Canadian Med Schools?

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habs33

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Hi, I have a question for anyone out there that knows about Canadian medical schools. I just graduated with a 3.1 GPA (low, I know) and a 34R MCAT score from UNC-Chapel Hill. I also will have had a year of clinical research before I matriculate. I have looked briefly at schools like McGill, UBC, and Ottawa U and I was wondering what my chances were of getting into these schools or any Canadian medical schools that you might suggest. Thanks!
 
Depends on which Province you call home. But with a GPA of 3.1, I would honestly say forget about getting into a Canadian school. I *think* Dalhousie takes applicants from the Maritimes with GPAs as low as 3.3...but that is the lowest cut off that I know of.

If you can maintain a GPA above a 3.7 for two years you may have a shot at Western and Queens. Ottawa is completely out of the question with a 3.1 unless you do a second undergrad (and even then, you're chances may still be slim). For McGill I believe, if you are not a Quebec resident, you will need a 3.6 (also, it is VERY hard for Canadians who are not residents of Quebec to get into McGill...its actually easier for international students to get in than Canadian Non Quebecers). McMaster notoriously has a very low GPA cutoff, 3.0, to be considered- however, the average GPA for people who they accept is closer to a 3.9.

http://www.premed101.com/forums/index.php This website is a very good resource for those looking to apply to Canadian Medical Schools. I would suggest you ask your question there if you haven't already

You're MCAT is very good, but Canadian schools, from what I've been told, really don't seem to care much about the actual number unless its over 30 (the writing section however carries more weight than it does for American schools, I know that the cutoff at Western is a Q). And if you GPA is below their predetermined cutoff, they won't even look at your MCAT.

Sorry to be so blunt, but the Canadian process kinda sucks. Maybe you can try to establish residency in the states and apply to schools there.
 
Thanks for the detailed response SolitaireAddikt, no worries with bluntness, that's exactly what I wanted.
 
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