Canadian student in senior year; average stats; question about applying

[R35]

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I took the MCAT last year in September. I studied hardcore for the entire month of May, like 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. I then lost motivation and didn't do any studying for the entirity of June, July, or August. I got a score of 24.

My average GPA over my first 3 years is close to around 3.3. Science GPA is higher, like 3.6.

Two questions:

1) I'm graduating in 2016. If I want to apply again next year, how do I do that when I've been out of school? Do I have to take a fifth year of random classes, and then apply again?

2) What's the deadline to apply for DO schools? Can I take the December MCAT and apply by January? Or is that too late?

 

[tennerd]

1)
i read your 2nd question and assumed you haven't applied yet. which one is it: have you applied already this cycle or have you not?
you don't need to be in school to apply to medical schools. there are people 10 years out of school who go to medical school, although they tend to have previous careers that were likely in health care. 1-2 year gap for students are common now-a-days though.

2)
with those stats you are likely going to apply for waitlist/rejection that late. if you can manage to get a equivalent of an old 31+ mcat i would try, but by january it is really late. DO deadlines tend to be later than MD schools. check each school in DO CIB (like MD MSAR).

you should retake and score well on your next mcat and apply next year.

 

[mathnerd88]

Being a Canadian student, he would need to have better stats than the average US matriculant. That 3.3 cGPA may need to be increased.

 

[R35]

1)
i read your 2nd question and assumed you haven't applied yet. which one is it: have you applied already this cycle or have you not?
you don't need to be in school to apply to medical schools. there are people 10 years out of school who go to medical school, although they tend to have previous careers that were likely in health care. 1-2 year gap for students are common now-a-days though.

2)
with those stats you are likely going to apply for waitlist/rejection that late. if you can manage to get a equivalent of an old 31+ mcat i would try, but by january it is really late. DO deadlines tend to be later than MD schools. check each school in DO CIB (like MD MSAR).

you should retake and score well on your next mcat and apply next year.

Hey, thanks for replying. I haven't applied yet for this cycle. I'm still debating whether I should just save my money and apply next year. If what you're saying is right, then I figure I'll study for the MCAT and apply next year, after buffing up my application and skills.

Thanks for the help!

 

[R35]

Being a Canadian student, he would need to have better stats than the average US matriculant. That 3.3 cGPA may need to be increased.

And for that I'll have to do a 5th year, I'm guessing?

 

[tennerd]

And for that I'll have to do a 5th year, I'm guessing?

retakes should really only be for grades below B- and make sure they become As. no one knows your transcript so that's up to you if you want a 5th year. remember the costs of doing 5th year. by far the most important is improving the mcat. you really want a equivalent 30+ after that poor first take. obligatory better ECs, etc, etc.

 

[childofmercy]

And for that I'll have to do a 5th year, I'm guessing?

as a Canadian applying to private US schools, your stats don't need to be above the average US matriculant. However, if you want to be more competitive, you can do some extra coursework to boost your GPA/take retakes for any Cs/Ds/Fs. DO schools will replace your old grades if you retake courses. Retake the MCAT and do as best as you can. DO schools that accept Canadians are competitive to get into, so make yourself a competitive applicant as much as you can.