Poor GPA, Good MCAT, Canadian

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mprs

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Hi, I am a Canadian with a 3.2 cGPA (and 3.3 sGPA) and a 36S MCAT. My EC's include:

-Ecology Research during a summer
-Working on a research project for a biotech professor
-Worked for my campus' first aid team for the past 3-4ish years, subdivision of St. John's Ambulance
-A **** ton of dental shadowing (not sure if relevant)

I will be, starting next month, volunteering at a hospital and I will also be shadowing an MD.

As a Canadian with the ability to pay for obscene tuition, do I have a chance anywhere in the states? I was wondering if perhaps pursuing a Masters of Biotech would help (assuming a 4.0) at all or would it be not worth it. Should I just go to the Caribbean/another career path?

Thanks for your time!
 
Best thing you can do is serious post-bac work and rack up clinical experience. You should get started...NOW
 
Last year, only 86 Canadians matriculated at US medical schools.

You are fighting a very tough battle. The averages for those students who matriculated were 3.74 cGPA, 3.75 sGPA, and 33.4 MCAT. Your cGPA is over 2 standard deviations below those that matriculated and your sGPA is right about 2 standard deviations below.

Basically, the US is not a very viable option for Canadians who can't get in to Canadian schools.

Your EC's aren't going to blow anyone away either. There are several big holes, especially when it comes to being in a medical environment
 
mprs said:
Hi, I am a Canadian with a 3.2 cGPA (and 3.3 sGPA) and a 36S MCAT. My EC's include:

-Ecology Research during a summer
-Working on a research project for a biotech professor
-Worked for my campus' first aid team for the past 3-4ish years, subdivision of St. John's Ambulance
-A **** ton of dental shadowing (not sure if relevant)

I will be, starting next month, volunteering at a hospital and I will also be shadowing an MD.

As a Canadian with the ability to pay for obscene tuition, do I have a chance anywhere in the states? I was wondering if perhaps pursuing a Masters of Biotech would help (assuming a 4.0) at all or would it be not worth it. Should I just go to the Caribbean/another career path?

Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Consider doing a true SMP, since money is no object, as your fastest route to becoming competitive for US med schools. With your high MCAT score, if you can earn a 3.7+ GPA while competing with current med students, assuming decent ECs, you'd have a much-improved shot at a med school acceptance somewhere in the US. Of course, these programs are competitive, and they'd want to see some potential for success in your academic record, like a recent upward trend in science grades.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs Forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=71 See Dr Midlife's sticky at the top.
SMPs, searchable database: http://services.aamc.org/postbac/
 
If only you weren't a Canadian.

Now I know why so many of them are at SGU.
 
Thanks for the helpful replies.

Catalystik said:
Consider doing a true SMP, since money is no object, as your fastest route to becoming competitive for US med schools. With your high MCAT score, if you can earn a 3.7+ GPA while competing with current med students, assuming decent ECs, you'd have a much-improved shot at a med school acceptance somewhere in the US. Of course, these programs are competitive, and they'd want to see some potential for success in your academic record, like a recent upward trend in science grades.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs Forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=71 See Dr Midlife's sticky at the top.
SMPs, searchable database: http://services.aamc.org/postbac/
Click to expand...

I'm looking at a few SMP programs like Georgetown's and BU's. They seem to have a ridiculously good rate of matriculation (around 90% for schools in the states). Assuming very successful SMP, would I still be facing hurdles as a Canadian, or would I be considered like every student that could potentially be in that 90%?

It does seem like a great way for people with low GPAs for whatever reason to really prove themselves, but it is still a 2 year investment and about $50,000-$60,000 for a chance. I have a lot of confidence that I can do very well, so I think this seems to be a great avenue for me.
 
As a Canadian, you should forget it. You might be able to grade replace and make it into a D.O. school, but most likely you'll end up in the Caribbean.
 
As a fellow Canuck... OP you CAN do the US for med school, especially with a 36 MCAT.

Just show an upward grade trend or get a post-bacc done with 40+ credit hours of hard science. You can do this.
:luck:
 
TriagePreMed said:
As a Canadian, you should forget it. You might be able to grade replace and make it into a D.O. school, but most likely you'll end up in the Caribbean.
Click to expand...

This is depressing. Is this 100% truth? I'm doing part time pharma work right now, along with volunteering, and hopefully some hospital/clinical volunteering starting January. I just graduated June 2011, and yes, I'm a Canadian.

