3.55 GPA upward trend, No research. Should I take 5th year or a gap year?

[DillieBop]

Hello everyone, long-time Canadian (willing to apply American) lurker here. I just finished my undergraduate in biology. My overall GPA is a 3.55, with my last four semesters looking like (4.33 scale):

Fall 2019: 3.86
Winter 2020: 4.18
Fall 2020: 3.84
Winter 2021: 4.0

The lower overall GPA is due to my shortcomings in the first year (2.8 GPA) and has a lot to do with the fact that I was 17 at the time, unsure of my goals, and also completely disconnected from my parents, friends, social network, etc by about an 18 hour drive which took a significant toll on my motivation and mental health during my first year. As I matured and came into myself, much of this remedied itself and my grades improved significantly with some hiccups associated with COVID-19 online classes in the fall 2020 semester.

I took the OAT (optometry admission test) in my third year and scored 99th percentile in multiple sections (gen chem, orgo, bio), and will be taking the MCAT very soon - hoping to get at least a 517 but I honestly believe I can get higher based on the practice tests so far.

I already have a decent amount of volunteer experience via shadowing my optometrist, being a Special Olympics coach, co-op at the hospital, however - following the MCAT I plan to get a minimum of 300 more hours in clinical and 300 more hours in volunteer experience during my gap year for when I apply to MD schools in 2022. For volunteer work, I will be working with special needs children as a sports coach, activity coordinator, etc and have been talking with the appropriate people about starting to volunteer firefight. Volunteering at the hospital is also a given, and optimally I would like to start scribing. I have no "formal" research experience/lab experience, although my degree was extremely hands-on and a lot of my "for-credit" work was made public to some extent (water quality testing in microbiology, etc).

I am torn between:

- Returning to my undergraduate to do a double major in biochemistry (w/ honors, which I currently do not have) to improve my GPA, acquire research experience, and get a better LoR.

OR

- Sticking with the above plan.

Unfortunately, even if I get a 4.0 in both semesters (shouldn't be a problem), my cGPA would only increase to 3.6. Additionally, I would likely be applying in 2023 if I went back to school as I would still need time to acquire all those hours of volunteer/clin experience.

If anyone has any guidance as to what the best route forward here is, I would be more than happy to hear it - especially if it's something I have not thought of/thought through fully yet. Canadian schools are tricky, and I know I don't totally stack up GPA-wise, which is why I am more than willing to make school in America work (given the opportunity.)

Thanks!

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[Goro]

You're fine for the 14ish DO schools that accept Canadians.

 

[DillieBop]

You're fine for the 14ish DO schools that accept Canadians.

That takes a load off! What about M.D schools? The reason I ask is that I have an intense interest in Ophthalmology, and wanted to be an optometrist for the majority of my academic career before realizing I may be capable of more if I apply myself. I understand the difference between these careers but both satisfy my desire to treat patients and serve my interest in the eye.

I know this is a competitive placement, but believe that my long-term interest in the eye will serve me well.

Thank you for your help btw 🙂

 

[Goro]

That takes a load off! What about M.D schools? The reason I ask is that I have an intense interest in Ophthalmology, and wanted to be an optometrist for the majority of my academic career before realizing I may be capable of more if I apply myself. I understand the difference between these careers but both satisfy my desire to treat patients and serve my interest in the eye.

I know this is a competitive placement, but believe that my long-term interest in the eye will serve me well.

Thank you for your help btw 🙂

International applicants need to be superstars. MD is a no go, I believe.

 

[DillieBop]

International applicants need to be superstars. MD is a no go, I believe.

Interesting. Okay. I had read something about Canadian students being treated as out-of-state students by lots of universities in the states. Is this not true? Based on the class profiles it still seemed attainable coming from this framework. Presumably paired with a higher than average MCAT I would at least stand out to these schools a little? My opinion is naive so please correct me.

Additionally - Canada-wise - a few schools end up taking my 2YGPA (~3.85 on a 4.0 scale). I am looking at Westerns and Queens specifically right now. Do American schools do anything like this? Given your signature, it is a bit ironic that I am giving you a hypothetical MCAT score (although it is an educated guess based on my previous performance and practice tests) so I have to ask if you are arriving at the "MD is a no go" conclusion solely off of my GPA? Does a good MCAT not open doors for me simply because of my GPA? Is a 71 LizzyM score not good enough just because I'm Canadian? 🙁

Thanks for your help again

 

[DillieBop]

Also, does anyone have any info about SMPs? Would this be worth it instead of going back for a double major? Most people discourage getting an SMP with an upward trending 3.5 GPA but if MD schools are a "no-go" I am left sort of confused as to what to do.