Canadian 525 MCAT with weak EC's applying American

[boringknot]

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I received my MCAT score yesterday and was obviously thrilled with the results (132/130/131/132). I'm in junior year and previously I was planning on applying only Canadian next cycle but I now think I would like to try my luck at some of the top American schools. The big issue is my EC's are weak (no clinical volunteering or shadowing as these aren't required in Canada) but I'm in the process of beginning them this semester. Obviously I wouldn't be competitive at these institutions next cycle, so my two questions are:

1. Would two years of boosting my extracurriculars, continuing research and maintaining my GPA (3.9+) put me in a spot to be possibly competitive at the T20's for Fall 2022 matriculation? Obviously these schools are also looking for an X factor to tie the app together; not sure I will have this.

2. In Canada an MCAT score is good for 5 years, and I see for American schools this varies with some being "3 years from matriculation". I believe this means my score would be ineligible were I to apply in my intended cycle (2022 matriculation) at these schools. I created a small list of Canadian-friendlies that accept scores "3 years from application" or 4 years, etc, and would be very grateful if someone with past experience could confirm that I would be eligible to apply for 2022 matriculation with an August 2019 MCAT to any of these.

• Columbia
• Yale
• Cornell
• John Hopkins
• Stanford

Thanks!

 

[907914]

I received my MCAT score yesterday and was obviously thrilled with the results (132/130/131/132). I'm in junior year and previously I was planning on applying only Canadian next cycle but I now think I would like to try my luck at some of the top American schools. The big issue is my EC's are weak (no clinical volunteering or shadowing as these aren't required in Canada) but I'm in the process of beginning them this semester. Obviously I wouldn't be competitive at these institutions next cycle, so my two questions are:

1. Would two years of boosting my extracurriculars, continuing research and maintaining my GPA (3.9+) put me in a spot to be possibly competitive at the T20's? Obviously these schools are also looking for an X factor to tie the app together; not sure I will have this.

2. In Canada an MCAT score is good for 5 years, and I see for American schools this varies with some being "3 years from matriculation". I believe this means my score would be ineligible were I to apply in my intended cycle (entering 2022) at these schools. I created a small list of Canadian-friendlies that accept scores "3 years from application" or 4 years, etc, and would be very grateful if someone with past experience could confirm that I would be eligible to apply for 2022 with an August 2019 MCAT to any of these.

• Columbia
• Yale
• Cornell
• John Hopkins
• Stanford

Thanks!

Applying summer of 2021 for matriculation fall of 2022?

 

[boringknot]

Applying summer of 2021 for matriculation fall of 2022?

Correct, I'll edit my post so it's more clear.

 

[907914]

Correct, I'll edit my post so it's more clear.

Your MCAT will be good at every medical school as far as I am aware. It is based on time of application. Your MCAT will be less than 2 years old by the time you apply. Boat up your shadowing and you clinical (do 50 hours shadowing a PCP and maybe 20 in a specialty or two, and 4 hours every other week from now until application of clinical volunteering) and you will be golden to apply wherever you damn well please*

*caveat - places that accept Canadian applicants.

 

[seren1051]

Congrats with that score! Sounds like a plan, although I've heard other Canadians having difficulty finding physicians to shadow. As MDPP says, your score should be eligible pretty much everywhere. Try to get both clinical volunteering AND non-clinical volunteering, hopefully in range of several hundred hours.

In addition to your list, also consider: Duke, Vandy, Mayo, Penn, WashU, Virginia, Sinai, Case/CCLCM. Good luck!

 

[notsobabydoc]

Correct, I'll edit my post so it's more clear.

I am sure it will be eligible everywhere if you apply in 2021. Some schools are 3 years from your application date and some are 3 years from your matriculation date. Either way, your score is good. Congrats. Add some number wh***s there too.

 

[notsobabydoc]

Just be aware that the application is a lot more than your MCAT score. You will get looked at with that score but you also need to convince them why you want to come to the States for school if your goal is to be a doctor in Canada.

 

[deleted870424]

No once cares about ECs with a 525... well not perfectly true but kinda true xD

 

[notsobabydoc]

No once cares about ECs with a 525... well not perfectly true but kinda true xD

completely untrue.. if you are someone applying with that score, you will know.

 

[boringknot]

Thanks for the great information everyone!

Congrats with that score! Sounds like a plan, although I've heard other Canadians having difficulty finding physicians to shadow. As MDPP says, your score should be eligible pretty much everywhere. Try to get both clinical volunteering AND non-clinical volunteering, hopefully in range of several hundred hours.

In addition to your list, also consider: Duke, Vandy, Mayo, Penn, WashU, Virginia, Sinai, Case/CCLCM. Good luck!

Yeah I don't know the specifics but I think we have some laws against it, yet reading online, some Canadians have been able to. Sucks I have no family or family friends in medicine. Thanks for the schools, I'll add them on!

Just be aware that the application is a lot more than your MCAT score. You will get looked at with that score but you also need to convince them why you want to come to the States for school if your goal is to be a doctor in Canada.

Yes for sure, although if I were to be accepted in the States I would most likely aim to stay.

 

[notsobabydoc]

Thanks for the great information everyone!



Yeah I don't know the specifics but I think we have some laws against it, yet reading online, some Canadians have been able to. Sucks I have no family or family friends in medicine. Thanks for the schools, I'll add them on!



Yes for sure, although if I were to be accepted in the States I would most likely aim to stay.

for those schools on your list, you need to be stellar on EVERYTHING as an international applicant.

 

[boringknot]

for those schools on your list, you need to be stellar on EVERYTHING as an international applicant.

Some schools I will be international (e.g. Columbia) while others I would be considered out of state American. In any case, what you say is absolutely true, hence the two years to get my app in order 😛