Canadian applying: Stats inside! Plz comment!

[MB333999]

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Okay now that im fairly sure on what my application stats are going to look like I wouldnt mind people commenting on how they think I stand.

1st year: 3.7
2nd: 4
3rd: 4

cGPA = 3.9
sGPA = not sure, does that include things like calc?
I got a 70 1st year second semester calc..
and a 75 1st year chem

besides that straight A's

MCAT: 32N (10V;11B;11P)

- unique life story... born in baghdad iraq, lived in syria, spain, and now canada

Major Extracurriculars

- Receptionist at Medical clinic for 5 years (summers)

- Program analyst and customer relations between physicians and programers for AbelSoft (Medical software company) ( 1 year)

- 1 summer volunteering at cardiologist clinic, helping with ECG setup, stress test setup, and some administrative work.

- Ongoing research project start this past summer with this neuropsychologist in toronto. dont know if it'll get published. lets assume not to be on a safer side.

- Applying for a research position with this Alzheimers lab for this summer which i should get cause a good friend of mine is leaving it and recommending me to take his position.

- 2 years working with the Alzheimers society. doing educational programs and going to start visiting patients in their homes every week and cook with them after the new year lol.

- President of the electronic gaming association (lan parties ftw )

- organize my own fundraising group to raise money for canadian cancer society (not a big thing we only do like 1 event every school year, but i think it sounds pretty good lol)

- yea got some other random small things too. BTW how far back can we start mentioning things, like i was on my senior highschool soccer team..is that going too far back??


Also both my parents are family physcians, do you guys think I should mention that??? I feel like it would be a good idea because it means im exposed to the "physcian way of life" and so I know what im getting into.

Thanks for your input guys 🙂

 

[sassilysweet]

Many schools REQUIRE 2 science faculty letters and one nonscience. You are going to need to check with individual schools and find out what their policies are.

 

[MB333999]

Many schools REQUIRE 2 science faculty letters and one nonscience. You are going to need to check with individual schools and find out what their policies are.

yea, so i;ve heard. Do you think really good research/volunteer LORs will make up for mediocre faculty ones?? I have a TA in my phys lab that i know pretty well now, does that count as faculty?? or does it have to be a professor.

 

[coolnad17]

yea, so i;ve heard. Do you think really good research/volunteer LORs will make up for mediocre faculty ones?? I have a TA in my phys lab that i know pretty well now, does that count as faculty?? or does it have to be a professor.

Just wondering...are you also applying to Canadian schools? Or is that N in writing discouraging you from applying to Canadian schools? Where do you go to school, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks

 

[MB333999]

Just wondering, is that N in writing discouraging you from applying to Canadian schools? Where do you go to school, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks

Yea it is, I cant apply to most schools because of it including my own school university of western ontario. I;ve only spent the past 3 years here, but fine throw away my application lol.

but i am still competitive at Toronto (atleast i think) and can still apply to mcmaster

To be honest tho, I kind of want to go to the States. I think it will be exciting 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

The BCPM GPA does include all math classes.

High school activities are not included unless they continued into the college years.

Since you've been in the clinical environment of a clinic, it doesn't matter that your haven't had a hospital-based activity.

The AMCAS application has a part that asks parental occupation, so I'd mention they're physicians there. Have you ever shadowed them to get a close-up look at what docs do all day? Be sure it's clear in your PS that you have your own reasons for becoming a physician unrelated to your mom and dad.

Your teaching, leadership, and research all look good. Your clinical patient and clinical environment experience are great. Your community service is terrific.

Some med schools specify a preference for LORs from teaching faculty who've taught you. See what you can do to cover that.

 

[coolnad17]

Yea it is, I cant apply to most schools because of it including my own school university of western ontario. I;ve only spent the past 3 years here, but fine throw away my application lol.

but i am still competitive at Toronto (atleast i think) and can still apply to mcmaster

Nice, fellow UWO'er here. Yea, you're good for Toronto and Mac. Sorry for the diversion though. You should get some good responses from the regulars soon.

 

[MB333999]

Have you ever shadowed them to get a close-up look at what docs do all day? Be sure it's clear in your PS that you have your own reasons for becoming a physician unrelated to your mom and dad.