My plan was to do a SMP starting Aug/Sept 2012...my GPA and MCAT both are very similar to the OP...

You guys really think even an SMP won't help? All because I'm Canadian? An SMP would require me to live in the state for 1-2 years...won't that help at all? I remember reading a while ago that some states like Ohio consider you a perm resident after 1 year...that wouldn't help either?

Fk I just got depressed. I really, really don't want to go to Carribean...
 
TriagePreMed said:
As a Canadian, you should forget it. You might be able to grade replace and make it into a D.O. school, but most likely you'll end up in the Caribbean.
Click to expand...


OP, Don't listen to this dude. He is not even in med school. LOL I agree with CodeBlu.
 
Sutton said:
OP, Don't listen to this dude. He is not even in med school. LOL I agree with CodeBlu.
Click to expand...

There are people from California going to the Caribbeans with a 3.6 / 36 MCAT right on this forum after applying multiple cycles. I think he has a point when he says it's pretty rough for Canadians.
 
Catalystik said:
An SMP is likely to be helpful, if the grades earned are excellent, however, that does not constitute a guarantee of acceptance after going to all that effort and expense, whether one is a US or Canadian resident.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, I know this quite well.

I think my GPA is the lowest point on my application, and I think an SMP would be the only right answer to fixing it. I think my MCAT is above average and I'm hoping to spend a good 8 months doing hardcore volunteer/clinical/hospital experience. I'm fairly certain I can do well in the SMP as I've been taking a full course load during the summer and sported 3.8+ GPA, while doing good on the MCAT to boot! I feel confident that I can do well in an SMP now that I've set my mind to becoming an MD.

So I was planning on SMP to fix the GPA problem...but if in the long run my chances will be ruined by me being a Canadian, even after doing well in the SMP...then should I just give up on trying? There's almost no future for me of becoming an MD in Canada...the competition is way too stiff.

I realize this may not be the proper thread/forum to ask this in...but this is the first time I've come across Canadians, SMPs, and admission chances in 1 thread 😛

EDIT: I understand SMPs are not guaranteed acceptance...but most of them boast of 85-95% acceptance rates...with some having direct linkage programs like EVMS. I consider that almost guaranteed and I think, personally, that's about the best someone can ask for when going for the best chances at getting into a medical school.
 
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flodhi1 said:
There are people from California going to the Caribbeans with a 3.6 / 36 MCAT right on this forum after applying multiple cycles. I think he has a point when he says it's pretty rough for Canadians.
Click to expand...

Why would they not go to another state? Sorry for my lack of knowledge in this matter.

Are instate schools the only options for Americans?
 
HerbalPlz said:
This is depressing. Is this 100% truth? I'm doing part time pharma work right now, along with volunteering, and hopefully some hospital/clinical volunteering starting January. I just graduated June 2011, and yes, I'm a Canadian.

My plan was to do a SMP starting Aug/Sept 2012...my GPA and MCAT both are very similar to the OP...

You guys really think even an SMP won't help? All because I'm Canadian? An SMP would require me to live in the state for 1-2 years...won't that help at all? I remember reading a while ago that some states like Ohio consider you a perm resident after 1 year...that wouldn't help either?

Fk I just got depressed. I really, really don't want to go to Carribean...
Click to expand...
Well, I can't "100% guarantee" you anything, but the fact still stands that Canadian applicants that come to US schools come with stellar grades. Sure, an SMP is a great tool to wipe your old grades in the US, but do you think that schools are really after Canadian applicants? Their priority are US Citizens/Residents. When a Canadian is accepted, they have stellar grades.

If you're really going to burn 75k in an SMP, at least call the schools you're interested and ask them how many prior applicants with your GPA, Canadian, and with SMP they have accepted.
Sutton said:
OP, Don't listen to this dude. He is not even in med school. LOL I agree with CodeBlu.
Click to expand...
Because being in med school would make me an infallible authority? I'll be rooting for you next time you tell a patient not to listen to an oncologist because they haven't had cancer. It's not like you can study stuff and become proficient enough to make a commentary *shock*.
 
TriagePreMed said:
Well, I can't "100% guarantee" you anything, but the fact still stands that Canadian applicants that come to US schools come with stellar grades. Sure, an SMP is a great tool to wipe your old grades in the US, but do you think that schools are really after Canadian applicants? Their priority are US Citizens/Residents. When a Canadian is accepted, they have stellar grades.

