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As in the number of times you can apply to med school or the number of applications you can submit per cycle? - No maximum amount of times you can try - 1 application per applicant per cycle

Six years ago I embarked on a journey to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor and I'm thrilled to say that in another six years, this dream will become a reality. A month ago I was accepted to medical school and in two and a half months I will be starting. Background: I was a 26 year old, married mother of one and a CPA. I had graduated with honors from the Richard Ivey School of Business (Western) and had a very good GPA. I immediately started working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (now just known as PwC) and started working towards my CPA designation. I knew almost immediately that this was NOT the career for me, however I had just started so decided to make a go of it. But after 5 years of it getting worse and worse, as well as some personal issues, I had deep look at my life and realized that I wanted to become a doctor. I was incredibly lucky to have a very supportive family and husband - I quit my job to focus on getting in but I made some big mistakes. First of all, I tried to take some shortcuts - I wanted to apply right away because I had a strong GPA so I went all in for Mac. I took an MCAT prep course and hoped my GPA was strong enough to get me through. Unfortunately, my MCAT was not good enough (9, 9 10) the first time around and I decided to try again - however just before I wrote my second attempt, I discovered I was pregnant with my 2nd child. It threw me and I did worse my second time around. Then I decided to pause my attempts at med school - I second guessed myself as to whether this was a good idea or not. Then we had an opportunity to move to New Zealand and I again discovered that one of the med schools there had an alternative pathway for non-trad students and I really thought I had a chance. I even took a university level chemistry course to prove I can do the sciences (I got a 98% in the course) however, there too it wasn't enough. While we were in NZ, I also had our 3rd child. When I didn't get in yet again, I decided to throw in the towel and focus on something else. I knew I couldn't go back to the world of public accounting but started to look into what I could do. I considered law school. I looked into opening up a shop. But everything felt half-hearted. I knew deep in my soul that medicine was all I wanted to do. Luckily my amazing husband knew too and suggested I try in Poland. I am a Polish citizen and am fluent in the language and had lived there before. I had briefly considered it in the past, but was put off by having to do the 6 year program. But now I just look at it as a good thing. It takes 6 years because it starts with a lot of basics and there is a LOT of clinical time, plus three months off over the summer. When I mentioned our idea to my parents they too were incredibly supportive and sweetened the deal for us - they said that we could live in their house (they go back and forth between Canada and Poland for their work) if I got in, completely for free. They had been trying to sell it with no luck (the political situation isn't great there at the moment) but had been paying a full time house keeper to live their in their absences. They said it would be a win-win because they would no longer need to pay someone to live there and care for the house and we would get a place to live for free. So I decided to go all in for the University of Warsaw's English language program for HS graduates, which is a 6 year program. There is also a 4 year program, but you have to have a BSc to apply, which I didn't have. To get in you need to pass their entrance exam in Chemistry, Biology and Physics. I had some major bumps in the road, but I managed to pass their exam and got accepted. It is an incredible feeling. YES, I know that as an international med school graduate I may not get a residency spot in Canada. But for me, becoming an MD is more important than the ability to return to Canada. However, I'm pretty sure I want to do family medicine, and if I do a residency in Ireland, Scotland or England (which will be possible for me as an EU citizen, though Brexit may have made it a bit tougher for UK) which is what a lot of the grads from this program end up doing, I may be able to practice in Canada and for sure in New Zealand (my husband is a citizen and I have permanent residency status there). Worst case scenario, I will just end up in Poland, but luckily as a citizen and graduate from a Polish med school I'd have no problems. I actually know a lot of people who graduated from this program and they all have the best things to say (about the quality of teaching, though dealing with the admin side is brutal). One guy went on to become a radiologist and do a fellowship at Cambridge and is now working on his PhD in radiology in DC. Another couple work as ER docs in Arizona. Another one is finishing up her residency in Scotland and loves in. I realize though that I'm incredibly and uniquely lucky. I have SO MUCH support from my friends and family, both in the form of encouragement and financially. My husband moved to a country where he doesn't speak the language and has little opportunity for work (though at the moment is able to work remotely) but told me he will do what he needs to do to make it work. My parents have saved us a TON of money by providing free housing. We have enough savings to pay for my tuition and costs without us needing to take on any debt. In some ways, I do wish I had gone the traditional route for non-trad students - I should have started from scratch and gone back to school and gotten a BSc OR simply tried Poland from the beginning. I'd likely be done by now and starting residency. But that said, it many ways I'm so glad it worked out the way it did. I have three beautiful children, with whom I've been able to spend a lot of time and my family is complete. I will be able to focus my efforts on med school and residency and not have to worry about my fertility or relationship status. I'll still be in my 30's when I graduate (I'm now almost 33 and will be a month shy of my 39th birthday when I graduate). But what kept me going was the thought that "well, I'll be 35, 40, 45 ANYWAY...at least I'll be 35 and a med student, 40 and a resident, 45 and an MD." That said, this is really just the beginning. This program has about a 25% attrition rate after the 1st year so I need to make sure I stay on top of my game. If anyone, particularly moms, is interested in my story, I've had a blog documenting my journey of the past six years at my blog, mdorbust.blogspot.com and I will continue to blog about my life as a medical student and mom and how I balance it. Anyway, I just wanted to share my very non-trad story and pathway to an MD. Please feel free to get in touch but please be patient as I don't check my inbox too regularly. Good luck to everyone!

