US Student Applying to McGill Dental

[Nickel5]

so I've applied to a bunch of schools here in the US (Temple, NYU, Rutgers, Columbia, UConn, Tufts, BU, Maryland, Pitt, UNC, Creighton) and US schools are my number one option, but I was planning on applying to McGill Dental since I have family there and it might be nice to be around them for a change and not have soooo much debt from US dental schools. But they don't even consider the DAT. They are willing to take SAT, GRE, anything but the DAT and to be honest I did pretty average on my SAT & GRE and I don't think it will help me.
Stats:
=My GPA is okay at 3.4 ... a little hiccup when I got really ill during my senior year which lowered my GPA significantly, but it's explainable and provable and the rest of the semesters are >3.5... Science gpa 3.1 which took a big hit because all i was taking senior year was sciences and they all suffered that semester because I was sick. Graduate GPA 3.7 in the MS program I am in for Biology
=1500+ hrs shadowing. not a typo. I've been shadowing/working through 5 dental offices since I was 16 years-old. I really really love dentistry 😍
=I feel I am competitive with ts19, pat21, aa20


Questions:
1) Would becoming a Canadian Citizen help me? (I am a US Citizen but my mother is Canadian, and I have family permanently living there, all I need to do is call the consulate; but i don't know if its worth all the fuss to get done before the November deadline)

2)Should I even report any tests at all? (They say that "The selection of applicants is based on transcripts, reference letters, personal statement, résumé and interviews. The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) not being a requirement anymore, DAT scores will not be considered." so would that mean I could get away not reporting anything? Would they simply dismiss me if I didn't report them? I don't think my SAT & GRE score are all that helpful or competitive and I worry they'll hurt me. I mean honestly... Who is thinking their SAT scores would matter for dental schools when their in high school?!)

3)Is it even worth applying to McGill? (I heard McGill is very competitive...it seems like a lot of extra work for something that sounds unlikely and I feel good about schools here in the US and I want to practice in the US... I'm bound to get in somewhere... right?!)
Sorry for the long question! Thanks in advance!

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[Koalafied]

so I've applied to a bunch of schools here in the US (Temple, NYU, Rutgers, Columbia, UConn, Tufts, BU, Maryland, Pitt, UNC, Creighton) and US schools are my number one option, but I was planning on applying to McGill Dental since I have family there and it might be nice to be around them for a change and not have soooo much debt from US dental schools. But they don't even consider the DAT. They are willing to take SAT, GRE, anything but the DAT and to be honest I did pretty average on my SAT & GRE and I don't think it will help me.
Stats:
=My GPA is okay at 3.4 ... a little hiccup when I got really ill during my senior year which lowered my GPA significantly, but it's explainable and provable and the rest of the semesters are >3.5... Science gpa 3.1 which took a big hit because all i was taking senior year was sciences and they all suffered that semester because I was sick. Graduate GPA 3.7 in the MS program I am in for Biology
=1500+ hrs shadowing. not a typo. I've been shadowing/working through 5 dental offices since I was 16 years-old. I really really love dentistry 😍
=I feel I am competitive with ts19, pat21, aa20


Questions:
1) Would becoming a Canadian Citizen help me? (I am a US Citizen but my mother is Canadian, and I have family permanently living there, all I need to do is call the consulate; but i don't know if its worth all the fuss to get done before the November deadline)

2)Should I even report any tests at all? (They say that "The selection of applicants is based on transcripts, reference letters, personal statement, résumé and interviews. The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) not being a requirement anymore, DAT scores will not be considered." so would that mean I could get away not reporting anything? Would they simply dismiss me if I didn't report them? I don't think my SAT & GRE score are all that helpful or competitive and I worry they'll hurt me. I mean honestly... Who is thinking their SAT scores would matter for dental schools when their in high school?!)

3)Is it even worth applying to McGill? (I heard McGill is very competitive...it seems like a lot of extra work for something that sounds unlikely and I feel good about schools here in the US and I want to practice in the US... I'm bound to get in somewhere... right?!)
Sorry for the long question! Thanks in advance!

So you wish to apply to the HSDM of the Canuck land on the basis of family conveniently residing there? Hmm..... the D.M.D. program there is regarded as an undergraduate program where you're competing for 26 seats.

http://www.mcgill.ca/dentistry/prospective/undergrad/dmd

OP, consult the published data and come back and let us know.

Good luck. 🙂

 

[2thsaver]

The associate of the dentist I shadow went to McGill. He told me they favor applicants that speak fluent French. So if you can speak French, it may increase your chances a bit. He is also Canadian though, so I'm no help there 🙁

 

[Nickel5]

I am aware that outside the US you do not need a Bachelors degree prior to attending dental school.

Of course the fact that I have family there is not the sole decision, but after thought bonus of convenience. As far as I know its a great school and I thought it would be nice to expand my options and possibly use my citizenship and outreach my dental education to Canada. I've read the site thoroughly and I know that even if DAT scores were a factor, I wouldn't necessarily be any better off... their average GPA that they list is significantly higher.

I also want to be a practicing dentist, so I'm also worried McGill is more academic/research based and not a good match for me, thus furthering my inclination to stop my application. There is nothing much online from a US student's perspective on it so that's why I'm curious. I'd just want people's experience and opinions about it...

And when you say its the HSDM of Canada... it sounds like I don't have a shot with my stats!
Thanks for the response!

 

[Nickel5]

yeah no french here... only english, polish, and spanish

 

[Koalafied]

I am aware that outside the US you do not need a Bachelors degree prior to attending dental school.

Of course the fact that I have family there is not the sole decision, but after thought bonus of convenience. As far as I know its a great school and I thought it would be nice to expand my options and possibly use my citizenship and outreach my dental education to Canada. I've read the site thoroughly and I know that even if DAT scores were a factor, I wouldn't necessarily be any better off... their average GPA that they list is significantly higher.

I also want to be a practicing dentist, so I'm also worried McGill is more academic/research based and not a good match for me, thus furthering my inclination to stop my application. There is nothing much online from a US student's perspective on it so that's why I'm curious. I'd just want people's experience and opinions about it...

And when you say its the HSDM of Canada... it sounds like I don't have a shot with my stats!
Thanks for the response!

Not quite. Critically, but not wishfully, thoroughly read the "Why choose McGill" section, and reflect on whether your intent/motive aligns with theirs.

http://www.mcgill.ca/dentistry/prospective/undergrad/why-choose-mcgill

 

[Jungerr]

From the McGill dentistry website:
Average GPA for 2012 admittance 3.71
Lowest GPA of interviewed out of province candiate 3.67
Average GPA of interviewed out of province candidate 3.86

Not to be a downer... but I think your GPA might not be comoetitive when you're competing for 26 seats

 

[strawberr]

From the McGill dentistry website:
Average GPA for 2012 admittance 3.71
Lowest GPA of interviewed out of province candiate 3.67
Average GPA of interviewed out of province candidate 3.86

Not to be a downer... but I think your GPA might not be comoetitive when you're competing for 26 seats

This person is correct. Your GPA won't be high enough unfortunately