What are my chances?

[JuliaPS]

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Hi,

I was wondering what are my chances of getting into medical school. I currently live in Canada, and I am attending University here. I am entering my 4th year, and I am taking a Bachelor in Health Sciences. The only problem is my marks aren't great. My GPA is 6.2 (at our school the GPA is marked out of 10), and I know of friends who have been rejected (they didn't even get an interview) from a GPA of 8.5. My marks dropped tremendously in 3rd year because my mother was sick. I know that right now I have no chance.

My academic advisor told me to get another degree once I have finished my degree in Health Sciences, which would take me another 2-3 years to complete. I know that I could get very good grades.

Right now I currently volunteer at a Hospital in 3 different units. I also run a walking group for women once a week. I definitely want to look into more volunteer opportunities, or even working at a clinic next summer.

I guess I am in desperate need of some advice. I am 22 years old, and I have no one to talk to about this. All my friends tell me "You're too old now" and "Who wants to graduate when they are 35?", and that I should just go into something else. Does anyone think that if I dedicated myself to getting in, I actually have a chance? Or am I in over my head? Any advice?

Thank you so much, I appreciate any help I can get.

I have cleared some things up in the 7th post...

 

[chair01]

Are you looking to apply to schools in Canada or in the US?

And how does that GPA system work?

Your GPA on a 4.0 scale: (6.2 / 10) * 4.00 = 2.48

Even a 8.5 on a 4 scale: (8.5/10) * 4.00 = 3.40


Maybe this conversion isn't proper, but it it's mathematically comparable. Someone who knows information about international applicants would probably be better suited. Most of the members here know the specifics of U.S. schools.

 

[Salient]

22 lol, you're still a baby. I don't know about your grades, but don't let your friends talk you out of medicine on account of your age.

 

[JuliaPS]

If I convert my GPA it would be 2.48. I am applying to Canadian schools, but may also apply in the US because my parents live down there. I know I'm still really young, but I honestly have no one else to ask. And I probably won't even be applying for another 4 years at best. My academic advisor at my school is pretty much useless also.

I just have no idea if I'm even on the right track with getting there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SimonF]

Sweetheart... Its time for you to throw in the towel. You'd have to get another degree (4 years), get your volunteering way up, and you need to work in a lab and have something published. And all that work and you might not even be accepted. Go be a nurse or something.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Canadian + 2.5 = an impossibility for Canadian MD or US MD. I'd honestly say that you have chances for other successes in life. But medicine right now is sheerly an impossibility. You can consider however retaking multiple courses to get your gpa up and apply to DO schools in the US ( probably a whole years worth or more).

Otherwise you're going to be going to a very low tier medical school in the Carib. So I guess its either a hard uphill battle or begin looking at other things in life. Maybe nursing or podiatry school ( make a lot of cash).

 

[JuliaPS]

Okay let me clear some things up.

My GPA is so low because my mom was sick during my 1st and 2nd year in University. My grades were awful. In my 3rd year, I got straight A's, and this is why my GPA is sitting at 2.48. I plan to get straight A's in my fourth year too. I understand that if I apply now, there is no way I would get in. That's why after I graduate, I am going to get another Bachelor degree, I haven't decided in what yet. I would make sure I'd get a very high GPA in the next degree I take.

So far the impression I'm getting is that I'm over my head. So what everyone is saying is that if I complete my current degree, THEN get another one with an excellent GPA (this will take 3-4 years), while volunteering and doing my other ECs, I still have absolutely no shot?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Your best choice might honestly be to do an master degree in a hard science. If you do the last 2 years of college at straight A's and then 2 more years of straight A's. You'll have a decent chance for medical school. However this is what a well known person did to get into medical school, he did a masters in forensic science at and goes a A- average and got into medical school at PCOM and an MD school. So this might not worth for you, so I recommend finding a masters program in which if you fail to get into medical school you can go find work with.