GPA / MCAT for successful applicants

[Off2Oz]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey all, dunno if this has been done already, but I'd like to know what GPA and MCAT scores people are getting into American schools with.

I'm Canadian, and sitting kinda low at about a 3.45. My MCAT score is nicer to look at (35S), but I just had coffee with a friend with similar scores who applied to about 25 schools in the states and didn't get into a single one! I know average US admission stats, but I can't find cutoffs (like we have in Canada).

Would someone here like to offer some good news (ie. "I had those stats and got in lots of places!")? This application process with its fees is really going to sting, and I increased hope is always a good thing. =)

 

[Ambs]

Hello,

I don't know how those stats look from a Canadian standpoint, but as a U.S. applicant this past year, I can say that your GPA and MCAT are great (especially the MCAT, obviously). My main question to you would be how are your extracurriculars: do you have substantial volunteering, research, and/or clinical experience? What about any leadership experience? Or physician shadowing? Also, I learned that letters of rec carry tremendous importance. Make sure you have a variety of letters, i.e. from professors, physicians, and volunteer supervisors.

The point is if you have good extracurriculars combined with those stats, I really do feel that you will be fine. Also, you should be able to be eloquent and friendly for your interviews.

 

[Off2Oz]

Hello,

I don't know how those stats look from a Canadian standpoint, but as a U.S. applicant this past year, I can say that your GPA and MCAT are great (especially the MCAT, obviously). My main question to you would be how are your extracurriculars: do you have substantial volunteering, research, and/or clinical experience? What about any leadership experience? Or physician shadowing? Also, I learned that letters of rec carry tremendous importance. Make sure you have a variety of letters, i.e. from professors, physicians, and volunteer supervisors.

The point is if you have good extracurriculars combined with those stats, I really do feel that you will be fine. Also, you should be able to be eloquent and friendly for your interviews.

Hey! Great to hear. I'm a bit of a unique case - I did two degrees, one of which is engineering. Right now I'm working, and although I've done quite a bit in my life (travelling, working almost everywhere you can think of, volunteering my time at university, music production, running, other wierd stuff. =), I don't have many very medically related EC's. In addition, I'm only able to comfortably snag one professor to send a ref. I say comfortably because although I knew my profs, they don't really "know me" outside of an engineering context. However, I've got a PhD/MD derm who will vouch for me, my undergrad supervisor (he's not a prof, though), as well as a host of other people... none of which are profs! This situation isn't helped by the fact that I work 50-60 hours every week and don't live very near the city where my old profs teach! These work hours are REALLY going to hurt me come interview time, when I'll have to fight my employer to get days off for interviews that may lead to them losing an employee!

Anyway, thanks for the input. I'll be applying to 10ish schools I think, but as there are boatloads of schools in the states, I'm having trouble narrowing them down...

 

[Camillekc]

Hey Off2Oz, I'm also canadian, although I did my undergrad in the states. Can you tell me where you got current cutoff points for the canadian schools? My pre-med advisors know absolutely nothing about Canadian schools, so I'm kind of lost. From the few I've found, my gpa is also looking kind of low at 3.65 if a failing summer class doesn't count (3.52 if it does), and my MCATS are better too (36O). Because of the gpa cutoffs, I think I have a better chance at american schools- where have you been looking?

Good luck!

 

[Wrigleyville]

I had a 3.4 and a 37P and got into plenty of places. Not sure how being Canadian affects things, but you shouldn't have any problem with those stats.

 

[Off2Oz]

Hey Off2Oz, I'm also canadian, although I did my undergrad in the states. Can you tell me where you got current cutoff points for the canadian schools? My pre-med advisors know absolutely nothing about Canadian schools, so I'm kind of lost. From the few I've found, my gpa is also looking kind of low at 3.65 if a failing summer class doesn't count (3.52 if it does), and my MCATS are better too (36O). Because of the gpa cutoffs, I think I have a better chance at american schools- where have you been looking?

Good luck!

Man, those marks are nice! Congrats on the MCAT, btw.

Anyway, the cutoffs can be found on the websites of most schools here in Ontario... here's queen's for instance. Just poke around the admissions areas.

http://meds.queensu.ca/undergrad/index.php/the_cutoffs

M.