Your thoughts? Third Cycle - Canadian Applicant, 3.96/514

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
C

canadianeh95

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
May 3, 2016
Messages
26
Reaction score
12
Hello everyone,
Here I am applying for the third cycle!

Purpose of post: I really want this to be my last cycle. Not sure of any specific questions, but please inform me of your impressions/concerns.

What I learned from the first cycle: I made a poor list (MSAR showed internationals mostly got accepted to top 20 schools, so I mostly applied there instead of schools more in line with my stats that take less internationals)

What I learned from the second cycle: Did not apply to enough schools (applied to RFU, NYMC, Oakland, SLU, MCW, WVU, Kentucky, VCU). Honestly, felt like a waste of time and energy applying due to the low percentage of internationals accepted every year. Also, WVU and Kentucky said I didn't have strong ties to state and this was a strong reason for not giving me the interview. Interviewed at SLU, recently rejected. Also retook MCAT in attempt to improve CARS, which is important for Canadian med schools - turned out to be bad idea as new score was 510: 127/125/127/131.

Changes since last application: retook the MCAT again in attempt to improve CARS for Canada, once again proved ineffective: now back at 514: 130/125/130/129. Done retaking MCAT, hedging pretty much everything on AMCAS.
Added 700 hours of clinical volunteering, which I did not have before.
Added 80 hours of non clinical volunteering

Current ECs:
700 hours of clinical volunteering
200 hours of shadowing
220 hours of non-clinical volunteering (suicide hotline, food bank, teaching)
400 hours of research (no publications)
110 hours as president of university club
120 hours of employment (manual labor, tutor, call center agent)
5K summer research scholarship award
award for highest average in program

New school list:
rosalind franklin
maryland
george washington
virginia /
georgetown
geisel /
mcw
tulane
loma linda*
west virginia*
kentucky *
case western /
suny
wayne
emory
stony brook
SLU
VCU
colorado
boston/
ucla/
hawaii
sidney kimmel
pittsburgh/
east tenesee
central michigan*
nymc
einstein
michigan state *
penn state

/ denotes reach schools
* denotes when I probably can't fit the school's mission (loma linda, maybe I can scrape by since I've spent quite a bit of time volunteering in Christian organizations, although I'm not actually Christian; other schools, just no connection to state since I never lived there/don't know anyone who lives there...I really want a way to get past this problem, can't think of how at the moment)

Some current concerns: I need to apply to many schools, hoping for 4 interviews and two acceptances. But on the other hand, many schools are reaches/can't meet their mission. But if I exclude these schools, I don't have enough schools who accept Canadians/internationals. Didn't apply as early as I could (submitted June 28) and will pre-write secondaries. Considering DO applications...really don't want to do a whole another round of apps and ask for more letters and write more essays, but maybe this is the smartest thing to do.

Again, no clear concerns or questions, but putting this out there to gather opinions/potential room for improvement.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Apply to MD, DO, and maybe DPM.

Canadians have it rough.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Strongly consider applying DO... I matriculated at AZCOM in 2011, graduated in 2015, just finished my IM residency and start as a hospitalist teaching attending at an academic program in a couple of weeks. Had I not applied DO I would likely never get to where I am right now, or at the very least I would be 3+ years behind doing reapplications. My Canadian friends ask what a DO is, and it takes 30 seconds to explain...

That's my opinion. MD schools are tough for Canadians even with great stats which you have discovered. DO schools are expensive, but you can consider some of the less expensive ones too.

Edit: I didn't have a DO letter or any DO shadowing, all of the schools looked past it (back in 2011 at least) because there are very few DO's in Canada and they know that
 
thumbz said:
Strongly consider applying DO... I matriculated at AZCOM in 2011, graduated in 2015, just finished my IM residency and start as a hospitalist teaching attending at an academic program in a couple of weeks. Had I not applied DO I would likely never get to where I am right now, or at the very least I would be 3+ years behind doing reapplications. My Canadian friends ask what a DO is, and it takes 30 seconds to explain...

That's my opinion. MD schools are tough for Canadians even with great stats which you have discovered. DO schools are expensive, but you can consider some of the less expensive ones too.

Edit: I didn't have a DO letter or any DO shadowing, all of the schools looked past it (back in 2011 at least) because there are very few DO's in Canada and they know that
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Good to know how someone in a similar situation resolved the situation. So you applied even to schools that specified a DO letter as a requirement without having one, and they looked past it?
 
canadianeh95 said:
Hello everyone,
Here I am applying for the third cycle!

Purpose of post: I really want this to be my last cycle. Not sure of any specific questions, but please inform me of your impressions/concerns.

What I learned from the first cycle: I made a poor list (MSAR showed internationals mostly got accepted to top 20 schools, so I mostly applied there instead of schools more in line with my stats that take less internationals)

What I learned from the second cycle: Did not apply to enough schools (applied to RFU, NYMC, Oakland, SLU, MCW, WVU, Kentucky, VCU). Honestly, felt like a waste of time and energy applying due to the low percentage of internationals accepted every year. Also, WVU and Kentucky said I didn't have strong ties to state and this was a strong reason for not giving me the interview. Interviewed at SLU, recently rejected. Also retook MCAT in attempt to improve CARS, which is important for Canadian med schools - turned out to be bad idea as new score was 510: 127/125/127/131.

