Preparing for Medical School
The medical profession can be very rewarding – emotionally, intellectually and financially. Being a doctor allows you to treat the sick, conduct medical research and teach medical/health sciences. However, before you make a decision about medicine as a career, you should carefully research the field to see where the opportunities lie and to determine if the nature of the work suits your personality and career ambitions. There are many different ways to obtain the information necessary to make an informed decision and to be successful in the medical school application process. To discuss your career concerns regarding medicine or any other career question you have, please book an appointment with a Career Counsellor by calling 905-828-5451. The following is a guide to resources at the UTM Career Centre, as well as suggestions for additional ways of obtaining information on careers in the field of medicine.
Watch My Journey to Medical School - a video from our former student staff on his journey to medical School
Educational Requirements
Ontario has six medical schools, each with its own academic and non-academic admission requirements. Please check each school’s website for up-to-date information. The application process for all Ontario medical schools is centralized through OMSAS (Ontario Medical School Application Service) and admission must be made through the OMSAS website. The application deadline for Fall 2022 is Oct. 1, 2021, and you MUST create your online COMPASS.OMSAS account by Sept. 15, 2021; if you have not created your account by this date you will not be eligible to apply for the coming year.
Tip: Create an account with OMSAS well ahead of time (mid-July). You can re-enter your account multiple times and add to your application throughout the summer. Print out the application package, read it carefully, highlight key areas and make notes to help you prepare your materials.
Applications are online at www.ouac.on.ca/omsas
Ontario Faculties of Medicine
McMaster University
Faculty of Health Sciences
Michael G. Degroote School of Medicine
905-525-9140 ext. 22235
mdadmit@mcmaster.ca
https://mdprogram.mcmaster.ca
University of Ottawa
Faculty of Medicine
613-562-5800 ext. 8117
infomed@uottawa.ca
https://med.uottawa.ca/en
University of Western Ontario
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Schulich School of Medicine
519-661-3459
admissions.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca
www.schulich.uwo.ca
Queen’s University
Undergraduate Medical Education
Faculty of Medicine
613-533-3307
queensmd@queensu.ca
http://meds.queensu.ca/undergrad
University of Toronto
Faculty of Medicine
416-978-7928
medicine.admiss@utoronto.ca
www.md.utoronto.ca
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
1-800-461-8777
admissions@nosm.ca
www.nosm.ca
Admission Tests (MCAT) (New VERSION as of 2015)
In Ontario, four of the six medical schools (U of T, McMaster, Queens and Western) require applicants to take the MCAT (Medical School Admission Test). The MCAT contains four * sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Things, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Psychological and Social Foundations, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Consider studying well in advance and/or taking a prep course (Princeton, Kaplan, Oxford, Prep101) to prepare yourself for this first major hurdle in your medical career.
For more information (including practice tests and questions) and to register for the MCAT, visit www.aamc.org/mcat, or email mcat@aamc.org.
* More information on this new test is available on the MCAT site listed in the previous paragraph.
Tip: While first-year physical and life science courses will provide the base knowledge for the MCAT, many students spend two to three months studying prior to their MCAT test date to obtain competitive scores. Commercial prep courses may provide a structured study plan as well as motivation for rigorous study. They do, however, require significant time and financial investment (e.g. two to three evenings per week, every other full Saturday for two to three months).
MCAT Administration Dates – as of January 2016 the MCAT is computer-based, with around 20 test dates from January till late September. Check the MCAT website for locations and dates. Registration for tests will typically open three to four months prior to the test date.
Researching Your Career Options
Career Information
The pink OCCUPATIONAL section (311) in the Career Resource Library contains career monographs, interviews with health care professionals, articles offering profiles of the profession, as well as recent trends, along with medical association information. There is also information on the various sub-disciplines of medicine (pathology, neurology, cardiology etc.).
Career Cruising, a Canadian online career exploration tool, provides in-depth information (job description, average day, education requirements, information interviews etc.) for a variety of medical professions including Family Practitioner, Plastic Surgeon, Psychiatrist, Ob-Gyn and Pediatrician. Read more about Accessing Career Cruising.
Education Information
OMSAS, MCAT, and other related websites can be found on the UTM Career Centre website under Further Education. The medical school directory Medical School Admission Requirements US and Canada includes curriculum information, entrance requirements (MCAT, courses, GPA), selection factors and financial aid. Additionally, Ontario residents considering studying medicine outside Ontario can check out the “Medical School Outside Ontario- Mission Not So Impossible” panel package. The Yale Guide to Careers in Medicine and the Health Professions, Pathways to Medicine in the 21st includes advice from professionals in a variety of health care fields including insight into how they made their career choices and what their experiences were like.