If you're really going to burn 75k in an SMP, at least call the schools you're interested and ask them how many prior applicants with your GPA, Canadian, and with SMP they have accepted.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not 75k 😛 Closer to 30k for most SMPs, and few even farther below that.

Indeed, I do plan on calling a list of medical schools I am interested in and asking them "how many prior applicants with your GPA, Canadian, and with SMP they have accepted." The only thing is...I feel like they won't really have an answer since it's fairly uncommon to find many Canadians in an SMP program to start with 😛

I'm just trying to find advice from people here that have had good success applying to US med schools, and also those Canadians applying to US med school with SMPs under their belt.
 
HerbalPlz said:
Well, it's not 75k 😛 Closer to 30k for most SMPs, and few even farther below that.
Click to expand...
When I said 75k I was assuming a 40 to 50k tuition (what georgetown is) + costs of moving + costs of living + cost of books.
 
TriagePreMed said:
When I said 75k I was assuming a 40 to 50k tuition (what georgetown is) + costs of moving + costs of living + cost of books.
Click to expand...

Yep, fairly expensive, but I'm treating the costs like medical school + 1 year 😛. I'm not really sure what other options I can pursue, though. A Canadian with 3.3-3.6 GPA/34R mcat can get nowhere in Canada, the US seems like my only option, and my plan was that I'd do an SMP next year. I can't find any other options other than doing another undergrad for 4 years : \


I'd like to avoid Carribs as much as possible...
 
HerbalPlz said:
Yep, fairly expensive, but I'm treating the costs like medical school + 1 year 😛. I'm not really sure what other options I can pursue, though. A Canadian with 3.3-3.6 GPA/34R mcat can get nowhere in Canada, the US seems like my only option, and my plan was that I'd do an SMP next year. I can't find any other options other than doing another undergrad for 4 years : \


I'd like to avoid Carribs as much as possible...
Click to expand...
I think the 36 will get the attention of Osteopathic schools, and as far as I know, you can call yourself an MD in Canada.
 
TriagePreMed said:
As a Canadian, you should forget it. You might be able to grade replace and make it into a D.O. school, but most likely you'll end up in the Caribbean.
Click to expand...

Do not need to do grade replacement for DO school. Just apply DO.
 
HerbalPlz said:
Why would they not go to another state? Sorry for my lack of knowledge in this matter.

Are instate schools the only options for Americans?
Click to expand...

US states such as California and countries such as Canada just have way too many competitive applicants. To add diversity to schools, most schools only accept the cream of the crop from California and Canada. If they were to accept everyone from OOS say California, I guarantee you that half of their class would be full of Californians. That goes against the whole diversity issue that absolutely every other school rants about. So in the end what do you think happens to the rest of the people from Cali or Canada? they all usually either go to DO for a much better option or they don't want the DO letters and just go to the Caribbeans. There are multiple highly qualified people that have not received an acceptance to US MD schools, this is a known fact. So, when Triage says that it's going to be hard for a Canadian, he's just stating some facts. People can deny it all they want but it's the truth.
 
Well, now I feel pretty hopeless.

I don't really want to do DO as not a lot of the specialties I'm interested in are available for DOs.

Would you guys say it's even worth it for me to continue trying for the US then? Would the SMP route boost my chances by a lot, or so minimally that the fact that I'm a Canadian would still hinder me quite a bit?

I've been reading for a long time and I know some people like DrMidLife say anything beats Caribbeans, and I'm really in the mindset to study in the US.

Does anyone know of a route I could take then to boost my chances? It was my understanding that once you become a RESIDENT of a state, it's easier to apply for school in that state. If I were to attend an SMP the like Georgetown one, it does not seem like it will be hard to get residency: http://dor.wa.gov/content/contactus/con_residdef.aspx However, I probably am missing something and I'm not fully confident in that link so I'd have to call Georgetown and find out.

Also, Catalystik, thanks for that note...I did not know they did not differentiate. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since most Uni's are run like businesses...and like most businesses, they'll do anything to get the sale. That's another reason I'm hesitant to call up the schools and ask their positions on Canadians...pretty sure they'll just tell me what I want to hear, and then at the end of the 1-2 years, I'll be SOL.

