Phosphorus Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Hello everyone, My apologies for the long post. I just graduated and I'm looking to apply to some U.S. MD schools for the first time. I'm quite lost with the process and would appreciate any advice. My dream school is Mayo. cGPA: 3.88 sGPA: 3.89 MCAT: 11BS/7VR/11PS - Not URM, however I have been financially disadvantaged for most of my life. I do have a powerful story to tell in my personal statement about this and why I think this prepares me for a career in medicine. - I have very strong letters of reference as I know all of my referees on a personal level (known each for 3 years or more). Extracurricular Activities Research Experience/Research Conferences/Research Awards/Publications: - Research assistant to dean of the faculty of science (January 2015 - Current; 40 hours per week) - Authored in four different research abstracts (one first author) - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award/Scholarship (NSERC-USRA) recipient (highly prestigious and competitive award) - Will receive another research award later this month. - Recently presented at a national research conference. - Presented un-related academic poster at home institution conference. Teaching/Tutoring/Leadership - Supported learning group leader for both OChem I and II (2013 - 2015; 720 hours; 15 hrs/wk w/ 10 hrs paid and 5 hrs volunteer) - Peer tutor w/ a private tutoring company. (2013 - Current; 50 hours; paid position). - Volunteer ESL tutor (2013 - Current; 60 hours) - Science and math tutor w/ provincial government tutoring agency; offered free tutoring to middle and high school students. (2010 - 2012; 4 hours per week; paid position). Other Work Experience: - Best Buy Computer Sales Specialist - Subway Sandwich Artist - McDonalds - Save-On-Foods Grocery Store Community Service Ethic - Big Brothers Big Sister of Canada (2011 - Current; 210 hours will be completed by August of application cycle; volunteer). - Top executive and webmaster for one of the largest student-led organizations at my university (2010 - 2012; 72 hours; volunteer) - Volunteer Fitness Advisor (2011 - Current; 95 hours) - Volunteer counsellor within the victim Services Unit at my local police department (May 2015 - Current; 4 hours per week) Healthcare Experience - Hospital emergency department volunteer and team leader (2010 - 2012; 149 hours) - Assistant family caregiver (Summer 2010; 64 hours) Other Awards: - Dean's list (most semesters) - Won two other academic and leadership scholarships; possibly more on the way in the next month. Diversity of Experience - I am an amateur athlete; play in recreational soccer league and body build) (> 1000 hours over the last 5 years). ---- My dream school is Mayo and I have no idea to which other schools I should apply to. I don't even know how I would find out which schools to should even consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Seems like you have a solid gpa and ecs. Too bad your MCAT score is low though, I would retake it and if you can bump it up even 5 points your odds would increase a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Fair enough. I'm applying to UBC to see if I can get in there, however I wanted to keep my options open. I guess I'l have to rewrite MCAT... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Fair enough. I'm applying to UBC to see if I can get in there, however I wanted to keep my options open. I guess I'l have to rewrite MCAT... Are you OOP or IP for UBC? I'm assuming OOP as you use GPA metric, I think you have a decent shot at getting an interview - it will depend on how you luck out with your NAQ score evaluation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Are you OOP or IP for UBC? I'm assuming OOP as you use GPA metric, I think you have a decent shot at getting an interview - it will depend on how you luck out with your NAQ score evaluation. Hi Gohan, I am actually an IP applicant. UBC is my best shot, but I feel uneasy applying to only one school. Then again, I don't have much of a choice in terms of Canadian schools. My UBC GPA is a little over 88%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 You could have a shot at Mac, if you destroy Casper.long shot but a shot. Too bad about the VR, keeps you out of a lot of OOP schools you would have a strong shot at (uofc, UWO etc) maybe queens would give you a shot? Not sure on their MCAT stance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I would throw my hat in the ring for McGill too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edict Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 The 7 VR would make it very difficult for Mac unfortunately, realistically with a 3.88 GPA a 10 VR would be necessary unless your CASPer score is just ridiculously high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Yeah, Mac does seem like a long shot. I could try for McGill given that I will have my degree.The 7VR is really holding me back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBALLMED Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Why not look into USDO medical programs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Well from what I can tell they're all very expensive and I'm not co fidebt that I'd be able to get a cosigner for one of my loans. Do you happen to know the cheapest DO school? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 There are a few DO schools that are much cheaper than most private USMD. Mu-com, kcu-com and lmu-dcom are all cheap overall for tuition and cost of living. Tourcom NY is cheap tuition too, but cost of living depends what you're wanting. All are mid 40s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Thanks Gohan. Are these high-tier DO schools? I heard PCOM is really good, however I'm not sure if they're Canadian friendly. If I am going to pay that kind of money I would like to go to a top DO school. Thank you and everyone else again for your expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 There aren't really tiers. The schools that take Canadians are all fairly good. Mu-com while newer, is an amazing school and kcu is one of the oldest and very strong. Lmu is cheap and in a rural area so cost of living is low, still a fine school. As for "paying that kinda money" welcome to US medical school admissions. Those schools below 50k for tuition are some of the cheapest you will find MD or DO(barring scholarships, which are really only on the MD side and for top applicants, which your 29 MCAT is unlikely but not impossible, to net you one). A handful of the other Canadian friendly DO schools are in the low-mid 50s, and then the other 3-4 are high 50s, low 60s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Thanks Gohan. I'll take a look into those. I was looking at PCOM's website and it said that we could have handed stuff in by March! Am I too late to even apply this cycle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 The cycle for august 2016, opens this month or next. You missed the boat long ago for august 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 Oh, fair enough. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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