fort1fy Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 For reference, here are my stats GPA by 1/2/3/4th year 3.89/3.79/3.86/in progress (3.94-3.97) MCAT by PS/VR/WS/BS 14/10/Q/12 Extracurriculars Coached a AAA Baseball team last summer Volunteered doing medical outcome research last summer 3 years work doing home renovations 3 years part time work umpiring youth baseball Volunteer skating instructor for young kids in high school Off-campus student rep in first year Then nothing except things I've done for fun like intramurals, etc. Research Experience IN PROGRESS - 4th year thesis possibly leading to publication if things go well. NOnetheless, focused research I have academic stats and MCAT that would make me an average matriculant at Harvard, but I can't get an interview from Mac/Queens, while I know people with relatively poor GPAs and lackluster MCATs who got them because of their ECs. For this reason, I'm FAIRLY certain what's holding me back is ECs, with a 36Q, even 10VR, and a 3.85ish GPA I'm fairly certain I should be a guaranteed in with good ECs. So I have a year to improve them provided I get in nowhere What do you think? What should I commit myself to this summer? I really need some good volunteer/work experience here to get in next year. What is clinical volunteering and how do I secure a position? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
souljaboy Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Mac doesn't look at your ECs, just verbal and cGPA. I hate to burst your bubble but a 3.85 cGPA is below the accepted average for most Ontario schools (you might not even qualify for Ottawa), so you're by no means guaranteed anything. Your MCAT score is good for the US, but in Canadian schools they love their VR and a 10 means you're not getting any preference anywhere. Your ECs are decent, seems like you need more hospital related areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleh Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 To be honest your ecs really aren't that bad. You have some longer commitments which is great. Clinical volunteering could be a bunch of different things: hospital volunteer work, retirement home, shadowing physicians/health care professionals...etc. I would recommend that you continue taking part in activities that interest you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fort1fy Posted January 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 What about doing a 1 year masters? It'll be done by the start of next summer and ready in time for the application cycle. And to the first responder, let's be realistic, EVEN then, a 3.86 cGPA, U/T wGPA 3.92, Ottawa wGPA 3.85, Queens wGPA 3.83, should put me within the range for an interview. It HAS to be the ECs.. you're right about the VR, and that sucks, and I can rewrite, but.. ****.. rewrite a 95th percentile score sucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemogoblin Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 To be honest, the highest yield thing you could do is try and improve your VR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
souljaboy Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 It's also just random chance sometimes. Nothings guaranteed when there's 3000+ people applying unless you're getting something that makes you totally special like a gold medal/nobel prize/killed bin laden. A 1 year masters is ok but if you're convinced it's ECs bringing you down you could try for some long term volunteering abroad/teach abroad thing. A Masters doesn't really add anything special to your EC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleverusername Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 You people like to knock people down a peg or two eh? If I told any one of you before you started university that you'd end up with a 3.85 cGPA and a 36 MCAT, you'd have agreed to the deal. Let's not dole out the hypocritical criticism so quickly. OP, your ECs look fine. You're a decent bet at Queens, Borderline at Ottawa, Possible at Mac, and I think decent at UBC, not sure about the last one though. If you really want to imrpove, do another year of 4.0 and more ECs. You should be solid then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hackintosh Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 The only thing I see mising is health related volunteering. Volunteer with a hospice to see if you would like dealing with people in tough situations. Otherwise you look like you have an excellent application provided you can write well about the meaning of your activities to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m30wc0w Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Can't believe I'm saying this, but anyone else think that med school admissions are a bit... Draconian? In that they focus on things that people don't really do for any other purpose than because it looks good on their application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lonney Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Can't believe I'm saying this, but anyone else think that med school admissions are a bit... Draconian? In that they focus on things that people don't really do for any other purpose than because it looks good on their application. English canadian schools, yes French canadian schools, they don't even look at your ECs. It may help a little bit in MEM and thats all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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