canadians

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oi! Hi fellow Canuck.
 
I'm Canadian too 🙂
 
Add me to the list 🙂
 
And me. Just wondering, how are you guys faring with interviews?
 
How do US schools handle the application from Canadians?

We are out of state applicants for every school, I know. My question is if schools treat us just as an out-of-state, or even worse.

As we are not eligible to all scholarships and loans, we have to figure out all of them and prove it to school before we could be considered. Is that true? Please help. 😡 😡 😡
 
I really wonder if Canadians are that disadvantaged when applying to US schools. Looking at Columbia's facebook, I see at least three or four people from Canada, so that's kinda a relief. Do you think it makes a difference whether you went to an undergrad school in the US?

Mika - in terms of interviews, I've only gotten one so far, Columbia. Totally don't know when I'll hear from Canadian med schools.
 
It varies from school to school. My advice is to research each school carefully, call them to make sure they accept Canadians and discuss financial aid with them. Most of them will require some sort of documentation before you can be officially accepted, i.e., the individual school of medicine may accept you on the basis of academic and personal credentials but then you have to make sure they are satisfied with your financial situation.
 
I guess there are a lot of variables that you have to consider.

First of all, it depends on the school--some of them welcome international applicants with open arms, others not so much. Although at some schools, Canadians fall into a nebulous in-between category. I've found that the best way to find out how schools treat Canadian applicants is to just call or email. MSAR isn't always informative when it comes to these things. Schools that wont look at international applications, may make exceptions for Canadians.

Canadians that did their undergraduate work at a US institution (I fall into this category) may have an easier time of it, simply due to the fact that the med schools know the programs better, and you have access to advisers that know how to navigate the US application process.

As for money, there are some schools that require all international applicants to pay for the full four years up front (yowza!) or at least the first year, before making an admissions offer final. But many schools aren't that cruel, you just have to deal with securing the loans from outside sources (obviously, foreign students aren't eligible for federal funds, unless you have permanent residency--but don't quote me on that, someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Good luck to all the Canadian applicants out there!
 
Zzzz123, congrats! Wow, you had an interview at Columbia! It is very encouraging for us.

You must enroll at one of the elite schools with 3.9 GPA and 36 MCAT?

It looks like there are some chances for Canadian applicants, but we need thorough research for individual schools. 😛
 
Canadian here too.. heh
Applied, no interviews yet..hopefully will come =)

Good luck everyone
 
Hi everyone...I'm a Canadian, too! 🙂

I just wanted to remind everyone about the option of applying to osteopathic medical schools in the US. Because we have NONE of these schools here in Canada, the whole D.O. profession isn't that well known up here, but it's a great option to look into because about half of them accept Canadians (as equal to "out-of-staters").
I'm in the process of applying and interviewing right now, so if anyone has any questions, ask away! 🙂
 
Hey guys- I'm Canadian too, eh?
Question to Solie- you seem to be up with the osteopathic situation- I got some stuff sent to me last year, but I didn't think too much of it, mostly due to not knowing what it was all about. I'm very interested nonetheless, so please tell me, what's the deal with D.O.???
 
Originally posted by dyang:
•Zzzz123, congrats! Wow, you had an interview at Columbia! It is very encouraging for us.

You must enroll at one of the elite schools with 3.9 GPA and 36 MCAT?

It looks like there are some chances for Canadian applicants, but we need thorough research for individual schools. 😛

Dyang, it's not impossible for Canadians to matriculate into a US school. I'm interviewing at Columbia too in a few weeks. My experience is that Canadians have a very good reputation down in the US.
 
I'm Canadian too!!

I don't know much about applying to US schools, but I just read on the McGill site that they have a lot of positions available to US applicants.. but they only have a few to out of province Canadians!! How fair is that?? Oh well, I was just looking for fun, I'm not applying there anyways 🙂
 
Hey, I'm Canadian too... There are actually quite a few of us on here! That sounds encouraging...

I'm applying to a few Ive League type schools, but haven't heard anything back yet. I sent in my AMCAS rather late, though, and with all of the problems people have been having lately, I'm not too worried yet!

