MD & DO Canadian Applicant, 34 Mcat, 3.88cGPA

[CompleteCanada]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi Guys,

Wondering your opinion on my stats. I have a 3.88 cGPA, and 3.89 sGPA from a Canadian University (also Canadian citizen). My MCAT score this last time was 34 (8V, 11P, 15B). It was my 4th attempt, my first score was 23 (6V, 8P, 9B), then 29 (8V, 11P, 10B), and 29 (10V, 9P, 10B).

Some EC's, I'm doing a non-thesis course based masters done in December (likely with a publication), some prior research experience (2 publications), volunteering in a hospital in high school, TA'ing, volunteering at a youth camp.

My most glaring holes are being Canadian, having 4 MCAT writings, and an 8 in verbal. Where do you think I stand, and what schools do I have a realistic shot at presuming I submit primaries early.

Appreciate anybody who reads this long post, and those who reply. Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi Guys,

Wondering your opinion on my stats. I have a 3.88 cGPA, and 3.89 sGPA from a Canadian University (also Canadian citizen). My MCAT score this last time was 34 (8V, 11P, 15B). It was my 4th attempt, my first score was 23 (6V, 8P, 9B), then 29 (8V, 11P, 10B), and 29 (10V, 9P, 10B).

Some EC's, I'm doing a non-thesis course based masters done in December (likely with a publication), some prior research experience (2 publications), volunteering in a hospital in high school, TA'ing, volunteering at a youth camp.

My most glaring holes are being Canadian, having 4 MCAT writings, and an 8 in verbal. Where do you think I stand, and what schools do I have a realistic shot at presuming I submit primaries early.

Appreciate anybody who reads this long post, and those who reply. Thanks!

Congrats on the improved score. I don't know how you'll fare with Canadian schools, but your ECs are a bit thin for US schools, aside from the research, which looks terrific. I can't comment on your teaching and nonmedical community service, as you didn't include any timeframes. But adcomms at schools taking international candidates will also be looking for leadership, recent clinical experience, and physician shadowing (though it's known the latter might be harder to find in some parts of Canada).

Besides identifying MD schools that are willing to consider an international application, you are further faced with having to research which of those will consider your most recent MCAT , as opposed to an average of all of them, so you can use your application dollars more efficiently. For DO schools, even averaged, you'd be fine.

You might use the Search term Canadian in the WAMC forum and explore the school lists of others in your shoes. The MSAR is also a good resource for this. The DO equivalent (CIB) can be found here:
http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2014cib/2014 CIB Complete Small.pdf

 

[CompleteCanada]

Congrats on the improved score. I don't know how you'll fare with Canadian schools, but your ECs are a bit thin for US schools, aside from the research, which looks terrific. I can't comment on your teaching and nonmedical community service, as you didn't include any timeframes. But adcomms at schools taking international candidates will also be looking for leadership, recent clinical experience, and physician shadowing (though it's known the latter might be harder to find in some parts of Canada).

Besides identifying MD schools that are willing to consider an international application, you are further faced with having to research which of those will consider your most recent MCAT , as opposed to an average of all of them, so you can use your application dollars more efficiently. For DO schools, even averaged, you'd be fine.

You might use the Search term Canadian in the WAMC forum and explore the school lists of others in your shoes. The MSAR is also a good resource for this. The DO equivalent (CIB) can be found here:
http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2014cib/2014 CIB Complete Small.pdf

Thanks. I didnt really give you the full story on my EC's but I think I will now to give you a better picture.

I volunteered 80 hours in the Continuing Care ward of a hospital in grade 11/12.
In the summer between high school and first year I volunteered about 150 hours at a youth swim camp.
Between first and second year in the summer i had a part time job as at a gas station (2 months).
I was able to observe an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a week the next summer.
I played intramural sports in uni and varsity rugby in high school
This year I am TA'ing 6 labs in a first year undergrad course, and I am a peer mentor for another class.
Since September I have been helping out once a week at a cardiac rehab facility at my university.
I was a clinical research assistant during my 5th year of undergrad (it was kinda part time so I had time), I worked for 3 months starting this past september for an MCAT prep company.
I work in a facility that does health testing on prospective firefighters, and the NHL combine.
Finally, I am currently conducting the intervention stream of a study, which would likely count as clinical experience.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks. I didnt really give you the full story on my EC's but I think I will now to give you a better picture.

I volunteered 80 hours in the Continuing Care ward of a hospital in grade 11/12.
In the summer between high school and first year I volunteered about 150 hours at a youth swim camp.
Between first and second year in the summer i had a part time job as at a gas station (2 months).
I was able to observe an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a week the next summer.
I played intramural sports in uni and varsity rugby in high school
This year I am TA'ing 6 labs in a first year undergrad course, and I am a peer mentor for another class.
Since September I have been helping out once a week at a cardiac rehab facility at my university.
I was a clinical research assistant during my 5th year of undergrad (it was kinda part time so I had time), I worked for 3 months starting this past september for an MCAT prep company.
I work in a facility that does health testing on prospective firefighters, and the NHL combine.
Finally, I am currently conducting the intervention stream of a study, which would likely count as clinical experience.

Your HS activities won't be regarded. While there is no rule that you can't list them, you'd be better off including the 80 hospital hours somewhere in your PS as part of your journey toward medicine.

While the Youth Swim Camp activity is fine to include since it happened after HS graduation, I would like to have seen some ongoing community service for those in need.

It would also be good to include some primary care shadowing if you can work it in, even if only 4-8 hours (Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Internist). Maybe your own doc or those of your parents would do you a favor.

The teaching/mentoring look good.

Be sure to include current hobbies/artistic endeavors/sports.

 

[TeamLeafs]

Your stats are stronger than min(GPA/MCAT) but I had stronger ECS. I was able to get into a USMD as a Canadian for the fall. Get MSAR and look at the list of schools that take internationals(wayne state is a big one) and apply early. Most schools didn't have a problem with my taking the MCAT multiple times, just check and see if any of the ones that take us Canadians, average the scores, but still apply anyways and hope a human looks at your app.

Improve your ECs a bit in the mean time, otherwise, I don't think you need to apply to DO schools.

Sorry about the 8-verbal, it also kept me out of Ontario schools, good for your though, USMD schools favour high science scores, a 15bio is amazing!!

 

[CompleteCanada]

thanks for the input guys. In your opinion's what kind of EC's should I aim for?