Resources for
High School Students
Courses
High school students should prioritize courses that introduce you to and build foundations in the basic sciences, which will aid you in your first-year university classes and will prepare you for the MCAT.
It is strongly recommended for students to take courses such as:
Chemistry
(SCH3U1, SCH4U1)
Biology
(SBI3U1, SBI4U1)
Physics
(SPH3U1, SPH4U1)
Aside from the basic sciences, we recommended taking courses that will further enhance your critical thinking skills, which is vital for the MCAT Critical thinking section and with undergraduate courses, these may include:
English
(ENG3U1, ENG4U1)
History
(CHY4U, CHM4E, CHI4U, CHC2D)
Law
(CLU3M, CPC3O, CPW4U, CLN4U)
Exta-Curriculars
Ontario medical school applications allow you to record activities you have been a part of since the age of 16.
This means it's the perfect time to find activities that are enjoyable and align with your interests. Diversity in extra-curricular activities is extremely important and you should consider having activities that fit various categories such as:
Sports
Research
It can be hard to secure research positions as a high school student but it is worthwhile in grade 12 to start reaching out to professors and labs at universities for support
Health Related Activities
Ex. Life-guarding
Personal Interests
Ex. Art, Music
A key tip for extra-curricular activities is to have them align with the "CanMEDS" Framework. Ontario medical schools heavily rely on this template to determine the characteristics they look for in a physician. Finding opportunities to practice and demonstrate these qualities will assist heavily with the medical school application process.
Volunteering
Volunteering with hospitals or health organizations like Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Leadership
Illustrating that are able to take initiative to guide others will set you apart from applicants. This can come in the form of leadership roles in clubs or creating an organization/club of your own.
