Further Education
Medicine
Medicine
Getting started
You have several options when pursuing your formal education goals: graduate programs in academic subjects (e.g., Master’s or Ph.D programs); professional programs (e.g., law school, medical school, dental school); post-diploma and professional programs at colleges that generally require a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for application and can sometimes exist as a joint program with a university; or other educational opportunities (e.g., courses offered through the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario or the Canadian Securities Institute).
Now that you have decided to enrol in a graduate or professional program, the first step is to choose the program that will best meet your needs. Talk to professors, admissions staff, graduate students, and alumni to help you determine which program to enter. Ask about each school’s reputation in the field. Contact the department or faculty of the school you want to attend to get further information; administrators may start a file based on this initial contact. Finally, a campus visit can go a long way towards helping you make an informed decision.
It may be helpful to find a professor who shares your interests and who will act as a mentor. This professor may be willing to help you identify the programs that are best suited to your interests and assist you in the selection and application processes. Also consider contacting the graduate student associations at your universities of interest as well as relevant professional associations: they may provide you with first-hand, up-to-date insights into programs.
How does co-op fit with my further education plans?
I choose co-op
As a Health Studies co-op student, Rachel McDonald spent five co-op work terms at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She coordinated the rapid response radiotherapy program, which provides palliative radiation treatment to advanced cancer patients. Over five co-op terms, Rachel collected, analyzed and published data as the lead author on seven papers in peer-reviewed journals. She was even flown to Miami and Copenhagen to present research on quality of life and bone metastases.
Rachel was accepted into two of Canada’s most prestigious medical schools: Queens University and University of Toronto. Now, she is in her second year of medical school at the University of Toronto.
Benefits of co-op
- Graduate with up to two years of paid work experience
- Discover which types of careers you like (or dislike!)
- Build contacts to help you start your career
- Gain self-promotion experience during the competitive co-op process
- Develop soft skills and improve employability by completing online professional development courses
I think a lot of people underestimate the power of co-op. Work hard, be diligent and take initiative to do things outside of just what the position entails.
Rachel McDonald, co-op stream
I choose regular
Honours Science student Colin Whaley appreciated the consistency of the regular stream of study, which allowed him to tailor his classes and extracurriculars during his fall/winter study terms. In just five years, Colin was able to complete three honours thesis courses (biology, health and kinesiology), work as a Teaching Assistant and publish two papers. He also volunteered with campus clubs and services like the Campus Response Team and MATES Peer Counselling Group and even co-founded his own club that has sent around 100 volunteers to deliver technology training to seniors in long-term care homes and hospitals.
After working as a researcher at the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Centre and completing the graduate program at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy, Colin was accepted to a number of Canadian medical schools. He will now be attending Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University.
Benefits of regular
- Complete your degree in four years
- Have extra time to explore campus and community life
- Enjoy continuity in studies, social life and living arrangements
- Use WaterlooWorks summer job postings to find work between school years
- Develop professional skills, explore career options and learn how to market yourself by enrolling in the EDGE certificate program
Get involved, build relationships and maintain an open mind towards different fields of research and practice. This can take you down some really interesting paths.
Colin Whaley, regular stream
Applying to graduate and professional schools
It is important that you understand how your grades will be calculated, as each graduate and professional school has different rules and methods of evaluation.
They might look at one (or some) of the following factors:
- Your best two years of study
- Your last 10 credits
- Your cumulative GPA (all courses)
- A weighted calculation by year
- Another set of courses
Co-op sequence
If you are in co-op, your co-op sequence could affect the way your grades are calculated when applying to professional schools as some programs expect you to complete two study terms per academic year (typically from September-August) in order to count as a year of study or towards the grades in your GPA.
Graduate school grade calculations are not typically impacted by your co-op sequence.
Next steps
- Research and/or contact your program(s) of interest and make sure you understand their admission requirements, including:
- How your GPA will be calculated.
- If you are a co-op student, how your co-op sequence might affect how your application is received.
