Do I need to do this?

[won'tstop]

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I was recently accepted to VCU CERT 2014-2015. So right now i'm deciding should I do this program or not?
Top 20 Schools, cGPA/sGPA 3.62, got a B- in immunology, and several B+ in orgo, neurobiology and genetics. Biochem is A tho. Upward trend GPA. mcat 35( V8,P14,B13) , international applicant.

i just graduated from college and am already in my application cycle, applying to both DO and MD, ( prefer MD).
so I could either do another year of research ( already have two years experience, only two posters) +volunteering stuff
or do the CERT program to enhance my grades. The reason I'm thinking about CERT is that if i don't get in this cycle, I could do another year of study and get a master degree and reapply for another cycle although thats the last thing i want.
Any thoughts?

 

[DrMidlife]

VCU Cert is an academic enhancer. You have absolutely no need for an academic enhancer. It makes no sense. As an international applicant you can't use the same yardstick as US students.

What I think you need is a better understanding of your odds.

If you're Canadian, you will probably have a successful app year, because your stats are great, and because it's not a bunch of extra work for US med schools to try to understand Canadian academics.

If you're not Canadian, then you're up against some really rough odds, and the VCU Cert program won't help you.

Hopefully you reviewed the MSAR to see which schools take international students, and hopefully you got some inside scoop from current international students, and hopefully you've looked at some med school FAQs that cover the minimums for international applicants, and hopefully you've looked at how to pay for med school without US federal loans.

You can't set yourself up for a perfect gap year this late in the game, but my suggestion would be to get any job in healthcare. Doesn't matter if you mop floors. Doesn't matter if you get paid. Just get inside the US healthcare system and learn everything you can. That would be an advantage against the other international applicants.

Best of luck to you.

 

[won'tstop]

VCU Cert is an academic enhancer. You have absolutely no need for an academic enhancer. It makes no sense. As an international applicant you can't use the same yardstick as US students.

What I think you need is a better understanding of your odds.

If you're Canadian, you will probably have a successful app year, because your stats are great, and because it's not a bunch of extra work for US med schools to try to understand Canadian academics.

If you're not Canadian, then you're up against some really rough odds, and the VCU Cert program won't help you.

Hopefully you reviewed the MSAR to see which schools take international students, and hopefully you got some inside scoop from current international students, and hopefully you've looked at some med school FAQs that cover the minimums for international applicants, and hopefully you've looked at how to pay for med school without US federal loans.

You can't set yourself up for a perfect gap year this late in the game, but my suggestion would be to get any job in healthcare. Doesn't matter if you mop floors. Doesn't matter if you get paid. Just get inside the US healthcare system and learn everything you can. That would be an advantage against the other international applicants.

Best of luck to you.

Literally the best advice ever! Thank you so much.

I was thinking that graduating from a top US college could potentially help me a little bit comparing to doing foreign coursework?

Yes I tried to shadow as much as I could. And I worked as a medical scribe before. I'm interviewing for a position at the clinic later this week. I definitely agree that understanding more about the US healthcare system is something I need to do, also something very important for future interviews (If i have one>.<) I am very fortunate that my parents are willing to pay for my tuition although I feel very bad about it.

Thank you so much! It clears things up a lot =)

 

[DrMidlife]

Make sure to show your parents the money details. You will probably find that schools require you to post funds for all 4 years in escrow, before you start school. That's at least $250k.

Search SDN for posts by "Scottish Chap" who made it through. And definitely find compatriots who are in US MD schools or who very recently graduated.

 

[DrMidlife]

btw about half your US classmates will be there on their parents' dime.