GENERAL INFORMATION
- Campus – total of 190 students
- Western university’s London Campus
- Western university’s Windsor Campus
- Numbers (2023-2024 Cycle):
- Total number of Applicants: 2611 Applicants
- Total number of Interview Invites: 464 Applicants
- Total number of Admissions: 190 Applicants
- Program length: 4 years
Application Overview
| In Province (IP) Status | Southwestern preferences & 95% of the seats allocated for ON applicants |
| Minimum GPA Required | 3.7/4.0 2YGPA (2 best years) |
| GPA Calculation Options | Adjusted GPA – 2 best full-time years |
| Required Course Load | Minimum 2 Years of full-time |
| Minimum Credits Required | 4-year Baccalaureate Degree |
| Pre-requisite Courses | None |
| CASPer | Not required |
| MCAT | Required (Cut-off) |
| Interview Format | Panel – Virtual |
| References | 3 References |
| Pathways | Access Pathway Black Applicant Pathway (BAP) Indigenous Applicant Pathway Military Medical Training Program Southwestern Ontario Pathway Combined MD/PhD Program |
| International Students | Not considered |
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
- GPA: Western university calculates 2 best full-time year’s GPA in their assessment.
- In a full-time year, there must be at least 5 full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) during Fall/Winter term. Western does not consider part-time or summer term courses for GPA calculation. One semester course is equivalent to 3 credit hours.
- Please note that at least 18 credit hours (6 semester courses) must be at or above academic year of applicant’s study.
- Minimum GPA:
- Minimum GPA required to apply is 3.7/4.0 for each best full-time year. However, the average GPA of admitted applicants for 2023-2024 cycle was 3.95/4.0 for the first best year and 3.9/4.0 for the second best year. GPA is used as a cut-off for interview invites, but it is unclear how GPA is used post-interview.
- Please note that minimum GPA varies each year based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool.
- Required Course Load:
- Western university requires applicants to have taken a minimum of 2 full-time years of course load between September to April. Full-time course load is defined as minimum 30 credit hours, which is approximately 10 semester courses.
- Minimum Credits Required:
- Applicants must have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree by the time of entry to medical school.
- Pre-requisite Courses
- There are no mandatory pre-requisite courses to apply to Western University.
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS
- MCAT
- MCAT is required for admissions to Western university. The minimum MCAT required varies each year based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool.
- The minimum required MCAT differs based on general or pathway stream. In 2024-2025 cycle, the minimum required MCAT for general stream applicants were 127 C/P, 127 CARS, 127 B/B, 126 P/S. For pathway stream applicants, minimum required MCAT is 125 per section.
- The average MCAT for admitted applicants in 2023-2024 cycle was 128 C/P, 127 CARS, 129 B/B, 129 P/S. MCAT is used as a cut-off for interview invites, but it is unclear how MCAT is used post-interview.
- CASPer
- CASPer is not required to apply to Western university.
RESIDENCE
- There is a Southwestern Ontario admissions pathway for applicants who graduated high school in Southwestern Ontario region.
- There is no specific quota for Southwestern Ontario admissions pathway and there is no guarantee of admission if you qualify for this stream.
- Please note that there are changes to IP status following the Ontario government’s announcement on legislation changes. This legislation proposes that 95% of the Ontario’s medical school seats be allocated for Ontario residents. However, it is still unclear how this will impact Western’s medical school seat allocation.
- You may want to check this site to learn more about this change: https://www.regulatoryregistry.gov.on.ca/proposal/50233
- Ontario’s IP criteria that comes into effect starting this cycle is as follows:
- Applicant or their spouse has, at any time after their 14th birthday, resided in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months and has either:
- received an Ontario Secondary School Diploma; or
- not resided in another province or territory for 12 or more consecutive months since completing the most recent 12 month residency period in Ontario
- To determine that the applicant or spouse has met the criteria, the full-time studies at a post-secondary institution will not be included unless:
- Applicant or spouse was in a full-time, in-person degree in Ontario; and
- The program attended is one that is ordinarily completed in four or more academic years
- Applicant or their spouse has, at any time after their 14th birthday, resided in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months and has either:
EXTRACURRICULARS
- All applicants will be asked to fill out Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) on their OMSAS portal. These are classified as: Employment, Volunteer activities, Extracurricular activities, Awards and Accomplishments, Research, and Other. You can enter up to 32 entries on the portal.
