Low GPA canadian applicant

[BoBurn]

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Date of submission: upcoming cycle
Overall GPA: 3.44
Science GPA: 3.44
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.49
CDAT score: 24 AA- 21 PAT- 20 RC (24 BIO- 27 CHEM- 25 TS)
State of Residence: Canada

Major: Biology
Reapplicant? Yes (first cycle only Canada
currently in a gap year doing general work + courses at community college

Shadowing Experience: 100 and increasing (general dentist, Endodontist and dentist in a foreign country over a summer)
Volunteering Experience: 350+ over undergrad in a retirement home+ martial arts judge+ disability learning

Employment: 3000+ general work in clothing and grocery store + server

Research: few hours of research volunteering

Other Extracurriculars: amateur martial arts fighter (4 matches), volunteer for K-12 science workshops, pre-dental club social media manager

Relevant Honors or Awards: dean's list at both college and university

LOR type and strength: 1 SCI professor, 2 Supervisors and 1 dentist

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: retook Org Chem 2 but got a P grade due to strikes by university staff (I plan to retake this course in community college in my current gap year- is this a good idea? third time im taking this course)
No physics lab credits during my bachelor degree as my university didnt offer any such courses (plan to take this during my gap year in college)
2 W's- 2 C+

School list (tried to pick most canadian-friendly schools):
NYU
UDM
Temple
Boston
Penn
Case Western
Tufts
Roseman (not sure about this one)
Minnesota
Columbia
NSU
Howard
Midwestern

what part of my resume can/ should I improve before attempting to apply to dental school in the U.S.? how is my school list for most Canadian friendly universities? any noticeable red flags in my application?
Thankyou in advance to anyone and everyone who engages with this post!

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: upcoming cycle
Overall GPA: 3.44
Science GPA: 3.44
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.49
CDAT score: 24 AA- 21 PAT- 20 RC (24 BIO- 27 CHEM- 25 TS)
State of Residence: Canada

Major: Biology
Reapplicant? Yes (first cycle only Canada
currently in a gap year doing general work + courses at community college

Shadowing Experience: 100 and increasing (general dentist, Endodontist and dentist in a foreign country over a summer)
Volunteering Experience: 350+ over undergrad in a retirement home+ martial arts judge+ disability learning

Employment: 3000+ general work in clothing and grocery store + server

Research: few hours of research volunteering

Other Extracurriculars: amateur martial arts fighter (4 matches), volunteer for K-12 science workshops, pre-dental club social media manager

Relevant Honors or Awards: dean's list at both college and university

LOR type and strength: 1 SCI professor, 2 Supervisors and 1 dentist

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: retook Org Chem 2 but got a P grade due to strikes by university staff (I plan to retake this course in community college in my current gap year- is this a good idea? third time im taking this course)
No physics lab credits during my bachelor degree as my university didnt offer any such courses (plan to take this during my gap year in college)
2 W's- 2 C+

School list (tried to pick most canadian-friendly schools):
NYU
UDM
Temple
Boston
Penn
Case Western
Tufts
Roseman (not sure about this one)
Minnesota
Columbia
NSU
Howard
Midwestern

what part of my resume can/ should I improve before attempting to apply to dental school in the U.S.? how is my school list for most Canadian friendly universities? any noticeable red flags in my application?
Thankyou in advance to anyone and everyone who engages with this post!

you didn't fill out the full template...

 

[BoBurn]

you didn't fill out the full template...

I copied the template from the first thread, and I just double-checked it too. Which part am I missing? looks complete to me

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your GPA is low for Columbia, Penn, and Roseman. Howard is an HBCU and may not be a good fit.

Martial arts judge sounds like an extension of hobbies.

 

[macsak]

I copied the template from the first thread, and I just double-checked it too. Which part am I missing? looks complete to me

Undergrad Attended: if you want to include this
Minority? Yes/No- Asians are NOT a minority
Nontrad? Yes/No- Do not select yes if you took a gap year (or years) OR if you're doing a Masters; nontrads are usually career changers or military

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.

 

[BoBurn]

Undergrad Attended: if you want to include this
Minority? Yes/No- Asians are NOT a minority
Nontrad? Yes/No- Do not select yes if you took a gap year (or years) OR if you're doing a Masters; nontrads are usually career changers or military

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.

My apologies, You're absolutely right.
Undergrad Attended: Simon Fraser University
Minority? No (Iranian-born Canadian refugee but I doubt that counts as a minority)
Nontrad? No

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Difficult to do since I'm not in the U.S. but currently attending yearly Q&A and other information sessions at my selected universities like Minnesota, Boston, Tufts and etc...

 

[macsak]

My apologies, You're absolutely right.
Undergrad Attended: Simon Fraser University
Minority? No (Iranian-born Canadian refugee but I doubt that counts as a minority)
Nontrad? No

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Difficult to do since I'm not in the U.S. but currently attending yearly Q&A and other information sessions at my selected universities like Minnesota, Boston, Tufts and etc...

have you checked you school list for canadian/international favorability?

 

[macsak]

My apologies, You're absolutely right.
Undergrad Attended: Simon Fraser University
Minority? No (Iranian-born Canadian refugee but I doubt that counts as a minority)
Nontrad? No

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Difficult to do since I'm not in the U.S. but currently attending yearly Q&A and other information sessions at my selected universities like Minnesota, Boston, Tufts and etc...

are you aware that Howard is an HBCU?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Canadian programs may give you slack as a refugee, but you have to ask the admissions teams. At least one Tiktok account features a Middle Eastern immigrant granted Canadian refugee status who was admitted to a Canadian dental school.

In our current political climate, I'm a little more wary of American programs. I presume you asked about this information at the recruitment sessions on how your file will be considered (international, but refugee/asylee). You probably won't be a "person excluded due to ethnicity or race" (PEER, new acronym I learned) as a minority population in dentistry since many Iranians who made it to the US/Canada are usually professionally educated (back when they left Iran in the 1970's-1990's), but given current events, any well-versed person should connect with your journey and hardships. What I don't know is how the US universities overseeing the dental schools will manage your visa status, which may play as much a role into your chances of getting accepted as the merits of your application.