3.1 GPA, 32R MCAT, Canadian Grad Student

[doctorx119]

I am a Canadian citizen looking to apply to American med schools. Here are my statistics:
3.1 cGPA Undergrad in sciences (sGPA roughly the same since almost all my courses are science)
32R MCAT
Grad student currently finishing masters.

EC's include: 3 paper publications (at least 3 more coming), numerous conference abstracts and presentations, generic volunteering experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, children camps, disability services, abroad, and etc. TA for few classes. A myriad of extracurriclar activities including singing performances in events and competitions, charity basketball tournaments player and host, numerous clubs, events and etc.

What are my chances? And which schools would I have the best shot (if any) since being Canadian and all..eh?
Thanks

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[hopefuldoc97239]

Some schools I think refuse international applicants but many accept international applicants. You'll be considered "out of state" for all public schools. Getting a copy of the MSAR will address these issues.

Your science GPA is a bit low for MD programs. Given your GPA and MCAT combination alone, your generic acceptance rate would be only 30%. Bringing up your MCAT score would give a generic applicant a bigger boost than bringing up GPA.

The schools where you have the best shot at are all DO programs. Your GPA still isn't up to their normal average level, but your MCAT could overcome that limitation. Your GPA makes you less desirable for MD programs, so if you apply to MD programs make sure you apply broadly.

I think the big question is: What's really unique about you that means you'll be a great physician? Why you and not some other applicant?

 

[Catalystik]

Is your grad degree in a hard science?

Are you familiar with the Special Masters Program, which is a way to override a low undergrad GPA? You can read more about this in the Postbaccalaureate Programs Forum. This is essentially a paid audition with a med school where you compete with current med students for excellent grades. If you do very, very well, you'd have a shot at US MD schools. If less well, then DO med schools are still an option.

 

[doctorx119]

Yes, my masters is research based in physiology.

Being canadian, im not exactly familiar with the SMP programs. I did have a brief look, it looks like the degree is usually a MS in physiology? Isn't that the same as my masters degree (MSc Physiology).
Tuition for SMP seems to be extremely expensive, especially considering it doesn't guarantee med school afterwards (or does it?)

Also, I plan on returning to undergrad soon to take some courses. One to fill the prereqs such as English, and also to raise my GPA to somewhere near the 3.25 - 3.3 range. Do you think that will help?

Lastly, how are these stats look for carribeans schools such as St.George

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[Catalystik]

It's called a Special Masters because it doesn't result in a useable degree. You actually take mostly a first year med school curriculum, probably including Physiology. And yes, it's expensive and does not come with a guarantee.

US MD schools for the most part do not consider the graduate BCPM GPA, but some do. If you can find one that will, and you have a very high masters GPA (a masters GPA is widely considered to have marked grade inflation, BTW), perhaps it will be considered sufficient proof that you'll survive a med school environment. I believe a good number of DO med schools will consider your grad degree grades and will actually merge the uGPA and gGPA to create your application GPA.

A recent upward grade trend tends to be helpful, if high grades are consistently earned over a period of time.

SDN's International Medicine > Caribbean Forum will have more info about competitive stats for Caribbean schools. This is not my area of expertise.

 

[Mindscrew]

Being a Canadian, you need to understand that you CANNOT apply to public schools in the US unless you have a green card/perm residence (there are a few exceptions but the people they take are 4.0 gpa from canada with 33+mcat).

That being said, you can only apply to private schools in the international pool, which is very competitive.

Secondly, you're research based master's will only count for a few credits towards your gpa since most of your research is graded pass/fail.

I would suggest you look to the caribbean schools, the big 4; Saba, st.georges, ross and ...umm i think its the american university..