Advice Needed

[ataraxia]

Hi there,

Im facing a dilemma and would really appreciate any advice. I have completed 2 years of undergrad studies at UW-madison before being called back for 2 years of military service. My GPA was ~3.4/4.0

Now that im almost out of the army, i am trying to decide where i should return for my studies. I am a Canadian PR due to my parents retiring there and that is where i believe i will work in future.

In order to apply for a canadian medical school i will have to have at least two years of tertiary education there which is just nice for me. However, with my mediocre results, and huge break in between my studies, would it be too difficult for me to make it, as they place alot more emphasis on GPA rather than MCAT?

the alternative for me would be to return to madison as an international student, but that would mean an additional 150k USD in loans. 🙁 Even then, my GPA and 2 year break from studies would probably still have an adverse impact but at least I still have hope in the MCAT.

so in conclusion, where do u think i should go balancing cost versus chance of getting into med sch? Would the transferring between countries affect my chances? thanks very much in advance..

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[Jectin]

If you do decide to come back to Canada, there are a few schools actually that you could definitely apply to if you do well in your last two years of study:

UWO : 2 years of GPA > 3.7, MCAT 10,10,10,Q ...you can even apply while you are doing your fourth year because they only need 1 year > 3.7 to grant you an interview. The catch is that the 4th year must be your last year in an HONOURS degree and you also have to score > 3.7 in this year to get accepted.

Queens: Your last 2 years > 3.78, probably will stay the same or rise .01-.02 points. Your MCAT also has to be above 10,10,10,P. This means you have to finish your fourth year and then apply which implies you having a year off.

Saskatchewan: Takes your best 2 years in their GPA calculation. This means you have to finish your fourth year and then apply which implies you having a year off.

Calgary: Algorithm (see website), but the GPA is considered from the best 2 years for an interview. Once you get to that stage, wow them, because the final formula is all years.

Alberta: You can eliminate 1 year of study if you have 4 years under your belt. If you have 2 really good years in your 3rd and 4th year, this could be an option for you.

Manitoba: Do well in your last 2 years, use their weighting formula and kill the MCAT and you may stand a chance. They emphasize 50% MCAT with 10% GPA.

I'm not sure about the eastern schools but you can check them out too. Dalhousie might take last 2 years as well (not sure).

Good luck!

 

[ataraxia]

thanks very much for your reply

 

[Aviara]

Hey Ataraxia,

I would really research which schools would be best choice to apply to given your situation and from there, decided where to do your 2 additional years of undergrad. Most schools have polices that have most of the acceptances go to in-province residents, so if you're applying out of province, your chances of getting in are slim. But some places, if you study there for an X-number of years of live there for a Y-number of years, would be considered an in-province applicant (so not by where your parents live), so for some schools, it's worth moving there to study/live.

I would also check out this website:http://www.premed101.com/forums/index.php. It's like the SDN, but for Canadian schools primarily, and has a lot more information on the individual Canadian schools, plus a lot more regular forum trolls that could help you figure our your situation. Good luck!