Tips | Preparing for Medical School

Pursuing a career as a doctor is a long and intense journey. Physicians support and manage the health care of people of all ages. They take medical histories, perform physical examinations, conduct diagnostic tests, provide treatment and advise patients on their overall health and well-being. Physicians usually fall into three broad categories. Primary care physicians are the doctors whom patients visit most frequently. They treat a wide range of illnesses and provide preventive care. Next are surgeons, who perform operations to treat diseases and repair injuries. Lastly, specialists have expertise related to specific diseases and body parts such as cardiologists, neurologists, and so on. 

 

1. What University Background is Required? 

Gaining admission to medical school is competitive. Requirements to apply vary for each medical school but often start with a combination of a candidate’s GPA (minimum 3.5 but higher is preferred) and MCAT score (minimum of 80-85th percentile). Admission committees also consider a candidate’s extracurricular activities and work experience when evaluating prospective students. A strong personal statement and solid academic references from professors are also typically required. It is prudent to verify all information about admissions requirements and processes directly with each faculty. 

Many medical faculties maintain separate admission categories for mature applicants, Black or Indigenous applicants, and people with disabilities. These access categories may have slightly different admission requirements. Each applicant is considered and compared with others in the same category. 

 

2. What is the MCAT? 

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) develops and administers the MCAT exam – a standardized, multiple-choice test that has been part of the medical school admissions process for more than 85 years. The MCAT exam is designed to help better prepare tomorrow’s doctors for the rapid changes in science and medical careers. This exam contains 59 questions each from biological and biochemical foundations of living systems, chemical and physical foundations, psychological, social, and biological foundations of behaviour as well as a critical analysis and reasoning skills section. This online exam lasts 7 hours with a break included and is held between January – mid-September.

Tip: Review an MCAT guide, such as those published by Kaplan, Prep101, and/or Princeton Review, for sample questions and solutions to help you understand the skills assessed in the MCAT. Once you are ready to study for the MCAT, begin to practice from actual and previously administered MCATs. Official MCAT PrepTests can be purchased at the AAMC website.  

Free MCAT Prep is also available online through the Khan Academy.

The AAMC and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) offer a Fee Assistance Program for Canadian examinees in financial need to help them prepare for and register for the MCAT.

 

3. How to Register for the MCAT 

Applicants can register online by visiting the AAMC website. Check the website for test dates, locations, and deadlines.

Tip: Check with each medical school regarding deadlines by which the MCAT must be written and consider writing at an earlier sitting to provide flexibility should you choose to take the test again.

 

4. Applying to Ontario Universities 

There are 17 medical schools in Canada with 6 in Ontario. Ontario's medical schools receive 2,500+ applications for 170-280 spots. Given the degree of competition, students are advised to consider and prepare for a variety of career options rather than having a narrow and exclusive focus on medicine. The cost of medical school in Canada varies greatly between universities. The average cost of tuition is between $25,000 and $30,000 a year for medical schools in Ontario.

The application process is handled centrally by the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS). 

  • In addition to the online application, refer to each university’s admission requirements for supplementary information that might be required. Applications are due through OMSAS by the end of September or early October. 
  • It is recommended that applicants allow between 10-25 hours to prepare their application and if a personal statement is required, allow plenty of time for editing and refining. 
  • The non-refundable OMSAS application fee is $220 Canadian, plus around $125 -$130 for each school applied to. 
  • Refer to the OMSAS website for a list of upcoming medical school information events/sessions in the fall.

Qualifying to practice in Canada with an international medical degree requires a number of accreditation steps. For full details consult: 

Need help funding medical school applications? See this link for more information:  

 

5. Practicing Medicine in Ontario

To practice Medicine in Ontario, The Ontario Medical Association requires successful completion of: 

  • Degree in medicine from an accredited medical school. 
  • Part 1 and Part 2 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) or one of the acceptable alternative examinations. 
  • Certification, by examination, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). 
  • Completion in Canada of one year of postgraduate training or active medical practice with pertinent clinical experience. 
  • Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status. 

Ontario Medical Schools

Tip: Detailed information about admission requirements and application procedures should be obtained from the individual Faculties of Medicine. For an overview summarizing medical school requirements, application categories, and specialty programs, refer to the Ontario Medical School Application Service.  

 

UTM Career Centre Resources 

 

Contact medical schools’ admissions offices to clarify specific questions not covered on their websites. 

 

Information is subject to change. Consult the original sources for the most up-to-date information. 

 

 

Updated September 2024