g4m3r2 Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Hey guys, After third time of being put on WL/rejection from UBC as an IP, I'm considering applying to all Canadian schools. My question is, should I even bother applying even to the most competitive schools like Toronto or McGill? I'd greatly appreciate your feedback on how realistic my chances are in getting into those schools. Thanks! Stats:Full IB program gradcGPA: 82-83%; aGPA: 84-85%?; Prereq: 83%(Basically 3.7-3.8)MCAT: 28 first, 34 the second (11VR/12PS/11BS)Nonacademics: Graduated from a pharmacy program this year, 3 years in community pharmacy as an assistant, 1 month rotation in hospital under a pharmacist, 4 years volunteering at hospital, 3 years cadets (think 1 step below military reserves, and for teens. Similar idea as scouts but military based) -- co-led squadron band, playing in church band, martial arts for 11 years, president for a club x 2 years, vice president for student society. Toastmasters x 3 months. Duke of Edinburgh Award level gold, recognized provincially at a poster competition in senior year of high school.Publications (new this year): 2 as second authorVolunteering at a crisis line (new this year)One award (new this year) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeisawesome Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I am a huge proponent of trying. You won't know if you'll get in unless you at least try. If the application fees won't cripple you financially, apply to as many as possible!! Now, having said that, it also helps to target your application to schools you have the best shot at. Combing these threads for stats on OOP students accepted into schools is helpful, as well as reading the websites of the schools. For example, as OOP USask relies entirely on MCAT score to give interview invites (top 97% percentile were automatically given an interview this year, top 96% percentile were placed on the interview waitlist). For Ontario schools, it would help to have a yearly breakdown of your GPA. Some schools (i.e. Queens) only look at your best two years. NOSM would be great if you are from a northern or rural area. OttawaU you would need a high GPA (around 3.9) whereas for Mac they look at your CARS/VR score and you have to do an online CASPer test (worth about 30% of score determining if you get an interview or not). U of C you need a minimum GPA of 3.8 to apply as OOP (over a minimum of 2 years), but then they look a lot at your ECs. Good luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InstantRamen Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdj78we9jtf2o3mgfvj298j Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Apply to Schulich for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastrunningfish Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 You may need the new MCAT so be weary of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edict Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I would apply to McMaster, 3.7-3.8 cGPA, 11 VR gives you a shot, not the greatest shot as an OOP but definitely worth applying. Realistically, you probably aren't going to get into McGill or UofT with your GPA, but you can apply to UofT, you never know, its just your GPA that is pulling you down. I'm not too familiar with McGill so can't comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artier Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Do you qualify for U of T weighting? If so, what would be your wGPA?If money is not a limiting factor, apply to Queen's, Western, McMaster, U of T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_ _ Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Double check using the OMSAS scale that you have 2 full-time years that meet the course level requirements and at 3.7+, and if you do apply to Western because you're basically assured an interview. Most importantly, three cycles with waitlists seems to suggest that you might be struggling a bit with the interviews. If you meeting the Western GPA requirements, or even otherwise, I'd suggest starting reading about social determinants of health, etc., and practicing questions as soon as you can (not even MMI specifically, I think that's low-yield after a point). Really solidify examples/answers of your experiences that fit the Can Meds competencies, and work on tone, presentation, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4m3r2 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Hey all, Thanks for your replies. I've narrowed the list down to MUN, U of M, U of S, and UBC. *Edit: MAC as well U of T and McGill will obviously be reach schools. I can't apply to Albertan schools or Queens because of the new MCAT requirement. Not sure if I can apply to Western, because my two "best" years with 30 credits from Sept to April had a GPA < 3.7 (I had 28 credits for two of my years, and a year with 30 credits which had 18 credits of pass fail because it was a practicum) U of T I think I qualify for GPA adjustment, but even then my GPA is like 84-85 at best. Side note: does anyone know how to calculate your GPA if you went to two different schools that use two different grading scales (4.0 and 4.33)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbgirl93 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Hey all, Thanks for your replies. I've narrowed the list down to MUN, U of M, U of S, and UBC. U of T and McGill will obviously be reach schools. I can't apply to Albertan schools or Queens because of the new MCAT requirement. Not sure if I can apply to Western, because my two "best" years with 30 credits from Sept to April had a GPA < 3.7 (I had 28 credits for two of my years, and a year with 30 credits which had 18 credits of pass fail because it was a practicum) U of T I think I qualify for GPA adjustment, but even then my GPA is like 84-85 at best. Side note: does anyone know how to calculate your GPA if you went to two different schools that use two different grading scales (4.0 and 4.33)? Are you IP for MUN (NB, PEI, Yukon maybe)? Your MCAT score looks good but their GPA cutoff for OOP applicants is deceptively high from what I've seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbgirl93 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 You could also consider applying to Dal, depending on your GPA breakdown and assuming you have any maritime connection/interest in attending med school in the maritimes. Good luck! Edit: Actually I think Dal is only accepting the new MCAT this year so that may not be an option after all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4m3r2 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 You could also consider applying to Dal, depending on your GPA breakdown and assuming you have any maritime connection/interest in attending med school in the maritimes. Good luck! Edit: Actually I think Dal is only accepting the new MCAT this year so that may not be an option after all I'd love to apply to Dal, but I don't meet the minimum 3.7 GPA for every year requirement . Thanks for your input though! What is the MUN GPA cutoff? I thought it was 3.7? