university of toronto med school essays

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Disclaimer: The following article was originally written in 2009 for the University of Toronto medical school admissions essay. Although the advice here is still useful for general medical school essays, since 2012, the University of Toronto medical school changed its admissions process to require the applicant write 4 Brief Personal Essays instead. Don’t fret – I have a written a new step-by-step guide to help applicants with these new 4 Brief Personal Essays.

Over the first four parts of this series, we looked at the overall message we wanted to convey through our essay: that we are proven serious about medicine, that the career makes sense for us, and that the reader will be thoroughly convinced to do whatever it takes to help us become a doctor. We also looked at the three guidelines/questions the University of Toronto admissions committee wants addressed in the essay, and what to consider when approaching them.

So now that you have your overall plan, as well as the main content for your essay (i.e. how you will answer those three guidelines), how do you put it all together?

While there is no “correct” way to write the essay, I think there are some important aspects to address, discuss, and debate. I will give you my thoughts on these aspects, as well as insight into how I approached them, not as necessarily guidelines for what you should do, but rather, guidelines about how to consider thinking about formulating your own approach.

First Person Perspective

I think this should be a pretty obvious one, but there are always a few applicants not sure about which perspective to use when writing their personal essays (i.e. 1st versus 3rd person). My advice is to almost always write in the first person perspective. This is your story , and you can make a much stronger connection with the reader by emphasizing how personal the story through the first person perspective. The immediate reaction isn’t that these experiences happened to some random young man named Josh, for example, but rather, they happened to this very person writing the essay – this makes a big difference.

Essay Structure

Assuming you have compiled all of the experiences and events in your life that you think should be included in the essay, there is always the next question of how to structure those experiences. What order should you put them in?

There are definitely many ways to go about it. Personally, the one I look used was the chronological approach. That is, writing about your important experiences in the order that they occurred. While my essay was not completely written in chronological order, I would say a large chunk of it was. The reason for this was that it allowed me to chronicle my “journey” towards medicine, and nothing makes more sense than chronological order. In a way, I was able to show how each subsequent experience mentioned built upon the previous one, and eventually pointed me towards applying to medical school.

As an example, an early part of my essay talked about my interest in neuroscience, which led to an elementary school project on the brain and nervous system. I would later do a high school science project on an issue involving children. My interest in neuroscience and working with children and youth eventually led me to shadow a pediatric neurosurgeon. I described those experiences in that order, and because of the chronological significance of that order, I didn’t have to do much work transitioning between the ideas.

As you can see, writing in chronological order allows for a good sense of “flow”. The basic idea of flow is for ensuring each main idea in the essay to transitions seamlessly from one to the next. Essays that flow better will be more easily absorbed by the reader. Using the chronological approach as an example, I’m sure you can why it would be much easier to talk about a childhood experience first before describing your transition into university. While the opposite is certainly possible, it is quite clearly more difficult to do.

In short, given the same set of experiences you want to mention, there will obviously be a better way to order them than others. If you are at all stuck at a way to approach the ordering, I highly suggest sticking with the chronological approach until you find something better, or perhaps a combination of both, that works for you.

Essay Style: Like a Story

While this is an essay, remember that it is a personal essay. My personal suggestion is to forget the word essay, and instead, focus on the concept of telling your story . I have written about this concept extensively in my advice on scholarship essays, and the idea remains the same here. Most people who rather read a riveting story than a random, formal essay. Take advantage of this fact.

One way to look at this story is that the ending is the present – that is, your story should be about your journey towards this very moment as you are applying to medical school. How have you gotten to this point, and perhaps, where do you want to go in the future? That’s really all this “essay” is.

The concept of your essay “angle” is pretty similar to the common idea of having a “theme” for your essay. The angle you choose is essentially going to be the method by which you achieve your overall goal of convincing the reader to help you through to the next round.

The angle I chose to employ was to show that my interests and experiences in life point me not towards just medicine, but specifically something in pediatrics, and quite likely, in neurology. This is a powerful angle because it not just shows that I have seriously thought about medicine and what type of medicine I see myself doing (i.e. a focus), but also it shows that it actually does make sense for me to potentially pursue that specialty.

I am of course by no means saying that you need to know what specialty you want to do, and I am cognizant of the fact that I may very well end up in something completely distant from pediatrics and neurology. People change their minds all the time (and admissions committees of course realize this). That being said, if there is a specialty you do see yourself seriously pursuing and you have experiences that support it, then it is definitely an angle worth considering.

Your experiences, interests, and aspirations will dictate the angle you choose to present to the admissions committee. The important thing is that you have some sort of angle/focus/theme, and that this angle is obvious .

The Introduction: How do I start?

A lot of applicants have writer’s block, particularly with the introduction. They want so badly to have that magical “hook” that absorbs the reader into their story.

If you already have an idea for that that “hook”, then great – go ahead and develop it. But if you don’t, forget it for now. My advice is to write out the main body of your essay, and then come back to your introduction if need be. You can always come up with that amazing introduction later.

I’m guessing it’s fairly obvious that you want your introduction to pull the reader in some way. Like any good story, you want the reader to be interested throughout the entire thing, and of course, creating this interest has to start at the beginning.

The key thing to keep in mind, however, is that the introduction cannot simply be a stand alone – it has to transition to the body of the essay. It doesn’t matter how great your introduction is if it doesn’t make any sense at all with the rest of your essay.

One common hook used in the introduction is some sort of short story, almost in real time and often with dialogue. If you are at all interested in using a real story anywhere in your essay, I suggest you use it in the introduction, mainly because it would stick out too much in any other part of your essay (assuming this story introduction still flows well into the body of your essay).

Personally, the story approach is what I used for my introduction. If you do choose this route, bear in mind that it should literally be a short story. I have seen essays where in order to make the story seem more interesting, the writer spend literally a quarter of the essay telling the story. This is a mistake . Always remember that it is still an introduction, so if you do want to tell a story, make sure it’s something you can tell in a concise fashion. The main role of the introduction is to draw the reader in, but the longer it goes, the less space you have to get to the important stuff (that is, selling yourself as the best applicant).

There are many ways you can end your essay, but personally, I think the best way is to end strong with conviction . I think some applicants go the route of trying to make a fancy, stylish ending the way they develop the introduction, and I personally believe that’s the wrong way to go about it.

Like we’ve discussed throughout this series, our goal is to convince the reader that we are someone they want to help be physicians. In order to convince them with that strong of a feeling, it only makes sense that we need to encourage ideas of strength and conviction in the very last words they read. Your essay should end the same way you would end an argument in a debate – loud, strong, and clear. I remember all those times I would end my opening speech in a debate in a soft spoken, volume decreasing manner, and I kept being told this was a leak. In my opinion, the same goes for concluding your essays.

This is why I prefer an ending that is clear and blunt, that essentially sums up your angle for the essay .

I think I have covered most of the important aspects of writing this essay. I hope you enjoyed this series, and if you have any more questions or comments, I’d be happy to hear them.

All the best!

• Part 1 – The Secret
• Part 2 – Background, Interests, and Experiences
• Part 3 – Why Medicine and How Did You Prepare
• Part 4 – How Your Premedical Studies have Prepared You for Medicine
• Part 5 – Putting it All Together

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Home / OMSAS Application Guide / OMSAS – University of Toronto

OMSAS – University of Toronto

Refer to the application and the university's website for up-to-date program details.