- If other factors like prerequisite courses, previous experience, volunteer work or extracurriculars are required/preferred.
- Make a plan for your academic, work, volunteer and extracurriculars early on with the goal of becoming a competitive candidate.
- Attend the Health Careers Conference to learn more about your area(s) of interest. https://uwaterloo.ca/career-action/healthcareersconference
- Consider booking a 1:1 appointment with a career advisor if you need support around grad or professional school applications.
- Fill out this form to request for Further Education support.
Applying outside of Canada
Depending on where you will be applying, the application and start timelines, document conventions, and program structure may be different. It is important to research the conventions in the location you are applying to.
If you are applying outside of Canada you will need to meet immigration requirements in the country you will be living in. Immigration requirements vary widely; you will need to research them thoroughly as part of your planning. You may also need to show proof that you can pay tuition when you enter the country where you will study.
Depending on your immigration status in the country where you will study, you may be considered an international student. International students often pay higher tuition. Some programs in the United States give special status to Canadian applicants.
Rolling admissions
Some institutions have rolling admissions, which means applications are accepted at any time or before the advertised deadline. Admissions committees will review a complete file and make offers and funding decisions based on an applicant’s file. Applying early to a program can help you secure a spot before more competitive applications are received.
Admission categories
Some programs have several admission categories (e.g., regular, mature, special consideration, access). The Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement and admission test scores may vary based on competition from individuals in a particular applicant pool. It is not detrimental to apply to a category other than “regular.” Showing that you maintained a good GPA while dealing with special circumstances can work to your advantage.
Admission requirements
Ascertain which of the following are required:
Identify what types and levels of previous education are required. For some professional programs, a completed undergraduate degree is not required. When applying to a graduate program, you usually need a degree in the same area, but not in every case.
If you are considering completing a graduate degree to boost your GPA to enter a professional program, be aware that most will not consider your graduate GPA. Most professional programs only consider your undergrad GPA.
Generally, no extra consideration is given if you are currently, or have been, a student at the university to which you are applying.
Some programs require certain prerequisites to assess whether an applicant is ready to successfully complete a program. Often prerequisite courses need to meet a GPA cutoff. Prerequisites can change, so keep up to date on each program’s requirements.
Check with the admission’s office about necessary prerequisites if the information is not clear on their website: you can send a course description (including the URL) and course syllabus for the course(s) you determine meets the prerequisite requirements. The more information provided to an admissions office, hopefully, the faster the response time. Try to obtain written confirmation from the admissions office, as a paper trail will provide proof that the courses you have completed meet the school’s requirements. There are many programs that will not evaluate prerequisites until you have completed and paid for the application. Some institutions provide a list of courses accepted from other universities.
Some programs allow you to complete prerequisites as late as the term prior to the program start date, while others do not. Always verify the latest date of graduation (or prerequisite completion) accepted.
Please note that staff in the Centre for Career Development cannot advise you about whether courses meet a program’s prerequisites.
Admission requirements usually state the minimum GPA required to be admitted to a program. If this is not clear, contact the school to find out the GPA requirement and how it is computed. Different possibilities might include: a cumulative average, your grades for the last two years, your grades in your major, the last year of study, or marks in courses related to the program, and so on. The minimum requirement varies by program and a competitive GPA is typically higher than the minimum. The minimum GPA for a Master’s program is usually 75%. If you have a lower GPA in your last or last one or two years of study, this will be a red flag for admissions officers, as it can be interpreted to indicate either that you will not be successful in a graduate program, or that you have not grasped the core concepts required for a graduate/professional program.
The required GPA for professional programs tends to be in the low 80’s. If applying while completing a 4-year degree, most programs only consider 4A term marks and earlier, or in some cases 3B marks and earlier.
Institutions use either a 10-point or a 4-point scale, so it is important to ask how your average will be converted. Visit the program website to see if GPAs are posted for previous years. If you are applying to faculties of law, medicine, or rehab sciences in Ontario, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) has GPA conversion charts published for each type of program.
