Just What the Doctor Ordered

Take the inside track to medical school with expert advice from a specialist.

Getting into medical school in Canada isn’t easy—you need to stand out among a field of highly motivated and accomplished applicants. In fact, most applicants aren’t successful the first time they apply. Christine Fader was an application reviewer and interviewer at a Canadian medical school for eight years and has worked as a career counsellor at Queen’s University and in private practice for 20 years. After helping thousands of students through the medical-school application and interview process, she has a wealth of insight about what helps to elevate an applicant’s chances and what doesn’t. In Just What the Doctor Ordered, she shares her secrets, including:

• Starting to prepare for future medical school applications while still in high school can set you up for success—and needn’t be stressful.
• Good grades aren’t enough! Learn what experience you need—and how to describe it—to gain an edge.
• Take a smart approach to the MCAT and CASPer by knowing the keys to preparation.
• Make your application shine with examples and tips on the essay and short-answer sections.
• Ace your interview with strategies to help you prepare for the types of questions interviewers ask. Learn from stories about other applicants, just like you!

Whether you’re a high school student laying the groundwork for a career in medicine or a university student working on med school applications now, Christine shows you how to maximize your chances of getting accepted to a Canadian medical school. Includes help for parents, too!

Watch Christine's interview for Canada Career Week

Table of Contents

Introduction
PART I: GETTING READY
(Read this section if you are in high school, early university, or new to the application process.)
1. How do you become a doctor?
2. Why is it so hard to get in?
3. Why do you want to be a doctor?
4. The application process in Canada
5. Finances
PART II: APPLICATION ELEMENTS AND HOW TO SHINE
(Read this section if you are preparing to apply in the next couple of years.)
6. Application elements in context
7. Grade point average
8. Medical College Admission Test
9. Autobiographical sketch, curriculum vitae, or résumé
10. Personal essays and short answers
11. Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics
12. References
13. Interviews
14. Special-category applicants
PART III: ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
(Read this section to develop a strategy that works for your unique situation.)
15. Strategies for high school students
16. You didn’t get in: Now what?
17. How parents and other supporters can help
18. Frequently asked questions
19. Applying outside Canada
20. How to be happy with your outcomes
About the author

View the correct layout for pages 62-63