canadian 3.5 cGPA 3.42 sGPA

[joeeeey3]

Canadian citizen
went to US undergrad (don't have greencard tho)
non-URM

3.5 cGPA, 3.42 sGPA with significant upward trend:

2.9 freshmen year
3.3 sophomore
4.0 for junior
3.45 first semester of senior (took too many classes)
4.0 second semester of senior

2 years of research (did it for school credits. so.. 4 semesters)
with 1 research publication
some community services

I have very recently started considering to switch to pre-med so I haven't taken my MCAT yet, but I am willing to put good 6 months to study.
I was also planning to volunteer at a hospital for about a year.

so considering i get decent MCAT, how are my chances looking??
harshly honest opinions are needed since I might have to give-up on the career path I initially chose to follow

Thank you for your generous help.

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[fingerscrossedd]

you've def got a shot - apply broadly/intelligently and get a decent MCAT score. Don't let the 3.9/36T kids scare you. If you want this, go get it!

 

[gyngyn]

The real challenge for all non resident applicants is that there are relatively few schools that will consider them. These schools tend to be private and selective.

The school will be pondering the reality that upon graduation you will only be eligible for the relatively few residency positions that will sponsor your visa. This dramatically increases the odds that you go "unmatched." Nobody wants unmatched grads. It's sad and demoralizing for all. This can be compounded by the inevitable effect it has on couples when the student visa affects both the student and their loved one!

I have no experience in the process of evaluation of applications for DO schools so my observations are for MD only.

 

[SOMBound13]

The school will be pondering the reality that upon graduation you will only be eligible for the relatively few residency positions that will sponsor your visa. This dramatically increases the odds that you go "unmatched." Nobody

this is interesting. I've often seen it mentioned that int'ls (including Canadians) have a harder time getting into US MD schools. So, there's a matching issue as well for residencies? The residency position must then sponsor the visa? Is there also a concern that once the person goes thru residency that he'll return to his home country and the extensive training won't be used here??

 

[gyngyn]

this is interesting. I've often seen it mentioned that int'ls (including Canadians) have a harder time getting into US MD schools. So, there's a matching issue as well for residencies? The residency position must then sponsor the visa? Is there also a concern that once the person goes thru residency that he'll return to his home country and the extensive training won't be used here??

Many residencies have no experience in filing the paperwork necessary to sponsor student visas. With the abundance of applicants for the competitive specialties, they don't have to learn.

Primary care residencies (often in out of the way places) are all that is available even for very good applicants.

Ironically, some of the very most competitive residencies have no problem with non residents. No one can count on matching at the Brigham, though.

There is a requirement to return to the home country with the J1 but not the H visa. Residencies willing to support a visa often support one and not the other. I have no idea about the rationale for this preference!

 

[SOMBound13]

Many residencies have no experience in filing the paperwork necessary to sponsor student visas. With the abundance of applicants for the competitive specialties, they don't have to learn.

Primary care residencies (often in out of the way places) are all that is available even for very good applicants.

Ironically, some of the very most competitive residencies have no problem with non residents. No one can count on matching at the Brigham, though.

There is a requirement to return to the home country with the J1 but not the H visa. Residencies willing to support a visa often support one and not the other. I have no idea about the rationale for this preference!

Thanks for the clarification. It makes me wonder why any residencies want to accept students who will be returning to their countries after training. I can understand if their home countries subsidize the whole process because they will ultimately benefitting, but without such support, it seems strange.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the clarification. It makes me wonder why any residencies want to accept students who will be returning to their countries after training. I can understand if their home countries subsidize the whole process because they will ultimately benefitting, but without such support, it seems strange.

I have not seen home countries supporting the medical education (here) of its citizens. I have seen students run out of money to pay tuition and be forced to return home without a degree, sadly. This is another risk of the accepting institution and an explanation for the onerous requirements regarding escrow accounts prior to matriculation.

 

[SOMBound13]

I have seen students run out of money to pay tuition and be forced to return home without a degree, sadly. This is another risk of the accepting institution and an explanation for the onerous requirements regarding escrow accounts prior to matriculation.

Yes, I've seen that some schools are requiring 4 years of COA deposited in an escrow acct. If more did that perhaps their home countries would provide some kind of assistance or loans.