Non - Trad, Unusual Background

[canadabear123]

Shooting 2026 entry
White, Female, Canadian
MCAT: 525
GPA: 3.88
- a large amount of credits: started studying Engineering, then 2 years off, then a 4 year BS in computer science / math which I'm in the final year of.
- Upward trend (3.95-4.0 last 2 years) - had a disability that caused a few bad grades early on
- Masters CS @ T20 starting in Fall 2025

EC's
Research:
- 3 years paid RA in public health research - 5 publications: 1 x 1st author, 1 x 3rd author, 3 x 5th author
- 3 years cardiology research - 2 summer grants, 4 x 1st author pubs
- 2 years cancer research - 1 summer grant, 1 3rd author pub, 1 thesis

Work Experience:
- 3 x paid tech internships
- 750 hrs startup internship unpaid
- 2000 hrs as paid IT support personnel
- 200 hrs TA Stats/Math

Clinical Volunteer:
- 200 hours as ICU family liaison volunteer
- 200 hours as hospital patient companion
- 200 hours at mental health help line
- 100 hours at spinal injury clinic

Non-Clinical Volunteer
- 300 hours as peer mental health support volunteer
- 300 hours undergrad peer mentor
- 100 hours on an academic student council
- 200 hours undergrad science journal editor
- 200 hours as para athletics coach

WAMC at a Canadian-friendly T20? Ways to improve app? Know that the GPA is a weaker point for these schools. Have a ton of credits so GPA hard to move. Would consider SMP if suggested.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Where did you conduct your clinical experience: in Canada or in the US? Similarly, non-clinical volunteering and service orientation activities? Are you also applying for Canadian programs?

With a 3.8x GPA, you should not need an SMP, even if you have a mostly engineering curriculum. I would need to see your transcript.

 

[canadabear123]

Where did you conduct your clinical experience: in Canada or in the US? Similarly, non-clinical volunteering and service orientation activities? Are you also applying for Canadian programs?

With a 3.8x GPA, you should not need an SMP, even if you have a mostly engineering curriculum. I would need to see your transcript.

Thanks so much for your reply! Any advice you can provide is so appreciated.

Everything was done in Canada. I will also apply to Canadian schools but feel much less informed about my chances for the US. I also have specific research interests that I believe would be better to pursue in the US given the differences in research funding between US and Canadian schools. I could have the opportunity to get additional experiences in the US this summer, if it would help.

Transcript wise, it’s been the following:
2 years full time engineering at one Canadian school - 3.7 GPA. Undiagnosed disability impacted performance.
2 years off due to health issues
Most recently, I've completed 2.5 of 3 total years at another Canadian school, completing my BS in math/cs plus all med school pre-reqs (all possible required bio, chem, org chem, biochemistry, english, physics, math / stats, psychology). 3.95-4.0 GPA.

Majority of ECs are from the 2021-present time period.

Extremely interested in a place at a T20 if it would be at all possible, even if it requires delaying entry by a year to add experiences or improve academics.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks so much for your reply! Any advice you can provide is so appreciated.

Everything was done in Canada. I will also apply to Canadian schools but feel much less informed about my chances for the US. I also have specific research interests that I believe would be better to pursue in the US given the differences in research funding between US and Canadian schools. I could have the opportunity to get additional experiences in the US this summer, if it would help.

Transcript wise, it’s been the following:
2 years full time engineering at one Canadian school - 3.7 GPA. Undiagnosed disability impacted performance.
2 years off due to health issues
Most recently, I've completed 2.5 of 3 total years at another Canadian school, completing my BS in math/cs plus all med school pre-reqs (all possible required bio, chem, org chem, biochemistry, english, physics, math / stats, psychology). 3.95-4.0 GPA.

Majority of ECs are from the 2021-present time period.

Extremely interested in a place at a T20 if it would be at all possible, even if it requires delaying entry by a year to add experiences or improve academics.

