Should i consider medicine?

**rkukreja** · 18-07-2007, 07:41 AM

hello everyone,
I am an undergrad 3rd year student purusing BSc. i have a gpa of 3.3 and my problem is that i am now starting to think about medicine as a future career. basically, what i wanna know is that do i have a good chance of getting in a medical school if i hope that by the time i graduate (and apply in my last yea) i would improve my gpa (to let's say 3.5)? I am not sure if canadian schools are really hard to get into as opposed to US...should i consider US schools or think about private medical schools? go overseas (eg Ross)? any clue as to how i should go abouts searching or any suggestions???
(sorry about the list of qs)

**sicilia** · 18-07-2007, 07:57 AM

Hey there,
first of all, where about r u from?

**rkukreja** · 18-07-2007, 08:07 PM

I am from vancouver. studying here (have my citizenship).

**Scottish Chap** · 19-07-2007, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by rkukreja

hello everyone,
I am an undergrad 3rd year student purusing BSc. i have a gpa of 3.3 and my problem is that i am now starting to think about medicine as a future career. basically, what i wanna know is that do i have a good chance of getting in a medical school if i hope that by the time i graduate (and apply in my last yea) i would improve my gpa (to let's say 3.5)? I am not sure if canadian schools are really hard to get into as opposed to US...should i consider US schools or think about private medical schools? go overseas (eg Ross)? any clue as to how i should go abouts searching or any suggestions???
(sorry about the list of qs)

While it's true that a high GPA is important in securing admission to medical school, a fine showing on the MCAT can occasionally off-set a slightly lower GPA in the U.S. In Canada, several medical schools have a strict GPA cut-off and if you don't meet it, your application is screened out by a computer. Bottom line: go for it, and only pursue medical school overseas once you have exhausted all options in North America.

**rkukreja** · 21-07-2007, 11:58 PM

thanks, scottish chap!

**cotroni** · 22-07-2007, 06:03 PM

Being Canadian, from Montreal, (and French as well), I did my Bsc in Canada, let me tell you that unfortunately there are very few chances to be accepted with 3.3 gpa.
Canada is harder than the US to get, the criteria are just different:

in US if you are not UScitizen, just don't waste time to apply unless you have stellar gpa and MCAT scores + excellent recommendation letter+ extra curricular activities.

in Canada, to have a chance to eb interviewed you should have at least 3.6, however, it only means that you have to get interviewed, then it will depend on weight that the med school attributes to the interview versus academic background and GPA.

I have a friend of mine who got interviewed 2 years ago in montreal with 3.6 gpa, he had the best score at his interview but his 3.6 gpa did not counterbalance sufficiently to get in.

Now he is studying in switzerland.

Therefore, 2 opotions for you:
1-do your best and be committed to get more than 3.5 if possible
2-do medicine overseas.

option 3: no other options than 1 and 2

good luck!