sonyvaio2700

nah baylor is super tough to get in. especailly with a low gpa (<3.8). I would say you have better chance at Harvard, Yale. I wont bother with that school till residency. plus from what I heard, baylor isnt located in the best part of texas. heh.

Ya I was suprised by that Stony Brook one. Mdapps has a Canadian there who got interview this cycle. Same is true with Uof Minn.

I think reputation wise UofT and McGill still rocks the boat. At least in the NW part of the US. So even though scale is generous...remember that. If you go down the list of accepted students from Harvard, Yale, Hopkins, there are more UofT, UBC and McGill students than the other Canadian schools.

i got these data from SDNers from fellow schools who have applied via AMCAS. there is not guarantee. but i trust my fellow SDNers

my bad. i double checked you are right. edited the post to reflect that. It was late last night and i presume since mcgill and ubc were the same, uoft would be too...so i just copied pasted it. it looks like uoft does indeed have the worst scale.

UWO and Queens scale treats people with 80-85 better. if your marks are in the 70s, the UOFT scale treats you better. 70-74 =3.0, 75-79 = 3.3. UWO or Queens will give you only 3.0 even if you have a 79. but AMCAS treats you better than the stupid OMSAS scale

FOR the QUEENS people...sorry i cant differeniate between scale 1 and 2. but i can give you my personal guarantee that 80+ is 4.0 according to AMCAS at Queens....

Updated: YORK. In the process of getting Queens. Talking to a queens student...it appears queens scale is complicated...i would like to understand it before I post. As for UofOttawa, I'll try to find some from there....

If you have 80+ first year, you have a 4.0 at UWO. For UWO and uoft, I can PERSONALLY attest that it is the correct scale. Because I have SEEN AMCAS updated marks!!!! for western (friend) and uoft students (me). All the others are courtesy of my SDN friends. I did not put this thread up to bash universities...so keep the hate away

Here is uncomplete list of AMCAS scales used for various schools. I will add more as I receive them from various people. Be patient, if your school is missing IM me, if you have more to add go write ahead. but keep the thread clean. Thanks, University of Toronto: 85% and up = A/A+ = 4.0 80-84 = A- = 3.7 77-79 = B+ = 3.3 73-76 = B = 3.0 70-72 = B- = 2.7 67-69 = C+ = 2.3 63-66 = C = 2.0 60-62 = C- = 1.7 57-59 = D+ = 1.3 53-56 = D = 1.0 50-52 = D- =0.7 0-49 = F = 0 McGill: 85% and up = A/A+ = 4.0 80-84 = A- = 3.7 75-79 = B+ = 3.3 70-74 = B = 3.0 65-69 = B- = 2.7 60-64 = C+ = 2.3 55-59 = C = 2.0 50 - 54 = D = 1.0 below = F = 0 University of Western Ontario: 80% and up = A = 4.0 70-79 = B = 3.0 60-69 = C = 2.0 50-59 = D = 1.0 McMaster University: A and A+ = 4.0 A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3 B- = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2 D = 1.0 F = 0 University of British Columbia: 85% and up = A/A+ = 4.0 80-84 = A- = 3.7 75-79 = B+ = 3.3 70-74 = B = 3.0 65-69 = B- = 2.7 60-64 = C+ = 2.3 55-59 = C = 2.0 50 - 54 = D = 1.0 below = F = 0 York University: A+, A = 4.0 B+ = 3.5 B = 3.0 C+ = 2.5 C = 2.0 D+ = 1.5 D = 1.0 F = 0 Queens University 80 and up = A = 4.0 FOR < 80: Scale 1* 65-79 = B = 3.0 50-64 = C = 2.0 OR Scale 2* 70-79 = B = 3.0 60-69 = C = 2.0 *Scale 1 and 2, I cannot differenciate, the guy applying didnt have a mark under 70. Sorry, but 80+ is a 4.0 at Queens according to AMCAS. I think they probably used Scale 1 though, since Queens themselves use that scale also.

ok fire away. didnt realise my box was full. and jochi stop pming me spam...

Well you want a H1-B visa. You dont have to worry about it for 4 years. but when you interview at residency placements, you ask the PD if the hospital will sponsor you a H1B visa. The answer can vary. but what I garner for reading threads on SDN is that apply everywhere. Lots of places on their websites "state" that they refuse to give you an H1B visa simply because they think you are a FMG. but technically you are not a FMG since you graduated from an American school. Thus they make you an exception. I think because only 200 or so people will be in our situation. Since about 200 international students graduate from American MD universities each year. Compare that to 20K+ applying to residency programs. I know this has discuss significantly on the board, but, I think finding residency placement (with H1B visas) for even competitive programs should not be as difficult as it is made out to be. That said, you will need to get strong clinical grades and high board scores than your US competition...just so you are safe. Remember the paper work to get you an H1B visa is lots! The program really has to like you to do this for you. BTW forget about J1, you need a H1B visa! This is because 1) Canada doesnt give J1visa's easily. 2) They are pretty much useless. Since you have to come back to Canada to practice for 2 years (mandatory). 3) lots of American residencies are not recognize by the Canadian hospitals. Thus you technically waste 2 years of your life. I am not sure if you have to take the MCCQE. Better ask someone else. But I was in the assumption that you are NOT... As for the USMLEs...every school has set up time for you to take USMLE step 1. Most schools it during the summer of 2nd year after you finished all your preclinical work. But this can vary with school, for example at UVM you take USMLE step 1 in Feb (our preclinical stuff is accelerated). USMLE step 2 is written really just before you graduate (feb-march). Lots of people write step 2 early only if their step 1 scores are below par (july, aug of graduating year). BUt all schools require you to finish step 2 by the time you graduate. Also some residencies taking the step 2 is mandatory. As for USMLE step 3. Most people take that in PGY1 year. In fact, as a Canadian...you have to take USMLE step 3 to get a H1B visa. If you are Canadian student applying from the Carribeans, its mandatory for you to write Step 1, 2, AND the more expensive step 3 before you even apply for American residencies. This is again because you need step 3 to get a H1B visa. But from the SDN forums, I have read situations where international students graduating from American MD schools are exceptions. I am not sure about how this works, but you can match into a program, but you getting a H1B visa will be contingent on the passing of Step 3 during your PGY1 year. So YOU dont have to take STEP 3 before you match!!

This list is outdated. I'll make a better list soon... before the next cycle. Since I quit my job, I have so much free time on my hands!!!!

MY PROFILE: http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=5833