University of Ottawa

No MCAT Required:

Most recent 3 years full time (at least 4 courses per semester) cGPA is taken into consideration. cGPA admission average is estimated to be in the low 3.9s.

Casper:

Generally, most applicants who receive interviews for the English stream are 4Q scorers.

Regional Seats:

50% of the seats are reserved for regional candidates from Ottawa and surrounding regions.

Typically, a 0.5 credit or one semester course is equivalent to 3 units. Applicants should complete:

• 6 units in humanities/social sciences
• 6 units in biology, anatomy or physiology
• 3 units in organic chemistry
• 3 units in general chemistry
• 3 units in biochemistry
• 3 units in statistics

For more detailed prerequisites, visit the Ottawa MD Academic Requirements Page .

Ottawa requires the completion of an Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) as part of the OMSAS application, which includes:

• Employment history
• Volunteer activities
• Extracurricular activities
• Awards and accomplishments
• Research experience

For each entry, you can provide a brief description (150 words max) explaining your role and the impact of your involvement.

When completing your ABS for Ottawa:

• Emphasize activities that demonstrate your commitment to service and community
• Highlight experiences that show your understanding of the medical profession
• Include activities that demonstrate your ability to balance multiple commitments
• Be specific about your role, responsibilities, and what you learned

Each entry must include contact information for a verifier who can confirm your participation.

Selection Criteria

What they're looking for (unofficial): An unknown combination of cGPA, Casper, and Top 15 ABS Entries (3 from each section excluding others).

Post-interview selection formula is entirely based on your interview score out of 4, with cGPA being used for tiebreakers.

Interview invites are typically sent towards the very end of January. Past years have been consistent with the last 2-3 days of the month.

Interviews are conducted from mid-February to early-March.

2024-2025 Interview Timeline:

• Interview invitations: Late January 2025
• Interviews: Mid-February to early March 2025
• Admission decisions: May 13, 2025

Ottawa's Panel interview is a semi-structured interview. It is a very standard traditional interview: There will be three panelists, typically two members of admissions and one fourth-year medical student. The evaluation will be based on the following characteristics:

• Motivation
• Empathy/Compassion
• Conflict Resolution/Teamwork
• Communication Skills
• Professionalism
• Critical Thinking/Ethics
• Resiliency

Role-play scenarios are possible.

For more detailed interview advice, visit our Interview Guide.