NonTraditional Applicant with MS degree

[PNPCook]

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Hi all,
I'm a Canadian student, and I applied to US medical schools this year (Nov 5th, 2010... sort of late). And I have been on the waiting list for most schools I have applied to. My undergraduate GPA is 3.31 and my science GPA is 3.9. I have done a masters in Computer science (GPA 4.00) and I have also done 6 months volunteer work in a hospital abroad. I have a year worth of research experience in clinical anatomy, in addition to the research I have done in computer science. My MCAT is 32S (9 V, 12 P, 11 B).
I'm not expecting any of the medical schools that put me on the waiting list to reply back and give me an interview at this late date.
I can either go to a Caribbean school for which I've been accepted to, or I can wait another year and do a post bac. I have already taken all my pre requisites and the grades for them are either A or A+.
I was wondering if any of you got an advice to give me, Should I take the MCAT again? Should I focus on research. Should I apply early this year and hope for the best? Should I just go to the Carribean school I've been admitted to?
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Bernoull]

Why don't you want to attend a Canadian, especially if u don't get into an American School this cycle?

Are ur waitlists pre-interview or post-interview? If it's the former, I think this cycle is over, most schools have ended or ending interviews. Again, in ur schools i'll go canadian than sit out a year for US schools.

Gdluck

 

[PNPCook]

Why don't you want to attend a Canadian, especially if u don't get into an American School this cycle?

Are ur waitlists pre-interview or post-interview? If it's the former, I think this cycle is over, most schools have ended or ending interviews. Again, in ur schools i'll go canadian than sit out a year for US schools.

Gdluck

It is even harder getting into Canadian schools. My question is basically with my stats, is it better to wait another year and apply in June 2011 (meaning that I have a very good chance of getting an interview if I apply sooner), or go to the Caribbean schools? (-> My stat is not good enough for American schools) Or should I write the MCAT again (- >Improving my MCAT increases my chance of get into medical school significantly)

 

[O2Doc]

If you think you can get your V score up, I'd retake the MCAT. Also suggest volunteering/shadowing in the US (unless that's what you meant by "abroad").

Honestly I'd try for the US one more time rather than go Caribbean right now.

Also, where are your low marks in the undergrad GPA? Some Canadian schools will drop the first year or count it for less, so why not also apply to Canadian?

 

[nabeel76]

It is even harder getting into Canadian schools. My question is basically with my stats, is it better to wait another year and apply in June 2011 (meaning that I have a very good chance of getting an interview if I apply sooner), or go to the Caribbean schools? (-> My stat is not good enough for American schools) Or should I write the MCAT again (- >Improving my MCAT increases my chance of get into medical school significantly)

I would wait for the next cycle and apply early. I honestly feel that is where you went wrong in this cycle - complete in November is really late, even students that do have 3.7+ cGPA and MCATs of 35+ would have trouble getting acceptances that late.

I also think your MCAT of 32 is fine, I wouldn't risk re-taking as your score is just as likely to go down at this point as it is up. Besides, you would really need like a 36+ for it to even make a difference in your current application. So unless you have the patience, time, and ability to really pull a 36+ I wouldn't retake it - focus on your weaknesses - the MCAT isn't one of them.

So the way I see it - your biggest weakness is your cGPA. So while you are waiting for the next cycle, I would work on that by taking as many postbacc courses as possible in an effort to raise your cGPA and/or at the least show a stronger upward trend. You can also seek additional LOR's during this process and def. continue your clinical volunteering as well.

 

[PNPCook]

If you think you can get your V score up, I'd retake the MCAT. Also suggest volunteering/shadowing in the US (unless that's what you meant by "abroad").

Honestly I'd try for the US one more time rather than go Caribbean right now.

Also, where are your low marks in the undergrad GPA? Some Canadian schools will drop the first year or count it for less, so why not also apply to Canadian?

My low marks are in history and language courses. Of course, I have some math courses with B, and B+. But Cs are for history, and language courses.