Good luck to everyone, eh? 😉
 
Hi, I'm Canadian too. I've applied mostly to private schools. (ie: GW, Jefferson, Georgetown, etc.) Haven't had any interviews yet though. Please post stats if any Canadians have had interviews so we can get an idea if the numbers have to be really good to get an interview as this early (as a Canadian).

Good luck everyone!
 
dyang: gosh! I'm not the 3.9 GPA, 36 MCAT type! I am going to a reputable school in the US though with a decent GPA and MCAT score, but neither are as high as you quoted 😉

moo - I have my columbia interview on Nov. 14th. when's yours?

I submitted most of my secondaries to the schools in September, but like most of you guys, I haven't heard anything yet either. oh wellz!

I love this eh part, and just for those who're interested, I'm from BC and I absolutely can't wait to go ski at whistler! yeeeeah!
 
Zzzz123, I have Columbia one day after yours--on 15 November! I am interviewing at NYMC on 14 November. You're from BC too eh? So am I, although I'd rather board than ski!
 
Just want to keep this thread on the top.
While applying some US schools, we have to have some Canadian back-ups.
It is pretty hard for us to get into Canadian ones, too. I know U of T is very competitive. 😡
 
TimmyMax,

Basically, a DO is the same thing as an MD--you can write the same board exams (USMLE) as MD students do, as well as the one strictly for DO students (the COMLEX). This means you can enter an MD residency program, as well as look into DO residencies, all of which just helps to increase your options, as far as I'm concerned.

DOs end up working in private/group practice or hospitals, etc, along with MDs, in every specialty you can imagine. They get paid the same salaries, receive the same basic education, and have the same options open to them once they graduate. In fact, if you live in the States, chances are you may have even had a DO treat you at one point, without even being aware of it!

So what's the difference?
DOs learn a form of manual medicine, called Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine/Therapy (OMM or OMT), which ends up being kind of like an extra tool in your toolbox (as I've heard it described) with which to help diagnose and treat patients. It's really an incredible tool to use, especially when patients come to you with things like low back pain, and you have very few non-invasive options to offer them. Whether or not you choose to actually practice OMM once you graduate is entirely up to you, though--for some reason, the majority of DOs don't.

Traditionally, DOs have also had more of a presence in the primary care fields, and a lot of their programs stress this. In fact, I've heard KCOM is one of the best family medicine schools, MD or DO.

However, like I said, a lot of DOs don't choose this route, and end up in all kinds of specialties. Most DO schools have more than half of their students specialize in something.

The only reason I would advise not applying to DO schools is if you want to end up doing medical research (PhD)...most DO schools don't offer this option--in fact I think there are only 2 or 3 that offer a combined DO/PhD program.
But, if you're interested in becoming a really good physician (and I'm not implying that MDs aren't!) osteopathic med schools offer a great opportunity to do just that.

I hope that helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! 🙂
 
Hey Solie,

Thanks for the great reply! Very informative! Definitely worth looking into, by the sounds of it! I'll definitely get back to you if I have more questions!
To everyone else: Sorry about getting off topic, but yes, it is heartening to see just how many of us are out there!
So until next time, g'day, eh? 😉
 
Count me in, mostly a lurker at this pt, won't be applying until next year... 😉
 
This is for all the Canadians applying to the US. Why do you guys want to go to school in the States?

Good luck everyone 🙂
 
It is also important to remember that getting interview does not mean that one would be accepted. Columbia is notorious for interviewing tons of people (many applicants only got one interview there so Columbia could pack more interviews in a given day). So work hard and try to impress them and don't let your guards down =)

Also the financial issue is taken very very VERY seriously down in the states. Almost all the schools here mean business when it comes to international/Canadian students; no money = no acceptance, and we are not talking about being able to pay one year of tuition + expense. Instead, it is about paying all 4 years up front. Many Canadians don't consider this issue at this time of the game, thinking that it is too early to think about it but in the end, you could be totally wasting your application money if you cannot afford to pay $150k US upfront. Cornell and Wash U want more....I think around $200k ($120k tuition + 80k living expense). So before you plan to drop more money into flying around for interviews in the US, start discussing this with your parents. Canadians are regarded as internationals and they are afraid of you dropping out due to financial reasons; it is bad for the med school to suffer such a loss.


good luck!
 