Table of Contents

About the temerty faculty of medicine at the university of toronto, the md program structure, academic requirements, non-academic requirements, additional admission requirements, optional application programs, information for international applicants, admission policies and procedures, registration requirements, notice of collection, contact information.

Toronto has a long history of educating physicians, with the first school of medicine founded here in 1843. The medical school at the University of Toronto has a rich history of research and discovery, including the discovery of:

• stem cells,
• the gene that causes cystic fibrosis and
• the genetic causes of some variants of Alzheimer’s disease and several cancers.

Many vaccines were developed and tested at the University of Toronto during the 20th century, and various surgical procedures were pioneered here, including lung transplants and pediatric cardiac operations.

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) provides you with many advantages. Toronto is home to the largest health care network in Canada and is a hub for research and discovery.

Opportunities for collaboration across a variety of hospitals and health care centres allow you to experience Toronto’s diversity – in the range of clinical placements you connect to and the community you serve.

Our Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

As one of the largest MD programs in Canada, the University of Toronto’s MD Program boasts a comprehensive and exciting curriculum that supports our students as they learn to become highly skilled, caring and compassionate physicians.

Our faculty members are leaders in their respective fields and take pride in educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates can be found across Canada and around the world, advancing health care and promoting change in their local communities and beyond.

Student support is a top priority in our MD Program. We will provide you with the tools you need to succeed, whether it is academic, financial or career advice or access to support networks.

Opportunities outside of the classroom are abundant. Our students get involved in everything from community service to athletics to on-campus clubs and organizations. These opportunities enable our graduates to become skilled, caring and compassionate health care professionals.

Our program is offered on 2 campuses at the University of Toronto: 205 incoming students will be at the St. George campus (downtown Toronto) and 54 will be at the Mississauga campus. Up to 34 additional students will be admitted to the designated Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health seats. In addition, a limited number of supernumerary spaces are allocated to specific international and military training programs that have contractual arrangements with the MD Program.

State‑of‑the‑art video conferencing facilities allow students at both teaching sites to interact and share learning experiences, with both campuses linked to world-class teaching hospitals.

The University of Toronto’s MD Program looks forward to welcoming the newest class of future physicians (the class of 2028) and continuing our tradition of excellence in the education of tomorrow’s health care leaders.

Program Information

Foundations (year 1 and 2).

The first 2 years of the MD Program, known as Foundations, feature a highly integrated curriculum with:

• clinical content,
• early exposure to patients and the community setting,
• extensive use of online learning support resources and
• an assessment program designed to support learning.

You will have the opportunity to meet with patients from diverse communities and learn in the many outstanding clinical and research facilities in the GTA.

The basic goals of Foundations are to:

• help you learn the necessary biomedical knowledge and
• develop the appropriate professional attitudes and skills you will need to have a successful experience in Clerkship and beyond.

You will gain early clinical exposure in a variety of settings, including doctors’ offices, hospitals, community health agencies and home care visits. You will learn the basic clinical skills of interviewing and examining patients and be provided with opportunities for reflection. By spending time in clinical placements (shadowing), you will also be able to prepare for Clerkship.

Clerkship (Year 3 and 4)

Clerkship comprises the third and fourth years of the MD Program.

The knowledge, skills and professional attitudes introduced in Foundations are applied practically in the clinical setting where you will be a member of a health care team.

As a clinical clerk, you learn to contribute progressively to patient care in hospitals, community‑based clinics and doctors’ offices. Your clinical skills are honed as you proceed through the core Clerkship rotations and experiences that introduce you to primary care and the essential medical specialties.

The fourth and final year of the program includes activities that permit you to develop your competencies further in areas of your choosing (electives) and from a catalogue of options (electives). These allow you to explore your individual interests and tailor your experience to fit with your future career goals.

Admission Requirements

Medical college admission test (mcat).

You must release your MCAT results directly to OMSAS to be considered for admission.

You must have written the MCAT before the application deadline and within the past 5 years. MCAT results from tests written in excess of 5 years, prior to the current October 2, 2023, admission application deadline, will not be considered.

We will consider scores only from your most recent MCAT attempt, even if scores from previous attempts were higher.

You must meet a threshold score of 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in 1 section, to continue in the admission process.

Your MCAT score is not used competitively.

Course Prerequisites

You are required to complete:

• 2 full course equivalents (FCEs) in life sciences and
•  1 FCE in humanities, social sciences and/or languages.

1 FCE consists of either 2 half-year university courses or 1 full-year university course.

We strongly recommend that you complete the prerequisite courses prior to applying. If you are in the process of completing any prerequisite courses at the time you apply, enrollment in these courses must appear on your transcript. You must successfully complete these courses as registered on the transcript that was submitted as part of your application.

If the courses are not complete and are not showing as current registrations on your transcript, your application will not be considered.

This information should be included in the University of Toronto prerequisite section of the OMSAS Application. List the name of the course and course code, and indicate whether it was a full-year or semester course.

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Molecular Genetics & Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology & Toxicology

Note:  Chemistry and Physics are not Life Sciences. If you are listing Chemistry courses to meet requirements for other medical schools, you must also list 2 FCEs in Life Sciences.

• Political Science
• Criminology
• Courses in a language other than your native language.
• Religious Studies
• Cultural Studies

Note:  This is not a comprehensive list of approved courses.

Check with Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Enrolment Services if you are unsure of the acceptability of a particular course as a prerequisite. Email UME Enrolment Services  with:

• the course name,
• the course code,
• the university name,
• a brief course description from the university course calendar and
• whether it was a full-year or semester course.

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

The minimum acceptable GPA for undergraduate applicants is 3.6 on the 4.0 OMSAS scale. Based on recent admission statistics, a GPA of 3.8 or higher is considered competitive for admission.

For graduate applicants, the minimum acceptable GPA is 3.3 on the 4.0  OMSAS scale . Based on recent admission statistics, a GPA of 3.6 or higher is considered competitive for admission.

The calculated GPA used to fulfill the academic requirements will not include the current year of study, as these grades are not available at the time you submit your application. Your GPA is based on your undergraduate studies; grades from graduate course work will not be included in the GPA calculation.

Admission to the MD Program is competitive; therefore, possessing the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Minimum Undergraduate Credit Requirement

Undergraduate applicants attending university in canada.

The University of Toronto will consider your application if you will be completing at least 3 years of study toward a Canadian university bachelor’s degree in any discipline (the equivalent of 15 FCEs) prior to enrolling in the MD Program. No preference is given to a specific program or university over another.

If you apply in the final year of a 3- or 4-year degree program, you must complete the degree requirements and provide proof of completion prior to enrolling.

If you apply in the third year of a 4-year degree program, you must provide proof that you completed the requirements for that year of the degree prior to enrolling in the MD Program.

CEGEP Applicants

If you completed the CEGEP program in Quebec, you may apply for admission if you are enrolled in third-year university studies and will have completed a total of at least 15 FCEs prior to enrollment in our program.

You must have completed a minimum of 10 university FCEs, which may include CEGEP transfer credits, at the time you apply.

Applicants Attending University Outside of Canada

If you attend university in the United States, you must complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree. There is no option to apply during the third year of study.

