Advice Requested

[Who M.D.]

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My Stats

Citizenship: Canada

Degrees: Bachelors of Science in Engineering Physics (elite engineering degree) and a Bachelors of Arts with Honours (majoring in political science)

GPA: ~3.4
Science GPA: ~3.3 (400- and 500-level engg and physics courses pulled me down)

MCAT: 32R (V9, B10, P13, R)

I have tonnes of ECs, though little in the way of clinical experience. I have worked in a physiology research lab, a biomedical engg research lab, and I have volunteered in a hospital.

Application History

I originally applied in Canada and didn't get any interviews. Not too surprising since a 3.4 GPA doesn't quite cut it in Canada (several schools have cut-offs of 3.7).

This past year I applied in the U.S. I got my application in pretty late (AMCAS in October, secondaries in November and early December). The schools I tried were

- Case Western Reserve
- George Washington
- Georgetown
- Vermont
- NY Medical College
- Rosalind Franklin
- East Virginia
- Penn State
- Jefferson
- Brown
- Dartmouth

Because I'm a Canadian citizen, I wasn't eligible at many schools and so I sent applications mostly to schools that tended to accept a Canadian or two each year, and where I was on par or slighly above the average academic stats.

I got zero interviews. Penn State, Vermont, NYMC, and Jefferson all seemed to hold my application to the end of their interview cycle before sending me a rejection letter, so I take this as evidence that I was close to getting an interview.

I also applied to the Atlantic Bridge Program and got a spot at University College Dublin.

Current Status

It strikes me that my two biggest weaknesses are the following:

1. My history doesn't show a clear interest/committment to medicine: neither of my degrees is in biology, and most of my ECs weren't medically-related. To be clear, I do have a strong interest in the field, but for a combination of reasons including having diverse interests, I've been involved in many non-medical activities.

2. I have a couple of very low grades on my application—one in biology (ecology) and one in biochemistry. Though I did fairly well (not great) in a higher level biochemistry course and in two other biology courses (cell biology, genetics) with the genetics course being higher level.

I'm taking up my spot at University College Dublin for next year—I want an international educational experience and I don't want to give up the one acceptance I have managed to get. But I'm considering simultaneously taking one more try at U.S. and Canadian schools. Things I'm considering doing different this time around

- applying early!!!
- improving my personal statement (in hindsight, it could be better)
- putting a little more emphasis on my having volunteered in a hospital (e.g. mentioning this in my PS which I didn't do last time) and maybe even mentioning that I've shadowed my Dad (who's an MD) around a bit.
- possibly rewriting the MCAT (I think I can do a 35 or 36—I really expected to do better in VR)

I would appreciate your advice. Is there anything else that I should do to improve my chances? Do you approve of my plan of action?

As well, do you think I have a decent chance of getting in at a NA school (i.e. is re-applying worth it)?

 

[RxnMan]

I am not a Canadian citizen, but I was in a similar situation.

I'd say since you're in, stay in. I got my one acceptance and I'm running for it. Just focus on school and getting the most out of the experience.

Some other thoughts:

- Maybe explore transferring back to the US after the first two years, but understand those are usually granted only for specific reasons (dying family member, inability to pay, etc.).

- Remember that US seniors enjoy preference for US residency spots, so if you plan to participate in the Match, you need to work your way back here.

- If you're hard up for US med school, then apply to more places, and a greater range of places. A lot of the schools you applied to are pretty competitive, even for med schools. Albany Medical College accepts Canadians, and you didn't list them. Do some more research.

- The MCAT is good - many people would kill for it.

- I also never liked it how some schools won't tell you a thing until the end of the season.

- The PS is the place where you can tie all of your ECs together. Write a narrative that contains a over-arching idea, using your ECs as evidence. That idea, of course, is why you want to be a doc. Don't make a list, but show how your desire to be a doc pushed you to do the different activities you did.