BC girl - why am I applying to US schools? Cause there are only 10+ med schools in Canada, while there are like 10 in the whole of NY state! I think it just increases my chances maybe. Also, I like the problem based learning approach that most of the schools I've applied to in the States use. Do Canadian schools also use that?? Anyone know? I know McMaster does...
 
Zzzz123 is right. 10 med school in Canada. Half of them we can't apply because all provinces (out of province) have restrictions, etc. That's fine. I'll just carry my money, my education, training etc etc down south. Perhaps I'll come back to Canada.

I applied last year only in Canada - had interviews, but no where accepted me. I really think the system in Canada needs some restructuring. A lot of qualified applicants are turned down. The ones with money (and a lot of time for applications) will go to the states. Last year, I would have never considered going to US meds. Now, if I were to choose between, say, Queen's or Tufts... I'd probably choose Tufts.
 
I guess if you have the money, applying to the States is manageable. I was just thinking about how expensive it is... there's no way I would ever be able to afford to go to med school in the States so it isn't even an option for me. Do you guys want to practice in the States, too?

Good luck with your interviews and applications! 🙂
 
BCGirl I sent you a private msg.
 
Actually, there is funding available for Canadians studying in the States.
You still qualify for Canada Student Loans, plus there's a program called CanHelp, specifically for Canadians studying in the US. They cover the full cost of tuition plus living expenses for the four years, as long as you have a guarantor.
I know someone using this program, and it's working out great for him.
🙂
 
Do you like Canada's healthcare system? Hey guys, my friend was telling me that most med students at UBC would prefer Canada to have a bit of a two tiered systems like Germany's, where people are allowed to hold additional private insurance. What do you guys think? Also, why do all these Canadian doctors try to discourage me from medicine? Seems like the healthcare system is great for people but not too great to doctors. any comments?
 
hi fellow canucks, just wanted to check up on how everyone was doing. no acceptances here yet, and i'll be heading up to UBC for interviews next week. i have a question: is it possible to go to med school in the states and get residency in canada? what if you finish your residency here? can you go back to canada then? i have this fear that i'll have no idea where i'll end up after an education in the US!
 
Basically, as far as we've been able to figure out, only graduates of Canadian medical schools can participate in the first round of CARMS (Canadian residency matching system). So, you can go into the second round if you so wish, as a graduate of a US school, but usually all that's left by then is family practice in SK. :wink:

You can participate in the first round of the US match, though.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by cleaner:
•hi fellow canucks, just wanted to check up on how everyone was doing. no acceptances here yet, and i'll be heading up to UBC for interviews next week. i have a question: is it possible to go to med school in the states and get residency in canada? what if you finish your residency here? can you go back to canada then? i have this fear that i'll have no idea where i'll end up after an education in the US!•••••Hey Cleaner, are your interviews next weekend (March 9th and 10th)? I'm leaving for Vancouver in 3 days (from Halifax). Good luck! 🙂
 
Hey, good luck to all of you guys/girls. 🙂 I haven't applied to the States this year, but will consider next year if necessary. I have a few interviews here in Ontario, so hopefully I won't have to worry about that scenario...
 
Canadian here.
About chance of getting into a school in the States? I think the chances are good for Canadians (maybe even better than Canada). But you I think you'll be limited to private schools. I've got 3 interveiws and one acceptance so far (Wash U). The only 'problem' I had at Wash U was that I had to explain the 3 yr, BSc to them.

BC girl, why did I apply to American schools? I applied to 5 American schools and 6 Canadian Schools (5 in ontario). So far, I have 3 interveiws (1 acceptance) and 1 rejection in the States, and 4 rejections (all pre-interveiw) and no interveiw invites yet from Canadian schools. I think it's a good thing I applied to both. 😀
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by warpath:
•Canadian here.
About chance of getting into a school in the States? I think the chances are good for Canadians (maybe even better than Canada). But you I think you'll be limited to private schools. I've got 3 interveiws and one acceptance so far (Wash U). The only 'problem' I had at Wash U was that I had to explain the 3 yr, BSc to them.

