canadian student

**cdn_girl** · 22-03-2007, 08:22 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian student looking to gain entry into a UK med. school.

I'm very concerned about my grades though. I want to use my high school grades to apply not my uni marks although I'm in 2nd year here since they're no where near the >3.5 GPA most schools are asking for.

grade 12 biology - 96
grade 12 chemistry - 74
grade 12 calculus - 76
grade 12 english - 92
grade 12 law - 76
grade 12 history - 88

average - 83.5%

In terms of volunteer work, work experience - I'm on the Speaker's Bureau for an eating disorders centre in Toronto (which means I go around to schools and give talks on body image/health issues), I've done two co-op placements in hospitals, I'm currently employed at an old-age home. I also have lots of school-related leadership experience.

I'm not really sure what steps to take at this point - should I take A-levels , go back and re-do some of my grade 12 credits?

I really want to study in the UK and would particularly love to hear responses from Canadians who are studying there now or are applying this year.

**Scottish Chap** · 22-03-2007, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by cdn_girl

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian student looking to gain entry into a UK med. school.

I'm very concerned about my grades though. I want to use my high school grades to apply not my uni marks although I'm in 2nd year here since they're no where near the >3.5 GPA most schools are asking for.

grade 12 biology - 96
grade 12 chemistry - 74
grade 12 calculus - 76
grade 12 english - 92
grade 12 law - 76
grade 12 history - 88

average - 83.5%

In terms of volunteer work, work experience - I'm on the Speaker's Bureau for an eating disorders centre in Toronto (which means I go around to schools and give talks on body image/health issues), I've done two co-op placements in hospitals, I'm currently employed at an old-age home. I also have lots of school-related leadership experience.

I'm not really sure what steps to take at this point - should I take A-levels , go back and re-do some of my grade 12 credits?

I really want to study in the UK and would particularly love to hear responses from Canadians who are studying there now or are applying this year.

I think there is no way that you're going to be able to 'hide' the fact that you have been to uni. It will come out on paper or at the interview. The truth will save you.

**me2** · 22-03-2007, 06:20 PM

yep...you can't hide your university at all.
i applied this year to england schools. i wish they'd only consider my highschool grades, but the truth of the matter is that they only consider your university grades. they don't care about your high school grades.

**cdn_girl** · 22-03-2007, 07:08 PM

ok - once you're in enrolled at uni. they automatically or will basically dig through the system to find your info. even if you don't declare it?
is this the case with all undergrad programs in the UK?
me2 - were you done your degree when you applied?
because if i'm using my uni. marks it seems a bit hopeless at the minute since the min. requirement is 3.5 GPA. - are any schools more understanding about this?
would they consider a-levels if you had them instead?

**sumina13** · 22-03-2007, 07:59 PM

i have made it into glasgow university with a 3.38 (rounded to a 3.4) GPA from a BS in biochemistry from an US university. I had taken some post graduate courses as well and had a GPA from there of 3.9 - though they were only 3 classes [to make a long story short, i got free tuition as a employee of U.Penn where I was enrolled in a program mostly to explore fields of interest to me]
i applied in 2005 for 2007 entry to:
glasgow - accepted
birmingham - rejected
nottingham - rejected
bristol - rejected

i would certainly look up minimum requirements for universities you are interested. email them and ask what you can do. if you think about the next 2 years as years to increase your chances of getting to a great Uni, then it is worth it.

I think places like Oxford also usually interview their applicants. So it might be worth considering that too because you can shine in their eyes. However, b/c you got only 4 choices for medicine, "choose wisely".

I have a sense that many things get evaluated, GPA included. If you think GPA won't get you pass the pile where they would read you personal statement, then seriously consider a master (if you can do it in 1 year for example). kicking ass on your masters may make your undergrad grades not so important - additionally, nothing will stop you from applying after graduating from college (you can apply again next year, specially if you are still guiding your life towards med school).

If you take exams such as the UKCAT and MCATs, perhaps those can help you look better academically as well (granted you have to do well).

keep it up!

**David K** · 31-03-2007, 05:39 PM

Hey Sumina13
Just caught on this thread that you are from the States and got in to Glasgow. Congrats! You planning on accepting? I am a Canadian/American studying in my first year at Glasgow med. If you have any questions about the program or anything I'd be happy to help. I'm not really on the forum too much, so not up to date with recent threads. I know it's hard finding info from across the pond! If any other canadians have any specific questions id be happy to help if i can.
dave

**sumina13** · 02-04-2007, 11:56 PM

hi dave.
thank you very much for extending your hand.

In terms of the Glasgow curricula, my concerns are:
1) Is the program international student friendly?
2) Are the faculty sensitive to your needs or do you feel like you are on your own most of the time?
3) Do you feel that the program allows you to have a worldwide view of medicine and not just one focused on Glasgow's?
4) if you came into the program with a bachelor's degree, did you feel that it was difficult to sink in with the other students?

With respect to the situation for IMG from Glasgow. Here are my concerns:
1) Where are the international students planning to do, given the law passed last April restricting our ability to continue training after Foundation Years?
2) so you foresee the US and Canada allowing you to come back for residency?

**David K** · 07-04-2007, 01:27 AM

Hey Sumina sorry for the slow response.

1)Not too sure what you’re asking with this one. The books they generally like us to use are published in the UK, and you have to learn the UK equivalent to certain words, like they use adrenaline instead of epinephrine, ect.

2)The faculty is pretty good about helping you out if you have any problems, but the program is very self directed. They really don’t give you much guidance. I would say (and I believe most students would agree) that they could be a lot more supportive without taking away from the PBL nature. Some facilitators are very helpful and encouraging, while others don’t really put much effort into it. You can always access resources if you need it though and each student is assigned to an advisor. I would just say that if you arnt already very inspired and driven to do medicine this program wont help motivate you (just an impression thus far).

3)This is hard to answer right now because I’m only in first year. The last two blocks were based around pubic health and the major diseases we focused on where the big ones in Scotland, but those are also major problems in North America (CHD, COPD, lung cancer, ect.). One major resource for the block was a Glasgow published paper about the health determinants in Glasgow, but they could be applied elsewhere. I think the program will give you what you need to practice anywhere (I hope).

4)Not at all. There’s a great atmosphere in the school and everyone is really nice. There are tons of students coming with degrees. I actually havnt been in a single PBL group yet where I have been the only postgrad. The ages in year one range from 17 to about 30.

1)There have been a couple of meetings for international students about the new policy. It seems most plan on doing their FY1 and FY2 in the UK, but go home after that to finish training (it seems most planned to do that anyway). Internationals will be allowed to apply to positions that cant be filled by local students, but those will be the ones nobody wants. There are a few things in the works right now with students protesting and writing letters. I don’t know too much about it because I have an Irish passport through my folks, so the policy doesn’t affect me. Anyways this wouldn’t be a problem for 7 years and who knows what the policy will be by then.

2)I plan on going wherever I can get a residency. At the moment Canada is looking for internationally trained doctors due to a doctor shortage, but by the time I graduate that may have changed. I’ll cross that bridge when the time comes. I know a few Canadians in the program and they all plan on going back to Canada. Just have to study really hard to make sure I can pass the conversion exams.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll try and get back to you faster
Best wishes
david