AMS1989 Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 MCAT- 10, 10, 10, Q cGPA - 3.67 2YGPA - 3.89 5 publications, 5 abstracts, resident advisor and assistant director of residence building (2 years), first responder volunteering abroad, worked in optho/ cardio/ orthopaedic clinics during summers, clubs and committee stuff in university, workshop facilitator for a workshop about tolerance and diversity for first year students, designed and lead a health and fitness club, camp counsellor, went on student exchange. 3 (hopefully) great LORs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stelevation Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Queen's uses cut-offs for GPA and MCAT which are not published and which vary every year. Very simply, if you do not make those cutoffs, you do not get an interview; if you make the cut-off, you get an interview. Your ECs only become relevant AFTER the interview. (All this is stated on the Queen's FAQ) Since the cut-offs are not published, nobody can tell you what your chances are. The only thing to do is to apply and hope for the best, although your marks might be borderline (depending upon how they are calculated). The only way the cutoffs are relaxed are if you have a graduate degree (which is how I got an interview). Moreover, it is impossible for anyone to judge your chances based on a listing of your ECs... anyone can make a list of things they have done, but without a clear understanding of context (how long you did them for, what was your role exactly, how committed were you to them, what did you learn/how did it affect your life, who are your references etc,) it's not very meaningful. These are all things that will come up during the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehumanmacbook Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Queen's uses cut-offs for GPA and MCAT which are not published and which vary every year. Very simply, if you do not make those cutoffs, you do not get an interview; if you make the cut-off, you get an interview. Your ECs only become relevant AFTER the interview. (All this is stated on the Queen's FAQ) Since the cut-offs are not published, nobody can tell you what your chances are. The only thing to do is to apply and hope for the best, although your marks might be borderline (depending upon how they are calculated). The only way the cutoffs are relaxed are if you have a graduate degree (which is how I got an interview). Moreover, it is impossible for anyone to judge your chances based on a listing of your ECs... anyone can make a list of things they have done, but without a clear understanding of context (how long you did them for, what was your role exactly, how committed were you to them, what did you learn/how did it affect your life, who are your references etc,) it's not very meaningful. These are all things that will come up during the interview. I thought ECs were included somehow as part of the new "holistic" pre-interview admissions process? :S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stelevation Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I can only speak from my own experience and what's stated on the FAQ. They may well have changed things around since last year! Nonetheless, trying to calculate one's chances in this manner is still probably futile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misty123 Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 if the queen's website states they evaluate EC after interviews, that is wrong. for sure, the "holistic" approach is taken regarding MCAT/GPA cutoffs (which vary) and ECs. once you are invited to interview, everything is out the window and you are solely based on your interview marks. this information was provided to me by various professors within the queen's community. i had similar credentials as you, AMS. i found it very difficult to get interviews. try, but continue building yourself and your application until you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
med-dream Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm a BC residence, currently in year 4. I might think about applying Q U med-school next year. Here is info.: GPA 82% MCAT 36P (11/12/13P) EC over 3000 hrs of diverse activies As an OOP, what is my chance to get an interview? Thanks for help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm a BC residence, currently in year 4. I might think about applying Q U med-school next year. Here is info.: GPA 82% MCAT 36P (11/12/13P) EC over 3000 hrs of diverse activies As an OOP to U & A, what is my chance to get an interview? Thanks for help. Difficult to say without knowing your cGPA and 2yGPA on the OMSAS scale, but you might have a shot. Another factor is your writing sample score. Based on previous years, the P might be a problem. It's still too early to know how Queen's will use the WS score (if at all) for the next cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm a BC residence, currently in year 4. I might think about applying Q U med-school next year. Here is info.: GPA 82% MCAT 36P (11/12/13P) EC over 3000 hrs of diverse activies As an OOP to U & A, what is my chance to get an interview? Thanks for help. that's a really good MCAT score but that P will hold you back for queens. like savac said. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP76 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 how about mine haha. cGPA = 3.76 wGPA for Queens = 3.89 MCAT = 10-10-11-R EC's = 4+ years of tutoring physiology / biomechanics, founder-operator of a $20,000 per year tutoring business, student TA of a cadaver anatomy class, 2+ years volunteering with a brain injury patient, assisted in pediatric research for a summer that got presented at a major conference, intramural football / soccer / basketball for 4 years, dishwasher-busboy-server for 6+ years, various other smaller volunteer events Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 how about mine haha. cGPA = 3.76 wGPA for Queens = 3.89 MCAT = 10-10-11-R EC's = 4+ years of tutoring physiology / biomechanics, founder-operator of a $20,000 per year tutoring business, student TA of a cadaver anatomy class, 2+ years volunteering with a brain injury patient, assisted in pediatric research for a summer that got presented at a major conference, intramural football / soccer / basketball for 4 years, dishwasher-busboy-server for 6+ years, various other smaller volunteer events good odds, go for it. a bit weak on research but you sound solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP76 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks Brah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 I know its kind of a guess because Queen's doesn't publish stats each year. I'm a third year Life Science student at Queen's. cGPA - 3.74 (OMSAS scale) MCAT - PS, VR, BS, WS - 13, 11, 15, R (39R) EC's - OK I guess, student government stuff, lots of work, worked in a hospital, some volunteer research, no publications or abstracts, again I'm only in third year. My EC's are by far the weakest part of my application. I've found it hard to do anything spectacular like some of the other posts I've seen. Thanks for the help! Queen's wGPA? MCAT is awesome. It all depends on how you portrayed your experiences. I honestly think you have a good shot at an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 What's a wGPA? Weighted GPA? Since I'm a third year my GPA is just the weighted average of my first two years. Sorry, I'm new to the forum, I don't know all the abbreviations yet haha you're in 