[Lois]

Canadian Medical School Requirements

By MACINSIDERS INSIDERS AGENT jesus

The first thing you should do is look at the prerequisites and minimum/average GPAs of each school. Please keep in mind that the minimum MCAT and GPA scores are likely to change each year as the competition grows. Additionally, minimum scores do not guarantee acceptance into a program.

Listed below are the requirements for the six Ontario medical schools for 2009:

McMaster University:
GPA Calculation: OSMAS Scale – All marks are used.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 out of 4.0
MCAT: Verbal Reasoning (minimum score: 6)
Prequisites: None.

Northern Ontario School of Medicine:
GPA Calculation: OSMAS Scale – All marks are used.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 out of 4.0
MCAT: Not required.
Prequisites: None.

University of Ottawa
Minimum years of undergraduate study: 3
GPA Calculation: (1st year GPA + 2nd year GPA x 2 + 3rd year GPA x 3) ÷ 6
Minimum GPA: not stated; however, aim for a weighted average of 3.85
MCAT: Not required.
Prerequisites: 6 units arts or social sciences; 6 units biology; and 6 units from biochemistry, chemistry, or organic chemistry

Queen’s University
GPA Calculation: Either the average of all of your courses (or your two best full-years (at least 30 units per year). You must meet the minimum GPA cut-offs using either method.
Minimum GPA: Not stated, but 3.7 unofficially.
MCAT: Not stated, but minimum 10/10/10 R * unofficially.
Prerequisites: 6 units in life sciences, 6 units in physical science, 6 units in humanities or social sciences.

University of Toronto:
GPA Calculation: If you have completed at least three years of undergrad with a full course load (30 units) each year, then you can eliminate the grade of one full credit (6 unit course) or two half credits (3 unit course) for each year of study. Summer courses are not included in the calculation of GPA.
Minimum GPA: 3.6 out of 4.0
MCAT: Minimum 9/9/9 N*
Prerequisites: 12 units in life sciences, 6 units in humanities, social sciences or languages.

University of Western Ontario
GPA Calculation: Only years with 5 full year courses are considered. The level of courses should correspond to your year of program. For example: if you’re in 3rd year, then three out of five courses must be 3rd year courses or higher. Your two best years must meet the minimum GPA cut-offs. Residents of Western Ontario qualify for the SWOMEN academic requirements, see their website for details.
Average GPA (Class of ’09): 3.75.
MCAT: 11/10/9 Q *
Prerequisites: None, but a mixture of science, humanities, and social sciences are recommended.

In short, what does this mean to you? Plan out your courses carefully. Try to maintain a full course load (30 units) in order for that year to qualify in the GPA calculation. Keep in mind that extracurricular activities also play a large role.

*MCAT score format: BS / PS / VR WS

Related articles:
http://www.macinsiders.com/showthread.php?t=1858 6

[PTGregD]

Just a tip:

The minimum GPA is misleading. If you have a 3.0 GPA, don't plan to get into McMaster; to be competitive you need MUCH higher GPA around the neighborhood of 3.75+.

[Lois]

Definitely =p.

Most people accepted into Mac have 3.8s or higher. Always strive to do better than minimum because schools are getting more competitive and the cut-offs keep on increasing.

[mumbojumbo]

Let's all go to Med school. That seems to be the trend in today's academia

/sarcasm

[jhan523]

Originally Posted by mumbojumbo

Let's all go to Med school. That seems to be the trend in today's academia

/sarcasm

What's that, a doctor and I don't have to go to medical school?! HOORAY for OPTOMETRY! ^-^ I can't wait for the laws to be signed in Ontario. I hope it will be done by the time I graduate from optometry school (assuming I get in ). Then I'll be able to prescribe medication and drill into people's eyes to remove foreign bodies .

[PTGregD]

Optometry seems like a pretty sweet deal

[jhan523]

Originally Posted by PTGregD

Optometry seems like a pretty sweet deal

Yeah, sadly Waterloo is the only English Opto school in Canada. And since it is in Canada, they only teach what you need to know to become an optometrist. So no surgeries or crazy things. And if you want to go to the states it's like 40 grand a year for tuition. It's really expensive and a lot of hard work. But apparently it's easy to get in. My optometrist said that I can get in with my current mark, assuming I get a good mark on the OAT.

[casey.park]

For any students applying to UWO under the SWOMEN umbrella (Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Perth) your MCAT requirements are 8/8/8/O.

To qualify as a SWOMEN student, you must have gone to a high school in the aforementioned counties.

[jade177]

For Queens, does anyone know what type of courses would fill the physical science requirements? Would math courses count as physical science?

[Lois]

Originally Posted by mumbojumbo

Let's all go to Med school. That seems to be the trend in today's academia

/sarcasm

This was moreso in response to all the "What do I need for med school?" posts. I'm kind of lazy so I'd rather have everything written out here as a reference sheet.

For Queens, does anyone know what type of courses would fill the physical science requirements? Would math courses count as physical science?

Chem & Physics.

[ali11]

when you say "6 units of social science" does that mean 6 mac units (i.e. two 1 term courses) or 6 courses??
thanks for all this though! i've always wanted to come across one of these summaries

[Lois]

Mac units. : )

[ali11]

thank you jesus!! both of you
thanks again for all the info dude. i'm heading in the right direction thankfully

[~*Sara*~]

Thanks for the compilation of all the info. Really handy.. Now let's hope it works =)

[Joseph]

Wow, thanks for collecting and posting all this information jesus! At first glance, it honestly looked pretty scary. (even though I’m currently not planning on going to medical school).


Nevertheless, this should be very useful to everyone that is planning on going to medical school! Good luck to everyone!

-Joseph