3.5 GPA with pretty solid ECs and refs...where do I have a shot?

[balster]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently at McGill with a 3.5 gpa and want to apply to MD schools in the US and Canada. Yes, my GPA looks like crap, but I have some weird accomplishments that may (or may not...?) stand out.

Stats:
-Québec resident
-Non URM
-Don't need financial aid

Academics (The Saga...):
-Theatre minor and social studies of medicine minor
-I never got anything under a B-. My grades are mostly A's and A- with a few B+/Bs and two B- in four-credit courses that brought it down.
-All my semesters were great (3.8ish) except one crappy semester where I had a semester GPA of 3.17 (I'd taken 7 courses in one semester. They were: organic 2, org 2 lab, biochem, physiology, physiology lab, an intense performance class, and medical sociology (my only A that sem)). I was also taking an opera course at the McGill conservatory (I'm a singer too). I don't know how I came out alive but I did. I got an A, 4 B's, a B+, and a B-. There was clearly something wrong with my brain when I chose to take those classes.
-Then I made another stupid decision - take genetics in summer school because it's better then! And then I got the worst final exam schedule of my life for my Semester from Hell - I had an exam on the Last Day of Exams!! And then two days later my summer school began! And I was taking an MCAT course. I ended up with a B+ in that class. Why did I make these decisions? Bad advice from my advisor. He told me I needed 30 credits in a year and only had 13 my 1st semester... turned out the 30/yr doesn't apply to first-years, who are expected to carry a lighter load. Also, I didn't need 30 credits per year because...
-I took 2 classes at Harvard Summer School when I was in CEGEP and got A- in both of them. My credit request came back positive... 6 months after I filed it, AFTER I finished my crazy semester (I could have postponed one or two of those classes and still graduated on time). Oh well, you live and you learn.

MCAT
- Currently taking an MCAT course. Sacrificed the opportunity to go to Peru on a medical trip so that I could study my butt off for MCAT and work on my US apps. Taking an MCAT course this summer (took one last year but realized I wasn't ready for the MCAT because I was taking genetics at the same time and was behind in MCAT).
I expect a score in the low-30s and a reasonable verbal score since I'm an experienced writer.

Non-Academics
-I have some weird accomplishments.
-For example, I wrote a musical (as in, the entire musical including the music) and it was performed in front of 1000 people and landed me in the Gazette. It's on youtube if you're curious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfH34WXXUBo
Oh, and it made fun of stressed-out premeds :P
-Took one of the hardest programs of study at McGill (Physiology major)
-Worked in a slum last August in Peru with Patch Adams. Blended my performing arts and clinical experience )
-I've been published in a few major exclusive undergrad journals.
-Refs will be good, I have developed a wonderful friendship with a physiology professor of mine (who is the cat's pajamas - she's a poet who writes funny poems about physiology and recites them to the class!) I did an undergraduate research project for a semester and kicked butt on it, my PI said it was the best undergraduate project he'd ever seen. Unfortunately I couldn't continue to work with him the following semester because....
- I studied abroad in Singapore! And it was awesome!
- I've been volunteering at the same hospital (in a clinical setting with doctors always coming and going and showing me things!) for four years and they love me there.
- I have oodles of shadowing experience. In Singapore, I even shadowed a surgeon for 2 weeks every day!
-This list goes onandonandon....

Oh, and I'm really passionate about medicine. Can you tell?

Questions:
1) How screwed am I?
2) What schools should I apply to that will give my app the time of day?
3) Any additional advice?

I would appreciate any help the wonderful people on this thread could provide.

[deathvvv]

Assuming you get 30+ on MCAT (32+ ideal). You should be able to get into a school in the US. Forget Ontario unless you get over 11 in verbal. Why don't you apply to Quebec schools? I heard they are pretty easy to get in for Francophones.

[balster]

Of course I'm applying to Québec schools! Those are my first choices (especially McGill). I just don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

[bearpuppy]

just one piece of advice... if you do mention any of these things regarding your GPA in a personal statement, *take responsibility for it yourself* -- do NOT blame anyone else.. it will not be well received, IMO.

[balster]

I think I'm going to attach a separate letter where I candidly discuss the mistakes I've made, and why even though they lowered my GPA, I do not regret them.

(i.e. took 7 courses --> learned my limits, and that I don't take class for the gpa, I take classes because I'm curious about the subject matter.)

[Slashsev01]

You gotto kill the mcat!!!
Which still makes u a low chance

Check out DO too

[esus]

ECs are awesome, the MCAT will be what makes or breaks your application in the US. Apply broadly with a good mix of low/mid-tiers and maybe a few reach schools.

[nychila]

When is your MCAT scheduled? July MCATs are a little late, especially for applicants with below-average stats.

All rests on your MCAT score friend.

[keith_015]

Originally Posted by balster

I think I'm going to attach a separate letter where I candidly discuss the mistakes I've made, and why even though they lowered my GPA, I do not regret them.

(i.e. took 7 courses --> learned my limits, and that I don't take class for the gpa, I take classes because I'm curious about the subject matter.)

There is no so place to "attach a separate letter".

[Hackintosh]

Originally Posted by keith_015

There is no so place to "attach a separate letter".

Agreed. I think you have to mention your low GPA in the personal statement. Regardless, I think your GPA is a little on the low side considering that you are applying as a Canadian student.