McGill Grad to Applying to US Med Schools

[klmnop]

Hi,

I am an American/Canadian dual citizen who is graduating from McGill with a 3.35 (hopefully 3.4) in Science (Anatomy). I have yet to take the MCAT and am planning on it this summer. Provided my score is average (around 30) is it worth it applying to American medical schools.

I am from Michigan so I would obviously be applying to UMichigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State, but beyond those in-state schools I dont know what schools give me a good chance for acceptance.

I am currently struggling to decide whether to pursue a MSc. at McGill, and then apply med school afterwards, or to go forward with applying to med school at the end of this summer (to begin in fall 2010).

My extracurriculars include extensive volunteering at hospitals, and job experience includes working in a hospital for two summers, and in a research lab for a full year, as well as shadowing a physician.

My question is, how favorably do american medical shools look at McGill undergrad, if at all... or do they just see a GPA and MCAT regardless of the school. I want to know if I should go through the effort to apply, or if I should do a Masters and then apply in order to have a better chance of admission.

If anyone can help with my decision please do, thank you.

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[PistolPete]

I know that US medical schools look at the whole applicant more so than Canadian schools, which have much harder GPA and MCAT cutoffs, for example.

I think most US schools have only ever heard of McGill and UofT, so you're OK. You should definitely apply broadly (20+ schools), but especially focus on your home state. Apply to DO schools as well if you are interested in that, as that might save you the hassle of applying a second time around if it doesn't work out the first time, which I hope it will. You definitely should try for a 32+ MCAT to offset your GPA a bit. You'll probably have a better shot at getting into US med schools than Canadian ones.

Good luck! It's a tough process, but it's worth it.

 

[tennisball80]

Your U.S citizenship will help you in a great amount.

 

[MeowMix]

Before you spend a ton of money applying broadly, think about whether you want to pay US $70,000/yr in non-resident tuition, which is what it will cost you in some states. Unlike Canadian schools, US schools have huge tuition differentials btw in/out of state applicants. I would not apply anywhere where you are going to end up $300,000 in debt, unless you have truly special financial circumstances. (At many schools, you will never qualify for in-state tuition; it would be better to move to your state of choice a year prior to starting med school, and hope like hell that you get in to its med school).

 

[cbest]

I can absolutely assure you that there a many US medical schools where you will not have to pay anywhere near the aforementioned $70 000/yr. Yes, as soon as Canadians leave Canada, medical school becomes much more costly; however, if you truly want to become a physician, then do not get too discouraged by financial matters. Something can pretty much always be worked out.