All applicants to the UGME are required to write the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to, and within five years of, the application deadline date and must release their scores to OMSAS by the OMSAS deadline.

• The score from the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section of the MCAT will be used in both formulae (offer of interview and advancement to Collation). A minimum score of 123 is required. The scores on the other sections of the MCAT will not be considered in the selection process.
• The most recent test result will be used for those applicants who attempt the MCAT more than once. For more information visit the Prepare for the MCAT® Exam page of the AAMC website.

MCAT FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CANADIANS

All applicants to the UGME are required to write the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to, and within five years of the year of application and applicants must release their scores to OMSAS by the MCAT score release deadline as stated by OMSAS. Any test written in 2018 or later is valid for the application cycle ending October 2, 2023.

Students interested in the MCAT Fee Assistance Program for Canadians can learn more about the eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines by visiting AFMC’s website at AFMC MCAT Fee Assistance Program. AFMC will review applications, determine eligibility for financial assistance and notify awardees.

RELEASING YOUR MCAT SCORE TO OMSAS

You must release your MCAT scores to OMSAS each year you apply (no earlier than July 6, 2023). To release your MCAT scores to OMSAS, log in to your AAMC account.  Under the My Reports tab, click “Send Scores Electronically”. You can then select the institutions to release the scores to “Ontario Medical School Application Service”. The deadline to release your scores to OMSAS is October 20, 2023.

COMPUTER-BASED ASSESSMENT FOR SAMPLING PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS (CASPER^TM)

All applicants to the UGME at McMaster University are required to complete Casper to be eligible for admission.

Casper is an online test by Acuity Insights that assesses for personal and professional characteristics we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It is a complement to the other tools that we use for applicant screening.  In implementing Casper, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.

To sign up for Casper, click here.

• Choose: Canada/English/Undergraduate Medicine
• Your test is called: CSP-10201 Canadian Professional Health Sciences
• School: McMaster

If you are taking the Canadian Professional Health Sciences CASPer test in July, August, or September, (before you have your OMSAS ID) use this temporary ID placeholder – 800000. You must update this number later when you receive your OMSAS ID.

• Please make sure to use the same information (name, email address etc.) as on your program application.
• Please note that it is acceptable to write the Casper test after the OMSAS application deadline has passed. The last possible test date available for McMaster applicants is October 19, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Applicants to McMaster must complete the English version of the Casper test.
• McMaster does not require applicants to the MD Program to complete Snapshot or Duet. Only the Casper test, including the video components is required.

Questions about the Casper test or technical support be sent to: support@acuityinsights.app or use the life chat bubble found on the Acuity Insights website.

If you are an applicant that requires testing accommodation to complete Casper, you must submit your request to Acuity Insights at least four (4) weeks prior to your scheduled Casper test date.  For further information contact support@acuityinsights.app

Applicants should request all transcript materials prior to September 15th of the year of application, to allow adequate time for processing requests and for receipt at OMSAS by the prescribed deadline.

Transcripts from Ontario universities must be ordered through OMSAS via the Transcript Request Form (TRF) at the time of application. All other required transcripts and Registrar Statements must be submitted directly to OMSAS by the post-secondary institutions attended.

Applicants should retain all dated receipts and correspondence related to their transcript request. In the event of a late or missing transcript, evidence to show that applicants have requested transcripts in a timely fashion will be requested by McMaster University. Failure by the applicant to meet this requirement, comply with the instructions, or to meet all the deadlines will result in disqualification of the application.

Please note:

• McMaster requires that applicants provide transcripts for all post-secondary courses/programs attended at any post-secondary institution. These include community colleges, CEGEPs, junior colleges, pre-university programs, etc.
• For courses taken on a “Letter of Permission” at another institution, or for which transfer credit / advanced standing was granted, applicants must ensure that a transcript from the other institution with the actual grade(s) achieved is received at OMSAS by the application deadline. This provision also applies to courses as well as terms/semesters of study abroad taken as part of a regular program.
• Only transcripts sent directly to OMSAS by the post-secondary institution(s) will be accepted. Transcripts sent by the applicant will not be accepted. Applicants who have questions about this requirement are advised to write to the MD Admissions Co-ordinator, McMaster University, at mdadmit@mcmaster.ca well in advance of the deadline.

OMSAS will provide a Verification Report which includes information about the receipt of transcripts, only with regard to university credit work. Other postsecondary transcripts which McMaster University requires may not be reflected in the verification report. Failure to meet all transcript requirements will result in the disqualification of the application.

The structure of the McMaster Program requires that all students begin in Medical Foundation I. There is no provision for advanced standing or transfer into the Program.

Applicants, Canadian or non-Canadian, who have not met minimum course number criteria utilizing their Canadian or US data and require inclusion of their international education data must have their foreign transcript evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org).

Applicants must have their transcript(s) sent directly from their university to World Education Services and be able to prove (with a dated letter and dated post office receipt) that an attempt was made to ensure transcripts are received by WES in time for their evaluation to reach OMSAS by the application deadline. WES will forward the transcript to OMSAS along with the report. Applicants do not need to send a second copy to OMSAS or to McMaster.

Students whose home school is in Canada or the United States and who travel overseas for an exchange, do not need a WES evaluation for their exchange, but they must arrange for the school they attended on exchange to send a transcript to OMSAS.

**Please note – Grades from foreign credentials will not be included for applicants who meet the minimum course number requirements with Canadian or US education.

References (Confidential Assessments) are now completed by your referees online. For instructions, please click here.

You are required to ask 3 different individuals to provide a reference on your behalf. At least 1 of your 3 referees should be academic- or employment-related and 1 should be personal (non-academic). The third reference can be of your choosing.

Select referees who have extensive personal knowledge of you and, as a result, are in a position to answer the Confidential Assessment Form (CAF) questions.

In order for referees to provide uniform information that admission committees are specifically looking for from the reference process, each of your referees will be asked to fill out a CAF. It is your responsibility to inform your referees that they must fill out the CAF, and that additional letters of reference will no longer be accepted.

On the CAF, your references will be asked to respond to the following:

1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
   • Communication skills
   • Problem-solving skills
   • Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour, and accountability to others)
   • Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
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.

References are due on October 2, 2023, along with the remainder of your application.

Requests for references should be sent to your referees by September 15^th to allow enough time for them to complete their online references by the deadline.

Graduate students enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application must arrange for their Supervisor, a member of their Supervisory Committee, or the Chair of the Department to provide a letter indicating they are aware you are intending to apply to medical school. You must arrange for this letter to be received at OMSAS by the application deadline. If your Graduate supervisor is one of your referees, a second letter is not required.

Graduate Supervisor letters are due on October 2, 2023, along with the remainder of your application.

THE 2023 OMSAS APPLICATION OPENS ON JULY 6, 2023.

THE OMSAS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 2, 2023 AT 4:30 PM EDT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

An Open Information Session for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine MD Admissions was held on June 28, 2021. Please view the recorded session below.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CAN BE SENT TO MDADMIT@MCMASTER.CA