Help with list of schools for Canadian reapplicant

[7ec13]

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Reapplicant, Canadian, 4.0 sGPA (3.96 GPA I think), 39 MCAT (14 PS, 11 VR, 14 BS). Wondering if this is enough schools to apply to (I will also be applying to Canadian schools, but as many of you know, it's a pretty big crapshoot).

School list is limited by the fact that I only have 1 science LOR (did undergrad in psyc and out of touch with most science profs) and taking English online.

ECs
Research:
-currently research assistant at children's hospital (will have submitted 1-2 papers for publication by application time)
-undergraduate thesis in psychology of pain (also included patient contact when recruiting participants)
-undergrad research in memory lab (4 months) – interaction with Alzheimer's patients

Clinical:
-currently shadowing in O.R. and clinics on regular basis at children's hosp
-8 months volunteering as patient companion at hospital
-4 months volunteering in E.R. at another hospital
-2 week volunteering in medical clinics in Guatemala

Others:
-1 summer working at camp for kids with disabilities
-6 months leading social group for kids with special needs
-long-term church involvement (currently Sunday school teacher)
-joined equestrian club and dance club in undergrad
-joined Christian fellowship group in undergrad

LORs:
-1 from thesis supervisor
-1 from a psyc prof
-1 from chem prof
-2 from MDs that I currently work with at the hospital

List of schools:
Dartmouth
Emory
Jefferson
Northwestern
Oakland
Penn State
Rosalind Franklin
Wash U at St Louis
Yale
UNC
Virginia Commonwealth
Baylor
Michigan State
Vanderbilt
Mount Sinai
Wayne State

I'm afraid this list is quite top-heavy, but considering my Canadian citizenship and limitations mentioned above, this was the biggest list I could come up with. With my stats and ECs, does it look like I'll have a chance this year?

Any suggestions for me? I'd really appreciate it!

 

[tiagoe]

You're stats are crazy!! I'm Canadian and hoping to apply to the US as well... I'm interested to see what people think

 

[7ec13]

You're stats are crazy!! I'm Canadian and hoping to apply to the US as well... I'm interested to see what people think

Haha thanks. My previous MCAT didn't go that well, and I'm wondering if that's why I wasn't successful this cycle. But even with my stats, I know I'm definitely not guaranteed to get in anywhere, which is why I'm wondering if my list is reasonable...

Anyone have any thoughts? Help would really be appreciated 🙂

 

[Dr Turkelton]

No way in hell you don't get into a canadian school.

 

[Medstart108]

I think it would be almost impossible to not get in Canada next time around. Work on your interview, LORs and application because thats just about the only thing that could mess you up.
I don't think your list is top heavy at all, i would add Columbia, Perelman/Penn, UCSF, Stanford and even Harvard to the list. The truth is, no one with even amazing stats is guaranteed any specific school, thats why you should apply to more schools. Your stats are in the range so it really is just giving you a higher chance.

The average Canadian acceptee to US medical schools has around a 33 MCAT and 3.7 GPA. You are above average.

You said you have only 1 science LOR, are you sure you can't get more? I think the list you put includes some science LORs as well.

 

[7ec13]

I think it would be almost impossible to not get in Canada next time around. Work on your interview, LORs and application because thats just about the only thing that could mess you up.
I don't think your list is top heavy at all, i would add Columbia, Perelman/Penn, UCSF, Stanford and even Harvard to the list. The truth is, no one with even amazing stats is guaranteed any specific school, thats why you should apply to more schools. Your stats are in the range so it really is just giving you a higher chance.

The average Canadian acceptee to US medical schools has around a 33 MCAT and 3.7 GPA. You are above average.

You said you have only 1 science LOR, are you sure you can't get more? I think the list you put includes some science LORs as well.

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, the only prof who knows me is an organic chem prof from a few years ago; the other science profs are from first year (5 years ago), and a class of 400+ students, etc. I'll check with the schools regarding LORs, but I think I've already emailed most of them (or checked their website) and they seem to be fine substituting a psych LOR if needed. Thanks again 🙂

 

[candav]

You'll be fine! I was in the same situation -- Canadian, no science LORs (only psych), applied very top-heavy -- and things worked out. Apply to your dream schools! (Including Hopkins 😉)

I don't think UCSF really accepts int'l students though (at least not in recent years).

Edit: also you can check out my MdApps -- all the schools I applied to were okay with my psych LORs.

