Canada is known for its excellent medical schools. But out of the dozens of programs, do you know which ones are the best? Here’s a quick look at some of the top training grounds for doctors out of a multitude of choices in Canada. But before checking out the best three choices, it’s important to know the first steps to take on the journey to become an MD. That includes figuring out not only how to get in but how to pay the bills.
First Steps
It’s often said that the real first step to success in med school is studying hard in college. Besides giving your best effort during those crucial undergrad years, you should choose a major that fits in with at least some of the graduate-level coursework you’ll be facing. Consider majors in sciences like biology, chemistry, and even physics. All will prepare you for the challenging mathematics and problem-solving skills necessary for becoming an MD. Once you get into your fourth year of college, begin searching for a medical program that is top-ranked among its Canadian peers. Three choices are noted below. And, even if your short-list contains more than three, be sure to know total costs of the four-year track, minimum GPA required, and the minimum MCAT scores.
Getting in and Paying for Med School
Getting in is hard enough. Some students say the medical school application process is the first real exam they face during their four years of coursework. In addition to several standardized tests, application letters, in-person interviews, and other hurdles, you’ll also need to address the question of financing. The good news is that paying for your medical studies is far less of a challenge than either gaining admittance to a top program or completing the graduate degree and becoming a doctor. If you’re headed to med school, or an undergraduate school as a first step on your journey toward an MD, you can get a student loan from a private lender to cover all your educational expenses. The major benefit of opting for a private loan is that you can shop around for the best interest rate, get terms that make sense for your budget, and do so whether you’re a student or a student’s cosigner.
U of M
Known worldwide, the University of Montreal is one of several med schools in the city. Tuition is competitive and there is no MCAT requirement. However, the administrators give a lot of weight to GPA (3.5 being the cutoff) as well as literacy in French. The language requirement is necessary because much of the internship work during the four years is in French-speaking medical facilities.
UBC
The University of British Columbia has campuses in Kelowna and Vancouver. Tuition is on the lower side with a GPA cutoff of 3.4 and a minimum MCAT of 496. One of the nation’s leading universities in the fields of medicine and general science, all the school’s programs are known to be highly competitive.
McMaster
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster is on the high side of tuition costs, has a 3.0 GPA requirement and 129.1 MCAT/CARS cutoff. There are several interviews, an autobiographical essay requirement, and a 90-minute interpersonal skills test to take.
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