FAQ: What are my chances?

[AC360]

I am from the GTA going into my 4th year at UWO

cGPA: 3.74

MCAT: 31N - BS=11, PS=10, VR=10

 

ECs:

Work experience:

-Wonderland (1 summer)

-Ministry of Environment (3 summers)

-Internship at a large Medical Centre (1 semester)

-Shadowing a doctor (4 years and continuing - but i only do it for about 2 hours every week and only in the summer time since i began university)

-Volleyball Team (4 years)

 

Volunteer experience:

-Hospital Escort (3 years)

-Recreation Leader for a Church Camp (1 weekend)

-Distress Centre Volunteer (2 years)

-Research in a lab (2 years)

 

 

Other than a few scholarships and awards, i don't have any stellar accomplishments. I have done a few other volunteer jobs which were one time events but i cannot add them because i don't have a verifier(i think)...the activites posted above are the ones that I'd consider long-term/meaningful. Just wondering, since i should have a verifier but don't for my other volunteer experiences because it was kind of casual and not very formal, can i add them to my application and put a 0 next to it or no?

 

 

Are my ECs enough? Will my GPA/MCAT be sufficient for an interview? All opinions are welcome!

[ayeshaasghar2]

Nice work done job well done.

[MonkeyDLuffy]

Couldn't really tell you without knowing gpa/MCAT breakdown. Your EC's seem fine, nothing overly outstanding but competitive. You don't need to be outstanding, competitive is good enough

 

I listed my GPA previously but I wasn't taken seriously so I thought it would be better to leave it out this time. Thank you for your time!

[chenoa]

Omsas GPA 3.97 (nursing degree)

MCAT (1st attempt): 29Q (9 PS/10 VR/ Q/ 10 BS)

 

 

EC's etc

-RN work experience since Sept 2011 (part time) and was on a committee at work

-Martial arts (assist with kids classes, have black belt, demos etc)

-International volunteering

-Summers in undergrad as day camp counselor/camp director

-Church volunteering

-Nursing student peer mentor

-Academic awards in HS and university

-Other random short term volunteering

. . . no research . . .

 

Stupid mcat!

[future_doc]

Mc,Gill, U/Ottawa, U/T & McMaster

[chenoa]

Thanks for the reply!

Well I don't have any prereqs so UT and Mac . . . thinking of just putting out an application to Calgary, can't hurt.

[future_doc]

Do whichever of these you can.

[trojjanhorse]

Hello again,

 

Now that I have received my MCAT scores, I would greatly appreciate a fresh insight of the schools I should be applying to.

 

My grades bellow are all in OMSAS scale:

1st YR: FULL TIME = 3.66

2nd YR: FULL TIME = 3.79

3rd YR: FULL TIME = 3.74

4th YR: 9 courses (4.5credits) = 3.78, Summer 1 course = 4.0

 

TOTAL OMSAS GPA = 3.75

 

And I believe I don't qualify for Western due to their academic criteria/weight.

I emailed UofT Med Admissions and I was informed that I will have the wGPA applied, but only 7 lowest grades will be dropped instead of 8.

 

So UofT wGPA OMSAS = 3.88

 

MCAT: June 21/2012: 11/11/10 Q (PS/VR/BS)

 

ECs: Many and above average. Just recently submitted 2 papers as 1st author for review. Research was based on genetics + ALS.

 

Schools that I think I have a fair game ATM: McMaster, UofT, Queens, Dalhousie, Calgary (IP).

 

Any other schools I should apply to? I don't mind OOP as long as I have a fair shot. FYI, I don't have an English credit.

 

Thanks as always.

[jordan19]

Hello again,

 

Now that I have received my MCAT scores, I would greatly appreciate a fresh insight of the schools I should be applying to.

 

My grades bellow are all in OMSAS scale:

1st YR: FULL TIME = 3.66

2nd YR: FULL TIME = 3.79

3rd YR: FULL TIME = 3.74

4th YR: 9 courses (4.5credits) = 3.78, Summer 1 course = 4.0

 

TOTAL OMSAS GPA = 3.75

 

And I believe I don't qualify for Western due to their academic criteria/weight.

I emailed UofT Med Admissions and I was informed that I will have the wGPA applied, but only 7 lowest grades will be dropped instead of 8.

 

So UofT wGPA OMSAS = 3.88

 

MCAT: June 21/2012: 11/11/10 Q (PS/VR/BS)

 

ECs: Many and above average. Just recently submitted 2 papers as 1st author for review. Research was based on genetics + ALS.

 

Schools that I think I have a fair game ATM: McMaster, UofT, Queens, Dalhousie, Calgary (IP).

