Is it hard to get into MC med school?

**wlyyl** · 02-08-2006, 06:06 AM

I live in TO., and I heard UT's med school is really really really hard to get in (like 1 out of 25, 30 or something), and a friend told me MC's med school is much easier to get in, but it only ranks 8th in Canada.
So before making the decision, I really think I should ask for some info! THX in advance!

**Scottish Chap** · 03-09-2006, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by wlyyl

I live in TO., and I heard UT's med school is really really really hard to get in (like 1 out of 25, 30 or something), and a friend told me MC's med school is much easier to get in, but it only ranks 8th in Canada.
So before making the decision, I really think I should ask for some info! THX in advance!

Apply to all medical schools in your area as nothing is a 'sure bet'. Traditionally, Mac looked for unusual applicants while UT looked for high GPAs and MCATs for undergraduate applicants and unusually successful scientisits for graduate applicants. Although Mac has no prereq. courses and they don't ask for the MCAT, don't be mislead: their applicant pool is far larger than the U of T and so I would disagree that it is an easier school to get into.

**NiceDriveway** · 18-10-2006, 10:50 PM

ALL med schools are difficult to get in to.

UofT is generally known for accepting/interviewing those with higher academic averages. McMaster, as it doesn't require the MCAT, receives twice as many applications as any other medical school in the country. As well, Mac accepts students with a GPA of 3.0, but you're also graded on your answers to the autobiographical questions. SO, you might have an aerage GPA and a high score on your questions, but it's still easier for someone with a high GPA if they can answer the questions well.

**flyhi** · 18-02-2007, 02:37 AM

i applied to mc and got rejected with an A average.. I think the autobiographical submission is a big part of getting in. Also they recieved close to 5000 applicants this year and only interview about 700 people....so its very difficult to get in....i'm now looking for other options-please respond if you have any suggestions

**Scottish Chap** · 18-02-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by flyhi

i applied to mc and got rejected with an A average.. I think the autobiographical submission is a big part of getting in. Also they recieved close to 5000 applicants this year and only interview about 700 people....so its very difficult to get in....i'm now looking for other options-please respond if you have any suggestions

So sorry about that.

Actually, the autobiographical submission is weighed much less these days - and especially so in the last three application cycles. Mac still lists 3.0 and the GPA minimum, but you'll see that they essentially do not accept anyone who is less than 3.5 and, at that, there are only 1 or two of them around 3.5-3.6. The mean accepted GPA remains around 3.85.

Apparently, the students they were accepting in the past had some issues with the licensing exams, so they now screen for academic rigor in favor of a fine showing on the autobiographical submission. For what it's worth, PBL might be fun for a while but (trust me) it gets old. I'm glad I chose to attend a more traditional school.