Applying to Medical School and other
Health Care Professional Schools
Introductions
Objectives
At the end of this session, participants will:
1. Gain an understanding of the process of applying to
a professional school.
2. Gain an understanding of required elements for a
professional school application, as well as elements
that will make their application more competitive.
What is a Professional School?
Professions requiring extra training:
Medicine
Dentistry
Nursing
Pharmacy
Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy
Radiation Sciences
Many more!
Great…
I think I know what I want to do.
How do I get there?
Required courses + GPA
Many professional schools have requirements
Research requirements early on
Many schools have cutoffs for GPAs (3.8/4.0 is competitive)
GPA converter: http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf
Is there a required lab course?
Are there social sciences/ humanities
requirements?
3 - Brock, Guelph, Ottawa, Queen’s,
Toronto, Waterloo, Western
7 - Carleton, McMaster, Ryerson, Wilfrid
Laurier, Windsor
GPA converter:
http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf
Application
Contents: Vary by school
Most often consist of Personal Statement, CV, Transcript, Letters of
Recommendation, Professional School Standardized Test
Different deadlines depending on the school
Medicine: October 10, 2010
Physical Therapy/ Occupational Therapy/Speech Language Pathology: January
7, 2011
Dentistry: December 1
Pharmacy:December 20, 2010
Nursing: Varies by school and type of program
Letters of Recommendation
Required for most applications including: medicine,
dentistry, PT, OT
Someone who knows you and can speak highly of
you
Consider different types of people
Professors
Summer Research Supervisors
Volunteer Coordinators
Community leaders
Youth group leaders
Letters or Recommendation continued…
When should you ask for them?
The earlier the better!
Multiple copies all at once for your different applications
Accompany all “asks” with a Resume/CV, statement of interest, photocopy of
your transcript and a brief description of your program
What should they contain?
How long someone has known you
In what capacity
Things that make you unique
Your motivation
Qualities about you (versatility, detail-oriented, team player etc)
Don’t forget to say Thank You!
Your referees are busy people
Send them a Thank You note to show you
appreciate their effort in helping with your
application
Admissions Tests
Some Professional Schools require specific
admissions test
Offered at different points in the year
Different tests:
Medicine: MCAT
Dentistry: DAT
Pharmacy: PCAT
Admissions Tests continued…
Register online and early to ensure you have a spot
Preparation
Self-preparation
Kaplan, Princeton Review other courses
Study groups
Online resources
Useful Websites: Programs
Medicine:
http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/
Dentistry:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2010/pg553.html
http://www.utoronto.ca/dentistry/admissions/undergraduateacademic.h
tml
Pharmacy:
http://pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca/
http://www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca/Page4.aspx
Nursing:
http://www.cna-aiic.ca/nursingpgms/public_browse.asp
Useful Websites: Admissions Tests
MCAT:
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/46412/mca20
DAT:
http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/dental_profession/dat/index.asp
PCAT:
http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/enUS/site/Community/PostSecondary/Products/pcat/pcathome.htm
Case Study: Medicine
Jason wants to go to medical
school
What specific things should he
consider in first year to present
himself as the best possible
candidate when he applies to
medical school?
Application Process
Marks
MCAT
Interview
• Years I-IV
• Year II
• Year III or IV
Volunteer/
Work
Written
Application
• Years I-IV
• Year III or IV
Marks: What Can I do Today?
Get high marks! (even in first year)
• Try to balance education
• Grades, not courses are important
• Majors are not important
Volunteer/Work: What Can I do
Today?
Cascading Mentorship is just the first step
Do something you enjoy
Don’t start two weeks before applying
The application is extensive (48 item sketch!)
Keep in touch with guidance counsellors/supervisors since they
will be great verifiers
Research important to some schools
Reflect early and often
MCAT: What Can I do Today?
At least “10” required in all sections
Verbal Reasoning - tough for science students
Do a lot of reading (New Yorker, literature, philosophy books)
Practice exams – learn to write the test
Prep courses
Written Application: What Can I do
Today?
Read Canadian medical journals like the CMAJ
KNOW CANMEDS!
Access the online application this summer!
References - keep in touch
Interview: What Can I do Today?
KNOW CANMEDS!
Become a great public speaker
Talk to family and friends
Watch movies or TEDTalks
Learn about the health care system
Learn about medical ethics, and ethics in
general
Conclusions
Professional schools application requirements:
GPA
Standardized test (MCAT, PCAT, DAT, OAT)
Extra-curricular activities
Often an interview is required
GOOD LUCK! 
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