For an international or exchange term, the program may need a World Education Service (WES) conversion of your grades. Allow enough time for grade conversion through WES or to order and send transcripts by the deadline date.
Quick tips videos
When applying to any graduate or professional program, check if an admission test is required and what the deadline is for score submission. If an admission test score is required, be aware that stellar results can often balance out a mediocre GPA, and that, conversely, the opposite is also true.
Some programs accept test scores after the application deadline. In most cases, test results are available four to six weeks after the test date. If you are applying to a program with rolling admissions, a complete application package (including test scores) is required before your application can be evaluated.
Prepare thoroughly for the test you need to write; plan to write it just once. At the same time, though, it is advisable that you write an admission test early enough that you could rewrite it if necessary. Determine how recent your score must be for any given application, plus how multiple scores are handled (e.g., do they consider the highest score, or do they take an average of all scores achieved?). Do not write an admission test the first time without preparing just to “try it out,” as admission committees sometimes have access to score cancellations. Note that there is a waiting period for retaking admission tests and that they can often only be retaken a limited number of times.
Allow enough time to register for the test, order study materials, study, and, if desired, attend a preparation course. Some University of Waterloo clubs on campus hold practice tests, so check their websites for information. The Centre for Career Development has practice test books that you can borrow. A link to admission test information is available on the Centre for Career Development website. Some admission tests are written at a computer-based testing centre. On the test date, you may be required to provide a list of schools that you are applying to.
Here is a list of admission tests:
- DAT: Dental Admission Test (check if U.S. schools require the American DAT or Canadian DAT)
- GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test (some business schools now accept the GRE instead of the GMAT)
- GRE: Graduate Records Examination
- General test
- Subject test
- Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Literature in English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- LSAT: Law School Admission Test
- MCAT: Medical College Admission Test
- OAT: Optometry Admission Test
- PCAT: Pharmacy College Admission Test
The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) may be required for application to graduate schools. There is a GRE general test and a GRE subject test, but not all schools require both test results. The GRE general test is written at a computer-based testing site and has several sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Contact the programs to which you are applying to determine if they use the results from every section. Doing so may help you to decide if you need to rewrite the test if your test results were low in certain sections.
The GRE subject test is a paper-based test written at testing sites across Canada. The test can be taken as often as it is offered (i.e., April, October, and November). If your scores are good, it may be to your advantage to submit them to all schools, even to those that do not require them.
The GRE is generally not required by Canadian programs if your undergraduate education was completed in Canada or the United States, but it is almost always required for graduate programs in the United States.
Only you can decide if you want to take an admission-test preparation course. Be sure to do your research to determine the value of such preparation. It is recommended that you check whether: the course fits your learning style; the course is offered online or in-person; the course is available weekends or evenings; the instructor’s experience teaching the course materials is substantial; the course covers topic content, strategies, practice tests, or too much of any one of these; the duration of the course is manageable. A longer course is not necessarily better; some companies include the amount of time spent on practice tests in their total time calculations. It is useful to use previously administered tests as a preparation tool. These are often available through the test registration site. If possible, complete practice tests in the format in which you will have to write: paper or computer-based. Each company has different teaching strategies and it can be confusing to use multiple sources of information. Some companies provide University of Waterloo students discounts; for details, visit the list of preparation courses on the Centre for Career Development’s website.
Some programs have language proficiency requirements. If your native language is English OR you have completed the four full years of your undergraduate degree at an English speaking institution, a test is generally not required. Some programs may waive the admission test scores if you can provide proof of proficiency from other sources such as courses, but if they recommend you take it — do it!
You may need to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); Test of Written English (TWE); or Test of English as a Foreign Language, Test of Spoken English (TOEFL TSE).
Ascertain if any type of experience is necessary to a successful application (i.e., volunteer, extra-curricular, or work). If so, consider which type(s) are required and what would be the most relevant experiences within each type (e.g., work experience is mandatory when applying to most MBA programs). If you are applying to a graduate program, research experience can be a plus. If you are applying to a health-related professional program, in most cases experience from within the profession is necessary. Use experiences from work, volunteering, extra-curricular activities, memberships in clubs/teams, and shadowing to show the depth of your understanding about the profession you want to enter in your application.