If you attend a university outside of Canada or the United States, you must complete the equivalent of a Canadian 4-year university bachelor’s degree. Previous medical degrees completed outside of Canada are not deemed equivalent to a Canadian bachelor’s degree and will not be accepted. Professional degrees assessed as equivalent to professional study in Canada will not be accepted as a substitute to a 4-year Canadian Bachelor’s degree.

You must have your credentials assessed for Canadian equivalency by  World Education Services (WES) . Submitted documentation must include a course-by-course evaluation, with an overall GPA calculation from WES.

Optional: Academic Explanations Essay

• If there is any reason that you believe your transcript does not reflect your true ability (i.e., there are extenuating circumstances), briefly outline this and your special consideration request for the MD Admissions Committee in the Academic Explanations Essay.
• If your transcript has gaps or course withdrawals, state the reason in your essay.
• If applicable, use your essay to document your participation in an educational exchange program, a professional experience year or co-op program, and the time frame of this activity. Often this information is not clearly outlined on academic transcripts or in your other application materials, so it is important to clarify this for the Admissions Committee.

When reviewing the  brief personal essays ,  ABS  and  references , we assess attributes, activities and achievements in terms of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission and values and the MD Program competencies.

Specifically, we evaluate materials according to the following 4 clusters:

• Professional Cluster: Maturity, reliability, perseverance and responsibility.
• Communicator/Collaborator/Leader Cluster: Communication, collaboration, teamwork, time management and leadership.
• Advocate Cluster: Advocacy, community service and social responsibility.
• Scholar Cluster: Academic standing, achievements in leadership, research and social responsibility as demonstrated by (but not limited to) awards, conference presentations, publications and scholarships.

In your brief personal essays and ABS, you may write about activities and achievements undertaken and completed anywhere in the world. The nature and outcome of the activity is more important than where it took place – participation within your local community is as important as international experiences.

The brief personal essays, ABS and statements, and references will be assessed independently of all other materials you submit with your application.

Brief Personal Essays

You are required to submit 2 original brief personal essays, with each essay answering a specific question related to the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission and values.

The Mission Statement of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto embodies social responsibility, and the Faculty’s values are reflective of this responsibility.

Each brief personal essay must be 250 words or less. Please adhere to the word limit, rather than the character limit shown in the text box.

You must answer the following 2 questions:

• The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?
• The Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva said: “it isn’t that you need time to think, you need time to feel.” How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?

UME Enrolment Services will perform random checks of the Brief Personal Essays through the University of Toronto’s plagiarism detection tool. You will not be informed that your essay has been submitted for comparison.

Essays submitted to this service will be included as source documents in the tool’s reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism.  Read the terms that apply to the University’s use of the service .

If you do not consent to your essays being submitted to the University of Toronto’s plagiarism detection tool, you must email us at  [email protected]  to opt out of this process no later than Friday, January 5, 2024. We will honour all opt-out requests that are submitted by this date.

Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)

The completed OMSAS ABS is required. In addition to completing the OMSAS ABS, you must write and submit 1 ABS statement that discusses the following:

• Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?

The OMSAS ABS and additional ABS statement required for the University of Toronto will be evaluated using the  4 clusters  that were previously listed. The ABS statement must be 500 words or less. Please adhere to the word limit, rather than the character limit shown in the text box.

In some cases, UME Enrolment Services may wish to verify additional information about activities that are described in either the brief personal essays or the ABS.

You must provide the name, address, phone number (optional) and email address of at least 1 contact person (verifier) for each activity. When citing activities in your brief personal essays and your ABS statements, include the relevant verifier number in brackets beside each activity; UME Enrolment Services may perform random checks of applicants’ verifiers.

Verifiers for ABS may or may not be the same as the verifiers you listed for your graduate studies or your references.

Let your verifiers know that UME Enrolment Services may contact them.

You are required to arrange for 3 references. These references will be evaluated according to the same 4 clusters previously listed.

We encourage you to:

• share these attributes, activities and achievements clusters with referees to ensure that they can speak to some or all of them and
• ensure that the whole range of clusters is represented among the 3 references as a whole (individual references may speak to a specific cluster or clusters of attributes, activities and achievements).

Note: You must not use family members, family friends, colleagues of family members, neighbours or someone who may be perceived as your peer as a referee, as we do not consider them to be objective. Letters written by a spiritual advisor are acceptable, provided the individual is not also a family member or close friend.

Applications from candidates with non-objective references will not be considered.

Referees must submit their Confidential Reference Form online.

The deadline for receiving references is October 2, 2023. If OMSAS does not receive all 3 of your references (as well as your MD/PhD reference letters, if applicable) by this date, your application to the University of Toronto’s MD Program will be incomplete and will not be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives your references by the deadline, so we advise you to confirm submission with all your referees prior to the deadline.

When making our assessments, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine will invite selected applicants to attend an interview, either in person or virtually. You must attend at the date and time arranged and you are responsible for your own travel expenses when attending in-person interviews.

Interviews are usually conducted on weekends in the winter/spring of each year. If you cancel or decline an interview, you will not be considered for admission.

Accessibility concerns or accommodations can be arranged for the interview.  Email UME Enrolment Services  for more information.

Graduate Applicants

The University of Toronto will consider your application if you have completed a graduate program or are enrolled in the final year of a graduate program.

If you do not complete your graduate degree requirements by June 30 in the proposed year of entry, you will not be considered; this policy is strictly enforced. Applicants who do not provide an expected date of degree completion or who re-classify into another graduate program will also not be considered.

Our MD Program values a diverse applicant pool with students from all academic backgrounds. To acknowledge the academic challenge of undertaking graduate work, applicants pursuing graduate degrees will receive credit for their accomplishments during the file review process.

Graduate applicants will receive credit for their graduate work based on the following categories:

• Doctoral degree conferred
• Doctoral degree in progress
• Research-based master’s conferred
• Research-based master’s in progress
• Course-based master’s conferred

We will assess applicants enrolled in a course-based master’s that is in progress as undergraduate applicants.

Note:  You cannot update your application after the October 2, 2023, deadline.

Graduate Degree

Graduate applicants who have not yet received their graduate degree and who are offered a position in the MD Program will be required to submit proof of successful completion of all requirements of the graduate program (including successful defence of a thesis, if applicable) prior to June 30, 2024.

Graduate applicants offered a position on the expectation that their degree will be completed, and who are not able to meet this deadline, will not be granted an admission deferral and will lose their seat in our program.

UME Enrolment Services requires a final transcript from all applicants accepted from graduate programs, as proof of conferral of their degree.

Graduate Degree Verifiers

Graduate applicants are required to provide the contact information of a graduate verifier:

• For a research-based degree, your verifier should be your graduate supervisor.
• For your course-based degree, your verifier should be your graduate program administrator.

This information is entered in the Referees section of your application, but your graduate verifier’s role is not the same as your referee’s role. Your graduate verifier may be contacted to confirm your degree type and anticipated program completion date.

Ensure that your graduate verifier can provide the required information and is available during the application process.

Let your verifiers know in advance that UME Enrolment Services may contact them.

MD/PhD Program Applicants

The MD/PhD Program at the University of Toronto provides highly qualified students the opportunity to integrate medical school with intensive scientific training. Its purpose is to prepare clinician scientists for careers in academic medicine.

