Positions to train in medicine in Quebec are determined by governmental decree. Three cohorts are defined: residents of Quebec (subdivided into students admitted into the preparatory medicine (Med-P –
médecine préparatoire) program from CEGEP, students with a Bachelor's degree or greater, the Non-Traditional Pathway for more mature students, and International Medical Graduates), Out-of-Province Canadians, and International students. In addition, there is a provincial program for qualified Indigenous students who are residents of Quebec, in which McGill University is an active and enthusiastic participant. Students within each cohort compete with each other for a pre-determined number of positions within the particular cohort. See the rest of this publication for details regarding eligibility criteria for each cohort.
Each year, the Office of Admissions, Equity and Diversity determines the number of interviews that will be held for each cohort. When an application is received, it is ranked among others in the same cohort according to academic performance. There is no strict GPA threshold; rather, ranking is based upon the relative strength of academic performance of a given application in comparison to others in the same cohort. On the basis of this preliminary academic performance ranking, a review of the supporting documents for competitive candidates within a given cohort is carried out. Supporting documents are reviewed for approximately four to six times the number of candidates that we anticipate interviewing; i.e., if we intend to interview 50 people in a particular cohort, an evaluation of supporting documents for the top 200-300 files is conducted in order to determine which 50 candidates will be invited to interview. Applicants invited to interview have their full CV and Personal Narratives scored as part of their overall evaluation.
For those applicants who are invited to attend the multiple mini-interviews, note that a final rank order list (which includes those who will receive an offer of admission and those who will be placed on a waiting list) is calculated as follows:
For all cohorts (except the Non-Traditional Pathway): Multiple Mini-Interviews: 80%; Personal Narrative: 20%.
For the Non-Traditional Pathway cohort: Multiple Mini-Interviews: 75%; Personal Narrative: 25%.
(Note that these formulas are guidelines only and are subject to review and change by the Admissions Board and the Admissions Executive Committees at any time and without notice.)
We keep our waiting list active for as long as feasible and necessary; sometimes until the beginning of classes.
Admission to Medicine at McGill is highly competitive. Each year, many highly accomplished individuals apply to our programs. We work hard to have a fair and balanced evaluation process, based upon current best-practices with respect to the predictive validity of the tools we use (such as the multiple mini-interviews), and the ability to appreciate each applicant's unique trajectory and perspective, life experiences, and accomplishments—as factors that can be recognized and understood for their value in a future career in medicine.
