MathToMed Posted September 2, 2014 Report Share Posted September 2, 2014 Hi all.Just got my MCAT scores, 12/10/11/33 PS/VR/BS/Total, which is slightly lower than I was expecting. My cGPA is 3.6 and my 2YGPA is about 3.8, and I have a completed MSc.I've taken a quick look through the interview invites and see some similar stats but can't make heads or tails of it right now, most likely due to nerves. Do I have a shot at Queens?Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thsc Posted September 2, 2014 Report Share Posted September 2, 2014 I can't say much about Queen's since I'm a current applicant as well, but I think considering your GPA, Queen's is your best bet. I think it'll be difficult for you to get an interview because your GPA is still a bit on the low side even for Queen's, but your MCAT is decent and does meet all their cut-offs so I think your extracurriculars will be the deciding factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bclionsfan Posted September 2, 2014 Report Share Posted September 2, 2014 I am fairly confident you can get an interview With an MSc, it is OK if you GPA is in the lower range. Many many msc students with lower grades have gotten in with grades closer to 3.7. Anyways, focus on your ABS and LORs You have a very good shot! (Plus, also since you're older, your non-trad experience will weigh in!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathToMed Posted September 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thanks so much for your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newdisplay_name Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Just tacking onto bclionsfan's comment: With a 3.8 you most likely exceed the "commonly-agreed" (since no one really knows) GPA cutoffs for Queen's. For more reassurance, if you look in the Interview Invites thread, there have been applicants that received interviews w/~3.75 in the past cycle, although they were mostly MSc applicants (yay for you? ) After that they'd look at your MCAT, and with your scores you have also made the cutoffs of "10 in each section with 32+" (based on data collected by Trojanhorse, a premed101 member). So all it really comes down to is indeed your ABS in determining whether or you will receive an interview. As an older applicant I think this would be your benefit. I think LOR are usually thought to be a pass/fail thing, but perhaps for MSc applicants there is a stronger emphasis? I'm not sure. TL;DR - Go ahead and apply, and good luck to you in this cycle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Definitely worth applying - MCAT is fine - GPA is already reasonably close to where we think the cutoff usually lies (for undergrads, if there's a different cutoff for the pools, which I believe there is) - MSc completed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathToMed Posted September 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thanks everyone! I was a bit shaken up yesterday, my score came back 4 points below my AAMC FL Average (two points below my typical VR), but I've just got to do the best with how things came out!Your reassurance is greatly appreciated, I'll get back to work on my apps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aetherus Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 According to the post by the associate dean, this years average was 3.76 so you should have a shot if your EC's are good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bclionsfan Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 According to the post by the associate dean, this years average was 3.76 so you should have a shot if your EC's are good! Careful, he said cGPA was 3.76 not 2 year GPA (of admitted class) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost&Found Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Definitely worth applying - MCAT is fine - GPA is already reasonably close to where we think the cutoff usually lies (for undergrads, if there's a different cutoff for the pools, which I believe there is) - MSc completed Does Queen's weigh graduate applicants differently? Do they go in a different pool? I thought that Queen's weights everyone the same but will allow graduate students to use one year of their graduate degree to meet the cutoff. Or is a different cutoff set for grad students? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkGhost Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Careful, he said cGPA was 3.76 not 2 year GPA (of admitted class) This can't be true, there's applicants in the Accepted/Rejected/Waitlisted thread alone that got accepted with both a cGPA/L2GPA lower then that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost&Found Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 He does say "average cumulative grade point average" though Wonder if it's an error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savac Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Does Queen's weigh graduate applicants differently? Do they go in a different pool? I thought that Queen's weights everyone the same but will allow graduate students to use one year of their graduate degree to meet the cutoff. Or is a different cutoff set for grad students? Honestly it's such a black box, and I have no idea. I feel like they do go into a pool with more lenient criteria, but I have absolutely no way to confirm this (short of getting involved with admissions, but then I wouldn't be posting about it on here). The best support I have would be from the admissions site, but it's a bit vague: Applicants who have completed a graduate degree and meet the MCAT cut but are slightly below the GPA cut will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee. By the way, I'm almost completely positive they cannot use a year of the grad degree in the GPA calculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkGhost Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 He does say "average cumulative grade point average" though Wonder if it's an error Average is different then cut-off.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathToMed Posted September 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I was under the impression that this was their policy: 1) Everyone is looked at together, the typical cutoffs are made2) Grad students who hold their completed degree, meet the MCAT cutoff but not the GPA cutoff, are reviewed separately. If deemed acceptable, they're invited to interview. Source: http://meds.queensu.ca/education/undergraduate/prospective_students/graduate_studentsI don't recall seeing anything regarding the grad courses replacing one year of undergraduate GPA (I know Calgary has this policy though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost&Found Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Honestly it's such a black box, and I have no idea. I feel like they do go into a pool with more lenient criteria, but I have absolutely no way to confirm this (short of getting involved with admissions, but then I wouldn't be posting about it on here). The best support I have would be from the admissions site, but it's a bit vague: By the way, I'm almost completely positive they cannot use a year of the grad degree in the GPA calculation. Ya Queen's is driving me crazy...In the OMSAS 2015 booklet, it states "no preference is given for any level of training" so that makes me think that Queen's weighs UGs and grads equally. But then they state that grad students will be given an extra look so I'm confused... Average is different then cut-off.. Haha I know...I suppose I'm assuming that the wGPA will be higher than the cGPA and I was hoping the wGPA average was somewhere in the 3.7s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkGhost Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Ya Queen's is driving me crazy...In the OMSAS 2015 booklet, it states "no preference is given for any level of training" so that makes me think that Queen's weighs UGs and grads equally. But then they state that grad students will be given an extra look so I'm confused... Haha I know...I suppose I'm assuming that the wGPA will be higher than the cGPA and I was hoping the wGPA average was somewhere in the 3.7s Oh no, I meant that if the Associate Dean said that the average cGPA for accepted applicants was 3.76, then that's entirely different then the cut-off being 3.76. Does that make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost&Found Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Oh no, I meant that if the Associate Dean said that the average cGPA for accepted applicants was 3.76, then that's entirely different then the cut-off being 3.76. Does that make sense? Haha ya I understand that the cut off will likely be below the average cGPA...I guess I'm just trying to determine by how much. I wish Queen's would be a tad bit less secretive with their process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkGhost Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Haha ya I understand that the cut off will likely be below the average cGPA...I guess I'm just trying to determine by how much. I wish Queen's would be a tad bit less secretive with their process. I do apologize if that was an unnecessary over-clarification on my part Yes, it's frustrating how 'secretive' the process is at most Canadian schools. I, personally, think it's worth applying to Queen's if you have a >3.50 cGPA, or a >3.70 L2GPA. That's just based on the trends I've seen on these boards over the years, and discussions with other applicants. Furthermore, since it's based on the applicant pool, there's literally no harm in applying... Except some mild finger cramping from having to click the Queen's button on OMSAS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost&Found Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I do apologize if that was an unnecessary over-clarification on my part Yes, it's frustrating how 'secretive' the process is at most Canadian schools. I, personally, think it's worth applying to Queen's if you have a >3.50 cGPA, or a >3.70 L2GPA. That's just based on the trends I've seen on these boards over the years, and discussions with other applicants. Furthermore, since it's based on the applicant pool, there's literally no harm in applying... Except some mild finger cramping from having to click the Queen's button on OMSAS. Haha its no worries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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