Hello all,
I am a Canadian med hopeful who is wondering whether a couple of decision may have killed their chances of medical school.
Stats
GPA AMCAS: 3.95
MCAT: 512 (124/130/127/131) (Usually got 127-128 on practice, did not expect such a low Chem/Phys score) (Will redo this summer)
Research: Very weak, volunteering in a lab for ~2.5 years but very little actual research was done and no pubs. Did a semester of supervised study and intense lab work, but not much outside of that semester.
Volunteer: ~80 hours Kids Help Phone Volunteer
~50 hours Chemistry Discussion Sessions (Extra help outside class, and Prof approved and supervised, but I essentially ran them)
~200 hours running Neurological Rehab Volunteer (Clinical)
~1.5 years running Member/Director of local Civic Engagement Committee
~1.5 years running Youth Mentor (Big Brother type thing)
~2 years Senior Associate at Pre-Med Club
~40 hours shadowing a Neurologist
~1000 hours of contributing to a local meeting (cannot say anything due to identity reasons but it's essentially a club kinda thing)
Awards: Entrance Scholarship
2x Scholarship Award (Given to only 3 students out of 2000 enrolled in Biology or Psychology Majors)
Nominated for Volunteer of the Year (National Award for Kids Help Phone volunteer)
Employment: Worked at an Amusement Park, Sales Person at a newspaper, currently working as a tutor (recently started) and also at a call centre part-time (recently started)
I have volunteered here and there many times, but those are not significant experiences as the ones listed. My problem is that my transcript reflects very badly of me as a student.
First Year: Made Physics Pass/Fail (ended with a 78 lol) but didn't want to do medicine at the time so thought it wouldn't hurt me (3.97 GPA)
Second Year: Have a research Pass/Fail course, no option to get a mark anyways but had 5 courses plus the research course (3.97 GPA)
Third Year: Nothing here (4.00 GPA)
Fourth Year: Here is where it gets bad. First Semester had one Pass/Fail course (only needed the credit, it was a history course), but second semester I took second part of physics, and did a late withdrawal (no effect on GPA). This is was a very uncharacteristic year for me as I had some personal struggles (fortunately I found exercise/diet control since and it has been giving my mental health a boost) but had only three courses plus a Late Withdrawal in the second semester (3.86 GPA)
Fifth Year: Just finishing up some courses. Took only english in first sem, and taking a second english in this sem plus a Pass/Fail course (again, just a credit needed to graduate, I took another interesting class but that got cancelled so I was forced to take this course which I had no interest in whatsoever). (Projected GPA (only two courses): 3.85 GPA)
I will apply to NOVA, Touro-NY, AZUCOM, LSUCOM, WesternU and NECOM. Is this a good school list?
So what do you guys think? Am I overthinking this? Do I have chances at DO schools and/or Low-Mid tier med schools that are Canadian Friendly? I know this was very long so thank you from the bottom of heart for reading. Any advice would be great! I will buy MSAR and will redo the MCAT for a better score. I might sound paranoid, but I didn't get an interview in Canada with a 130 CARS so I am very worried now. Thank You!
P.S. I will be doing Physics prereqs at another school (since mine won't let me take the first part due to Passing it without a mark, can only redo if failed), and will be completed by next April. Physics is a big weakness of mine, but I am ready to tackle it and get that 90!
P.P.S I have posted this in the What are my Chances forum but got almost no responses, so if any admins can weigh in on this or anyone with experience, I truly appreciate it! You guys have been an awesome help for many application related things, Thank You!
I am a Canadian med hopeful who is wondering whether a couple of decision may have killed their chances of medical school.
Stats
GPA AMCAS: 3.95
MCAT: 512 (124/130/127/131) (Usually got 127-128 on practice, did not expect such a low Chem/Phys score) (Will redo this summer)
Research: Very weak, volunteering in a lab for ~2.5 years but very little actual research was done and no pubs. Did a semester of supervised study and intense lab work, but not much outside of that semester.
Volunteer: ~80 hours Kids Help Phone Volunteer
~50 hours Chemistry Discussion Sessions (Extra help outside class, and Prof approved and supervised, but I essentially ran them)
~200 hours running Neurological Rehab Volunteer (Clinical)
~1.5 years running Member/Director of local Civic Engagement Committee
~1.5 years running Youth Mentor (Big Brother type thing)
~2 years Senior Associate at Pre-Med Club
~40 hours shadowing a Neurologist
~1000 hours of contributing to a local meeting (cannot say anything due to identity reasons but it's essentially a club kinda thing)
Awards: Entrance Scholarship
2x Scholarship Award (Given to only 3 students out of 2000 enrolled in Biology or Psychology Majors)
Nominated for Volunteer of the Year (National Award for Kids Help Phone volunteer)
Employment: Worked at an Amusement Park, Sales Person at a newspaper, currently working as a tutor (recently started) and also at a call centre part-time (recently started)
I have volunteered here and there many times, but those are not significant experiences as the ones listed. My problem is that my transcript reflects very badly of me as a student.
First Year: Made Physics Pass/Fail (ended with a 78 lol) but didn't want to do medicine at the time so thought it wouldn't hurt me (3.97 GPA)
Second Year: Have a research Pass/Fail course, no option to get a mark anyways but had 5 courses plus the research course (3.97 GPA)
Third Year: Nothing here (4.00 GPA)
Fourth Year: Here is where it gets bad. First Semester had one Pass/Fail course (only needed the credit, it was a history course), but second semester I took second part of physics, and did a late withdrawal (no effect on GPA). This is was a very uncharacteristic year for me as I had some personal struggles (fortunately I found exercise/diet control since and it has been giving my mental health a boost) but had only three courses plus a Late Withdrawal in the second semester (3.86 GPA)
Fifth Year: Just finishing up some courses. Took only english in first sem, and taking a second english in this sem plus a Pass/Fail course (again, just a credit needed to graduate, I took another interesting class but that got cancelled so I was forced to take this course which I had no interest in whatsoever). (Projected GPA (only two courses): 3.85 GPA)
I will apply to NOVA, Touro-NY, AZUCOM, LSUCOM, WesternU and NECOM. Is this a good school list?
So what do you guys think? Am I overthinking this? Do I have chances at DO schools and/or Low-Mid tier med schools that are Canadian Friendly? I know this was very long so thank you from the bottom of heart for reading. Any advice would be great! I will buy MSAR and will redo the MCAT for a better score. I might sound paranoid, but I didn't get an interview in Canada with a 130 CARS so I am very worried now. Thank You!
P.S. I will be doing Physics prereqs at another school (since mine won't let me take the first part due to Passing it without a mark, can only redo if failed), and will be completed by next April. Physics is a big weakness of mine, but I am ready to tackle it and get that 90!
P.P.S I have posted this in the What are my Chances forum but got almost no responses, so if any admins can weigh in on this or anyone with experience, I truly appreciate it! You guys have been an awesome help for many application related things, Thank You!