3rd year? chances are slim my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trojjanhorse Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 look here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArlB46Pi6-RmdDBJNFB3Nmh6aEFBX2JfWXZWakw0NUE#gid=0 I compiled the stats of the matriculated applicants for 2012. Sample size is v.small but you can see that only one of my data points had an undergraduate degree in process. I'm only basing this judgement on the stats i've gathered, but you never know bro. ECs play a big part in terms of how you present them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psglegacy Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 MCAT- 10, 10, 10, QcGPA - 3.67 2YGPA - 3.89 5 publications, 5 abstracts, resident advisor and assistant director of residence building (2 years), first responder volunteering abroad, worked in optho/ cardio/ orthopaedic clinics during summers, clubs and committee stuff in university, workshop facilitator for a workshop about tolerance and diversity for first year students, designed and lead a health and fitness club, camp counsellor, went on student exchange. 3 (hopefully) great LORs Im from Vancouver I applied to Queens this year with an OMSAS cGPA of 3.47, best two year GPA of 3.75, MCAT score of 34Q: VR:10 PS:11, BS:13 W:Q. I was not expecting anything positive from the Ontario schools, but to my surprise I got an interview to queens. Some people have said they don't look at your EC when deciding who gets an interview or not, but I think thats completely false. Personally I think the only reason why I got an interview is because of my ECs. Anyways, I think you are good with respect to GPA, and maybe even your MCAT score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Im from Vancouver I applied to Queens this year with an OMSAS cGPA of 3.47, best two year GPA of 3.75, MCAT score of 34Q: VR:10 PS:11, BS:13 W:Q. I was not expecting anything positive from the Ontario schools, but to my surprise I got an interview to queens. Some people have said they don't look at your EC when deciding who gets an interview or not, but I think thats completely false. Personally I think the only reason why I got an interview is because of my ECs. Anyways, I think you are good with respect to GPA, and maybe even your MCAT score. I can guarantee that they look at ECs, anyone who said otherwise is completely incorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tberry3 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Im from Vancouver I applied to Queens this year with an OMSAS cGPA of 3.47, best two year GPA of 3.75, MCAT score of 34Q: VR:10 PS:11, BS:13 W:Q. I was not expecting anything positive from the Ontario schools, but to my surprise I got an interview to queens. Some people have said they don't look at your EC when deciding who gets an interview or not, but I think thats completely false. Personally I think the only reason why I got an interview is because of my ECs. Anyways, I think you are good with respect to GPA, and maybe even your MCAT score. Queen's definitely looks at ECs, probably moreso than any other Ontario school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psglegacy Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 From Queens FAQ page.... How much emphasis is placed on academic and how much on extracurricular activities? Applicants are assessed in sequential steps. The first steps are based on academic requirements - the GPA and MCAT scores. Applicants who successfully make these cuts are invited for an interview and their academic marks are no longer considered in the admission process. Those applicants are then assessed based on personal experiences and personal characteristics through an interview. So I made the academic requirements?..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1428 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Im from Vancouver I applied to Queens this year with an OMSAS cGPA of 3.47, best two year GPA of 3.75, MCAT score of 34Q: VR:10 PS:11, BS:13 W:Q. I was not expecting anything positive from the Ontario schools, but to my surprise I got an interview to queens. Some people have said they don't look at your EC when deciding who gets an interview or not, but I think thats completely false. Personally I think the only reason why I got an interview is because of my ECs. Anyways, I think you are good with respect to GPA, and maybe even your MCAT score. From Queens FAQ page.... So I made the academic requirements?..... Your last 2 year GPA & MCAT scores were above cutoffs (+high ABS score), which is why you got an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psglegacy Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 I must say queens considering 3 courses a semester as full time helped me out a lot.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMS1989 Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 about the 3 courses a semester thing - although they accept 3 courses a semester as a full course load, is someone who takes 5 evaluated as a better candidate? guys, I'd love your advice on how to proceed from here. I got rejected from everywhere i applied with my stats as is. For next year's cycle, I anticipate a cGPA of 3.72-2.73. Ottawa wGPA should be somewhere between 3.87-3.90 Queens wGPA: 3.87-3.91 UBC average: 88.375 - 88.563 Toronto: ~3.88 - assuming they accept my letter of extenuating circumstances for a year below full course load due to documented illness. I need to spend this summer making myself a more competitive applicant, and i plan on for sure working on my ECs (more volunteering, and a job in a stem cell research lab). Should i or should i not also retake my MCAT? do people tend to do better when they rewrite? Is the experience any easier? I found the experience of studying for it the first time absolutely miserable. Although I would ideally rather avoid writing again, if it's what i need to do, I am prepared to do it and work as hard as i can to ace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinre Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 not really sure how they do it if they're deciding between 2 simmilar candidates except 1 has 3 courses/semester and 1 has 5. I would assume by logic they would pick the person with 5, because last semester we had to handle 7 courses at once. Being able to handle a lot of things at once is an important part of med school Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMS1989 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 yeah, that's what i had figured. Last year i took 4 courses each semester instead of 5 due to illness. Hopefully they will accept a letter and documentation from me regarding this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crayola Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I can guarantee that they look at ECs, anyone who said otherwise is completely incorrect. I second this. If you check the Invites/Regrets thread, several applicants with very high academic stats did not received interviews from Queens. They definitely have a holistic approach that is sensitive to ECs and references. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinre Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 yeah, that's what i had figured.Last year i took 4 courses each semester instead of 5 due to illness. Hopefully they will accept a letter and documentation from me regarding this. they would definitely understand that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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