Applicants to this program must meet the same requirements for MCAT, GPA and course prerequisites as all other MD Program applicants. The program does not have a designated quota for admission.

Submit admission materials to OMSAS as per the regular MD admission process along with the following additional materials:

• MD/PhD Personal Essay: Reflecting on your personal and research experiences to date, how do your experiences relate to your decision to pursue a physician scientist pathway, and the kind of ideas that you wish to pursue in your PhD? This essay must be 250 words or less and is submitted as part of your OMSAS Application.
• An academic curriculum vitae (CV). This CV must adhere to the format outlined on the MD/PhD Program website.  Access the CV template . Upload your academic CV directly to OMSAS via Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) by October 6, 2023.
• potential for success as a physician scientist,
• capacity to succeed in both an undergraduate medical and a PhD curriculum ,
• self-starting behaviour ,
• contribution to the research the candidate was involved in, including publications, if any , and
• capacity to learn from others.

OMSAS must receive all these required reference letters by October 2, 2023.

• The same referees can provide your regular MD application references and MD/PhD reference letters (e.g., graduate supervisor, if applicable). The MD/PhD Admissions Subcommittee does not review your MD application references.
• MD/PhD letters should be written on departmental letterhead.
• MD/PhD referees must submit the letters online via OMSAS.
• All MD/PhD applicants must submit an academic CV.

Admission Categories

The University of Toronto offers 2 optional application programs that reflect the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s strong commitment to diversity, as demonstrated in its  Diversity Statement [PDF] .

The Black Student Application Program (BSAP)

The Black Student Application Program (BSAP) is an optional application program for Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents who self-identify as:

• Black African,
• Black Caribbean,
• Black North American or
• multi-racial applicants who have and identify with their Black ancestry, etc.

This application program aims to increase and support Black medical student representation at the University of Toronto.

Members of the Black community, including faculty, physicians, residents, medical students and members of the public, take part in admission file review and interview processes. To apply to this program, you must meet the same minimum requirements for MCAT, GPA and course prerequisites as all other applicants. The program does not have a designated quota for admission. You must submit admission materials as per the core MD admission process and the following additional materials by the October 2, 2023, application deadline:

• Self-identification via the OMSAS Application: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American or multi-racial students who have and identify with their Black ancestry.
• The BSAP Personal Essay highlighting why you have chosen to apply through this optional application stream. We recommend that this essay be 250-500 words. This is submitted via the OMSAS Application.

The Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP)

Recognizing the commitment to social responsibility in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission, the MD Program implemented ISAP to increase the number of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) medical students at the University of Toronto.

Members of the Indigenous community, including faculty, physicians, residents, medical students and members of the public, take part in admission file review and interview processes.

To apply to this program, you must meet the same minimum requirements for MCAT, GPA and course prerequisites as all other applicants. The program does not have a designated quota for admission.

You must submit admission materials, as per the core MD admission process, and the following additional materials by the stated deadlines:

• Self‑declared Indigenous status via the OMSAS Application.
• A copy of a Status or Treaty card
• A copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities
• A copy of a membership card in a Métis registry recognized by the Métis National Council (the Métis Nation of Ontario, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation British Columbia)
• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, on the band list of an individual band or the Inuit roll
• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
• Written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code
• Other acceptable documentation
• The ISAP Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to tell us about your personal connection to your Indigenous community, perhaps in the way you would share with an Elder or Wisdom/Knowledge Keeper. The statement will be read by members of the Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP) Advisory Circle, which includes an Elder, Indigenous faculty members and Indigenous medical learners. We recommend that this statement be 250-500 words. Ensure you submit your statement with the OMSAS Application. If you are unsure about how to proceed, we invite you to liaise with the Office of Indigenous Health for support:  [email protected] .

OMSAS must receive proof of Indigenous ancestry documentation via SAM in the OMSAS Application. The deadline for receiving your document(s) is October 6, 2023.

If you have questions or would like further information about ISAP,  email our Office of Indigenous Medical Education .

International applicants will be considered for admission for our supernumerary seats. These are non-funded seats and, as such, applicants who are considered through the International application stream cannot be citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) of Canada.

International Stream

If you apply through the International stream and your immigration status in Canada changes during the admission process, you are required to  notify UME Enrolment Services via email .

Applicants applying through the International stream will be subject to the same minimum requirements as domestic candidates and must submit admission materials as per the regular MD admission process.

Information for Military Medical Training Plan (MMTP) Applicants

The University of Toronto’s MD Program participates in an agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND) in creating a special application stream for Regular Force Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) subsidized under the MMTP.

If you are a currently serving Regular Force member of the CAF and are interested in this stream, email  [email protected]  for details and eligibility.

If you have any questions,  email UME Enrolment Services .

There is no single background that is an ideal preparation for the study and practice of medicine. Medicine requires a mix of individuals with strong academic foundations in the social sciences, humanities, physical sciences and life sciences.

Academic excellence is measured by assessing the grade point average (GPA) and confirming that the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) results meet U of T’s stated threshold requirement.

Non-academic and academic attributes, activities and achievements are assessed by reviewing your brief personal essays, Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) materials and references.

You are required to submit the names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons able to substantiate statements made about your non-academic and academic attributes, activities and achievements. Random verification checks will take place between January and April.

The discovery that any submitted application information is false or misleading, concealed or withheld will invalidate your application and result in its immediate refusal. If this is discovered after you are admitted, it will result in the revocation and cancellation of an offer of admission and/or registration.

Instructions for Submitting Required Documents

All application materials must be sent directly to OMSAS. You are responsible for ensuring that documents arrive at OMSAS by the October 2, 2023, deadline. 

OMSAS will accept your MCAT score as long as they receive it by October 21, 2023.

Do not send any documents to the University of Toronto or the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Enrolment Services.

Applications with missing or late documents will not be granted extensions nor considered.

When filling in your OMSAS Application, do not cut and paste your responses from a word processing or text editing program (e.g., Microsoft Word, Notepad, WordPad). Doing so may result in formatting and/or punctuation errors in your submissions. There will not be an opportunity to correct this after submission. Type your responses directly in the application to avoid this issue.

Note:  If you are not applying to the MD/PhD Program or through the Black Student Application Program (BSAP) or Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP), do not enter anything in the MD/PhD, BSAP or ISAP essay sections of the application. Leave these sections blank.

Information for Successful Applicants

Offers of admission are sent in the spring or summer prior to the proposed date of enrollment, in accordance with dates published by OMSAS.

Acceptance may be conditional upon fulfillment of specific requirements. These conditions will be outlined in your offer letter.

Some applicants who are offered admission do not accept their offer, so we maintain a short wait list for additional potential offers. This is a ranked wait list, but we will not disclose an applicant’s position on the wait list (absolute or relative).

If additional offers are made, we will work down the wait list until the class is full.

Acceptance of an offer of admission from any Ontario medical school automatically removes you from consideration by all other Ontario medical schools (you will be considered withdrawn and will be removed from our wait list).

Final Transcripts

Final transcripts for admitted applicants must be sent directly to OMSAS (not to the University of Toronto). Further details will be included in the offer of admission letter, as appropriate.

Deferral of admission can be considered, provided you submit a request for deferral at the time you accept your offer of admission.

