Advice needed

[M3dhop3ful]

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Ok guys I have posted here before but I have a new question to ask.

So far been unsuccessful:
I am a canadian applicant
3.84 sGPA and 3.87 cGPA
11 11 12 R

ECs: 2 summers research + honours, 2 presentations, 1 abstract pub and 1 abstract at int'l conference. Hospital volunteering, various clubs, volunteered abroad for 10 days, the usual.

I interviewed at case, nyu, wayne, and gwu, and I got wled at case and gwu, rejected at nyu, and waiting to hear from wayne. People with similar stats and less research than me got many more interviews, and after reflection, I narrowed it down to a few reasons:

1) MY PS was mediocre, not as good as it could be. But then again it couldn't have been miles better
2) I have ~ 150 hours of clinical experience, and most of it is in the ER. Not that much diversity.
3) My LoRs were weak. One of them was solid and it was from an employer. 1 was more or less generic, and the other, which was suppose to be my strongest (my PI) was in fact my weakest. It basically said what I did in the lab and that I would be a great doctor. Literally. She had nice things to say but wasn't a fan of me going into medicine.

I was complete between end of august - september as well.

So I am faced with an option. I can either do an MSc in Epidemiology that I have lined up, or I can just reapply next year. I have already started volunteering to get more exposure, and with an MSc I can expand my ECs, get more hours in, and improve my LoRs. I am just wondering if its worth going this route or not. If the three points mentioned above won't seriously impact my application, then I might as well just try again for more/different schools.

How much do you think my clinical experience/LoRs impacted my application? Do I really beneft from a MSc?

Also keep in mind that as canadians, we kind of have to shoot for mid-top tiers (well at least not so many state schools) due to citizenship.

 

[AdmiralChz]

On the face, consider that one of the first things adcoms see beyond numbers are your PS. Why couldn't you make it stronger - work on polishing it up and highlighting what you think are your strengths.

Also, as you probably already know, it will be more difficult as an "international" applicant since many schools have commitments to the US. You will need to stand out significantly (apparently, more than you already do) from other applicants to be successful - I don't really have much more to say. Good luck!

 

[drizzt3117]

How did you do with Canadian schools? The schools you interviewed with in the US were very good, so obviously they were OK with your application as a whole at least up to the interview... how did the interviews go?

 

[M3dhop3ful]

How did you do with Canadian schools? The schools you interviewed with in the US were very good, so obviously they were OK with your application as a whole at least up to the interview... how did the interviews go?

the inteviews weren't spectacular, but at the same time It was hard to work with what they gave me. Most of them just talked for the whole time about the school and such. At nyu the interviewer reassured me that i would likely be hearing good news, but I got flat out rejected.

is it possible that I have very little clinical exposure? or that my LoRs are more weak than strong? maybe I had enough to carry me o the interview stage but not enough after.

I interviewed at queen's and western. Western's interview was my best this season so we'll see, but I want to know wha tmy weaknesses are so I can work on them.

 

[drizzt3117]

the inteviews weren't spectacular, but at the same time It was hard to work with what they gave me. Most of them just talked for the whole time about the school and such. At nyu the interviewer reassured me that i would likely be hearing good news, but I got flat out rejected.

is it possible that I have very little clinical exposure? or that my LoRs are more weak than strong? maybe I had enough to carry me o the interview stage but not enough after.

I interviewed at queen's and western. Western's interview was my best this season so we'll see, but I want to know wha tmy weaknesses are so I can work on them.

Most of the time, if you're interviewed, you're considered "acceptable" by the school. It's possible that they felt the other people that interviewed were better, or something else. In any case, you still have a good shot to get in this year, so I would express interest to the schools that you are waitlisted at and see what happens. At the end of the cycle, I think your plan sounds good, get better LORs, work on your PS, and apply early and broadly if you don't get in this cycle.