I never sat in with them with a patient due to legal issues. But I do spend quite a lot of time there. I always ask them if they saw anything interesting on a given day (they dont tell me names of course) I would say i have a really good idea with what they do all day. You hit my concern dead on, im afraid they might think my parents forced me down this path but this is most certainly not true. I use to want to be an actor and my mom was really supportive and ready to get me an agent! lol. It was really my courses/volunteering that put me on this path so i guess ill be sure to mention that. THANKS!


and Coolnad thats awesome! your probly in some of my classes lol are u applying this summer ?too?

 

[coolnad17]

I never sat in with them with a patient due to legal issues. But I do spend quite a lot of time there. I always ask them if they saw anything interesting on a given day (they dont tell me names of course) I would say i have a really good idea with what they do all day. You hit my concern dead on, im afraid they might think my parents forced me down this path but this is most certainly not true. I use to want to be an actor and my mom was really supportive and ready to get me an agent! lol. It was really my courses/volunteering that put me on this path so i guess ill be sure to mention that. THANKS!


and Coolnad thats awesome! your probly in some of my classes lol are u applying this summer ?too?

I already applied, but I graduated in '09...taking a year off right now, may have to take two with the way things are going right now.

Gotta' hate those Canadian cut-offs eh?

Anyway, good luck to you!

 

[MB333999]

I already applied, but I graduated in '09...taking a year off right now, may have to take two with the way things are going right now.

Gotta' hate those Canadian cut-offs eh?

Anyway, good luck to you!

lol yea, thats life i guess.

same to you 🙂

 

[sassilysweet]

yea, so i;ve heard. Do you think really good research/volunteer LORs will make up for mediocre faculty ones?? I have a TA in my phys lab that i know pretty well now, does that count as faculty?? or does it have to be a professor.

You don't want "mediocre" letters no matter what...everyone's baseline for LORs is that the applicant walks on water, so a "meh" letter will really stand out and possibly count against you.

One of my professors who is also on an admissions committee told me that if you are applying for a position, you never get recs from people who are below that position. So if you are applying for MD or DO, you would not have a nurse or TA write a letter of Rec. You would need a PhD or at least an assistant/associate professor for your class recs.

 

[MB333999]

You don't want "mediocre" letters no matter what...everyone's baseline for LORs is that the applicant walks on water, so a "meh" letter will really stand out and possibly count against you.

One of my professors who is also on an admissions committee told me that if you are applying for a position, you never get recs from people who are below that position. So if you are applying for MD or DO, you would not have a nurse or TA write a letter of Rec. You would need a PhD or at least an assistant/associate professor for your class recs.

thanks for the advice!
How do u guys get to know your profs?? most of the time at my school if students have questions they just ask the TA's.

 

[Catalystik]

In schools with huge classes and little chance of "knowing" the professor, it isn't uncommon for the TA to write a strong supportive letter about a person whom they know well, and have the professor co-sign it with all his titles and degrees to give the letter maximum legitimacy.

Another approach is to make an appointment with the professor so she can get to know you, armed with Personal Statement, CV, and transcript, remind the professor (who gave you an A) of the contributions you made to the class, grades you earned, etc. and ask outright if there's a chance they could write you a STRONG letter of recommendation from what they know of you. Amazingly, this works a lot of the time, as the prof knows that your success reflects positively on the school.

 

[MB333999]

In schools with huge classes and little chance of "knowing" the professor, it isn't uncommon for the TA to write a strong supportive letter about a person whom they know well, and have the professor co-sign it with all his titles and degrees to give the letter maximum legitimacy.

Another approach is to make an appointment with the professor so she can get to know you, armed with Personal Statement, CV, and transcript, remind the professor (who gave you an A) of the contributions you made to the class, grades you earned, etc. and ask outright if there's a chance they could write you a STRONG letter of recommendation from what they know of you. Amazingly, this works a lot of the time, as the prof knows that your success reflects positively on the school.

I think I might try that TA + cosign idea! maybe ill call the schools to make sure that its okay with them.

sweet, thx Catalystik you have been very helpful 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

Happy to help. I'd ask the TA what they think. The response will be individual depending on the TA and the prof. And the TA should know the prof's opinion.

 

[MB333999]

anyone else who would care to comment on what they think my chances are?? the more the merrier 🙂

 

[bannie22]

OP you have no shot at most ON schools with that N.

You should get in somewhere, if you apply broadly.
Jefferson and Wayne State are really good with Canadian students!

If you are considering top 20, your stats are slightly off the mark for them.

