in your province, get that in. Maybe take a science class a semester to keep your hand in.

Or consider staying in school an extra year for full-time GPA repair (to make that "U" lop-sided, and more like a "J".

2) An August MCAT means a September score, which is late for schools to look at your application. I'd wait a year, beef up the ECs as able, and apply in a year. You really don't want to do this a third time.

3) You don't need an SMP. You need a higher MCAT score and/or GPAs with stronger ECs. your research and clinical experience are already great.
 
Thank you for explaining the implications of an SMP in the Canadian school application process.

I expect the SMP would be extremely time-consuming due to the need to get excellent grades in order for it to mean much to US adcomms. If you've already taken many of the upper-level courses, time management would be less of an issue. I can't imagine that you would not have time for some shadowing and nonmedical community service a few hours a week each, regardless.

For the SMP to have an impact of a US med school acceptance, they would need to know you were participating in such a program. And it would be essential for you to submit a transcript to each school after fall grades came out in case it would effect their decision-making process.

In regards to MCAT timing, what you might do initially is to submit listing only schools where your current MCAT is competitive, marking the "plan to retake MCAT" date. After your score comes back, then add additional schools appropriate to how competitive the score is. Newly added schools get the entire application within a business day. While waiting for the score, you can prewrite Secondary essays from prompts you'll find here on SDN so as to enable a very rapid turn-around when formally invited to submit the Secondaries.
 
Not to rain on the parade, but US MD/PhD positions are a good deal more competitive than MD-only programs. I won''t pretend to be an expert on the issue, but consider getting more information from SDN's Physician Scientist Forum. I recall maybe a sticky that discussed odds of acceptance based on stats.

For feedback on previous application, call the Office of Admissions and ask to make a phone appointment with a dean (I guess an email could accomplish the same thing). Call back at the indicated time. They should have you file in front of them. You can ask what to do to improve your application. DON'T ask why you were rejected.
 
If you are having difficulties with MD schools, better bet would be to leave out the MD-PhD ones because they are extra competitive... unless you have much more research than you have marks, but even then, they have lots of geniuses (nerds 😛) to pick from!

I am interested to know where you interviewed in Canada tho?
3.1/3.9 surprises me 😛


Anyway, you did a pretty good indepth analysis of what schools to apply and Cat gave you your last question's answer.

Although if I were you I would ask them why you were rejected anyway 😛 Cuz thats what I really wanna know if I call a school anyway. (prank calls also good) 😀
 
May I politely ask how they told you that your interview "sucked"?

Did they say you were boring? poorly dressed, or just unfriendly?
 
nonamesleft said:
I've gotten through some of the MD programs, and here's some stuff they were concerned with:

-When I applied last year, my GPA was 3.36, and my lower grades were from 2nd and 3rd year, not first year. So there was no "rising trend"

-I had a borderline MCAT score

-> The two components added together made me non-competitive of an applicant. I needed a) a GPA above 3.5 with my MCATs, or b) a MCAT above 35.
Click to expand...

I'm just wondering....which schools said a GPA of 3.5 or higher with a 32 MCAT was in the category of a competitive applicant (especially considering you're Canadian?)
 
I'm in a similar boat and appreciate all the great questions (nonamesleft) and the great feedback provided). This makes me come up with a few questions which i'll post in a new thread!
 
So..just to keep every updated on whats going on/evolving in terms of plans:

I got into Mt. Sinai's Master's in Biomedical Science (PREP-Med track)..it's a 1.5 year program, so unless Cincinnati hands me an acceptance some time before August, it looks like I'll be pushing my med school apps back a year and waiting until the class of 2016 cycle rolls around..but at least now I have a place to go in August! 🙂
 
I'm sure you're greatly disappointed not to further your acquaintance with the Mt Sinai faculty, and will endeavor to contain your sadness at being forced to enhance your warm-weather wardrobe. New Orleans is a great city to explore. I'm very happy for you. Congrats!

bannie used that profile due to his long hair. He is growing his hair for donation to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.
 
Just wanted to throw in my Congrats!!
Always nice to see a fellow Canadian "make it"

👍
 
nonamesleft said:
Thanks🙂 but I've got even better news today though! I got into MD/PhD at LSU in New Orleans. So it looks like I won't have the chance to test my back up plans 😀

Thanks Cat and Bannie for all the advice! Hopefully it'll be useful for someone else 🙂.

btw..Bannie, I think I know who you are..I was on my friend's facebook and I think I saw you..but you're a girl? (MDApps is confusing me)...
Click to expand...


Hey nonamesleft,

Firstly, congratulations!

I was just wondering if you mind sharing which Canadian and American MD programs you received an interview from? Also, when in last year's cycle did you apply?

Thanks a lot 🙂
 
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