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artier Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Hey all, Thanks for your replies. I've narrowed the list down to MUN, U of M, U of S, and UBC. U of T and McGill will obviously be reach schools. I can't apply to Albertan schools or Queens because of the new MCAT requirement. Not sure if I can apply to Western, because my two "best" years with 30 credits from Sept to April had a GPA < 3.7 (I had 28 credits for two of my years, and a year with 30 credits which had 18 credits of pass fail because it was a practicum) U of T I think I qualify for GPA adjustment, but even then my GPA is like 84-85 at best. Side note: does anyone know how to calculate your GPA if you went to two different schools that use two different grading scales (4.0 and 4.33)? Queen's new MCAT requirement does not apply for this cycle. http://meds.queensu.ca/education/undergraduate/prospective_students/application_process/mcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_ _ Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 I'd love to apply to Dal, but I don't meet the minimum 3.7 GPA for every year requirement . Thanks for your input though! What is the MUN GPA cutoff? I thought it was 3.7? Higher for OOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbgirl93 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 They don't have cutoffs at all for IP applicants but I think I remember people over on the MUN forum unofficially figuring out that the OOP cutoff was around 90% this year. I could be wrong, but I do know it's likely quite a bit higher than your GPA so I wouldn't recommend wasting money on the huge application fee. Call and check with MUN though, they're very helpful over the phone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4m3r2 Posted June 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Thanks everyone for your responses I'll call MUN and ask them what the OOP cutoffs are What are everyones' thoughts about McMaster and Queen's? For Queen's, seems like people who got invites with my GPA are those finishing up their MSc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 8th Hokage Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Thanks everyone for your responses I'll call MUN and ask them what the OOP cutoffs are What are everyones' thoughts about McMaster and Queen's? For Queen's, seems like people who got invites with my GPA are those finishing up their MSc... Before we can give you our thoughts on your chances to either of Queens or McMaster, we will need you to convert your grades into your OMSAS GPA. Having the pure average is not good enough and it would be better to have a year by year break down of your GPA and whether each year has a full course load Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4m3r2 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2016 They don't have cutoffs at all for IP applicants but I think I remember people over on the MUN forum unofficially figuring out that the OOP cutoff was around 90% this year. I could be wrong, but I do know it's likely quite a bit higher than your GPA so I wouldn't recommend wasting money on the huge application fee. Call and check with MUN though, they're very helpful over the phone! So I called MUN the other day, and they said they still don't have strict cutoffs even for OOP. But they suggested 3.7 and 10's on all MCAT section to be competitive...But they do only take like 5 people in a 70 people class. I think the lady said 350 OOP's applied last year. Thoughts? Before we can give you our thoughts on your chances to either of Queens or McMaster, we will need you to convert your grades into your OMSAS GPA. Having the pure average is not good enough and it would be better to have a year by year break down of your GPA and whether each year has a full course load Year 1: 28 credits, 3.82/4.33 without summer, 4.33/4.33 in that summer semester summer Year 2: 33 credits, 77.5% without summer, about 75% that summer Year 3: 28 credits, 78.8 without summer, nothing that summer Year 4: 30 credits, 80.2% without summer, 9 credits of 94.5% average that summer Year 5: 12 credits and 18 P/F. The average of 12 credits = 92%, graduated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_ _ Posted July 2, 2016 Report Share Posted July 2, 2016 So I called MUN the other day, and they said they still don't have strict cutoffs even for OOP. But they suggested 3.7 and 10's on all MCAT section to be competitive...But they do only take like 5 people in a 70 people class. I think the lady said 350 OOP's applied last year. Thoughts? Year 1: 28 credits, 3.82/4.33 without summer, 4.33/4.33 in that summer semester summer Year 2: 33 credits, 77.5% without summer, about 75% that summer Year 3: 28 credits, 78.8 without summer, nothing that summer Year 4: 30 credits, 80.2% without summer, 9 credits of 94.5% average that summer Year 5: 12 credits and 18 P/F. The average of 12 credits = 92%, graduated They meant the OMSAS scale I believe, which is out of 4. Unfortunately, we still can't tell you much until you convert your GPA into the 4.0 scale, which needs to be done a per-course basis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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