 

Any other schools I should apply to? I don't mind OOP as long as I have a fair shot. FYI, I don't have and English credit.

 

Thanks as always.

 

Going from West to East

UBC: No (GPA too low)

Calgary: Maybe (depends on pool, and initial cut-off for OOP, they review top 200 applicants based on standarized 2XGPA + VR , I would say unlikely as average OOP is 3.9ish and 10 VR)

Alberta: No, GPA too low

Manitoba: Maybe (Too low MCAT, need 36, but if you have rural status it might help, also those two papers might give you a boost)

Saskatchewan: No (In lieu of new formula, favors heavy MCAT)

Queens: Yes, you should be golden

Western: Yes, you should be okay as well (you need 3/5 course load though in both those years, and if you have one, just go back to school this year so you can make that conditional offer)

Ottawa: No, GPA too low wGPA has to be 3.85

UofT: Yes, fairly good shot since you are a scholar and have decent GPA, I'd say its a toss up, you really need to beef up the mini essays

McMaster: Yes, fairly good shot as well, depends on your performance on CASPer

NOSM: don't know much so can't comment

McGill: No, GPA too low

Memorial: Don't know either

Dal: Yes, good shot apply there

 

So in summary

Good Chances:

UofT

McMaster

Queens

Western

Dalhousie

 

Reach:

Manitoba

Calgary

[trojjanhorse]

Thanks for taking the time jordan. Btw, I'm an IP for Calgary.

[jordan19]

Thanks for taking the time jordan. Btw, I'm an IP for Calgary.

 

You should be golden for Calgary and 50/50 with Alberta then.

[trojjanhorse]

You should be golden for Calgary and 50/50 with Alberta then.

 

don't have the english credit for alberta

[vs09]

Hi there! First time posting stats today, been reading forum for several years

now, it's been great help for getting information!

Can you help figure out chances please?

 

Ontario resident

- going into 4th year undergrad, Hons Bio

 

- cGPA 3.81 (1st yr 3.86, 2nd yr 3.58, 3rd yr 3.97), full-time each year, includes all courses plus labs (counted and graded separately), did not do any part-time or summer courses

- best 2 years 3.91

- wGPA (for UofT) 3.94

- UCal GPA 3.89 (I think)

- will meet prereqs for all Cnd schools I believe (have enough Eng, Fre, Hum, Orgo, BioChem credits, etc)

- don't qualify for Dal this year

 

MCAT 1st attempt 2011: 28R (9PS, 10VR, 9BS)

2nd attempt 2012: 36Q (12PS, 12VR, 12BS) (thank goodness!)

- hospital volunteering, dr shadowing, lots of volunteer and extra-curriculars

but prob nothing out of the ordinary here as far as applicants go

- currently doing NSERC research

 

so, would like to apply across Canada, is it pointless in some places? any good news here please? would really appreciate input about chances, thanks!

[Legion]

^^^ How did you calculate your UCal GPA?

[vs09]

Used their conversion table a couple of months ago (was it from last year?), but looking at their table now from the 2012-2013 cycle, the conversion looks the same as OMSAS, sorry, so that would mean that the GPA would be the same as in Ontario? The table I used before was much longer

[vs09]

Sorry for the confusion, went online to UCal website to see what happened with GPA conversion. Apparently was looking at the 2011-2012 Applicant Manual a couple of months ago when doing the conversion (p 16 of 23), but looking at this year's 2012-2013 conversion table (p 23 of 33), it's changed and looks similar to what OMSAS uses, so I guess the best 2 years would also be 3.91 for Calgary.

[Legion]

I'm pretty sure they no longer look at the best/last 2 year GPA anymore. It's cGPA now. You should read the GPA calculation section to make sure.

[vs09]

I'm checking out the new 2012-13 Applicant Manual right now, and yes, it uses the cGPA, but will drop the lowest year if more than 2 full-time years at time of application and will be graduating or have graduated (p 7 of 33), so I guess that's why I used the best 2 years only. So, did I do that right, should the conversion still be 3.91 then?

[Guest Dimon]

If anyone could offer some insight into my situation it would be much appreciated.

 

Entering 3rd yr

1st yr cGPA: 3.80

2nd yr cGPA: 3.74 (I got a bad mark in a physics course which brought down my average)

Dropping my lowest marks using UofT's formula brings my wGPA to low 3.9's.

Based on my 2nd yr bio courses, I expect my 3rd yr cGPA to be >3.9

 

MCAT: 9/8/13/S (PS/VR/BS/WS)

The 8 in verbal is unfortunate, any recommendations about re-writing?