But according to this link: http://smp.georgetown.edu/alumni/ Looks like a great majority do end up in a MD program? Man every time I look at that link, and see that 34/110 students end up in Georgetown itself... makes just want to enroll and get studying right away.

flodhi1, thanks for that post, it sounds like Cali is the Ontario of Canada 😛 The rest of the provinces in Canada have fairly lax requirements for their medical applicants, while Ontario has the most medical schools at 6, provides no lax requirements or favoring of in-province applicants, and generally have about 100-200 seats for close to 7000 applicants at each school. The worst part is that the other provinces have only 5-10 seats for out of province students...so Ontario kids really have no chance at all. Quite cut throat here...one friend with a solid 3.9 GPA and 35R MCAT is in SGU this year after not getting a single interview in Canada. And another with a 3.94 GPA and 37 received 2 interviews but got waitlisted at both and is now doing his 1st year of Masters.

So in conclusion, pretty much the only way for me to get into medical school (with realistic chances) is DO or Caribbean? There's really no other way? I don't care if I have to spend the next 1 or 2 years in a Post-bacc., I would rather avoid both Caribbs and DO if I can as I would like to keep my future residency and specialty options as open as I can.
 
I know it sucks, but you've gotta either 1) suck it up and just go head first and see what happens or 2) give up and go for a different career. Doing the first option might get you to a medical school (will make yourself look like a genius and can post a success story) or might just mean you wasted several years just to go back to path 2 (you'll be kicking yourself and wondering why you made that terrible choice). Either way, it's your choice. Weigh the risk/benefits and whether you really wanna go for this career or not.
Other guys are nicer in SDN and will encourage you, and others are more blunt and say you've got no chance. There are validity in both arguments. It's just that the blunt answers are not what you want to hear and thus easier to disregard
 
HerbalPlz said:
Does anyone know of a route I could take then to boost my chances? It was my understanding that once you become a RESIDENT of a state, it's easier to apply for school in that state.
Click to expand...
If you can get a green card/permanent US residency, then you will be treated exactly like a US citizen in the US med school application process.
 
ppappui said:
I know it sucks, but you've gotta either 1) suck it up and just go head first and see what happens or 2) give up and go for a different career. Doing the first option might get you to a medical school (will make yourself look like a genius and can post a success story) or might just mean you wasted several years just to go back to path 2 (you'll be kicking yourself and wondering why you made that terrible choice). Either way, it's your choice. Weigh the risk/benefits and whether you really wanna go for this career or not.
Other guys are nicer in SDN and will encourage you, and others are more blunt and say you've got no chance. There are validity in both arguments. It's just that the blunt answers are not what you want to hear and thus easier to disregard
Click to expand...

Yep, I think you're right. Thanks for this post...but I'm still on the lookout for some other program or post-bacc. opportunity that I'm missing besides SMP that may help my chances further. Maybe a program out there that has shown to help Canadians in the past with US Med schools...anyone know of any? haha.

Well, I may as well try. I've been looking at Optometry for 2 years now...I applied super late last year but still got accepted, so I think it's a valid backup career move for me.

But still, maybe there are some SDN lurkers here that have some tips on SMPs or anything really that would help a struggling Canadian? Might as well hope.

Though I have to say, if I do make it, I don't think I'd be considered a genius lol. I'm just an average person that didn't take things seriously until the past 1-2 years...except I'm from the North instead of sunny Cali 🙂

I hope this thread isn't too far off it's goal...but I'm going to ask another question anyway 😛 Right now I'm working and doing 2 courses. I plan to quit work sometime in December and want to start some quality ECs that would look good on my app, before I start SMP in August/Sept. Would you have any insight as to what would be a good use of my time? I'll be doing only 1 course next semester...maybe 2 (I only have 1 semester of Calc) so I think I can do a load of volunteering or anything else. I'm just not really sure what would be the best. Volunteering at a hospital putting bedsheets, giving food trays, or emptying garbage? Or asking a few clinics in my area and shadowing them around for a little while? I've read up a lot about EMS and more specifically EMT training...and the general consensus seems to be that it's quite time consuming and I really wouldn't get much practical experience in my limited time from Jan-Aug.

I understand that applications are looked at wholly...my MCAT score feels good to me, if I work as hard as I am working now for my courses then I think I can do well in the SMP and mend my GPA problem...but my ECs seem lacking. I have done a full year thesis for credit, finished it in April...but I'd much rather do something else for ECs than more research. In Toronto, Canada...it doesn't seem like there are many free clinics about. In fact I've only been able to find free Planned Parenthood clinics and their volunteers are usually only needed to give sexual health advice to patients. I don't think I'm too comfortable with that, but it seems like all the free clinics in my area are abortion clinics only and only require volunteers for sex ed : \

Any tips from anyone? Again, I appreciate all your responses. I may as well do all my research now instead of waiting till I apply.
 