 

[MB333999]

Yea damn cutoffs lol. my only real shot here is Toronto, im getting a really great LOR from a prof there who is also my research mentor.

But yea hopefully i can get into a mid tier school in the states. I just heard its important WHERE u get in for medical school in the states when it comes to residency matching. I guess im just scared im gonna end up somewhere that puts me at a disadv. Are jefferson and wayne considered pretty good?

Edit: do you think i should rewrite my MCAT this summer?? or bad idea as it will probably delay getting my app in?

 

[bannie22]

Yea damn cutoffs lol. my only real shot here is Toronto, im getting a really great LOR from a prof there who is also my research mentor.

But yea hopefully i can get into a mid tier school in the states. I just heard its important WHERE u get in for medical school in the states when it comes to residency matching. I guess im just scared im gonna end up somewhere that puts me at a disadv. Are jefferson and wayne considered pretty good?

Edit: do you think i should rewrite my MCAT this summer?? or bad idea as it will probably delay getting my app in?

1) no it doesnt not hurt WHERE you go to med school at all. it only benefits you if u go to the top 11 schools (or top 15).
and really, if u get into the top11-15, you are that good that obviously you will do well in residency matching. but the difference is mild.

2) if the question is directed at me and ure asking me if jefferson and wayne is good. my answer is, the look at the us news rank, and decide for yourself. you will find on these boards that i have high expectations, and you probably dont want my opinion on schools. (eg. i feel my mcat score is low)

3) depends on what u rewrite it for. if u rewrite it to improve the N, no it does not matter to ontario schools. at the same time, american schools will consider your 32N and there is no delay to your application.
if you rewrite it for american schools to change the 32, your app will be delayed depending on where u write it. we here on sdn suggest teh april test date if you are considering that route.

 

[MB333999]

1) no it doesnt not hurt WHERE you go to med school at all. it only benefits you if u go to the top 11 schools (or top 15).
and really, if u get into the top11-15, you are that good that obviously you will do well in residency matching. but the difference is mild.


2) if the question is directed at me and ure asking me if jefferson and wayne is good. my answer is, the look at the us news rank, and decide for yourself. you will find on these boards that i have high expectations, and you probably dont want my opinion on schools. (eg. i feel my mcat score is low)

3) depends on what u rewrite it for. if u rewrite it to improve the N, no it does not matter to ontario schools. at the same time, american schools will consider your 32N and there is no delay to your application.
if you rewrite it for american schools to change the 32, your app will be delayed depending on where u write it. we here on sdn suggest teh april test date if you are considering that route.

1) sweet, thats good to know.
2) i checked out the news rank and jefferson seems to be pretty good.
3)I would rewrite for american schools, but I cant take it in april i dont think I can get enough studying done to do very well by then. I would probably write it in like beginning of july... which would delay my app. It doesnt seem worth it to me if I write that late. But i dont feel comfortable writing any sooner...

I noticed in the other thread that you got accepted this year (congratz again), do u mind pming me your stats?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[MB333999]

Can anyone comment on my chances at NYU?? I would really love to go here!

 

[bannie22]

Outside chance, slightly low MCAT.

Reading your previous post, I hope I already pmed you my stats.

 

[MB333999]

Outside chance, slightly low MCAT.

Reading your previous post, I hope I already pmed you my stats.

you did bannie thanks! I guess i'll still apply there anyhow and see what happens. I really want to go to school in a big city.

 

[bannie22]

Note that Cornell, Columbia, and Mount Sinai also exist, with Einstein on the outskirts, and Downstate a little further away.

I was told Jefferson was also in the heart of Philly.


And I guess the Boston schools of Tufts/BU/Harvard. But perhaps Boston is not big enough heh.

Chicago schools too. Quite a few arent there? I am not too sure because I didnt apply to too many but Loyola? Pritzker? Northwestern? and a few more ...

Chicago is a GOOD city! so is Boston!!!

 

[MB333999]

oooooooo look at the options!
now hopefully one of them will take me!!

most of the ones u mentioned I thought were top tier and probably not too realistic for me (especially the new york ones)

suny downstate is in brooklyn right, is that a top tier school?? I wonder if I have a good shot there... I need to get that MSAR book already...

 

[bannie22]

Research Rankings - Best Medical Schools - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report

If you just wanna know the rank.

NYU> Downstate