BC girl, why did I apply to American schools? I applied to 5 American schools and 6 Canadian Schools (5 in ontario). So far, I have 3 interveiws (1 acceptance) and 1 rejection in the States, and 4 rejections (all pre-interveiw) and no interveiw invites yet from Canadian schools. I think it's a good thing I applied to both. 😀 •••••I guess you have to give wash u $200000 up front if you decide to go there, right?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Legi:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by warpath:
•Canadian here.
About chance of getting into a school in the States? I think the chances are good for Canadians (maybe even better than Canada). But you I think you'll be limited to private schools. I've got 3 interveiws and one acceptance so far (Wash U). The only 'problem' I had at Wash U was that I had to explain the 3 yr, BSc to them.

BC girl, why did I apply to American schools? I applied to 5 American schools and 6 Canadian Schools (5 in ontario). So far, I have 3 interveiws (1 acceptance) and 1 rejection in the States, and 4 rejections (all pre-interveiw) and no interveiw invites yet from Canadian schools. I think it's a good thing I applied to both. 😀 •••••I guess you have to give wash u $200000 up front if you decide to go there, right?•••••yeah. Either that or, provide a letter of credit from a bank that says you have that amount. I was invited to apply for a full-tuition scholarship, so I'm hoping to get that. If not, I'll have to go with loans.
 
i am interested in also applying to some schools in the states...just curious...what are your stats like????

thanks
 
notha canadian 'ere eh?

won't be applying till next year, but i know a dude from queen's that just got into columbia. so that's encouraging. truly an awesome dude. i'm sure he'll get into the canadian one of his choice as well. the DO option seems pretty appealing. and as to the question above, i think all schools incorporate PBL into their curriculums to a certain extent
 
I'm a fellow Canadian as well. 🙂
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by warpath:
•Canadian here.
About chance of getting into a school in the States? I think the chances are good for Canadians (maybe even better than Canada). But you I think you'll be limited to private schools. I've got 3 interveiws and one acceptance so far (Wash U). The only 'problem' I had at Wash U was that I had to explain the 3 yr, BSc to them.

BC girl, why did I apply to American schools? I applied to 5 American schools and 6 Canadian Schools (5 in ontario). So far, I have 3 interveiws (1 acceptance) and 1 rejection in the States, and 4 rejections (all pre-interveiw) and no interveiw invites yet from Canadian schools. I think it's a good thing I applied to both. 😀 •••••Oh man you're scaring me... I don't want to go to school in the US... What province are you from? I hear it is much harder for us to get into med schools outside our own province. I actually plan on applying to all med schools in Canada, but I hadnt planned on applying in the states at all... but now you're scaring me into reconsidering it.

Someone told me if you arent from Ontario it is harder to get into University of Toronto than it is to get into harvard, any truth to this? UoT is my first choice, but i imagine it is first choice of most Canadians applying. Does anyone know of any out of provice people that got into UT? Do you know what their stats were? What are your stats btw warpath? They must be good for you to be doing so well with the US schools.

--Dave
 
Dave: I think that U of T doesn't have a preference for in province applicants... but does anyone know for sure (I haven't applied there)?
 
No preference at UofT (or most Ontario med schools), but there are WAY more Ontario students applying so they end up with more of the spots. There are quite a few that get in from OOP.
 
sometimes i just hate being from ontario... shoulda done undergrad in quebec or something 🙄
 
Move to Manitoba. There are 75 spots open to only Manitoba residents, and there are only 1 million people in the province. So, it's a fair bit easier to get into med school here. Ditto for Saskatchewan.

Why UofT? I've heard some bad stories about that school - the students are supposed to be incredibly competitive, and the class size is too large for my liking...
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by brandonite:
•Move to Manitoba. There are 75 spots open to only Manitoba residents, and there are only 1 million people in the province. So, it's a fair bit easier to get into med school here. Ditto for Saskatchewan.

Why UofT? I've heard some bad stories about that school - the students are supposed to be incredibly competitive, and the class size is too large for my liking...•••••yeah, but Manitoba is so COLD! Having my eyelids freeze shut just isn't that appealing :wink:

I agree with you about U of T... but not that I would turn down going there if it were my only choice 🙂

Good luck everyone!! 🙂
 
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