Physicians embracing your practice: The Pfizer guide to careers for physicians profiles the life and work of doctors working in a variety of medical specialties.
Workshops/Events/Services/Other Resources
The Career Centre offers Medical School Information Sessions, Resume and Cover Letter workshops and Personal Statement workshops to assist you in your career planning and preparation for medical school. You can also make an individual appointment with a Career Counsellor to clarify and prepare for your career goals.
The Graduate & Professional Schools Fair 2022 held in late September allows students to meet representatives from professional schools in Canada, US and abroad and ask questions concerning health-related professional schools. The Get Hired Fair (September/January) allows students to speak with local organizations to explore volunteer and paid opportunities.
As part of your application process, you will be asked to prepare a Personal Statement. The ability to communicate your motivation, academic and career goals, relevant skills and experiences in application essays and interviews is key to gaining admission to medical school. Jot down accomplishments, goals, essay themes and other ideas as you gather them. The best personal statements are honest, concise and seek to let medical schools know how you can contribute to the program, your peers and the community. To help you with the medical school application process, The UTM Career Centre and the Academic Skills Centre offer feedback for personal statements. Please note that editing services are not offered. The Career Centre offers Personal Statements Workshops three times each semester. You can also begin your statement by completing our Personal Statement E-Module. It is available to you 24/7 for your convenience. Seek others to read and critique your answers. Help is available through the UTM Career Centre. Book an appointment with a Career Counsellor so that we can review your statement. Of course, you are always welcome to drop by the Undergraduate Medical School Admissions Office in the Medical Sciences Building for application concerns to U of T, Faculty of Medicine. The Pre-Med Club on campus provides a comprehensive website of medical school-related links. In addition, they offer a variety of events (MCAT strategies, speaker-based panels) to further assist students in their application for medical school.
References, Interviews
We also recommend speaking to your academic/professional character referees at least a month prior to the application deadline. Schedule an appointment to clarify your objectives and provide them with the referee assessment form, your resume, a list of accomplishments, and a stamped and addressed envelope to OMSAS. Also consult the Career Resource Library materials, such as "Essays that Worked for Medical School" (MED Admission Guides bin, Health Occupational section). In the event that you are invited to a medical school interview, make an appointment with a Career Counsellor so that we can help you to prepare for the interview.
Non-academic Involvement
Develop a personal and professional career portfolio. Strive to gain quality experiences in your community and abroad through work, volunteer and extra-curricular activities. Obtaining work and volunteer experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, centres for disabled kids, community and other health-related settings shows compassion, commitment, and most importantly, your understanding of the nature of a physician’s job. While medical school candidates usually have top grades and MCAT scores, it is the sum total of your life’s unique experiences, in addition to top grades, that will give you the edge.
Have a Backup Plan
If at first you fail, try and try again! There’s more than one way of getting into medical school. It is no longer the linear, traditional, straight-out-of-undergrad route of the past. Consider a master’s degree, study/work in a paramedical career, working full-time and staying for an extra undergraduate year before (re)applying to medical school. Continue to assess and reassess your goals and motivations for wanting to be a doctor. Related and other non-related career fields may satisfy your evolving career goals.
U.S. and Foreign Medical Schools
Before deciding to apply to medical schools outside of Canada, there are several questions to consider: Have I explored and exhausted all my options for applying to medical schools in Canada (in and out of province)? Do I have the academic requirements and financial means to study medicine in the U.S. or abroad? What are my expectations for the future (return to Canada, residency, practice)? For application to U.S. medical schools, Canadian applicants need to satisfy citizenship/residency requirements and have superior academic qualifications and adequate financial means. Canadian students who ultimately wish to do their residency and practice in Canada must obtain their medical degree at an institution recognized by the World Health Organization. Additional steps towards obtaining a residency and practicing in Canada should be researched (residency matching, qualifying exams etc.). For more information read our one-stop guide on Physician - Mission NOT SO Impossible
Important Links for researching U.S. and foreign medical schools:
The Association of America Medical Colleges
Getting your act together!
Applying to, gaining acceptance, and attending medical school can be a time-consuming process. So, if becoming a doctor is in your career plans, start early, work hard and most importantly – be yourself and do what feels right! Start with a self-assessment of your motives and aspirations; research the career field, your options and the application process; actively seek the skills and experiences you lack; sell yourself with honesty and integrity to the admissions committee; and don’t be afraid to take another path in order to realize your dreams. The union of preparation and opportunity translates to luck when it comes time to get into medical school.
Additional Resources
OMSAS Ontario Medical School Application Service
Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine
Black Student Application Program
AAMC: Directory of Canadian & U.S. Medical Schools
Canadian Federation of Medical Students: Pre-Med
Beyond the Stethoscope: Alternatives to Medicine
updated August 3, 2022