Summer Strategy Summer Strategy SessionSession

Pre-Medical SocietyPre-Medical Society

2008-20092008-2009

Ontario ApplicationsOntario Applications http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/index.htmlhttp://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/index.html Ontario Medical Schools:Ontario Medical Schools: Michael G. DeGroote School of Michael G. DeGroote School of

Medicine Medicine (McMaster University)(McMaster University)

Northern Ontario School of Medicine Northern Ontario School of Medicine  University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa Queen's UniversityQueen's University University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto Schulich School of Medicine Schulich School of Medicine

(The University of Western Ontario)(The University of Western Ontario)

Applications: Important Applications: Important DatesDates

Mid-July, 2008Mid-July, 2008COMPASS.OMSAS online application COMPASS.OMSAS online application available.available.

September 15, 2008September 15, 2008(4:30 p.m. EDT) Deadline to register for/create (4:30 p.m. EDT) Deadline to register for/create an account for the COMPASS.OMSAS online an account for the COMPASS.OMSAS online application. Applicants must create their own application. Applicants must create their own personal account, and must not take over personal account, and must not take over accounts created by someone else. accounts created by someone else. Please note: Applicants who obtain Please note: Applicants who obtain accounts after the September 15 deadline accounts after the September 15 deadline will be disqualified. Applicants must not will be disqualified. Applicants must not share their login information with anyone.share their login information with anyone.

Applications: Important Applications: Important DatesDates

October 1, 2008October 1, 2008(4:30 p.m. EDT) Last day to submit applications. (4:30 p.m. EDT) Last day to submit applications. There are no exceptions.There are no exceptions.

October 6, 2008October 6, 2008All cheques, money orders and electronic All cheques, money orders and electronic payments must be received by this date.payments must be received by this date.

October 15, 2008October 15, 2008Applicants must release their MCAT scores to Applicants must release their MCAT scores to OMSAS by this date. Please note: Applicants OMSAS by this date. Please note: Applicants must re-release their MCAT scores for each new must re-release their MCAT scores for each new application cycle. Applicants who have written application cycle. Applicants who have written the July, August or September 2008 MCAT must the July, August or September 2008 MCAT must wait until after their scores are made available wait until after their scores are made available before requesting their release to OMSAS.before requesting their release to OMSAS.

Ontario Applications: Ontario Applications: FeesFees

Application Fees:Application Fees: One school $285One school $285 Two schools$360 Two schools$360 Three schools$435Three schools$435 Four schools$510Four schools$510 Five schools$585Five schools$585 Six schools$660Six schools$660

The ApplicationThe Application Personal Info/Address/School Choices Autobiographical Sketch (the “48” things)o F: Formal Education (name of institution,

dates, program,o degree);o E: Employment;o V: Volunteer Activities;o X: Extracurricular activities;o A: Awards and Accomplishments;o R: Research; ando O: Other.

The ApplicationThe Application

Applicant activities from age 16Applicant activities from age 16 Quality over quantityQuality over quantity VERIFIERS!!! START NOW!!!VERIFIERS!!! START NOW!!! 3 Referees3 Referees MCAT released to OMSASMCAT released to OMSAS Undergraduate Academic Record Undergraduate Academic Record TranscriptsTranscripts CPR CCPR C

Ontario ApplicationsOntario Applications

For detailed information on each For detailed information on each school read OMSAS 2009 Instruction school read OMSAS 2009 Instruction Booklet Booklet

Start working on this as soon as Start working on this as soon as possible!possible!

MCATMCAT

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htmstart.htm

Registration is now open for May-Registration is now open for May-September 2009 test datesSeptember 2009 test dates

Cost: $225 US Cost: $225 US Full length practice tests - $35/testFull length practice tests - $35/test Sample writing promptsSample writing prompts Reschedule / Cancellation Reschedule / Cancellation

MCAT Cont’dMCAT Cont’d

4 sections:4 sections: Physical Science – 52 Q’s, 70 minutesPhysical Science – 52 Q’s, 70 minutes Verbal Reasoning – 40 Q’s, 60 minutesVerbal Reasoning – 40 Q’s, 60 minutes Writing Sample – 2, 30 minutes eachWriting Sample – 2, 30 minutes each Biological Sciences – 52 Q’s, 70 Biological Sciences – 52 Q’s, 70

minutesminutes 10 minute optional breaks10 minute optional breaks

MCAT Cont’dMCAT Cont’d

Which Ontario Medical Schools Which Ontario Medical Schools require the MCAT?require the MCAT?

WesternWestern Queen’sQueen’s TorontoToronto

MCAT Cont’dMCAT Cont’d

What other professional schools look What other professional schools look at the MCAT?at the MCAT?

Allopathic Osteopathic Podiatric Veterinary Medicine Read MCAT Essentials for more

details

MCAT Prep CourseMCAT Prep Course

UWO Pre-Med Members receive discounts UWO Pre-Med Members receive discounts with Princeton Review and KAPLANwith Princeton Review and KAPLAN

In-class sessions, online material, practice In-class sessions, online material, practice exams, writing sample feedbackexams, writing sample feedback

See Chapters website for additional See Chapters website for additional resourcesresources

Find study material that works best for YOUFind study material that works best for YOU Talk to people who have already taken testTalk to people who have already taken test

MCAT + Summer Job?MCAT + Summer Job?

