Pre-med Advice: Things Everyone Should Know

Quick tips on undergrad, getting through courses, putting together your medical school application, obtaining research, scholarships, awards, and much more. We did the scouring through websites and emails and Reddit, so you don't have to.

Disclaimer: This website was created for informational purposes only. While we strive to share accurate and up-to-date information, we are not affiliated with any medical school, admissions office, or resources we promote. Always verify details directly with official university websites or admissions representatives, as policies and requirements may change. We are not responsible for any errors made by users.

OMSAS

Collective portal for all Ontario medical schools
October 1 HARD deadline
- MCAT results need to be in by October 28
Give references sufficient time to submit link
Need verifiers for each EC (someone who can confirm your role; different from reference)

MCAT

MCAT results take 1 month
No correct time to take the exam; do it when you are ready
7 lifetime attempts
- Taking it multiple times is not necessarily looked down upon in Canada; given that you show improvement
Costs $330 USD (realize that this will be converted to CAD at the time of transaction)
Results valid for 2-5 years (vary by school)
- Also varying: whether best or most recent attempt is considered

GENERAL APP

The year you apply is NOT the year you will start medical school
- You would start the following year, with admission offers in May (of the starting year)
- E.g., Applying in October 2025 means you would get results May 2026, and would start Fall of 2026

GPA

"GPA is king"
3.7+ is considered competitive
- Stats vary per school
Having a graduate degree can change the GPA cutoffs/competitiveness
Converted to OMSAS Scale
- Consider: https://mdbuddy.ca/home/ to help you calculate

TRANSCRIPTS

When you submit your application via OMSAS, the fees will be charged
- This will process the request to release the transcript from your university
- "By completing an online transcript request and submitting it with your application and appropriate fees (application service fee, university fees and transcript request fees), you authorize the OUAC to arrange for your official transcripts to be sent to OMSAS."
More information on the process: https://www.ouac.on.ca/guide/omsas-transcript/
Fees: https://www.ouac.on.ca/transcript-request-fees/
Please consider this will be different for non-OMSAS universities

CASPER

Ethics based exam, not exclusive to medicine
Two main sections: video and typed
Get familiar with the exam here
Must take it the year you are applying (valid only for 1 year)
- If you are applying again, you have to take the test again
Currently under some scrutiny, read more about it here

RESEARCH

One type of research not better than the other: what you do with it is more important
- I.e., publications, presentations, hours you put in, doing a follow-up study, etc.
Different ways to obtain research
- Email research heavy profs
- Contact graduate students to support their thesis
- Apply for awards/programs

EXTRACURRICULARS

Quality and quantity are BOTH important
Med schools want to see long term commitment to roles
- But this doesn't mean you stick in a role for the sake of it
- Nor should you only have a few documented hours over years of commitment
Quantity is useful for diversifying your portfolio and building your "story"

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Ensure you are aware of deadlines that apply to you for medical school enrollment: Undergrad/Grad Students
A good route for those who wish to continue research in the future
- But, DO NOT use a Master's degree just to get into medical school
- It is a commitment of its own and will demonstrate your work ethic
Proposed to help with residency matching (many factors play into this, for example, you will have a stronger skillset/mature and likely have publications in your field of interest)

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