Canadian Student Applying to US (Bad First year) Any insight helpful!!

[cookinwithbasil]

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Hey guys,
I am currently a fourth year student at the University of Guelph, in Canada. I had just a few questions as I am very confused with my situation all together. Thank you all in advance for your help.

1) I have lived and studied in Canada my whole life, but I am an American citizen due to my father living in states while mother lives in Canada. If I apply from a Canadian university am I still considered an international student?

2) In my first year I went to The university of Toronto. I didn't really know what I wanted to do so i was more or less a slacker. I got a cgpa in my first year of 2.8 (yea VERY BAD). However, I then realized i really really want to go to med school. It's truly what i want (sadly took me first year to realize). I switched to the university of Guelph as it reset my gpa here (credits still count just not marks so I was still going to second year). My cGpa these last two years at guelph have been 3.7 (rising from 3.5 at beginning) and im hoping to get it as high as possible by end of fourth year. My question is then I know the admission team will probably ask for all my transcripts so I don't know what to do, even though my cGpa is 3.7, with my first year it'll go way down. What do you guys think?

3) lastly, Im writing my MCAT on Sept 9 hoping for the best score as anyone. I have decent extracurriculars, working on strengthening them alot too. What you guys think I should do to make me a better candidate?

 

[gyngyn]

Hey guys,
I am currently a fourth year student at the University of Guelph, in Canada. I had just a few questions as I am very confused with my situation all together. Thank you all in advance for your help.

1) I have lived and studied in Canada my whole life, but I am an American citizen due to my father living in states while mother lives in Canada. If I apply from a Canadian university am I still considered an international student?

2) In my first year I went to The university of Toronto. I didn't really know what I wanted to do so i was more or less a slacker. I got a cgpa in my first year of 2.8 (yea VERY BAD). However, I then realized i really really want to go to med school. It's truly what i want (sadly took me first year to realize). I switched to the university of Guelph as it reset my gpa here (credits still count just not marks so I was still going to second year). My cGpa these last two years at guelph have been 3.7 (rising from 3.5 at beginning) and im hoping to get it as high as possible by end of fourth year. My question is then I know the admission team will probably ask for all my transcripts so I don't know what to do, even though my cGpa is 3.7, with my first year it'll go way down. What do you guys think?

3) lastly, Im writing my MCAT on Sept 9 hoping for the best score as anyone. I have decent extracurriculars, working on strengthening them alot too. What you guys think I should do to make me a better candidate?

1. If you are a US citizen, you are not international.You may (or may not) not have a state of residence, though.
2. All of your grades will be considered, though trend is also important. You will need to submit all transcripts.
3. Do not take the MCAT until you are likely to get a score consistent with success. A September score will be fine as long as you are going to apply next year

 

[cookinwithbasil]

Sorry misclicked on post. bump i guess.

 

[cookinwithbasil]

1. If you are a US citizen, you are not international.You may (or may not) not have a state of residence, though.
2. All of your grades will be considered, though trend is also important. You will need to submit all transcripts.
3. Do not take the MCAT until you are likely to get a score consistent with success. A September score will be fine as long as you are going to apply next year

Thanks for the info.
1) My dad has a home in maryland, so would i be considered instate there but out-state everywhere else?
2) Is there anyways I can offset my fisrt year transcript, well i'm sure there isn't but I've heard that like you said and upward trend is good and if you explain your reasoning well in your personal essay they understand.
3) yup i am looking to apply next year after i complete my last year of Uni, hopefully i can do well on the MCAT now which would allow me to apply early june as everyone suggests.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the info.
1) My dad has a home in maryland, so would i be considered instate there but out-state everywhere else?
2) Is there anyways I can offset my fisrt year transcript, well i'm sure there isn't but I've heard that like you said and upward trend is good and if you explain your reasoning well in your personal essay they understand.
3) yup i am looking to apply next year after i complete my last year of Uni, hopefully i can do well on the MCAT now which would allow me to apply early june as everyone suggests.

1. If you are considered a resident of MD, that would be your state school. Sadly, it has the lowest IS matriculation of any state with a public medical school (11%).
2. Your stats will speak for themselves. What is your AMCAS BCPM and Cum gpa?

 

[cookinwithbasil]

1. If you are considered a resident of MD, that would be your state school. Sadly, it has the lowest IS matriculation of any state with a public medical school (11%).
2. Your stats will speak for themselves. What is your AMCAS BCPM and Cum gpa?

I haven't determined my AMCAS BCPM as my university doesn't do it for us (is there a reliable way of calculating it yourself?), but my cum GPA, without first year, is 3.7 and with it maybe 3.4 not sure would have to ask for transcript.

 

[gyngyn]

I haven't determined my AMCAS BCPM as my university doesn't do it for us (is there a reliable way of calculating it yourself?), but my cum GPA, without first year, is 3.7 and with it maybe 3.4 not sure would have to ask for transcript.

There are links in the sticky at the beginning of this forum ( The one that says "Read this first...).

 

[cookinwithbasil]

So my AMCAS BCPM is approx 3.5-3.6, cgpa 3.7.

 

[gyngyn]

So my AMCAS BCPM is approx 3.5-3.6, cgpa 3.7.

That's not bad.

 

[cookinwithbasil]

That's not bad.

Would that gpa alongside an Mcat score of 510 (my current goal) be considered competitive, or would I need to take another year to upgrade gpa further and what not (strictly speaking about gpa and mcat?).
Thank you so much for your help by the way.

 

[gyngyn]

Would that gpa alongside an Mcat score of 510 (my current goal) be considered competitive, or would I need to take another year to upgrade gpa further and what not (strictly speaking about gpa and mcat?).
Thank you so much for your help by the way.

510 is likely to be the median score for a successful applicant.
Don't take the test until you are confident that you will get a score consistent with success!
US schools view multiple MCAT's differently than Canada.