 

EC's: shadowed doctor for two summers, patient contact experiences in various long term care facilities for one year in total thus far, executive on club for two years in total, and various other volunteering/employment activities which in my opinon were very valuable experiences.

 

For Queen's MCAT requirement, would that verbal eliminate me completely or would the high BS and WS make up for it? And for UofT's MCAT requirement, does that 8 in VR put me at a great disadvantage in the process; I think I read somewhere that it could be easily overlooked?

[Savac]

If anyone could offer some insight into my situation it would be much appreciated.

 

Entering 3rd yr

1st yr cGPA: 3.80

2nd yr cGPA: 3.74 (I got a bad mark in a physics course which brought down my average)

Dropping my lowest marks using UofT's formula brings my wGPA to low 3.9's.

Based on my 2nd yr bio courses, I expect my 3rd yr cGPA to be >3.9

 

MCAT: 9/8/13/S (PS/VR/BS/WS)

The 8 in verbal is unfortunate, any recommendations about re-writing?

 

EC's: shadowed doctor for two summers, patient contact experiences in various long term care facilities for one year in total thus far, executive on club for two years in total, and various other volunteering/employment activities which in my opinon were very valuable experiences.

 

For Queen's MCAT requirement, would that verbal eliminate me completely or would the high BS and WS make up for it? And for UofT's MCAT requirement, does that 8 in VR put me at a great disadvantage in the process; I think I read somewhere that it could be easily overlooked?

 

UofT says on their blog that they will forgive an 8 in one section, if it is not biological sciences. Based on that, you should be fine.

 

http://utmedadmissions.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/how-we-use-the-mcat/

 

Queen's uses a hard cutoff, so your other sections will not compensate for VR unfortunately.

[Legion]

I'm checking out the new 2012-13 Applicant Manual right now, and yes, it uses the cGPA, but will drop the lowest year if more than 2 full-time years at time of application and will be graduating or have graduated (p 7 of 33), so I guess that's why I used the best 2 years only. So, did I do that right, should the conversion still be 3.91 then?

 

Yea, the GPA will basically be your best 2 years since you've done 3 years

[vs09]

So, if you don't mind, can you or someone please still give me an indication of what the chances are as an Ontario resident applying across Canada? Would really appreciate it!

[Legion]

Hi there! First time posting stats today, been reading forum for several years

now, it's been great help for getting information!

Can you help figure out chances please?

 

Ontario resident

- going into 4th year undergrad, Hons Bio

 

- cGPA 3.81 (1st yr 3.86, 2nd yr 3.58, 3rd yr 3.97), full-time each year, includes all courses plus labs (counted and graded separately), did not do any part-time or summer courses

- best 2 years 3.91

- wGPA (for UofT) 3.94

- UCal GPA 3.89 (I think)

- will meet prereqs for all Cnd schools I believe (have enough Eng, Fre, Hum, Orgo, BioChem credits, etc)

- don't qualify for Dal this year

 

MCAT 1st attempt 2011: 28R (9PS, 10VR, 9BS)

2nd attempt 2012: 36Q (12PS, 12VR, 12BS) (thank goodness!)

- hospital volunteering, dr shadowing, lots of volunteer and extra-curriculars

but prob nothing out of the ordinary here as far as applicants go

- currently doing NSERC research

 

so, would like to apply across Canada, is it pointless in some places? any good news here please? would really appreciate input about chances, thanks!

 

I'll tell you the ones I think your chances are slim.

 

NOSM, close to zero chance is you have no rural background.

Ottawa, you have a chance if you are from the Ottawa area, otherwise it's slim

 

Queens, looks at last 2 years, you GPA is going to struggle a bit there, but you got good MCAT, so you got a shot (ECs SEEM to matter a great deal for Queens but apparently some people have got in with non-stellar ECs).

 

All other Ontario universities are fair game

 

I'm not too familiar with OOP schools but your MCAT looks good for Manitoba, and you have a good shot at UCal as OOP if you satisfy their other considerations (check the manual).

 

I still suggest to apply to as many schools as you can, because you never know what happens

 

Good luck

[vs09]

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with you that NOSM and Ottawa will have the worst chances, but really hoping for at least an interview anywhere else in Ontario, or (long shot) from any other province.

[justifyd]

Year 1: 3.87

Year 2: 3.98

Year 3: 3.98

 

MCAT 31 Q (10 PS, 9VR, 12)

SWOMEN

 

u of t wgpa around 3.99

cgpa around 3.95-3.96

 

aprt from the lower mcat cutoffs does swomen actually help or will i be at the bottom of the pool.