- In addition to OMSAS, Western university also requires Western Autobiographical Sketch (Western ABS). The instruction to complete this portion will be sent after the application through OMSAS. Western ABS is conducted on Kira Talent, and will comprise of both the video and written component.
- This component focuses on applicants’ non-academic strengths, impactful or transformative life experiences, and personal values.
INTERVIEW
- Western university conducts a virtual panel-style interview. Western university’s official website states that the interview is around 30-45 minutes long, and involves 3 panel interviewers. The panel consists of a physician, a community member, and a current medical student.
- Based on forum comments and posts, interview is thought to be closed file and the questions can consist of personal, situational, ethical, or opinion-based.
REFERENCES
- All applicants are required to submit three referees through OMSAS application portal. In choosing three referees, these are the following recommended criteria:
- One academic or employment related
- One non-academic / character referee
- One referee of your choosing
- References completing the Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF) will be asked the following questions:
- 1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
- 2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes: Communication skills, Problem-solving skills, Professionalism, Empathy
- 3. Identify and comment on 1 area of improvement for the applicant
- 4. Share any other information you feel may be relevant to a medical school’s admission committee
PATHWAYS/SPECIAL STREAMS
- Access Pathway: This pathway is intended for applicants who are under-represented within medicine. It may include those with financial and/or medical challenges, under-representation in medicine (like Latin Americans or Filipino), low socioeconomic status, or socio-cultural barriers.
- Applicants must submit a personal statement to describe how you adapted to or overcame your challenges, your experiences, future goals, and how your lived experiences will shape you in being a future healthcare provider. Additionally, you must provide supporting documents as a proof.
- Although not guaranteed, there may be a flexibility for minimum MCAT requirement (i.e. 125 per section). However, applicants must still meet the other minimum eligibility criteria as the general stream.
- Black Applicant Pathway (BAP): Black applicants must self-identify on OMSAS and submit a 500-words personal statement.
- Although not guaranteed, there may be a flexibility for minimum MCAT requirement (i.e. 125 per section). However, applicants must still meet the other minimum eligibility criteria as the general stream.
- If applicants qualify under this stream, their applications and interviews are assessed by diversity and equity panel that involves members who self-identify as black.
- Indigenous Applicant Pathway: Indigenous applicants must submit a proof of ancestry, personal statement to describe their experiences and future goals, and letters of support from Indigenous communities or organizations.
- Although not guaranteed, there may be a flexibility for minimum MCAT requirement (i.e. 125 per section). However, applicants must still meet the other minimum eligibility criteria as the general stream.
- For Indigenous applicants selected for interview, they will be welcomed by traditional Elders and receive support from Indigenous medical student throughout the interview day. Interviews are typically 45 minutes long, and will consist of Indigenous physician, an Indigenous community member, and a current medical student.
- Military Medical Training Program (MMTP): Applicants must have been an active member of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to application deadline to be eligible. Applicants must also be eligible and approved to receive funding of medical school tuition by CAF.
- Although not guaranteed, there may be a flexibility for minimum MCAT requirement (i.e. 125 per section). However, applicants must still meet the other minimum eligibility criteria as the general stream.
- For MMTP applicants, Western university will aim to have an interview panel comprised of individuals with CAF affiliation.
- Southwestern Ontario Pathway: Applicants who completed 4 years of high school within the designated counties are eligible to apply through this stream. The listed counties include: Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, Oxford, Elgin, Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, and Essex.
- There is a flexibility for minimum MCAT requirement (i.e. 125 per section). However, applicants must still meet the other minimum eligibility criteria as the general stream.
- Combined MD/PhD Program
HELPFUL LINKS
- Western University Admissions Site: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/med_dent_admissions/medicine/admission_requirements.html
- Admissions Statistics: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/med_dent_admissions/medicine/admission_statistics1.html
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/med_dent_admissions/medicine/frequently_asked_questions_new.html