5th year in need of advice

[BipolarBearr]

Heyo, 5th year from western here. 
My cgpa is pretty mediocre (~3.2), but Im halfway through my 5th year and so far so good, so im expecting my last/best 2 years to be (~3.8 GPA).
I've written MCAT twice, as a non-science student and a terrible MC test taker, I did not do great - 501 (126/125/124/126). 

Cherry on top, I'm an Ontarian applicant looking to stay in Canada... Now i've done a bit of digging on US MD and DO alternatives and I'm open to it as well as Ireland. To my understanding the order goes something like this when it comes to doing residency in Canada (CMG>USMD>USDO=Ireland). I am even open to the possibility of doing residency in the US and coming back to Canada afterwards. Can anyone please help give suggestions on if they were in my shoes and hell bent on medicine, what is the best course of action for me at this point.

A second undergrad simply isn't an option for me, but I have been considering a 2 year research masters (both to get publications, ref and eventually lower GPA requirements in select places like UofT as well as just kind of buying time). I have also considered rewriting the MCAT for a third time, but I mean this test is the bane of my existence so if anyone sees any viable option of not doing that again, I'm all ears (although I recognize I likely need to). 

any words of advice would be greatly appreciated, I don't know what the move to do is for this upcoming summer or September. 

Thank you

[Happy_go]

On 12/11/2018 at 9:38 AM, BipolarBearr said:

Heyo, 5th year from western here. 
My cgpa is pretty mediocre (~3.2), but Im halfway through my 5th year and so far so good, so im expecting my last/best 2 years to be (~3.8 GPA).
I've written MCAT twice, as a non-science student and a terrible MC test taker, I did not do great - 501 (126/125/124/126). 

Cherry on top, I'm an Ontarian applicant looking to stay in Canada... Now i've done a bit of digging on US MD and DO alternatives and I'm open to it as well as Ireland. To my understanding the order goes something like this when it comes to doing residency in Canada (CMG>USMD>USDO=Ireland). I am even open to the possibility of doing residency in the US and coming back to Canada afterwards. Can anyone please help give suggestions on if they were in my shoes and hell bent on medicine, what is the best course of action for me at this point.

A second undergrad simply isn't an option for me, but I have been considering a 2 year research masters (both to get publications, ref and eventually lower GPA requirements in select places like UofT as well as just kind of buying time). I have also considered rewriting the MCAT for a third time, but I mean this test is the bane of my existence so if anyone sees any viable option of not doing that again, I'm all ears (although I recognize I likely need to). 

any words of advice would be greatly appreciated, I don't know what the move to do is for this upcoming summer or September. 

Thank you

;

[Meridian]

Canadian Med schools always look at your undergrad GPA. Doing a Masters may not be all that helpful to your Med school quest if your undergrad GPA is not already close to competitive.  

You will need to improve your MCAT to reach interview thresholds for the potential Ontario 2yr wGPA schools (UWO/Queens).  What would your UofT wGPA (drop 10 courses) be after 5th year ?   If it is +3.85 consider an application there once MCAT is raised.

You will need to raise your MCAT for USMD/DO applications to be successful.

[Sickofitall]

On 12/11/2018 at 6:38 AM, BipolarBearr said:

Heyo, 5th year from western here. 
My cgpa is pretty mediocre (~3.2), but Im halfway through my 5th year and so far so good, so im expecting my last/best 2 years to be (~3.8 GPA).
I've written MCAT twice, as a non-science student and a terrible MC test taker, I did not do great - 501 (126/125/124/126). 

Cherry on top, I'm an Ontarian applicant looking to stay in Canada... Now i've done a bit of digging on US MD and DO alternatives and I'm open to it as well as Ireland. To my understanding the order goes something like this when it comes to doing residency in Canada (CMG>USMD>USDO=Ireland). I am even open to the possibility of doing residency in the US and coming back to Canada afterwards. Can anyone please help give suggestions on if they were in my shoes and hell bent on medicine, what is the best course of action for me at this point.

A second undergrad simply isn't an option for me, but I have been considering a 2 year research masters (both to get publications, ref and eventually lower GPA requirements in select places like UofT as well as just kind of buying time). I have also considered rewriting the MCAT for a third time, but I mean this test is the bane of my existence so if anyone sees any viable option of not doing that again, I'm all ears (although I recognize I likely need to). 

any words of advice would be greatly appreciated, I don't know what the move to do is for this upcoming summer or September. 

Thank you

 

Masters probably won't help much. US DO and Ireland are basically the same thing as far as carms is concerned. The only thing that US DO is good for is if you actually want to live/practice in the USA as it's much easier to get a residency. Your best 2/last 2 GPA is good and I think your best shot at getting into a Canadian medical program lies with schools that look into that. If you don't get in after a bunch of cycles though and you still really want to be a doctor your best option after that is probably Ireland or Australia. Still it has risks and it's not a decision you should make lightly. Hope things work out for the best for you.

[BipolarBearr]

10 hours ago, Sickofitall said:

 

Masters probably won't help much. US DO and Ireland are basically the same thing as far as carms is concerned. The only thing that US DO is good for is if you actually want to live/practice in the USA as it's much easier to get a residency. Your best 2/last 2 GPA is good and I think your best shot at getting into a Canadian medical program lies with schools that look into that. If you don't get in after a bunch of cycles though and you still really want to be a doctor your best option after that is probably Ireland or Australia. Still it has risks and it's not a decision you should make lightly. Hope things work out for the best for you.

Thank you very much for your comment. I appreciate that. If you were me in this situation, what would your game plan be for the summer and September after this 5th year?

[mp01]

16 hours ago, Meridian said:

Canadian Med schools always look at your undergrad GPA. Doing a Masters may not be all that helpful to your Med school quest if your undergrad GPA is not already close to competitive.  

You will need to improve your MCAT to reach interview thresholds for the potential Ontario 2yr wGPA schools (UWO/Queens).  What would your UofT wGPA (drop 10 courses) be after 5th year ?   If it is +3.85 consider an application there once MCAT is raised.

You will need to raise your MCAT for USMD/DO applications to be successful.

After completing 5 years wouldn't UofT drop 5 courses, not 10? They drop one FCE per year completed, so that's how I understood it.

[apple94]

1 hour ago, big_mac said:

After completing 5 years wouldn't UofT drop 5 courses, not 10? They drop one FCE per year completed, so that's how I understood it.

He/she means 10 semester-long courses (or conversely 5 full year courses). You're both on the same page.