Hey guys,
I am a Canadian who is thinking of taking my Medical school quest international. Unfortunately, because of where I live I have the poorest chances in Canada to get into a Canadian medical school. Not sure if American Schools are any better, but here's to hoping!
My academics are good, but my ECs are pitiful. :(
MCAT: 36Q - BS 15, PS 11, VR 10
*edit* my GPA is actually not as high as I originally though - will get back to you when I figure out what it is in AMCAS. In OMSAS it is 3.94, so I'll go with that for now.
ECs:
- Two years on student leadership teams - one year with a leadership position within the team
- Some charity work: participating in an event as a team leader, volunteering at a four day event, working in the charity office for a couple of weeks in the summer. Trying to get a position with them again right now
- A short observership at Toronto General Hospital, A month long observership at a community health centre (observerships are not as easy to come by in Canada)
- Two months volunteering at a clinic in Ghana
- Various jobs unrelated to medicine (marine industry)
- No research (due to bad timing, the need for money, and the competitive nature of Toronto research positions)
- Volunteered in a hospital in Grade 12 for a year (not sure if high school stuff counts in American applications)
- Currently a class representative for my continuing education student union
- Pretty involved in my hobbies of visual arts (sketching - sometimes sketch for my friend who is an amateur novellist) and cycling (take spin classes, sometimes cycle in a group)
- used to volunteer for my teacher in a spare period in grade 12, still speak to some of her classes on university life
- some other miscellaneous bits and pieces here and there...
So I'm thinking not to bother with the top tier research schools. Other than that I have no idea where to apply, or what I need to do to make my application stronger.
If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate the help...
Thanks!
I am a Canadian who is thinking of taking my Medical school quest international. Unfortunately, because of where I live I have the poorest chances in Canada to get into a Canadian medical school. Not sure if American Schools are any better, but here's to hoping!
My academics are good, but my ECs are pitiful. :(
MCAT: 36Q - BS 15, PS 11, VR 10
*edit* my GPA is actually not as high as I originally though - will get back to you when I figure out what it is in AMCAS. In OMSAS it is 3.94, so I'll go with that for now.
ECs:
- Two years on student leadership teams - one year with a leadership position within the team
- Some charity work: participating in an event as a team leader, volunteering at a four day event, working in the charity office for a couple of weeks in the summer. Trying to get a position with them again right now
- A short observership at Toronto General Hospital, A month long observership at a community health centre (observerships are not as easy to come by in Canada)
- Two months volunteering at a clinic in Ghana
- Various jobs unrelated to medicine (marine industry)
- No research (due to bad timing, the need for money, and the competitive nature of Toronto research positions)
- Volunteered in a hospital in Grade 12 for a year (not sure if high school stuff counts in American applications)
- Currently a class representative for my continuing education student union
- Pretty involved in my hobbies of visual arts (sketching - sometimes sketch for my friend who is an amateur novellist) and cycling (take spin classes, sometimes cycle in a group)
- used to volunteer for my teacher in a spare period in grade 12, still speak to some of her classes on university life
- some other miscellaneous bits and pieces here and there...
So I'm thinking not to bother with the top tier research schools. Other than that I have no idea where to apply, or what I need to do to make my application stronger.
If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate the help...
Thanks!