Changes since last application: retook the MCAT again in attempt to improve CARS for Canada, once again proved ineffective: now back at 514: 130/125/130/129. Done retaking MCAT, hedging pretty much everything on AMCAS.
Added 700 hours of clinical volunteering, which I did not have before.
Added 80 hours of non clinical volunteering

Current ECs:
700 hours of clinical volunteering
200 hours of shadowing
220 hours of non-clinical volunteering (suicide hotline, food bank, teaching)
400 hours of research (no publications)
110 hours as president of university club
120 hours of employment (manual labor, tutor, call center agent)
5K summer research scholarship award
award for highest average in program

New school list:
rosalind franklin
maryland
george washington
virginia /
georgetown
geisel /
mcw
tulane
loma linda*
west virginia*
kentucky *
case western /
suny
wayne
emory
stony brook
SLU
VCU
colorado
boston/
ucla/
hawaii
sidney kimmel
pittsburgh/
east tenesee
central michigan
nymc
einstein
michigan state *
penn state

/ denotes reach schools
* denotes when I probably can't fit the school's mission (loma linda, maybe I can scrape by since I've spent quite a bit of time volunteering in Christian organizations, although I'm not actually Christian; other schools, just no connection to state since I never lived there/don't know anyone who lives there...I really want a way to get past this problem, can't think of how at the moment)

Some current concerns: I need to apply to many schools, hoping for 4 interviews and two acceptances. But on the other hand, many schools are reaches/can't meet their mission. But if I exclude these schools, I don't have enough schools who accept Canadians/internationals. Didn't apply as early as I could (submitted June 28) and will pre-write secondaries. Considering DO applications...really don't want to do a whole another round of apps and ask for more letters and write more essays, but maybe this is the smartest thing to do.

Again, no clear concerns or questions, but putting this out there to gather opinions/potential room for improvement.
Click to expand...
Don’t waste your money on East Tennessee, they only take in-state or military vets
 
Are you applying to Canadian schools as well? In which case, which ones (and which are you IP for?). Realistically you have the stats to get into an IP school - if you've applied 3 times no luck I would assume it would be your interview skills holding you back. I got in first try to a school and my MCAT was a 510. ECs may have been a bit stronger than yours (publications and whatnot included), but my GPA was nothing to write home about. I learned from my score breakdown I interview well and that was my saving grace.
 
MissGamerMD said:
Are you applying to Canadian schools as well? In which case, which ones (and which are you IP for?). Realistically you have the stats to get into an IP school - if you've applied 3 times no luck I would assume it would be your interview skills holding you back. I got in first try to a school and my MCAT was a 510. ECs may have been a bit stronger than yours (publications and whatnot included), but my GPA was nothing to write home about. I learned from my score breakdown I interview well and that was my saving grace.
Click to expand...

Congrats on your success! I'm an Ontario resident, not Western SWOMEN. Got an Ottawa interview the first cycle and waitlist --> rejection. Will be applying to OMSAS again, and perhaps UBC out of province. My interview skills do need work. Didn't really slack for previous interview prep but I am going to do more prep in the future as well obviously. Just want more interviews as well.
 
Did you apply broadly? I would still think you should be able to get in somewhere with your stats. A waitlist is promising, and I wouldn't give up on Canadian schools for future applications. Generally people that get waitlisted get in eventually (though unfortunately I've seen it take 5+ years for a lot of people).
If you want any tips about what I used for interview prep you can PM me! I'm always happy to help out a fellow Canadian.
 
  • MissGamerMD said:
    Did you apply broadly? I would still think you should be able to get in somewhere with your stats. A waitlist is promising, and I wouldn't give up on Canadian schools for future applications. Generally people that get waitlisted get in eventually (though unfortunately I've seen it take 5+ years for a lot of people).
    If you want any tips about what I used for interview prep you can PM me! I'm always happy to help out a fellow Canadian.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks for reaching out! I'm certainly open to your advice. Tried to PM but sdn said I could not start a conversation with you. Did you block PMs?
 
I don't think so, but I'm not the most well-versed in this site so I'll take a look into it and then I'll send you one shortly!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Members don't see this ad :)
LizzyM said:
I got nothing to offer; the only thing running through my mind is "Green Card Marriage" and I know that is not helpful.
Click to expand...
Haha! The green card would REALLY help right now. Thank you for having a look. By nothing to offer, you mean you don't see anything out of place and I am on the right track?
 
canadianeh95 said:
Haha! The green card would REALLY help right now. Thank you for having a look. By nothing to offer, you mean you don't see anything out of place and I am on the right track?
Click to expand...

Your MCAT puts my school out of reach; I just don't see enough applications like yours to make an informed opinion of your best course of action.
 
canadianeh95 said:
Thanks for the reply. Good to know how someone in a similar situation resolved the situation. So you applied even to schools that specified a DO letter as a requirement without having one, and they looked past it?
Click to expand...

Yep, they all looked past not having a DO letter - I emailed ADCOM's as I submitted secondaries to explain the lack of a DO letter, and if schools didn't send me a secondary I would email them to make sure it wasn't due to lack of a DO letter
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
thumbz said:
Yep, they all looked past not having a DO letter - I emailed ADCOM's as I submitted secondaries to explain the lack of a DO letter, and if schools didn't send me a secondary I would email them to make sure it wasn't due to lack of a DO letter
Click to expand...
Thanks! Will do my own research but that's good to know.
 
This is just an update for everyone who kindly offered advice and for anyone in the future who sees themselves in my situation - I got my first acceptance from Georgetown! Very thankful that it worked out for me, and I wish the best of luck to anyone reading this as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

Can-premed
MD & DO WAMC? (3.57/514) ORM Canadian
Replies
2
Views
506
Can-premed
Can-premed
U
advice for Canadian app: what are my chances?
Replies
7
Views
477
user2738291
U
T
WAMC/School List Help!: reapplicant, 520 (third retake), 3.75
Replies
9
Views
399
LeaveNoTrace
L
H
Reapplicant: School List Help 3.96/514
Replies
12
Views
776
helloworld!
H
K
WAMC: 514, 3.96??
Replies
13
Views
747
KnightTalking
K
Top