Well-rounded students who show leadership qualities, relate well to others, and possess organizational skills have an edge in the application process. In fact, according to Scholarships Canada, involvement in extra-curricular activities can greatly increase your chances of receiving a scholarship. However, admission committees also recognize that over-involvement in such activities can adversely affect your GPA, so be sure to engage only in the number of activities that you can effectively manage.
Professional Associations and Clubs (Applied Health Sciences Faculty) (PDF)
Professional Associations and Clubs (Arts Faculty) (PDF)
Professional Associations and Clubs (Engineering Faculty) (PDF)
Professional Associations and Clubs (Environment Faculty) (PDF)
Even though many students apply to research-based Master’s programs without any research experience, having it can provide a competitive advantage. It is highly recommended that if you apply for a direct entry Ph.D program that you do get prior research experience. Start thinking about what interests you, and try to gain experience in this area. This will help you find a program and potential supervisor. The University of Waterloo library site has an extensive list of research databases to view journal articles and find what fascinates you.
To gain research experiences seek out opportunities such as the NSERC Undergraduate Research Awards (USRA) positions. Applications for an NSERC USRA are very competitive. Some departments offer University Research Assistantships that could provide research experience.
Securing an Undergraduate Research Internship (URI) would allow you to hold a research position with a professor; these opportunities are managed by Co-operative and Experiential Education and the program is open to regular and co-op students. Be proactive and approach a professor, tell them about the program, and provide the URL so they can complete the application.
Another option is to volunteer in a lab on campus where permitted. You could run experiments or even conduct basic literature reviews for professors or grad students. Approach faculty members and explain how your skills and background will be an asset to their research. Consider the faculty member’s perspective and do not focus just on what you will get out of the experience.
Often your fourth year design project or final thesis course and paper will provide research exposure. If you are in a co-op program, you can look for research-based work terms at Waterloo, other institutions, or in industry.
Seek to publish your work whenever possible. It will be especially important if applying to a Ph.D program — giving you a competitive edge. You do not have to be the first author. Take any opportunity to contribute to a study, write up a journal article, or participate in a conference presentation/abstract.
Talk to a faculty member to find out how you could turn your senior-year course project into a publication.
CASPer®
What is CASPer®?
CASPer® (Computer–based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an admissions test that assesses interpersonal and non–cognitive skills like communication, collaboration, interpersonal, ethical–decision making, empathy, compassion, integrity, etc. through a scenario–based format. The scenarios are largely ethical in nature and the questions asked gauge your personal attributes and characteristics using concrete examples of real–world situations.
CASPer® is not a knowledge–based test.
Who uses CASPer®?
CASPer® is increasingly being used by many professional programs, and is common health–related programs such as medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, and more. Programs can add CASPer® to their list of requirements for any application cycle, so check the information for the year of your application cycle.
How do I find out if I need CASPer®?
There are two ways to find out if you need to take CASPer® for your application(s):
- the admissions website for the program(s) that you are applying to will list CASPer® as an application component, and
- takecasper.com lists every program and school that requires CASPer® with the appropriate test dates.
What is the CASPer® testing process like?
CASPer® is a computer–based online test, meaning you can take this test in any environment with a reliable internet connection and minimal distractions. The test is 90 minutes in length and is comprised of 10–12 sections. Each section will present a video or written scenario. You can only watch the video or read the written passage once per scenario. Following each scenario, applicants are required to type out an answer three questions in five minutes. Each response is graded by a different marker, so 10–12 people mark your CASPer® test.
Very few schools are explicit about the possible ways that CASPer® scores are used in their admission decisions.
How many times do I need to take the test?
You will need to take the test at least once for every year you apply, as your test scores are only valid for one year.