I seriously don't get this complaining. You've worked hard, but there are TONS of individuals with lower GPA's that have worked equally hard. Perhaps they have dealt with other responsibilities that have proved somewhat challenging for them to manage or have had to overcome certain social factors, health issues and structural inequalities that are subtle and not as evident as being sociopolitically identified with an underrepresented population. There is no absolutely no need to discredit or minimize their efforts by saying they might have focused more on extracurriculars, so now they have a "better" chance. I am incredibly humbled by the effort schools are now placing on allowing all kinds of applicants to have a "foot" in the door (this doesn't even guarantee admission if its instituted). Yes, GPA's reflect a level of commitment and dedication to hard work, but admissions committees are possibly realizing that there are other ways to measure this and "lower" gpa applicants are perhaps more likely to be as equally dedicated to their studies and succeed as "higher" gpa applicants. In all honesty, I wish we could all have a constructive conversation without categorizing and somehow attempting to make individuals with lower gpa's, who sincerely just need encouragement - really, seriously - that they also can achieve their dreams. I am incredibly dedicated to not only becoming a physician but doing whatever it takes to becoming the person that will serve my community will dedication, perseverance and love. I have been surrounded with people that remind me of this. Some people are not often surrounded with individuals that have supported and encouraged them. Some people need institutions and a larger voice through structural change in processes to let them know and recognize that they can achieve their dreams. Lets just be humans for a second and perhaps be happy that "lower" gpa applicants will feel encouraged to just try or keep at it. Seriously, this is probably just a way to encourage all kinds of people to apply, that's all. it doesn't necessarily mean transcripts will not be reviewed and grades will not be considered. Anyway, thats just my perspective. I apologize if i may have offended. But these are just my thoughts.

Result: Accepted - VFMP My stats from last year: oGPA: 82.15 pGPA: 82.41 aGPA: 88.90 AQ: 30.03 NAQ: 25.27 TFR: 55.30 MCAT: 513 (127 127 127 132) Interview: Above Average, felt great after. My second year applying, non-trad. Annnnnnnd I realized through this cycle that I completely screwed up last year, forgetting to upload my passport as proof of citizenship. So this year I was super nervous wondering if maybe I would have gotten in last year or if I'd get rejected again. So happy to get in, it's incredible. 5 years ago I was 26, a college drop-out, a washed up athlete. The company I was working for in Vancouver went under and I had no savings, no education and nowhere to go. I was walking down the sea wall with a friend and he asked me what I'd do if I could do anything and I thought about it and said "be a doctor". He said "so do it". Had to do my grade 11 and 12 chem/biology at an elementary school to get my courses to even start my science pre-req's, opening at Starbucks and closing the bar as a bartender to make ends meet. The acceptance letter on Friday felt like an impossibility back then. I can't wait to start in August. Guys if you didn't make it this year, keep going. Try not to let it define you, because this road is not for the faint of heart. Live life, work hard and do things you're passionate about. I'm happy to chat via PM if anyone has any questions or needs support!