joshto Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 July/07 10 BS 10 PS 6 VR 26S 8 BS 10 PS 9 VR 27S I am pleased with my VR score, but obviously not with my BS score. I am not going to retake because I don't see my score changing much. With this score, should I even bother applying anywhere? Should I just go straight to the Caribbean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00b Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 How're the other parts of your application? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshto Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 lots of volunteer work: coaching shadowing helping in research labs clubs, etc. professional work: worked for a fashion/art magazine generated over $1million in sales over 5 years gpa: ~3.85+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00b Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 You generated over 1M in sales by yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshto Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 yes........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dayne67 Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 To be honest, it's going to be very hard to get an acceptance from a US allopathic (MD) school with that MCAT score. Your GPA is superb, but US schools tend to place a very high emphasis on the MCAT. It used to be that most of the applicants that applied to the US had low stats (3.5 GPA and unbalanced 30 MCAT) that could never cut it in Canada, but times have really changed. The demand amongst students for a medical education obviously keeps going up in Canada while the number of available seats usually only increase by a token amount. So, there is now very little (if at all) seperation in terms of GPA and MCAT between those that do get accepted in Canada and those that instead end up with a US (MD) acceptance. And you will definitely be competing with other Canadians (and even other international students) for an unsaid quota of a couple of seats at each US school. My advice: rewrite that pesky MCAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madz25 Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 your best bet is applying to canadian friendly schools that look at a composite mcat score - i.e. they take the BEST score you've ever gotten in each section (in your case it would be a 10/10/9 = 29S). have a well-written essay, great reference letters, and submit your amcas application on the earliest possible date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshto Posted April 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 I have just finished my final semester of undergrad. My original plan was to re-write the MCAT (a 3rd time) on June 18th; however, I think I've exhausted my studious capabilities for the next little while-- I really don't feel up for giving up another summer studying for the MCAT. From what we've learned about the applicant's this cycle, do I have any realistic shot? GPA 3.95 MCAT: July/07 10 BS 10 PS 6 VR 26S July/08 8 BS 10 PS 9 VR 27S EC: lots of shadowing/clinical experience, some non-tradition artistic endeavors, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermen85 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 I have just finished my final semester of undergrad. My original plan was to re-write the MCAT (a 3rd time) on June 18th; however, I think I've exhausted my studious capabilities for the next little while-- I really don't feel up for giving up another summer studying for the MCAT. From what we've learned about the applicant's this cycle, do I have any realistic shot? GPA 3.95 MCAT: July/07 10 BS 10 PS 6 VR 26S July/08 8 BS 10 PS 9 VR 27S EC: lots of shadowing/clinical experience, some non-tradition artistic endeavors, etc. Realistic shot? No. An outside shot? Maybe. There is always a chance, albeit very low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00b Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 honestly, it's not good. mcat is too low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree999 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 Since you have a great GPA, I think your chances are better at Canadian schools that don't care about the MCAT. You could even get an interview at U of T with your GPA/MCAT provided the rest of your app is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermen85 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 Since you have a great GPA, I think your chances are better at Canadian schools that don't care about the MCAT. You could even get an interview at U of T with your GPA/MCAT provided the rest of your app is great. He will be easily flagged with those MCAT scores, not only will he need a great application, but he must have something that's extraordinary like participated in the olymplics or with a PhD that published tons of papers, otherwise UofT won't even bother to look at him. Heck even many people with 4.0/35+ MCATs don't even get UofT interview as shown from many rejection threads posted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree999 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 Hmmm. I know that using examples of only one applicant are lame, but forgive me -- I have a friend who interviewed at U of T with a 27 MCAT and a lower GPA than joshto's. No Olympics, no grad degree, just a great essay, extra-currics, work experience, and references. In a process like U of T (and the US) where individuals are reading your WHOLE application, you're always going to get people with incredible stats who don't get interviewed, and people with less-than-stellar stats who do get interviewed. I just think that the emphasis on GPA at U of T versus MCAT in the US would make Toronto a better bet for an interview. Pretty tough either way though (even with higher stats, as we all know). Bah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
token Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 If you take the exam more than 3 times you'll start raising eyebrows. So I'd suggest not taking it again until you're scoring consistently 32+ on practice tests. But you do need to retake it. What mag did you work at btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshto Posted April 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 it's an online/in-print culture/arts magazine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermen85 Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Hmmm. I know that using examples of only one applicant are lame, but forgive me -- I have a friend who interviewed at U of T with a 27 MCAT and a lower GPA than joshto's. No Olympics, no grad degree, just a great essay, extra-currics, work experience, and references. In a process like U of T (and the US) where individuals are reading your WHOLE application, you're always going to get people with incredible stats who don't get interviewed, and people with less-than-stellar stats who do get interviewed. I just think that the emphasis on GPA at U of T versus MCAT in the US would make Toronto a better bet for an interview. Pretty tough either way though (even with higher stats, as we all know). Bah. Is that 27 MCAT a 9 9 9? If it is, then perhaps your friend barely got through without been flagged lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00b Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 even if he didn't get flagged, a 27 would probably raise some eyebrows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree999 Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 yeah, but many aspects of an application can raise eyebrows (a bad reference letter, a weak essay, a bad term on your transcript, etc.)... U of T accepts students with MCAT scores < 9 every year. see link for 2008 entry (scroll down to bottom of page): http://www.facmed.utoronto.ca/programs/md/admissions/0910/stats.htm all I'm saying is that it's possible, which is the best you can say of any applicant, no matter what their stats are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest copacetic Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 your gpa and everything else is good, but your mcat is hurting you. in canada your mcat would kill your chances. you MIGHT have a shot at american schools because of your high GPA. i would give it a shot (it never hurts to try). if you dont get in this year, just redo the MCAT. aim for 30+ (10/10/10) and Q+ on writing sample and you're in for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree999 Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 your gpa and everything else is good, but your mcat is hurting you. in canada your mcat would kill your chances. you MIGHT have a shot at american schools because of your high GPA. i would give it a shot (it never hurts to try). if you dont get in this year, just redo the MCAT. aim for 30+ (10/10/10) and Q+ on writing sample and you're in for sure. am I crazy to think it's the opposite? I thought GPA was way more important in Canada, and the MCAT more important in the US. if only having a 30Q and a 3.9 GPA meant "in for sure", copacetic!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermen85 Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 your gpa and everything else is good, but your mcat is hurting you. in canada your mcat would kill your chances. you MIGHT have a shot at american schools because of your high GPA. i would give it a shot (it never hurts to try). if you dont get in this year, just redo the MCAT. aim for 30+ (10/10/10) and Q+ on writing sample and you're in for sure. The only problem is that US schools keep track of people who applied previously to the school and was unsuccessful. So you really need to convince them that you have made yourself a much better applicant within the year, that's not easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest copacetic Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 am I crazy to think it's the opposite? I thought GPA was way more important in Canada, and the MCAT more important in the US. if only having a 30Q and a 3.9 GPA meant "in for sure", copacetic!!! ' well that also assumes you have a good essay, and interview. those things matter. oh and apply broadly. but if you are rejected and you have those stats, then you know it wasn't academic ability that kept you out. personally i had a 3.5ish and 33S , but my essay/interview/ and extracurricular were outstanding. so the moral is everything matters, weakness in one area can be compensated for strengths in another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest copacetic Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 The only problem is that US schools keep track of people who applied previously to the school and was unsuccessful. So you really need to convince them that you have made yourself a much better applicant within the year, that's not easy. good point, in that case a better gamble might be to hold off on apply, develop your life story (i.e. volunteer/work/live a little etc) redo the MCAT then apply. patience is sometimes a virtue in this game. and besides, meds is a lifelong career, no one said that you HAVE to get in right after, undergrad. people have moved from whole different careers and pursued meds. i know several. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastriss Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 The only problem is that US schools keep track of people who applied previously to the school and was unsuccessful. So you really need to convince them that you have made yourself a much better applicant within the year, that's not easy. You need to improve, but I think you might have built it up too much here silvermen85. I had a friend who within 1 year went from 3 interviews last cycle to 8 this cycle. She used the same LoR, but got more research experience and clinical experiences. Your second application ultimately depends on how weak your weaknesses were and how much you have improved upon them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshto Posted May 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 Once again, here are my stats: July/07 10 BS 10 PS 6 VR 26S June/08 8 BS 10 PS 9 VR 27S Composite: 10 BS + 10 PS + 9 VR = 29S GPA 3.95 I plan to apply to the schools listed below. I know I am a long shot no matter where I apply, but which schools below would you absolutely say are a waste of money and time: AECOM, Albany, Boston, Emory, Rosalind Franklin, Georgetown, GW, Jefferson, Maryland, MCW, Michigan State, EVMS, NYMC, SLU, SUNY Upstate, Tufts, Tulane, VCU, Vanderbilt, Wayne State, Penn state, Wake Forest Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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