The Admissions Committee will consider deferral requests on a case‑by-case basis. A very limited number of deferrals may be granted in cases of compelling academic or personal circumstance.

We strongly recommend that you complete academic programs prior to enrollment and that you apply to the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, in or after the final year of your program.

Deferrals will not be granted to allow you to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree or to begin or complete a graduate degree. Any deferrals granted will generally be for a 1-year period and are rarely (if ever) extended beyond that time. All graduate studies must be completed by June 30 prior to the start of the MD Program.

First Aid and CPR

You must complete a Standard First Aid course and a CPR Level C Basic Rescuer course and be able to produce valid certificates confirming this before enrollment in the MD Program is permitted.

The agency used to provide the training must be recognized by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Immunization

You are required to be fully immunized before you enter the clinical setting.

Proof of immunization is required for all persons undertaking activities in hospitals in Ontario under Regulation 965 of the Ontario Public Hospitals Act.

If you do not submit a completed immunization record, you will be suspended from clinical training until proper documentation is submitted.

Police Record Check and Disclosure

As a medical student, you will undertake significant portions of your education in settings with exposure to vulnerable populations. You are required to complete a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Record Check, at your own expense, prior to registration in our program.

This mandatory process reports any pending criminal charges, convictions for which there has not been a pardon and any pardoned sexual offences. The Faculty also requests disclosure of any convictions in any jurisdiction and/or any findings of professional misconduct.

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission or cancel registration based on a review of this information.

If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence for which you have not received a pardon, you are strongly urged to consult with your provincial  College of Physicians and Surgeons  for advice about eventual eligibility for registration to practice medicine.

Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Studying Medicine

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine, in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and University Policy, is committed to providing equal access opportunities to all qualified applicants.

To fulfill the requirements of the MD Program and to avoid serious risk to the health and safety of patients, you are required to acquire competency in a wide range of knowledge, skills and abilities.

Individuals with special needs are advised to contact UME Enrolment Services, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and carefully review the  OMSAS Essential Skills and Abilities Required .

Additional Information

The University of Toronto (the University) collects information you provide to OMSAS/OUAC as part of your application to the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (the Faculty).

Personal information collected through OMSAS/OUAC will only be accessed by authorized university and faculty staff on a need-to-know basis. The information will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Collection of Personal Information

The University and the Faculty will collect the following personal information:

• home or mailing addresses
• telephone numbers
• email addresses
• gender identity
• legal status
• academic history (e.g., current and previous university, GPA and MCAT)

Use of Personal Information

The University and the Faculty will use your personal information as necessary for the purpose of administering:

• registration,
• academic programs,
• university-related student activities,
• activities of student societies,
• financial assistance and awards,
• graduation and university advancement, and
• reporting to government.

Examples of these purposes:

• correspondence with applicants (e.g., email notification, interview invitation)
• admission and award decisions
• registration in the program
• aggregate, de-identified public statistical reports, posted on Faculty and University websites
• research on the admission process

Your personal information such as name, gender identity and date of birth will be stored in the AFMC’s database and used to address a variety of key health workforce research and planning questions. All data will be reported at the aggregate level and will be completely anonymous.

Disclosure of Personal Information

The Faculty will disclose your personal information to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), which uses it to assess physician inflow and output through Canada’s undergraduate and postgraduate training system, as well as the numbers and types of doctors trained and how they are distributed and move throughout Canada.

For questions about your personal information at the AFMC, contact: Jon Kimball Director, Data & Information Services Telephone: 613-730-0687, ext. 279

For questions about your personal information at the Faculty, contact: Hana Lee Director, Enrolment Services & Faculty Registrar Telephone: 416-978-2715

Enrolment Services –  Undergraduate Medical Education Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Medical Sciences Building, Room 2124 1 King’s College Circle Toronto ON  M5S 1A8

Telephone: 416-978-7928 Fax: 416-971-2163 Email:  [email protected]

Recent News

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Scholarships

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships in each year of study, based on a number of different criteria, including:

• academic standing
• community or faculty involvement
• extracurricular activity
• financial need
• Indigenous ancestry

Awards and scholarship recipients must be in good standing. Good standing is defined as follows: student has met the standard and is deemed to have made satisfactory progress in every element of the program; course, component and theme, including professionalism.

For those awards with financial need as a criterion, unmet need, as assessed by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) or the University of Toronto Advance Planning for Students (UTAPS), will be used to determine level of need.

Most of these awards require no application, and for those that do, applications are distributed to all potentially eligible students (based on year of study) by e-mail.

The monetary value of all scholarships is variable and should, in most cases be considered of a supplementary nature.

These scholarships have been established through the generosity of our donors, both private individuals and corporate bodies. For many of these awards, the recipient has an opportunity to send a short note of thanks to the donor who has generously established the award. To assist you with this letter, please visit the Donor Appreciation page set up by our Office of Advancement .

For information on other financial assistance, including bursary and loan programs, please visit our financial aid page.

Related Links

• Pre-admission scholarships
• Admission scholarships for first-year students
• In-course awards
• Elective awards
• External awards
• Awards requiring an application
• Convocation awards
• Awards Explorer

"At the most basic level, the financial support I’ve been provided with allows me to go to classes, attentive and rested and prepared to engage deeply with the essential knowledge and practice of medicine. Through continued support for scholarships and bursaries at U of T, the donors have made a significant contribution in lightening the financial burden associated with schooling at one of the world’s premier medical schools. In doing so, they make it possible for me to focus on gaining the most out of my undergraduate medical education and involvement in extracurricular activities. I can only hope that one day I will be able to assist others in achieving their goals and dreams as the current contribution supports me in the achievement of mine.” - Leo Akioyamen, 1T9 student

• Med School Spotlight™

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine: How to Get in

The University of Toronto medical school is one of the most prestigious  medical schools in Canada  and the world. The program is divided between two campuses, the historic St. George campus downtown Toronto and the modern Mississauga campus. In this blog, you will learn UofT medical school statistics and eligibility, available programs, selection factors, and tips for how to get accepted!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 13 min read

Mission statement.

“We teach, create and disseminate knowledge in primary care, advancing the discipline of family medicine and improving health for diverse and underserved communities locally and globally.”

Available Programs

Although not all medical schools in Canada have  MD-PhD programs , their quality is on par with some of the best programs in the world. UofT\u2019s MD-PhD program is highly competitive. Its applicants must demonstrate dedication to research and clinical practice, as well as a desire to contribute to further development of the scientific progress. You may apply for both MD and MD-PhD at the same time. Alternatively, you can submit your application to the MD-PhD program in your first year of medical school at UofT. ","label":"MD-PhD","title":"MD-PhD"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Academic Curriculum

This four-year program is divided into two phases. The first two years of the program are called foundations. This phase builds your foundational knowledge and skills for the future practice of medicine. You are introduced to the foundational science and clinical topics, and also begin to develop your clinical skills to prepare for learning in the final two years of the program, known as clerkships. Clerkship involves learning while working with physicians and other health care team members in the hospital and clinic. With support from UofT's world-class network of hospitals and clinical care sites, students delve deeper into areas such as pediatrics, family medicine, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, anesthesia, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.

Grading System

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine uses a programmatic assessment that checks student proficiency across diverse professional competencies. This includes frequent lower-stakes assessments with feedback designed to support learning.