Many students ask “If I am writing the Many students ask “If I am writing the MCAT this summer, should I not work?”MCAT this summer, should I not work?”

This is a question only you can decide. This is a question only you can decide. Know your study habits, do your Know your study habits, do your research and know your financial research and know your financial situation!situation!

The MCAT now has over 20 test dates The MCAT now has over 20 test dates each year. You can write 3 times in one each year. You can write 3 times in one year.year.

American Medical American Medical SchoolsSchools

http://www.aamc.org/audienceamcas.htmhttp://www.aamc.org/audienceamcas.htm You can now begin your 2009 applicationYou can now begin your 2009 application 126 schools126 schools Most schools require an English creditMost schools require an English credit Find comprehensive data about medical Find comprehensive data about medical

school applicants, matriculants, and school applicants, matriculants, and graduates. graduates.

For most schools, the AMCAS is just the For most schools, the AMCAS is just the first application. Once you have finished first application. Once you have finished this application you this application you maymay be able to access be able to access each school’s secondary applicationeach school’s secondary application

American Medical American Medical SchoolsSchools

AMCAS charges an application processing fee of $160 AMCAS charges an application processing fee of $160 for one (1) medical school designation, and $30 for for one (1) medical school designation, and $30 for each designation thereafter. each designation thereafter.

Most schools have fees for their secondary applicationsMost schools have fees for their secondary applications Early Decision Program: The Early Decision Program Early Decision Program: The Early Decision Program

(EDP) allows applicants to secure an acceptance from (EDP) allows applicants to secure an acceptance from one EDP-participating medical school by October 1 one EDP-participating medical school by October 1 while allowing sufficient time to apply to other schools while allowing sufficient time to apply to other schools if not accepted. if not accepted.

Deadline to apply to the EDP is August 1 Deadline to apply to the EDP is August 1 http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/

amcas2009instructionmanual072808.pdf amcas2009instructionmanual072808.pdf (instruction manual)(instruction manual)

Outside OntarioOutside Ontario University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of British Columbia Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine University of Manitoba Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Medicine Université Laval Faculty of Medicine Université Laval McGill University Faculty of Medicine McGill University Faculty of Medicine Universite de Montreal Faculty of Medicine Universite de Montreal Faculty of Medicine Universite de Sherbrooke Faculty of MedicineUniversite de Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine

University of Saskatchewan College of MedicineUniversity of Saskatchewan College of Medicine University of Calgary Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Calgary Faculty of Medicine

Outside OntarioOutside Ontario The other Canadian schools have different The other Canadian schools have different

applications times and different application applications times and different application processes (e.i. no OMSAS)processes (e.i. no OMSAS)

Many of them require an English credit (this Many of them require an English credit (this is not the case for most Ontario schools)is not the case for most Ontario schools)

MCAT: some of these schools may not be a MCAT: some of these schools may not be a part of the AMCAS therefore you must part of the AMCAS therefore you must specify that you want your results released specify that you want your results released to each schoolto each school

There are only a very small number of out of There are only a very small number of out of province (OOP) students acceptedprovince (OOP) students accepted

Example:Example:UBCUBC

Application opens June 1, 2009Application opens June 1, 2009 Application deadline September 1, 2009Application deadline September 1, 2009 If invited to an interview, a supplemental If invited to an interview, a supplemental

application form is requiredapplication form is required 2008/2009 application cycle, only 49 out of 2008/2009 application cycle, only 49 out of

province (OOP) students were invited for an province (OOP) students were invited for an interviewinterview

Up to 12 seats are reserved for OOP studentsUp to 12 seats are reserved for OOP students Application fee for OOP: $155 +$30 for Application fee for OOP: $155 +$30 for

transcripttranscript

Summer VolunteeringSummer Volunteering

Summer is a great time to get involved Summer is a great time to get involved in reoccurring volunteer positions!in reoccurring volunteer positions!

Some examples:Some examples: Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity((http://www.habitat.ca/http://www.habitat.ca/)) Camp TrilliumCamp Trillium((http://www.camptrillium.com/http://www.camptrillium.com/)) Western’s Volunteer ProgramWestern’s Volunteer Program((http://career.uwo.ca/wvp/http://career.uwo.ca/wvp/))

The Perfect Summer JobThe Perfect Summer Job

Find a job that you enjoy!Find a job that you enjoy! Western’s Career Central Job Western’s Career Central Job

Postings:Postings:https://careercentral.uwo.ca/login.cfmhttps://careercentral.uwo.ca/login.cfm Talk to your professors – find out if Talk to your professors – find out if

they are looking for a summer student they are looking for a summer student or know of someone who isor know of someone who is

Search for funding opportunities on Search for funding opportunities on UWO’s websiteUWO’s website

NSERC (for summer 2010)NSERC (for summer 2010)