Skip to: site menu | section menu | main content
University
Take courses that interest you. There is no single path to medical school, I know people who have come from a variety of backgrounds, including English, engineering, law and geology and found their way to medicine. However, most medical schools require that you take biology, calculus, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and English to apply. As well, you will need these courses to write the The MCAT. If you are seriously applying, you will want to cast your net as far as possible, and it would be a shame if you weren't able to apply somewhere just because you didn't take the prerequisite courses. So if you want to take history in your undergrad, do it, especially if you are not yet sure about what you want to do with your life. But if you are thinking about medicine, take at least the courses needed to get in! So plan ahead!
Years 1 and 2
These marks really do count. The transition to University from high school requires a few fundamental changes that honestly, take a lot of people their first year to figure out.
1) There is no homework
suddenly there is no one telling you to go home and study these pages, do these practice questions, prepare this for tomorrow. You will have to be self-initiating. Read what the outline says, and stay on top of things by doing questions provided in your texts.
2) The volume of work is 3 times that of a high school course.
The amount of work can feel like a punch in the teeth the first time you suddenly realise how much there is to do and you haven't opened a book in 5 weeks. You have been warned.
3) Go to tutorial.
They said it was optional, right? And isn't tutorial for people who don't get what is going on? No. it is where ESSENTIAL things will be taught. I will admit to you that during my first year I thought these very things about the calculus tutorial, until the day I realised the exam was based on questions gone over in tutorial.
4) Remember that your marks count.
Years later, they will still count. If you do poorly in these 2 years it will be quite difficult to recover. Even if you are now doing a PhD in the subject you got a C in during your first year of university, the admission committee will look at your low mark in chemistry from 7 years ago and it will be held against you. There is a standard formula for grades that is, for the most part, quite weighted towards undergrad performance. So don't slack off!
Extracurricular:
Universities are filled with clubs for every personality type. Personally, I think it would be a good idea to see if you can continue doing something you enjoyed doing during high school, but with more responsibility/ greater challenge/ higher level of skill. First of all, it is nice when you are in a new environment to have a sense of continuity in your life, which will make the transition in general easier. As a bonus, it is good to show that you are able to both commit to something and grow with it.
I would also suggest trying something completely new, completely different from your course work and old activities. It is good for your soul to branch out and put your self in a position that you have to stretch a little, and it gives you more of a chance to get to know yourself. So take up kick-boxing or rock climbing or audition for that play!
Social:
You need some time to unwind, relax, veg out and really nurture your social relationships. An absolute minimum is one night a week. Other wise you may find yourself obsessing to much and generally not having a good time.
Your summers:
This is prime time to get experiences you need to make sure you are choosing the right career and show that you have what it takes to succeed in medicine.
Volunteer
If you have the luxury of volunteering (that is, you don't need a paying job) find something that amazes and inspires you. It is a lot easier to be passionate about working with real people in a small organisation than about licking envelopes in a large well known organisation. For your own sake and sanity, do volunteer work that is meaningful to YOU, not what you think will be meaningful to an admissions committee. If you cannot afford to volunteer for the whole summer, see if you can find an organisation that will let you volunteer on weekends or in the evenings. In university the summer is 4 months long, you may even be able to break your time up into half volunteering and half working.
Cool Jobs
They are out there. See if you can combine a job with an international experience. See if you can start your own business. Work at a cool place (zoo, science centre, nursing home aid, camps, out door guide, coach, tutor, camp counsellor, tree planting)
Do research
I would highly suggest some sort of research experience if you can get it, preferably with an MD. Start asking around a department that interests you before December. You may have to write a lot of letters. I know a lot of people who did do research with a physician who was then willing to write a letter of recommendation. If you do work with a physician, take the opportunity to immerse yourself as much as possible in the hospital life, ask about rounds or other learning opportunities. The more you participate, not only will you have a generally richer experience but you will have a better appreciation for what a doctor does, the types of problems they solve and their role in the health care team.
Prepare for the The MCAT:
Many people write the MCAT between 2nd and 3rd year of university after completing the corresponding courses so they are still fresh in their head. This is a good idea even if you are not thinking of applying until your last year, so you aren't trying to study for the MCAT and prepare your entire application in one summer (it is a lot of work!). Your MCAT results are generally good for 5 years after writing it.
The ApplicationCycle for medical school starts more than a year before your first class begins. A detailed timeline for each school is available in Canadian Medical Schools
Highschool (4yrs)
University (3-4ys)
Application Cycle (1yr)
Medical School (3-4yrs)
Residency (2-6yrs)
Fellowship (1-3 yrs)