Generally, the content of the CASPer® test is unique to each program type and country, so you may need to take the test more than once in a cycle if you are applying to multiple program types. However, if you are applying to the professions of dentistry, medicine and optometry in Canada you will write the test once during an admissions cycle. If you are applying to both Canadian and US medical schools, you need to write the US and Canadian CASPer® test.
How can I prepare for CASPer®?
There are many different ways you could prepare yourself for the CASPer® test. There isn’t one right way to prepare for this or any other admissions test. But in general, exposing yourself to the testing format, familiarizing yourself with relevant content, and finding an approach that works for you so you can structure your thoughts and move through the content quickly are key to doing your best.
Check the Test Prep page of CASPer®’s website for their tips to prepare for your test day.
You can test out some common strategies and see which ones help you to best organize your thoughts and make sure that you’re addressing all the questions.
Prep & Test Tips
If you are looking for more specific tips and tricks to help you prepare and be successful writing CASPer®, think about some combination of these options:
- Create a study guide to refer to during the test. Use a format that will be helpful for the way your brain works.
- Practice recording brief notes during CASPer® to assist with the follow–up questions as the scenario (i.e., the video or written scenario) is only available once.
- If you feel you have the time, read all 3 questions before answering any of them to maximize the content of your responses.
- Understand the core competencies of your field and reflect those aspects of your personality where they overlap with questions being asked.
- Know yourself and how you will respond to a wide range of situations. Understanding where your biases lie will help you see where you might be missing a relevant perspective.
- Research some of the basics of the Canadian health care system and current health–related issues (e.g., current mental health conversations, Medical Assistance in Dying, the opoid crisis, etc.)
- Prepare for questions related to emotional intelligence and ethical issues that may challenge your perspective.
- Read books and other online resources that cover ethics in healthcare and expose you to different ways of analyzing difficult situations.
- CASPer® is similar to an online version of MMI–style interviews. You can use MMI–type questions to practice for CASPer® and time yourself for 5 minutes while typing out answers. Here are some MMI resources that you can use:
- Timed MMI interview practice: http://obtain.github.io/mmi/
- Sample MMI interview questions: https://multipleminiinterview.com/mmi-questions/
If you’re not sure where to start, drop by the Centre for Career Development library in the Tatham Centre.
How should I format my responses?
There isn’t one right format for a CASPer® response, but finding a format or strategy that works well for you can help you respond effectively and avoid getting bogged down in organizational details that have little bearing on how your response is scored. Test out different options and see which works best for you and the way your brain likes to organize information. Here’s one example:
Strategies
Here’s one recommended format on how to approach CASPer®:
- Understand your role in the scenario and the details that were presented in the scenario. To facilitate this, it could helpful to write brief notes while viewing/reading the scenarios.
- Use facts given from the scenario in your answers. It is very important to state what information was missing from the scenario. The questions are often misleading or missing important information.
- Try to identify assumptions and/or missing information from the scenario and clarify what information you think you’re missing.
- In your answer indicate the people directly and indirectly involved and the impact the scenario will have on all involved (e.g., student, professor, university, community, parents).
- Determine the problem to be solved in the scenario and do your best to speak directly to it.
- State the option(s) you see for action in the scenario.
- Present an ethical example that causes the least amount of harm to all involved.
Due to the limited time to answer each question it may be helpful to use this format:
- 1st sentence: identify and summarize the problem; state what is missing from the scenario.
- 2nd and 3rd sentences: show all sides of the issue and the potential consequences. CASPer® is testing your ability to explore ethical issues.
- Final sentence: state your decision on the matter and provide your reasoning.
Are there test prep courses for CASPer®?
There are companies that offer CASPer® prep courses; however, UWaterloo students that provided feedback after writing CASPer® do not think they are necessary, nor do Admission Directors. At minimum, it will be helpful to understand the CASPer® format and strategies on how to write it.
Should you decide that practice and preparation are useful for you, check out the preparation program supported by CASPer® here.
What kinds of questions will they ask?