To apply to the University of Toronto medical school, you will be using the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS). This is the general OMSAS application timeline:

Admissions Statistics and Eligibility

• Acceptance rates (overall): 6%
• Average MCAT: minimum of 125 in each section, with the exception of 124 in 1 section
• Average accepted GPA: 3.93
• Location: Toronto and Mississauga, ON

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine does give any preference to Ontario residents over non-Ontario residents.

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine overall acceptance rate:

Wondering about your admissions chances? Check out our Ontario Medical School Chance Predictor !

Eligibility

In addition to admitting Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine is one of the Canadian medical schools that accept US students  and international students who meet both academic and non-academic requirements. International applicants must complete a non-medical bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in Canada with World Education Services (WES) transcript assessment. Applicants from the US do not need to have their transcripts evaluated by WES.

International medical graduate students who have completed their master's or PhD degree will also be considered.

All applicants must have an MCAT score obtained within the last 5 years.

Did you know that UofT is one of the few medical schools in Canada that accepts international students? Check out our video below:

You must complete at least three years of study (the equivalent of 15 credits) towards your Bachelor’s degree in a discipline of your choosing by the end of April in the year of entrance to the MD program. If you are applying in the final year of a three-year or four-year degree program, you must complete the degree requirements and provide proof of completion before you enroll in the MD program. If you are applying in the third year of a four-year degree program, you must provide proof that you have completed the requirements of that year of your degree before you enroll in the MD program.

Additionally, UofT recommends that the courses you are enrolled in should match the level of studies you are completing. If you're in your third year, your course load should reflect third year or higher courses. If you're applying in your fourth year, your course load should include mainly third and fourth year courses.

In terms of medical school prerequisites , you must complete:

• 2 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in any life sciences
• 1 full-course equivalent in any social sciences, humanities, or a language

Additionally, the following courses, while not mandatory, are highly recommended:

• 1 FCE in statistics
• 1 FCE in any writing-focused course such as English

If any of your coursework falls short of these expectations and requirements, you can provide an explanation in your Academic Explanations Essay, which I discuss in further detail below.

Tuition Costs

The tuition at University of Toronto varies depending on the campus and the student profile.

Canadian students (both in-province and out-of-province) pay the following amount per year:

• Tuition and other incident fees for St. George campus: CAD$25,061.31 for Ontario domestic students. CAD$25,751.31 for Canadian students from other provinces.
• Tuition and other incident fees for Mississauga campus: CAD$25,490.56 for Ontario domestic students. CAD$26,180.56 for Canadian students from other provinces.

International students pay the following amount per year:

• Tuition and other incident fees for St. George campus: CAD $94,451.31
• Tuition and other incident fees for Mississauga campus: CAD $94,880.56

University of Toronto also estimates the additional first year costs, including living expenses and the cost of books and equipment, as CAD$18,577 per year. The actual additional costs may vary depending on the students' spending habits and lifestyle.

Funding Opportunities

The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine offers a variety of funding opportunities to its students. The school does its best to ensure that each student can enter and finish the program despite the steep medical school tuition  fees. You should know that most UofT MD students do incur some debt by accessing government student assistance programs and professional student lines of credit. However, there are some grants and bursaries that are offered by the school. As you research these opportunities, make sure to check if you meet the eligibility requirements. Please visit this page to learn about the scholarships that are offers and other important information about your funding options. Learn more about how much medical school costs in our blog.

The University of Toronto medical school evaluates applicants on the basis of a number of factors. While they have minimum GPA and MCAT thresholds, if you meet them, the actual numbers do not play a role in the rest of your application review. They consider your courseload, as well as your non-academic attributes, and how well they align with UofT's mission and their MD program core competencies.

Let’s consider the University of Toronto medical school requirements  you need to know about to complete your application.

UofT has a fairly strict medical school GPA requirement . The applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale to be considered. However, admissions statistics show that matriculants into this MD program typically have a GPA of at least 3.8 and above. To calculate your GPA, the school will use all undergraduate course grades obtained during the fall, winter, and summer terms on a full-time basis, i.e. 3 or more Full Course Equivalents (FCEs) during the fall/winter, and 1.5 or more FCEs during the summer terms. You are eligible to drop 2.0 FCEs of lowest grades if you have taken a full course load during the regular academic year (September to April of most programs) in each year of your undergraduate studies. They do not count grades from part-time courses when calculating your GPA, nor do they include grades from your current year of study (if applicable) since these grades won't be available yet. The final GPA they calculate basis their specific rules might be different than your OMSAS scale GPA and UofT does not release this data to applicants.

If you’re a graduate student, your GPA must be no less than 3.3 on the 4.0 scale to be considered for the program. Statistics show that 3.7 is the average GPA of graduate students matriculating into the UofT MD program.

Note that even if you do not have a competitive GPA, as long as you meet the minimum GPA requirements, UofT will review your entire application, and consider your activities and various essays, before calculating your rating.

You must have a score of 125 in each MCAT section, with an allowance of 124 in one of the sections. Your MCAT score  cannot be older than 5 years at the time of application. Important to note, your MCAT score is not used competitively. All you need to do is meet the required minimum to continue in the admissions process. Remember, you will not be considered for the program if your MCAT score does not meet the expected threshold. Preparing for the MCAT is a laborious and long process that requires time and dedication, so make sure you know when to start studying for the MCAT . 

Read a lot of challenging materials and use MCAT CARS practice passages to get ready for the test. Take the MCAT diagnostic test  to get an idea of your baseline and what areas of knowledge you need to improve. Create a thorough MCAT study schedule  and change it to correspond to your improvements and challenges. You need to be scoring consistently in the 90 th percentile before you take the actual test. If you are still wondering “ When should I take the MCAT ?”, make sure to read our blog.

To get help with different sections of the MCAT, make sure to check out our MCAT biology questions , MCAT chemistry questions , MCAT physics equations , and MCAT psychology  blogs.

Academic Explanations Essay

This OMSAS optional essay component allows you to address any discrepancies in your academic history and your application, similar to the AMCAS statement of disadvantage or a grad school cover letter . If your transcript has gaps, course withdrawals, or if you carried less than a full course load, you have the chance to explain your reasons in the academic explanations essay. You should also use this section to document your participation in an educational exchange program, a professional experience year, or co-op program, and the time frame of these activities. Although some of this information may be included in other parts of your application, you should also include this here. If there is any reason why you believe your transcript does not reflect your true ability, please outline your extenuating circumstances in the academic explanations essay. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate applicants.

UofT designates four clusters, based on the CANMeds Framework , that identify and describe the abilities a physician must possess to effectively meet the healthcare needs of their patients:

1. Professional: maturity, reliability, perseverance, and responsibility

2. Communicator/collaborator/manager: communication, collaboration, teamwork, time management, and leadership

3. Advocate: advocacy, community service, and social responsibility

4. Scholar: academic standing, achievements in leadership, research, and social responsibility as demonstrated by, but not limited to, awards, conference presentations, publications, and scholarships

These four clusters and their associated skills and qualities will be evaluated based on your autobiographical sketch, brief personal essays, and reference letters.