HerbalPlz said:
Well, now I feel pretty hopeless.

I don't really want to do DO as not a lot of the specialties I'm interested in are available for DOs.
Click to expand...
D.O. is not closed to any specialty, and honestly, as a beggar, you can't be a chooser. What makes you think you'll make it to a specialty just for going to US MD? What if you don't? What will you do with your life?
 
Catalystik said:
If you can get a green card/permanent US residency, then you will be treated exactly like a US citizen in the US med school application process.
Click to expand...

Now this is what I wanted to hear. Thanks 🙂

I'm currently on an L2 visa. My dad's company expanded to the US last year and he got his L1 visa and I tagged along to the border to get my L2 visa. Of course, we still live in Canada and he crosses the border once every week or so to check up on business there, but we're still living in Canada.

This is a vague question I know...but do you know which states allow for becoming a US Resident easily? My plan is to do the SMP (1-2 years) in the state that allows permanent residence after 1 or 2 years. In my own research, I've found that Ohio is quite good for this. They have a few good SMP programs and from what I'm reading, I can become a resident after 1 year of staying there... i.e. do my SMP and I'll pretty much be a resident after I'm done.

Now, I'm not sure about that. http://dor.wa.gov/content/contactus/con_residdef.aspx That's the link to become a Washington Resident, as I linked before, and it seems like Washington is even easier to become a resident, from what I'm reading.

"The Department of Revenue presumes that a person is a resident of this state if he or she does any of the following:
Maintains a residence in Washington for personal use"

Am I reading that wrong? Is it that easy to become a resident of the state? And the moment I am considered a resident, I am treated equally in the application process as with all other US citizens? Last question (I'm rambling, sorry!), are Out-Of-State applicants considered the same as international students, or are they in a totally different pool? Like if I were to do my SMP and be considered a resident in let's say...Ohio...and I applied to medical schools across the US, would I still be in the same uphill fight as I would be if I were applying as a Canadian, or because I'm a resident of a US state, it would be easier? Thanks and I know a lot of these are quite specific questions, but any advice/insight is appreciated.
 
HerbalPlz said:
Now this is what I wanted to hear. Thanks 🙂

I'm currently on an L2 visa. My dad's company expanded to the US last year and he got his L1 visa and I tagged along to the border to get my L2 visa. Of course, we still live in Canada and he crosses the border once every week or so to check up on business there, but we're still living in Canada.

This is a vague question I know...but do you know which states allow for becoming a US Resident easily? My plan is to do the SMP (1-2 years) in the state that allows permanent residence after 1 or 2 years. In my own research, I've found that Ohio is quite good for this. They have a few good SMP programs and from what I'm reading, I can become a resident after 1 year of staying there... i.e. do my SMP and I'll pretty much be a resident after I'm done.

Now, I'm not sure about that. http://dor.wa.gov/content/contactus/con_residdef.aspx That's the link to become a Washington Resident, as I linked before, and it seems like Washington is even easier to become a resident, from what I'm reading.

"The Department of Revenue presumes that a person is a resident of this state if he or she does any of the following:
Maintains a residence in Washington for personal use"

Am I reading that wrong? Is it that easy to become a resident of the state? And the moment I am considered a resident, I am treated equally in the application process as with all other US citizens? Last question (I'm rambling, sorry!), are Out-Of-State applicants considered the same as international students, or are they in a totally different pool? Like if I were to do my SMP and be considered a resident in let's say...Ohio...and I applied to medical schools across the US, would I still be in the same uphill fight as I would be if I were applying as a Canadian, or because I'm a resident of a US state, it would be easier? Thanks and I know a lot of these are quite specific questions, but any advice/insight is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Now the question is: how are you going to manage to get a green card? An L2 Visa will not allow you to become a resident of any state.
 
TriagePreMed said:
D.O. is not closed to any specialty, and honestly, as a beggar, you can't be a chooser. What makes you think you'll make it to a specialty just for going to US MD? What if you don't? What will you do with your life?
Click to expand...