Generally, they’re asking reflective questions about your approach or action–oriented response to a specific scenario. The scenarios are ethical in nature, meaning there is no one right answer and typically multiple perspectives to be considered. The scenarios and following questions may or may not be health–related, but they certainly will relate to your ability to analyze a complex situation and communicate with others. Here are some examples to start:
Examples of CASPer® sections, presented at McMaster Medical School Information sessions
Example 1
Video shows two people arguing about a convicted pedophile, John, who will be released soon from jail and will be living in their neighbourhood. Do you agree with this decision to release John?
Questions:
- What is your decision and why?
- What could the community do to ensure safety if the judge will not allow John’s address to be published?
- Provide a list of convicted offenses, if any, for which you would want his address released to the public and defend your choices.
Example 2
Personal Descriptor CASPer® example: Consider the experiences you have and insight gained from these experiences that led you to believe that you would be a good physician.
Questions:
- Outside of a medicine/healthcare environment, what experience do you think every new med student should have before entering med school?
- What experience do you wish you had the opportunity to participate in?
- What experience have you had that required you to demonstrate the ability to advocate for others?
Example 3
Video of Head of Athletic Department talking to a mother who was complaining about her child not being selected for a team. Mother’s question at the end of the scenario was “Are you going to continue to allow this?”
Questions:
- What would you say to the parent?
- What issues do you need to consider?
- If additional funding is provided to sports, this will cut funding to theatre clubs. How do you justify this?
Example 4
Personal Descriptor CASPer® example: Talk about a stressful situation you have encountered.
Follow–up questions:
- Describe the situation and how you overcame it.
- What did you learn from the situation and how might you respond differently now?
- What will you do if one of your classmates is having difficulty coping with stress?
Can I get access to sample questions from previous tests?
Yes, it is possible to access question banks with CASPer® scenarios and questions to aid in your preparation beyond what’s available on the CASPer® website itself. The strength of third–party resources and their proximity to actual CASPer® scenarios depends highly on the specific resource and the extent to which the banks get updated each application cycle.
Unlike the MCAT, it’s not necessary to make use of extensive question banks to be successful, and these resources can be costly. If this option doesn’t work for you, that’s okay! Think about using some of the other strategies mentioned here. If you still have questions about the best method for you, you can connect with a Further Education Advisor in a drop–in to start a conversation.
References
Check if references are required and, if so, the number and type (academic or non-academic). Many programs require two academic references (meaning professors — although exceptions can be made for those who have been out of school for some time), while some ask for one academic and one non-academic. Examples of non-academic references are coaches, volunteer supervisors, and employers. If there are no guidelines on which type of reference is required, academic reference letters are usually highly valued, as your referee should be able to speak to your ability to be successful in a professional/graduate school.
Evaluate who can best provide a non-academic reference letter. Asking someone with a prestigious title, but who cannot provide any substance on your capabilities (with proof) will add no value to your application. Consider first what you want discussed in your reference letter and then find people who can provide that information.
Ask your potential referees in person: “Will you have time to write a strong supporting reference letter?” Then listen to how the individual responds. If you detect any hesitation, try to find someone else. Individuals could be reluctant to write a letter of reference if they have little to say that is positive about your work, or alternatively if they have little memory of you. Many referees will try to let you down easily in such cases. Providing them a way to say “no” can help ensure that you obtain only the most positive of references for your application, whereas including references from individuals who indicate that they do not know you well can be very detrimental to your application.
If your referee is unsure of what to include in the reference letter, suggest that they: include their credentials/accomplishments; provide proof about your abilities/attributes; and share what you accomplished in the course/work term (e.g., assignments, presentations, grades received), difficulty of course/work experience, and comparison of you to other successful students.
It is recommended that you cultivate relationships throughout your university experience, so that when the time comes to ask potential referees to write a letter, you have some choices. Many students worry about how to go about doing this, as they may not feel close enough to their professors to be memorable. But there are ways to tackle this challenge. Pick a professor from whom you have taken several classes, or one to whom you have submitted a particularly strong essay or project. Visit the professor during his or her office hours, or ask questions after class. Show that you are interested in the class content, and that you have a goal to attend graduate school or a professional program. You can mention through this process that in the future you hope that they might write a reference letter for you. This may help them to pay more attention to you. Start establishing these connections today.