 

[7ec13]

You'll be fine! I was in the same situation -- Canadian, no science LORs (only psych), applied very top-heavy -- and things worked out. Apply to your dream schools! (Including Hopkins 😉)

I don't think UCSF really accepts int'l students though (at least not in recent years).

Edit: also you can check out my MdApps -- all the schools I applied to were okay with my psych LORs.

Wow, thanks! Nice to meet another Canadian 🙂 And congrats on your acceptance too!

 

[sankri92]

Reapplicant, Canadian, 4.0 sGPA (3.96 GPA I think), 39 MCAT (14 PS, 11 VR, 14 BS). Wondering if this is enough schools to apply to (I will also be applying to Canadian schools, but as many of you know, it's a pretty big crapshoot).

School list is limited by the fact that I only have 1 science LOR (did undergrad in psyc and out of touch with most science profs) and taking English online.

ECs
Research:
-currently research assistant at children's hospital (will have submitted 1-2 papers for publication by application time)
-undergraduate thesis in psychology of pain (also included patient contact when recruiting participants)
-undergrad research in memory lab (4 months) – interaction with Alzheimer's patients

Clinical:
-currently shadowing in O.R. and clinics on regular basis at children's hosp
-8 months volunteering as patient companion at hospital
-4 months volunteering in E.R. at another hospital
-2 week volunteering in medical clinics in Guatemala

Others:
-1 summer working at camp for kids with disabilities
-6 months leading social group for kids with special needs
-long-term church involvement (currently Sunday school teacher)
-joined equestrian club and dance club in undergrad
-joined Christian fellowship group in undergrad

LORs:
-1 from thesis supervisor
-1 from a psyc prof
-1 from chem prof
-2 from MDs that I currently work with at the hospital

List of schools:
Dartmouth
Emory
Jefferson
Northwestern
Oakland
Penn State
Rosalind Franklin
Wash U at St Louis
Yale
UNC
Virginia Commonwealth
Baylor
Michigan State
Vanderbilt
Mount Sinai
Wayne State

I'm afraid this list is quite top-heavy, but considering my Canadian citizenship and limitations mentioned above, this was the biggest list I could come up with. With my stats and ECs, does it look like I'll have a chance this year?

Any suggestions for me? I'd really appreciate it!

Canadian Student here too OP. I have a similar GPA (4.00/4.00), but haven't written the MCAT yet. I will be applying this year for the first time to many top-heavy schools as my list looks very similar to yours. I don't have any science prof LORs. How did you approach your science prof? Did he know you well enough? Just like you, I come from a university where there is ~300 students per lecture hall. I'm not the type of person that will ask questions in the middle of class and disrupt the whole class. Any questions that I have, I usually search it up online. Do you have any tips for me?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[gyngyn]

Dp

 

[gyngyn]

I think it would be almost impossible to not get in Canada next time around. Work on your interview, LORs and application because thats just about the only thing that could mess you up.
I don't think your list is top heavy at all, i would add Columbia, Perelman/Penn, UCSF, Stanford and even Harvard to the list. The truth is, no one with even amazing stats is guaranteed any specific school, thats why you should apply to more schools. Your stats are in the range so it really is just giving you a higher chance.

The average Canadian acceptee to US medical schools has around a 33 MCAT and 3.7 GPA. You are above average.

You said you have only 1 science LOR, are you sure you can't get more? I think the list you put includes some science LORs as well.

In 2011, UCSF interviewed 0 of 158 international applicants. Stanford interviewed 12 of 300 and matriculated 2.

 

[7ec13]

Canadian Student here too OP. I have a similar GPA (4.00/4.00), but haven't written the MCAT yet. I will be applying this year for the first time to many top-heavy schools as my list looks very similar to yours. I don't have any science prof LORs. How did you approach your science prof? Did he know you well enough? Just like you, I come from a university where there is ~300 students per lecture hall. I'm not the type of person that will ask questions in the middle of class and disrupt the whole class. Any questions that I have, I usually search it up online. Do you have any tips for me?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

Hard to get to know a prof in a big class. I'd taken organic chem during the summer, so the class size was a lot smaller (probably 85 or so but only about 50 actually came to class). And I'd had to speak with the prof to make arrangements regarding a conflict with the final exam, so I'd been to see him one on one a few times. Sorry, can't be of much help with the big classes!
Word of advice: probably best not to apply until after you get your MCAT score back. You can never really be certain of what score you'll get, and it would suck to apply to a whole bunch of top tier schools, only to have your MCAT pull you back. That's what happened to me last year (except I didn't apply to top tier schools).

Good luck!