The specialties may not be closed, but again, I would end up facing an uphill battle if I choose a specialty that tends to favor MDs. From my research, unless in primary care, a lot of residencies are much more open to MDs than DOs.

If there were no disadvantages to being a DO, then why would anyone even try to be an MD? Of course, I don't think is anything wrong with being a DO. I believe they're equally qualified as MDs...but not when it comes to residency placements and DOs are underrepresented in a lot of sub specialties.

Now add that onto the fact that I'd still be a Canadian...my chances at a good specialty seem to be slipping, wouldn't you agree?

I'm keeping backups open for my future. My number 1 goal is an MD program, and right now I'm trying to find something to do next year that would boost my chances as much as possible. DO, Caribbs, Optometry...I will keep them all as backups.
 
Catalystik said:
@HerbalPlz: I think you have hijacked the OP's thread for long enough and recommend you delete the last post and start your own thread.

Apologies to mprs.
Click to expand...

I apologize to mprs but I feel my situation is the same as his and I don't really see any other Canadian threads on this board. Would it be better to start another thread in that case? I think the responses by a lot of people here will help mprs and other Canadians looking for answers.

But if mprs or others feel I've hijacked this thread too much, I'll delete my post and open a new thread.

TriagePreMed said:
Now the question is: how are you going to manage to get a green card? An L2 Visa will not allow you to become a resident of any state.
Click to expand...

I have a lot of family in the US, too. I unfortunately have no clue about visa matters and the process to a green card...I just know that it'll most likely take a while and I can't rely on that. I'll be calling a lawyer soon and explain the L2 visa, the family in US, and maybe he can concoct a method for me to accelerate getting a green card, but I don't think it's hopeful.
 
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HerbalPlz said:
I have a lot of family in the US, too. I unfortunately have no clue about visa matters and the process to a green card...I just know that it'll most likely take a while and I can't rely on that. I'll be calling a lawyer soon and explain the L2 visa, the family in US, and maybe he can concoct a method for me to accelerate getting a green card, but I don't think it's hopeful.
Click to expand...
It took 10 years for my family to get their green card. We had US citizen family members and had traveler's visa.
 
Nowadays, getting a green card is very tough; you can curse that terrorist who caused the twin tower to collapse. In California, it takes people 4-5 years before they finally get their green card. My family and I moved to CA in 2000, applied for the permanent residency, finally got it around 2004.
 
I would do the Georgetown SMP.

I would also get an EMT-Basic. It was very helpful for me, if not professionally, then personally. When the trauma surgeon talks about the ABCDE of trauma and none of the nurses or techs knew them except you, that's something 😉
 
ppappui said:
Nowadays, getting a green card is very tough; you can curse that terrorist who caused the twin tower to collapse. In California, it takes people 4-5 years before they finally get their green card. My family and I moved to CA in 2000, applied for the permanent residency, finally got it around 2004.
Click to expand...
Wow, that was really lucky for you. Maybe it's because you were already living here? My family came in around 1995. It took us 10 years to get it.
 
TriagePreMed said:
Wow, that was really lucky for you. Maybe it's because you were already living here? My family came in around 1995. It took us 10 years to get it.
Click to expand...

Took my aunt closer to 15 years. And she was married and living in a different country (away from her family) for 4 of those years.
 
Morsetlis said:
I would do the Georgetown SMP.

I would also get an EMT-Basic. It was very helpful for me, if not professionally, then personally. When the trauma surgeon talks about the ABCDE of trauma and none of the nurses or techs knew them except you, that's something 😉
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it. I'm looking into EMT training and checking how long training would be in my area.

Yep, I'm leaning towards a SMP, hopefully Georgetown...but I'll do more research first and see which would be the best.

To be honest, I came across this: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42401 And now I'm getting more comfortable with DO. I'd still rather do a MD, but I'll keep a couple back up options.
 
Catalystik said:
@HerbalPlz: I think you have hijacked the OP's thread for long enough and recommend you delete the last post and start your own thread.

Apologies to mprs.
Click to expand...

No worries, I learned a few things.

It is just saddening that going through the Caribbean provides a better chance of getting an MD and residency in the states than doing an SMP which is a much stronger commitment and a harder pathway 🙁

I will probably be applying to Ross and SGU, and also BUMAMS just because I'm familiar with the city and school (my brother is an MD graduate from BU and doing ENT residency in Boston).

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. I hope it works out!
 
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WAMC: 3.45 gpa, 524 MCAT
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