If you are targeting research opportunities in the US, you have an easier shot at applying for MD/PhD or DO/PhD programs that cover your interests. I encourage you to check out the Research Scientists forum here. PhD-only programs may be more accepting of Canadians. They may also have thoughts about MD programs that accept Canadians aside from the "usual suspects."

Plus you will find that there are at least 50 "top 20" schools when it comes to biomedical research.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Shooting 2026 entry
White, Female, Canadian
MCAT: 525
GPA: 3.88
- a large amount of credits: started studying Engineering, then 2 years off, then a 4 year BS in computer science / math which I'm in the final year of.
- Upward trend (3.95-4.0 last 2 years) - had a disability that caused a few bad grades early on
- Masters CS @ T20 starting in Fall 2025

EC's
Research:
- 3 years paid RA in public health research - 5 publications: 1 x 1st author, 1 x 3rd author, 3 x 5th author
- 3 years cardiology research - 2 summer grants, 4 x 1st author pubs
- 2 years cancer research - 1 summer grant, 1 3rd author pub, 1 thesis

Work Experience:
- 3 x paid tech internships
- 750 hrs startup internship unpaid
- 2000 hrs as paid IT support personnel
- 200 hrs TA Stats/Math

Clinical Volunteer:
- 200 hours as ICU family liaison volunteer
- 200 hours as hospital patient companion
- 200 hours at mental health help line
- 100 hours at spinal injury clinic

Non-Clinical Volunteer
- 300 hours as peer mental health support volunteer
- 300 hours undergrad peer mentor
- 100 hours on an academic student council
- 200 hours undergrad science journal editor
- 200 hours as para athletics coach

WAMC at a Canadian-friendly T20? Ways to improve app? Know that the GPA is a weaker point for these schools. Have a ton of credits so GPA hard to move. Would consider SMP if suggested.

Why are you going for a masters in CS if you want to be a physician? Or do you want to do research mostly?

 

[canadabear123]

If you are targeting research opportunities in the US, you have an easier shot at applying for MD/PhD or DO/PhD programs that cover your interests. I encourage you to check out the Research Scientists forum here. PhD-only programs may be more accepting of Canadians. They may also have thoughts about MD programs that accept Canadians aside from the "usual suspects."

Plus you will find that there are at least 50 "top 20" schools when it comes to biomedical research.

Thank you so much for your reply! I will post there. I have already found several threads helpful.

 

[canadabear123]

Why are you going for a masters in CS if you want to be a physician? Or do you want to do research mostly?

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it.

I’m dead set on being a physician. If I had to choose Md or Phd, it would be Md. But I am also highly interested in research as a long term career. I’ve considered Md-PhD or just MD and conducting research on the side (not sure how possible that will be).

The masters in CS is for a few reasons. One is to have something on my CV if I don’t get in, so I can work a good job until the next cycle. Second is to support the research I’d like to do, as to date it’s been AI-in-medicine related and I’d like to continue that in my medical career. I’d like a greater foundation in CS before beginning either an MD or MD-PhD with doctorate in medical sciences.

Overall, I just want to know where I’m weakest and if I even have a chance at a US T20 for MD.

 

[LindaAccepted]

You're most welcome.

You certainly have a chance at US T20 that are open to Canadian applicants. In terms of a weakness, while you have "enough" clinical exposure, your passion seems to be research. You certainly don't have to explain it here, but you will need to clarify that all your research and computer work is there to support or complement a clinical practice unless you go the MD/PhD route, which may make more sense for you as Mr.Smile12 said.

 

[canadabear123]

You're most welcome.

You certainly have a chance at US T20 that are open to Canadian applicants. In terms of a weakness, while you certainly have "enough" clinical exposure, your passion seems to be research. You certainly don't have to explain it here, but you will need to clarify that all your research and computer work is there to support or complement a clinical practice unless you go the MD/PhD route, which may make more sense for you as Mr.Smile12 said.

Wow ok thank you, that’s very motivating!

I definetly agree that research is a huge passion and am trying to figure out how that will fit in my future plans. That is very helpful advice, thank you so much!