Can I get some advice?

[Kennyboo]

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I am attending a college in Toronto and planning on going to whichever dental school I get in. I will list my info and I hope some of you may be so kind to give me some advice of how I can get into either a Canadian or American dental school in the next couple of years.

1. I'm in the 2nd year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.55.

2. I went to Korea a couple of summers ago to participate in the clinical observation and research assistant program.

3. For the past 2 years, I went on a mission for my church for 2 years and I want to know if it helps me get into dental school.

4. However, I haven't taken 1st yr physics and English yet.


Thanks for the help guys!

 

[bipolardoc]

I am attending a college in Toronto and planning on going to whichever dental school I get in. I will list my info and I hope some of you may be so kind to give me some advice of how I can get into either a Canadian or American dental school in the next couple of years.

1. I'm in the 2nd year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.55.

2. I went to Korea a couple of summers ago to participate in the clinical observation and research assistant program.

3. For the past 2 years, I went on a mission for my church for 2 years and I want to know if it helps me get into dental school.

4. However, I haven't taken 1st yr physics and English yet.


Thanks for the help guys!

Well finish your pre-reqs, study for the DATs and apply. There is no magic way. I dont know what answer you want. Apply broadly after you take all your pre-reqs and studied and took your DAT.

 

[Flipper405]

Based on what I've seen... you have to have pretty close to a 4.0 to get into a lot of Canadian schools, so you should probably start looking at American schools.

Personally, I would say worry less about your ECs and get your GPA up. It's right about average right now, and it's only going to be more competitive by the time you apply.

 

[oreoson]

I am attending a college in Toronto and planning on going to whichever dental school I get in. I will list my info and I hope some of you may be so kind to give me some advice of how I can get into either a Canadian or American dental school in the next couple of years.

1. I'm in the 2nd year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.55.

2. I went to Korea a couple of summers ago to participate in the clinical observation and research assistant program.

3. For the past 2 years, I went on a mission for my church for 2 years and I want to know if it helps me get into dental school.

4. However, I haven't taken 1st yr physics and English yet.


Thanks for the help guys!

"planning on going to whichever dental school I get in"
considering korean dental school would be a good backup plan, unless you dont wanna serve in the army

 

[Contach]

"planning on going to whichever dental school I get in"
considering korean dental school would be a good backup plan, unless you dont wanna serve in the army

I think it's terrible how some people call themselves Korean, but don't serve in the army. If your nation calls on you - you should go and be proud! (Unless of course you are a professional Starcraft player, but that opens up a whole new can of worms!)

 

[oreoson]

I think it's terrible how some people call themselves Korean, but don't serve in the army. If your nation calls on you - you should go and be proud! (Unless of course you are a professional Starcraft player, but that opens up a whole new can of worms!)

haha, that's not always the case.
I am Korean too, but I served in the canadian forces instead..

anyhow, yea, if you go to school in Ontario, you only have an option of going to either u of t or western coz most other cdn schools are reserved for in-province applicants. You would need close to 3.8 to be considered competitive, and unfortunately, your EC/research/reference letters won't matter...

 

[doc toothache]

Based on what I've seen... you have to have pretty close to a 4.0 to get into a lot of Canadian schools, so you should probably start looking at American schools.

And where exactly did you see that info on a gpa of "close to 4.0 to get into a lot of Canadian schools"?

 

[mep771]

This is the link to my "in-state" school. Pretty high averages.

http://www.med.ualberta.ca/education/ugme/admissions/dofd_stats.cfm

 

[doc toothache]

This is the link to my "in-state" school. Pretty high averages.

http://www.med.ualberta.ca/education/ugme/admissions/dofd_stats.cfm

Thanks for the link.

Two schools (Manitoba 3.9 and Toronto 3.95) is not exactly a "lot". But, if you wish, we can throw in Alberta and McGill. It would be impressive were it not for the fact that in Alberta an A is 80-100, not exactly the 90-100 generally seen in U.S.

 

[mep771]

Thanks for the link.

Two schools (Manitoba 3.9 and Toronto 3.95) is not exactly a "lot". But, if you wish, we can throw in Alberta and McGill. It would be impressive were it not for the fact that in Alberta an A is 80-100, not exactly the 90-100 generally seen in U.S.

I dont know where that is coming from? At the University of Alberta most classes are on a distribution curve and in my experience an 80-85 would definatley not get you an A. In my classes that were not on a curve usually an 86-89 would be an A- and a 90 and up would be an A.

Im from Canada and I don't think I'll get any interviews up at a Canadian d-schools but already have a handful in the US. Its way too competitive up here.

 

[doc toothache]

I dont know where that is coming from? At the University of Alberta most classes are on a distribution curve and in my experience an 80-85 would definatley not get you an A. In my classes that were not on a curve usually an 86-89 would be an A- and a 90 and up would be an A.

Im from Canada and I don't think I'll get any interviews up at a Canadian d-schools but already have a handful in the US. Its way to competitive up here.

The Univ. of Calgary and Lethbridge appear to have the letter grade A from 86-100. University of Athabasca shows the range for an A to be from 80-100. The Univ. of Alberta changed it's grading from a 9 system to a letter grade in 2003. While the percentage distribution is not mentioned for the U. of Alberta, the distribution of grades at 21% for the first year courses, 24% for the second year courses, 29% for the 3rd year courses and 37 % for the 4th year courses, appear to suggest that that the A range is probably in the 80%. By contrast, in U.S. universities the grade of A is reserved for the top 10% of the class. Even allowing for a higher range of 86% it remains well below the 90% general seen by students south of the border.

Your personal experience may be completely different, but unless you can come up with some statistical evidence to the contrary, the opinion on the degree of competitiveness will remain strictly in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[mep771]

but unless you can come up with some statistical evidence to the contrary.

Hey I am not going into law. I'm not trying to make a case and feel I have much better things to do and try to prove that school is not the cake-walk up here that your 'stats' claim it is.

Kennyboo,

Sorry this thread got a little off topic. If you have any questions about applying from Canada to the states feel free to PM me. Or you could ask Dr. Toothache and he can research it for you.

 

[doc toothache]

Hey I am not going into law. I'm not trying to make a case and feel I have much better things to do and try to prove that school is not the cake-walk up here that your 'stats' claim it is.

Ah yes. There is plenty of time to claim superiority but not enough time to provide evidence.

 

[doc toothache]

I dont know where that is coming from? At the University of Alberta most classes are on a distribution curve and in my experience an 80-85 would definatley not get you an A. In my classes that were not on a curve usually an 86-89 would be an A- and a 90 and up would be an A.
Im from Canada and I don't think I'll get any interviews up at a Canadian d-schools but already have a handful in the US. Its way too competitive up here.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=568870

 

[Flipper405]

And where exactly did you see that info on a gpa of "close to 4.0 to get into a lot of Canadian schools"?

Pretty much here on SDN. I'm not claiming to be an expert on the situation up in Canada. I'll leave the discussion on whether the rumor that Canadian schools require high GPAs up to others... but that's just what I've seen.

Regardless of that, I think bringing up that GPA is the best thing OP can focus on.

 

[ruomengd2000]

Based on your church affiliations, Loma Linda will probably consider you. Of you course this is assuming you have decent DATs, dental experience, etc. At the moment, it's too soon to tell for you. Re-post when you have prereqs and DAT done. You'll have a much better gauge then.