How long are MCATs good, and are Canadian schools hard to get into?

[t33sg1rl]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm currently waiting with bated breath, on 2 wait lists, waiting for 1 decision, and I have one interview still to go. I'm freaking out about not getting in, and thinking about whether or not to reapply. Here's the story:
3.2 undergrad GPA, 2.9 undergrad science
5 graduate classes in human anatomy, 3.7 GPA
MCAT: Verbal 14, Physics 11, Bio 13, Writing P... I'm really hoping these scores will be good next cycle. That was like the hand of God bubbling in those answers, and I seriously doubt I could do that again.
4 years working in research laboratory with significant responsibility, 2nd author on 2 papers
I'm a resident of the USA, but I'm a Canadian citizen, so I can apply without prejudice in either country. I didn't apply to any Canadian schools this cycle, because I haven't lived there in fifteen years. Are they easier or harder to get into?
I also wondered-I have no medical volunteer or shadowing experience. The hospital where I work always has job openings for nurse aide/patient transporters/patient greeter jobs. Would doing something like that help me more? I don't think yet another year of research is really going to change anything. I know that one of my biggest mistakes was applying to only six schools-if I go again, I'll absolutely apply to 10+.
So what can I do? Is it a good idea to call schools that rejected me and ask why?

 

[PanjabiMD]

I just have to tell you that your GPA does not cut it in Canada. Not by a long shot.
Canadian Medical Schools are much more compettative and harder to get into. Only 13% of all applicants get into Canadian Schools versus appoximately 40% in the US. If you can't get into an American School, you won't get into a Canadian one. I think for international students the cut off for most schools would be 3.8 or higher. For many Canadian premeds, the US is their backup.
Nice MCAT scores though.

 

[dr.z]

MCAT is good for 3 years in general. Some schools may extend or shorten the valid time, but usually 3 years.

 

[Arb]

Canadian schools look at much older MCAT scores. Unfortunately you will not get into any med school there without a GPA of atleast 3.65. Realistically around 3.8.

 

[Kazema]

From what I've heard from Canadians their schools have very, very strict numerical cut-offs for both GPA and MCAT. I've heard like 3.8/32 at some schools. No amount of ECs or research will even get you a second glance.

This is hearsay but since it fits with what others are saying I tend to believe that what I've been told is true.

 

[Canuck75]

As a Canadian applicant, I think you have a great shot at my provincial school. The University of Manitoba requires approximately a 3.4/4 GPA, but you're allowed to drop as much as 10 of your worst half courses depending on the number of courses you have completed. The school ranks the MCAT extremely heavily at 50% of the admissions criteria and they let in out of province Canadians, which you would qualify as, with MCAT's substantially lower than yours. Suffice to say, I'd trade my higher GPA for your MCAT score any day of the week. I'm still waiting for my application results in early June, but with a 27O MCAT, my chances are next to nil, even as an in province applicant. Good luck, and congradulations on that killer MCAT.

 

[winstonm]

Hey Canuck75,

That's for in-province students. The OOP stats tend to be much higher. While the OP's MCAT score is certainly strong, I think Manitoba's OOP acceptances have converted GPAs above 4 on UMs 4.5 scale. They interview approx. 60 OOP people for less than 10 spots, though UM has to go deep into the waitlist to fill them.

Each Canadian school will look at graduate applicants differently. For some (eg. UWO) it won't mean squat. For others, (Toronto, Ottawa) the GPA requirements may not be as severe, though you will probably have to provide a letter stating that you will finish the degree by the time of matriculation. However, unfortunately, it's likely that the GPA will prove to be fatal, unless you bombed the first year and had extremely significant improvements in the last two years (3.65 in each minimum). McMaster would have been a long-shot hope, but even Mac is putting more emphasis on GPA and will likely have the highest average GPA on the continent this year if the trend from recent years continues.

Just for the record, Toronto's average weighted GPA is ~3.82; Queen's needs a cumulative or most recent two years above 3.65; Western needs two years >3.70; Ottawa's out-of-Ottawa cutoff was well over 3.8; McGill's minimum is 3.5 but OOPs should have >3.8...I can't remember the rest.

 

[Reinhard]

I also wondered-I have no medical volunteer or shadowing experience. The hospital where I work always has job openings for nurse aide/patient transporters/patient greeter jobs. Would doing something like that help me more? I don't think yet another year of research is really going to change anything. I know that one of my biggest mistakes was applying to only six schools-if I go again, I'll absolutely apply to 10+.

I believe med schools really consider volunteer experience and clinical exposure as crucial. I think that's why I haven't gotten in anywhere this year. Anyway, do you work at a hospital? What do you do? If you don't feel like you are not getting any patient exposure, you could definitely try switching to those job openings you mentioned.

Also, when it comes to applying, yes, more is definitely better. Your MCAT score is terrific, but in light of your GPA, you could've applied to a few "second-tier" schools.

Is it a good idea to call schools that rejected me and ask why?

You can be diplomatic and ask, "What can I do to improve my application for the next time?" (or something like that).

Anyway, good luck! Ace that interview! 👍