Life Line: Opening the Doors to Canadian Medical Schools

Alexander D. Gregor is associate dean of the Faculty of Education at the
University of Manitoba and co-editor of Postsecondary Education in
Canada: The Cultural Agenda.

This brief guide offers a useful and down-to-earth overview of the
strategies and considerations involved in applying to medical school.
Among the most important considerations, both for admission and for
success in the medical program itself, is a clear understanding of what
the profession involves. This the author conveys in brief before moving
on to the nuts and bolts of application. Here he reviews the processes
and criteria employed; the acceptance rates for the various schools;
advice as to when to apply and to how many schools; advice as to what to
do if not accepted in the first year of applying; and institutional
practices vis-а-vis foreign applicants. Detailed information is
provided on the standardized admission test, MCAT (Medical College
Admissions Test), and on preparing for interviews and obtaining letters
of reference. Comprehensive tables compare the various programs in terms
of fees, research spending, and so forth. Anyone considering a medical
career will find assistance in this very useful and readable guide.