Give referees enough time to write effective letters. Ask 4 to 6 weeks in advance for a reference letter, and provide the form, addressed envelope with postage (if necessary), your personal statement/letter of intent, a list of projects completed in their courses, admission requirements, and your résumé — anything that will help their task of writing a letter. Provide a general idea of why you want to attend that particular professional/graduate program, as well as what areas of the field interest you. Ask if your referee requires more information to write your letter.
Sometimes you will be given the option of an “open” versus a “closed” reference letter. An open letter means that you can read it prior to submission; however, it is best not to choose this option as such letters are not viewed as favourably as “closed,” and thus confidential, letters.
If you are not using a centralized application centre, referees will need to provide you with a reference letter for each program or school to which you are applying. These programs will require referees to submit references either directly to the program (electronically after you have provided their name/contact information, or by mail) or in a sealed envelope with a signature across the closing to the applicant. The application process might indicate when your references have been received, so you can use this information to follow-up and remind your referees if necessary. If you apply through a centralized application service, each referee completes only one reference form or letter, which is submitted directly to the application centre for distribution to each institution.
Admission committees look for specific examples of academic abilities as well as discipline, persistence, and responsibility. If a reference form is required, read through the different categories a referee needs to complete because this information may help you identify whom to ask to complete the form and reference letter. Always remember to send a thank-you note to your referee(s).
Quick tips videos
Transcripts
Transcripts need to be ordered directly from the school(s) you attended unless you are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from, an Ontario university or college and are applying through OUAC. In the latter case, submit a transcript request form to OUAC, and your transcripts will be ordered and forwarded to the institutions to which you are applying. If you are applying to a program at a school that you have already attended, you may not be required to submit a transcript.
It is always a good idea to check your unofficial transcript to ensure it is accurate. Allow enough time to order and have transcripts sent to the school to which you are applying. (At the University of Waterloo this is from the Registrar‘s Office for undergraduate transcripts and the Graduate Studies Office for graduate transcripts.) You may be asked to submit the transcript with your application package in a sealed, signed envelope. Check the admission requirements to determine if a final transcript needs to be sent after you complete your degree.
Application processes
Graduate degree programs may begin in January, May, or September, and applications are generally due between December and February (for a September start date). In Ontario, applications to certain programs are made through OUAC. The online application becomes available approximately three months prior to the deadline. It usually takes between 5 to 25 to complete an application, so allow yourself enough time to do a thorough job. You do not need to complete the application in one sitting; you can enter and exit the application until you decide you are ready to submit. The following are applications available through OUAC:
- Teacher Education Application Service (TEAS): Ontario faculties of education
- Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS): Ontario law schools
- Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS): Ontario medical schools
- Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS): Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy (PT), Audiology (AUD), and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) programs in Ontario
If applying to professional programs outside Ontario, contact each institution to check the number of applicants accepted from out of province. Apply directly to each institution. In many cases, an online application form is used.
If your application process involves an interview, please review the Interviewing pages within this Further education section to learn more about graduate/professional school interviews.
Offers
If you receive an offer from your second-choice school, contact your first-choice school to see if you can accelerate its decision. If you receive a letter stating you are on a waiting list, determine if you can take steps to increase the likelihood of being accepted. It may be possible to provide additional reference letters and other information to show how your skills and experience have grown since your original application. If possible, visit schools and try to meet with decision makers. And, if you know a faculty member with connections to your program or institution of choice, ask him or her to speak to the admissions committee on your behalf.
Although many students strengthen their qualifications and reapply, it is important to be realistic (i.e., know when and how to develop a viable alternative that will still allow you to realize many of your goals).
If you are unsure of your interests or goals, or don‘t have a parallel plan, please review the Decision-making section of CareerHub.