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Autobiographical Sketch

Not unlike the AMCAS Work and Activities  section, your OMSAS Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) is a comprehensive list of your activities outside of school since the age of 16. You will organize them into six categories: employment, volunteer activities, extracurricular activities, awards and accomplishments, research, and other activities. UofT does not expect a specific number of activities or number of hours – what matters is the quality of your experiences. There are also no activities that would give you a competitive edge.

University of Toronto is looking for mature, well-rounded applicants from diverse backgrounds with varied interests, who can demonstrate their commitment to community engagement. Applicants with excellent time management skills, who can prove how their experiences helped them gain skills and maturity, are most likely to be reviewed positively by the admissions committee.

Remember to include structured and non‑structured experiences that demonstrate your experiences and abilities. For example, in addition to including volunteer work coordinated by an organization, identify volunteer activities you performed in non-structured circumstances, i.e. helping an elderly neighbor by driving them to their medical appointments, volunteering to help run a neighbor's farm, etc. Each of your activities must be accompanied by the name of a verifier and their contact information. Their Admissions Office conducts random checks of activity verifiers and you'll receive an email to notify you about this process. OMSAS will arrange the Autobiographical Sketch in the order required by the school.

University of Toronto also asks applicants to submit one accompanying ABS statement of 500 words or less. You need to write this statement in response to the following prompt:

• Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?

To know how to make your OMSAS autobiographical sketch stand out , your essay should show focus on your most meaningful activity and align your experiences with the four attribute clusters.

Description: Working as the summer research student under Dr. Z, I honed my skills in child and family care with the SickKids Summer Research program. As a research student I attended every available lecture and seminar hosted by the program, and worked closely with Dr. Z treating and caring for young patients, learning the vital skills necessary to operate in a family and pediatric care environment. ","label":"Autobiographical Sketch Sample","title":"Autobiographical Sketch Sample"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

For each employment, volunteer or extracurricular or research activity you list in your ABS, be sure to include detailed information, including:

• Education level at the time of the activity (i.e., first year of university).
• Indicate if the activity was during the summer or the academic year, before university or after graduation; the total hours (per week or per month); and the start and end date.
• Provide the name of the organization and the location where the activity took place

For awards and accomplishments, you should also specify:

• The type of distinction you received
• Specify when they were received
• Briefly describe the qualifications necessary for receipt and the competition implied, if known

Brief Personal Essays

You will need to write two brief personal essays that address the questions I outline below. These essays are similar in purpose and style to the American medical school secondary essays . Each response must answer specific prompts related to University of Toronto's mission and values and be 250 words or less. The word count does not include titles, references, or verifiers if you choose to include these. UofT may choose to check your essays for plagiarism.

• The COVID-19 pandemic imposed obligatory changes in all our lives. What have you learned and how has this changed you as a person? Are there ways that you adapted that you would keep going forward? 
• What is the purpose of a mentoring relationship? What are the 3 most important elements of a mentoring relationship? Discuss a mentoring situation that you experienced in relation to these qualities.

Mentoring relationships are keys to deeper understanding and learning. Mentoring relationships encourage a deeper understanding of ourselves and others and foster an opportunity to not only learn but to internalize those learnings. For me, the three most important elements of a good mentoring relationship are communication, reciprocity and engagement. Communication is a foundation of any good relationship but is especially important with mentors and mentees when discussing expectations and outcomes. As a shadowing student, I spoke at length with my physician mentor about their expectations and mine, and what I hoped to learn through my experiences. There were also clear efforts at reciprocity and engagement during my shadowing sessions. Reciprocity because the mentoring relationship should bring as much to the student as it does to the teacher, providing opportunities for both to gain insight and new knowledge. Engagement because enthusiasm and passion help to ignite the interest in learning. My shadowing supervisor offered me many chances to observe intriguing cases or provide my thoughts and ask questions. I was sure to ask plenty of questions in return, share my thoughts, take copious notes and ask for recommendations for further reading or research. I made an attempt to show my commitment and excitement, and in return I received a very involved mentor.  ","label":"Personal Essay Sample #2","title":"Personal Essay Sample #2"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

Just like with other Ontario medical schools, you will not be able to submit traditional medical school recommendation letters . You are required to send OMSAS three Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF) as part of your application. These references will be evaluated according to the same four clusters I previously listed. Make sure to provide your referees with the clusters, as well as their attributes, activities, and achievements descriptions to ensure that they can speak to some or all of them in their CAF. Also, ensure that the whole range of clusters is represented among the three references as a whole (individual references may speak to a specific cluster or clusters of attributes, activities, and achievements). Additionally, provide your referees with your transcripts, CV, and any other document that may help them write a stellar reference for your UofT application.

University of Toronto medical school does not accept "non-objective" referees such as family members, relatives, close friends, neighbors, colleagues of family members, or peers. Ideally, your referees should be faculty members, employers, supervisors, and older mentors who can comment on your academic prowess, talents, personal merits, and suitability for medical school.

Your referees need to submit their CAF forms online no later than October 3. It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees send your forms in time. If you miss this deadline, your application will not be considered.

Interview Format

Interview selection is based on file review scores and approximately 640 applicants are invited to an admissions interview in Toronto each academic year. Interview dates are assigned at random as file reviews are completed and do not reflect any ranking in UofT’s admissions process. If you are not selected for an interview, you will receive a refusal letter. Interview invitations and refusal letters continue to be sent until the last interview date as the files are reviewed.

You will receive your interview invitation with an assigned interview date and time via email, and they are usually sent at least two weeks before the interview date. Occasionally, to fill up empty slots, you may receive an invitation closer to the interview date. If you cannot attend the interview on the given date, you'll need to contact the admissions office.

The University of Toronto's medical school uses the interview format which they developed, i.e. the Modified Personal Interview (MPI). Both in-person and virtual MPI interview formats will be used for admission to the UofT's MD program. The MPI consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different interviewers. Interviewers may include physicians, medical students, residents, health professionals, and community members. Each interview is approximately 12 minutes in length. The virtual MPI also consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different raters. Each virtual interview is completed asynchronously and you will have approximately 5 minutes for each.

To get ready for your interview, make sure to research how to prepare for video interviews . Remember, your strategy for how to prepare for your med school interview  should not change drastically if the interview is conducted virtually.

Make sure to practice with medical school interview questions  and MMI questions . You can also review panel interview questions , as they can be easily incorporated into any interview format.

Check out some sample medical school interview questions and answers:

Acceptance and Waitlist Information

The University of Toronto medical school admission offers are tied to a particular campus. If you decline the campus, you also decline the offer from the university in general. You cannot change the campus in your offer or ask to be put on a waitlist for the other campus. You will use the OMSAS to send your response to the offer. Make sure you check the deadlines for submission of your response stated in the offer. You must submit an electronic and a hard copy of the Response and Consent Form before the indicated deadline.

UofT does have a waitlist. If a space becomes available, the MD program will contact the next person on the list. It is difficult to predict how many additional offers will be made or when, but UofT typically keeps people on the waitlist until the beginning of classes. Final invitations to applicants on the waitlist will be sent as late as September. Learn how to get off a medical school waitlist in our blog.

Contact Information

Admissions Website  

Admissions Email: [email protected]

All applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements to be eligible for the program. If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements, your chances to continue in the admissions process are slim to none.

No, you must simply pass the prerequisites. University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine asks for a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale for undergraduate applicants and 3.3 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale for graduate applicants.

