Do I have a chance? what about taking out loans?

[Frystorm]

Hello. I've been lurking the forums on a regular bases for a few weeks.

 

I graduated with a 2.9 from U of T, according to my calculations even if i do a fifth year I can't raise my GPA more than 3.1. My last 2 years are a bit better, I think around 3.1-3.2. it seems I basically have to rely on my MCAT score. I Haven't taken it but I hope I can do well.

I have some research experience and job shadowing, but it was all done in 2010-2011 and I'm kind of worried about it getting old or irrelevant.

 

My initial plan was to apply to Saba, but being able to return to Canada with relative ease is a great attraction to applying to the US. How much easier is it to get into Carribean schools? they usually say 3.0 is good enough. Are other international schools good options?

 

I don't own any property and neither do my parents. Am I going to have trouble taking out loans? Can other relatives (aunts, uncles) help with it? What if my parents bought a property or a business?

[boobiman]

unfortunately a 2.9 is way too low for getting into a MD or even a DO school. You will need to second degree inorder to increase your grades enough for getting into a US school. If your in a hurry, and dont want to do a second degree then you could possibly go to a caribbean or other international school (but make sure you fully understand the risks associated).

[Dr.Henderson]

Further to what the above have said: you need to figure out what went wrong in terms of your grades. From the sounds of it they're fairly consistent around the 3.0 level. If there was some extenuating circumstance, or you just didn't try and know you can pull off high grades, then go for a second degree if you're determined.

 

Check out the non-trad forums- the stickies there should help you out in a lot of respects. Especially simpy's post on second degrees and the sticky on school policies for second degrees.

 

Spend the time researching all of your options and their associated risks and ask for clarification on anything you're not sure of.

 

I wish you the best of luck:D

[Frystorm]

I'm not necessarily in a hurry, but doing a second degree has it's own problems. I guess I have to do more research on international medical schools, and see what steps I would need to take to return to Canada at some point even if residency is hard. Those 4 years might be better spent after being a doctor.

 

Thanks for the honest responses. I saw another post with stats almost identical to mine in the international schools board and most of the responses were saying apply to the US, I guess it's still sound advice because your chance is never zero.

[moo]

I'm not necessarily in a hurry, but doing a second degree has it's own problems. I guess I have to do more research on international medical schools, and see what steps I would need to take to return to Canada at some point even if residency is hard. Those 4 years might be better spent after being a doctor.

 

Thanks for the honest responses. I saw another post with stats almost identical to mine in the international schools board and most of the responses were saying apply to the US, I guess it's still sound advice because your chance is never zero.

 

Sure your chance is never zero but it's pretty darn close to zero.

 

You may have a slim chance at a DO school but an MD school? Highly unlikely. The application process isn't cheap either, so unless you have a lot of money, I wouldn't spend your time and money on what will amount to in the end a ton of rejections.

[Frystorm]

This is the AAMC chart that I got from another topic for 2.8-2.99 GPA at different MCAT scores

 

Acceptance rate %

.1.0 4.2 10.7 15.8 15.6 24.8 32.5 33.3 50.0 total 13.9

 

It seems significantly higher than zero, but maybe the bias against Canadian applicants is really worse than I thought.

[deathvvv]

about 100 Canadian applicants gets into a US MD school out of a pool of 1000. That is 10%. So if you are Canadian (10%) with your stats (2.9), the chances of you getting in is 0.1*0.013= 0.0013.

 

Okay my stats is probably wrong. But you have to realize a lot of those people get into schools that have high preference for state residents(state medical schools)/ have contract with the US military/ have amazing MCAT/connections/saved AIDS babies in Africa. IF you are Canadian, you aren't eligible for any of those (maybe the MCAT and babies thing). So your chances of getting in is extremely small (<1%). If you are willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars for that 1% chance. By all means go ahead. But if I were you I would look for alternatives.

 

Also understand that medical school is not a walk in the park. If you are getting 2.9 in undergrad how do you plan to handle the medical school curriculum, where they go at 10X the pace and almost everyone in your school have 3.5 and over? The prof will obviously write tests/ teach at a pace that is moderate challenging to them.

 

Sorry to sound harsh, but if you truly want to be a doc, you gotta show that you can master the undergrad material. IF you get 2 years of 3.8+ GPA. Try apply to queens and western. I would really avoid the international route because its not guarantees. There are no quick fixes in life.

 

Good luck

[Head Squeeze]

 

Unless your EC's are outstanding (e.g. Built an orphanage in Africa) to impress the US adcoms your chances are extremely low with a 2.9 GPA and without any known MCAT score.

 

 

Not to interrupt but is Building an orphanage in Africa considered as an outstanding EC?...because I turned it down this summer.

[deathvvv]

It's understandable if you are developing (or have developed) a cure for AIDS.

 

Not to interrupt but is Building an orphanage in Africa considered as an outstanding EC?...because I turned it down this summer.

[Frystorm]

I understand. I could take my international school questions to the international board but I will just ask them here, maybe someone can reply with their knowledge or experience.

 

Will an international medical school accept my grades? Caribbean schools seem fairly consistent in asking for 3.0, but I'm not sure if that's really the case. How do they choose who is invited to an interview and from there who is accepted? From what I understanding Ireland and Australia also accept high grades. Poland are supposedly good at matching graduates back to Canada, is this an idea to consider?

 

I'm also curious about what sort of path you would take if you have your own practice or are a specialist in another country.

[boobiman]

I can answer some of your questions, although I am not expert.

 

1) Ofcourse an international medical schools will accept your grades, most of these schools are for-profit schools. You could probably get into a Caribbean school with a 3.0. Ive heard of people get in with low 2's so I dont think a 3 will be a problem.

 

2) Matching back to canada will be hard no matter which international school you go to. Im not sure who told you that Poland has a good matching rate. Schools in Ireland have a semi-decent Canadian matching list but Irish schools are extremely expensive, not to mention living costs in Ireland.

 

Not trying to be a douche, but I secretly laugh when people ask me if they have a chance of getting into a Caribbean school. If you cant get into a for-profit caribbean medical school, then may God be with you.

[OttawaURookie]

Not trying to be a douche, but I secretly laugh when people ask me if they have a chance of getting into a Caribbean school. If you cant get into a for-profit caribbean medical school, then may God be with you.

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I kinda do as well but at the same time what does this tell us?

 

That GPA means little once you get into med school?

 

or

 

Are some USA med schools and Caribbean training incompontent people to be doctors?