Application Cycle One: 2005

• Undergraduate college: University of Alberta
• Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 513
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 129, C/P 127, CARS 129   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.51
• Science GPA: 3.32

Summary of Application Experience

05/09/2005 - Submitted AMCAS (two transcripts outstanding)
14/09/2005 - OMSAS submitted
20/09/2005 - Last transcript received by AMCAS(finally)
29/09/2005 - AMCAS Processed
15/10/2005 - Submitted secondaries

05/12/2005 - Received interview at SUNY Upstate (phone call)

17/01/2006 - Interviewed at SUNY Upstate. Very low stress. Both my interviewers were researchers which was great for me. Both my conversations went longer than schedule (in a good way).

08/02/2006 - Received a High Priority Alternate list letter for SUNY Upstate. Historically chances are good from the HP alternate list...

09/02/2006 - Received a letter for an interview at Queen's (March 4). I'm really happy to get this interview!

04/03/2006 - Interviewed at Queen's - It went well. Panel interview (physician, student, community member) was also low stress. My interview was short and concise, but I felt it went really well.

15/05/2006 - Waitlisted at Queen's...along with everyone who didn't get an acceptance - 389 people!

07/06/2006 - Email offer from Queen's!

13/06/2006 - Withdrew from Upstate....sorry to do so. Nice school, nice people (especially admissions staff).



My advice to anyone starting this process is:

- Get good marks all the way through school. Academic transgressions (low grades) are hard to overcome. The earlier you know you want to go into medicine, the better.
- Apply widely and swallow the extra expense. The admissions process is very unpredictable and non-transparent and the application costs are not terribly significant in the big scheme of things.
- Be an interesting applicant. Build a diverse body of extracurricular activities and get involved in research if it interests you.
- If you don't get in one year, don't be discouraged! Assess your application, improve on the weaknesses, and apply again. Good luck!