You are allowed some duplicate referees, but their letters for MD-PhD should focus on your qualities that relate to this program, i.e. your scientific ability and potential.

If you are a Canadian applicant, you must complete at least three years in a program that would lead to a Bachelor’s degree. If you are applying during your third year of study, you must have the equivalent of 15 credits by the end of the third year and have completed the requirements of your degree. Candidates who apply during their fourth year are expected to be completing the equivalent of 20 credits or completing their four-year degree. If you do not meet these requirements, you can outline the reasons in the Academic Explanations Essay on the OMSAS application.

If you are an American applicant, you must complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree. International students must complete the equivalent of a four-year Canadian Bachelor's degree.

No, there is no preference given to students on the basis of residency or citizenship.

No, you can pursue the study of any discipline, as long as you meet the coursework prerequisites. For your application to be competitive, you should also complete the recommended courses.

The MCAT score is not included in an overall academic calculation but is used as a threshold. You need a score of 125 in each MCAT section, with an allowance of 124 in one of the sections. If you apply with a score lower than the threshold, you jeopardize the success of your application. Applications without MCAT scores will not be considered. Your MCAT score must be no older than 5 years at the time of application. Only your most recent MCAT scores will be considered.

There is no set amount of experiences you need to indicate in your Autobiographical Sketch. You will not be penalized for having more clinical activities than research, or vice versa. You will not be penalized if you have fewer extracurricular/volunteer activities because of your need for employment. There is no required number of activities or a required number of hours. Remember, the quality of your experiences will always trump their quantity.

No, the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine is not one of the  medical schools that require CASPer . 

The University of Toronto's medical school uses their own interview format, i.e. the Modified Personal Interview (MPI). They use both in-person and virtual MPI interview formats as part of their admissions process.

The MPI consists of four independent interviews evaluated by four different interviewers who could be physicians, medical students, residents, health professionals, and community members. Each interview is approximately 12 minutes in length.

The virtual MPI also consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different raters. Each virtual interview is completed asynchronously and you will have approximately 5 minutes for each.

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine does not ask for traditional narrative letters of recommendation. Instead, applicants provide three Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF). Referees should complete and submit these by October 1st.

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results. 

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

MUWANGUZI MARY

What if I got a 3 year National diploma in Medical entomology and parasitology studies from Uganda, do I qualify to apply at the school of medicine in Canada?

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Muwanguzi! Thanks for your question! University of Toronto accepts international students, but international applicants must also complete a non-medical bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in Canada. So, if your degree is related to medicine, you might have to consider another Canadian schools that accept international students, like medical schools in Quebec or Memorial University. You can also reach out to the admissions office personally and discuss your potential application to the University of Toronto.

Nathalia Garcia Martinez

I just graduated High School in Mexico; from my understanding, I will first have to apply to a pre-med before applying to Med School. But I´m still confused. Do I apply to the University of Toronto as pre-med and then MD?

Hello Nathalia! Thank you so much for your question. If you plan on attending the University of Toronto for the MD, you must complete at least three years of study (the equivalent of 15 credits) towards your Bachelor’s degree in a discipline of your choosing. In other words, you do not need to complete your undergrad, but you must complete some part of your degree to be eligible to apply to UofT MD. Once you complete the 15 credits, you can apply to the medical school.

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Admission Requirements

Identify your academic background from the options below and review the admission requirements for your intended program of study using the Program Finder .  In addition to meeting general university admission requirements, you may need to present specific subject prerequisites, or submit a personal profile or statement of interest.

We make provisional offers of admission to qualified applicants from all educational backgrounds. If you are currently enrolled in secondary school or in a post-secondary program, we will make a provisional admission decision based on your final results from last year and your midyear results in the current year.

If you are interested in applying to the Medical Radiation Sciences, Nursing, or Physician Assistant programs, visit  Professional and Graduate Programs  to find your admission requirements.

Canadian High School, University or College

Are your most recent studies at an Ontario or other Canadian high school? Find the admission requirements based on your province. Current high school applicants with strong mid-year results may be admitted on condition that they complete their academic year successfully.

Are your current or most recent studies at university or college in Canada? If you are currently in school you may be considered on the basis of your previous year’s results.

International High School, University or College

Are your current or most recent studies at a high school outside of Canada? Learn more about the admission requirements for your country.

If you are attending or have attended a recognized university or college outside of Canada, you will be considered for admission based on your post-secondary studies.

Mature Students

Our admission requirements are based on academic background, regardless of your age. To see if you meet our admission requirements, please check the appropriate level of education and your program of interest.

If you do not meet the published admission requirements you may become eligible for some programs through either the Academic Bridging Program or the Transitional Year Programme. Note that if you have previously been enrolled in degree studies, you are not eligible for these programs.

Non-Degree Students

Applying as a non-degree student is a great way to continue your education, whether it’s for personal interest, or to upgrade your university record to qualify for graduate school or a professional program.

Visiting Students

Are you an undergraduate student at another university who is interested in taking a particular course at the University of Toronto? Find out how!

Find Important Application dates  here .

Find out about academic requirements for applicants from outside Canada .

It depends on what you’re applying to, but most programs do not require additional applications. Some programs, colleges and campuses ask students to fill out an added application or profile. You should receive an e-mail that will indicate if you need to fill out an application, where you can find it and what the deadline is. You can also find this information by looking up your intended program’s requirements in the  Program Finder .

Find out which application you should use, depending on whether you’re a current Ontario high school student, an applicant from another Canadian province or territory, an international applicant, or in another circumstance. Find out more here.

Find out about U of T’s English Language Requirements and proof of English facility .

If you have completed college or university studies, AP, IB, GCE, CAPE, or French Baccalaureate examinations you may be eligible for transfer credit at the University of Toronto. Transfer credits are assessed after admission.

Find out more about  transfer credit  at U of T.

All changes to your application should be made before the  application deadline .

If you have applied to the OUAC Undergraduate Application and wish to make changes to your initial application, you must do this by logging in to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre website ( www.ouac.on.ca ).

All other applicants (International/Internal/Part-Time/Non-Degree) should log onto  Join U of T , click on Check Status, and follow the instructions for making changes to your application.

We do not accept any changes or corrections via e-mail or telephone.

Telephone & In-Person Inquiries We are available for telephone and in-person inquiries.

Email Inquiries Connect with us by email for:

• Admissions: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/questions
• Ask a Student: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/askastudent

Contact Client Services for financial aid inquires including:

• OSAP (Ontario Student Assistant Program) full and part-time
• BSWD (Bursaries for Students with Disabilities)
• UTAPS (University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students)
• Part-Time Financial
• OOP Funding for other provinces outside of Ontario
• US student aid – for United States citizens (US Federal Student Aid loan opportunities, private loans (non-government), Veteran Affairs certification requests for benefits & education tax credit

Your feedback is important to us. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know how we did by completing our  University Admissions and Outreach Satisfaction Survey .

If you decide to put your studies on hold, you may request a one-year deferral of your offer of admission. If granted, the deferral of admission will include a deferral of any entrance scholarship(s) awarded and the residence guarantee if applicable. Applicants who plan to attend another post-secondary institution will not be permitted to defer their admission. You’ll find instructions and the application form here.

You will receive an acknowledgment from U of T, with login instructions for our applicant website, about two weeks after you submit your application.

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