What is SWOMEN?
How are students evaluated at Schulich?
Does the Schulich School of Medicine offer combined programs?
How much time do you spend studying?
When do you start working with patients?
How tight are the Windsor and London Classes?
Is it hard to arrange clinical observerships? Can I see surgeries?
How many people are at the Windsor campus?
What is Video Conferencing (VC) and how does it work?
Are classes recorded?
What is the average age of medical students?
I am a PhD/masters/engineering/arts major will I be ok/ fit in/ do well with the material?
What are the admissions requirements?
Is it true that you do not use the reference letters to determine admission?
What type of extracurriculars are recommended?
Can my top two years include my first year?
Where can I stay interview weekend?
What is the interview format?
What is the best way to prep for the interview?
Do we get to select our campus?
It stands for “ South Western Ontario Medical Education Network”. The Schulich School of Medicine issues a separate set of cut-offs for people who are from the Southwestern Ontario area. That area is defined as: Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, Oxford, Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, and Norfolk Counties. Applicants who attended high school in these counties are regarded to be from Southwestern Ontario.
SWOMEN is a huge resource for Schulich. We have the opportunity to do electives and rotations anywhere in SWOMEN (which is a HUGE area). This mix of urban (London/ Windsor) and rural medicine allows you to develop very diverse clinical skills.
Evaluations change based on the block and vary widely. Evaluations in first year include, end of block exams, assignments, presentations and small group evaluations. Clinical evaluations are done through OSCE exams, which are an excellent preparation to clerkship, residency, licensing and beyond. To learn more about OSCE exams click here
p.s Yes, we are all pass- fail.
Yes! Schulich offers three combined degree programs:
MD/PhD: click here
MD/ Bachelor of engineering: click here
Md/ Masters of oral and maxillofacial surgery: click here
It varies widely and takes some getting used to. Many people study for “life” rather than for “tests”, something that you can do in a pass/fail system. In fact, many find that by doing that they do well on the tests! However, you find that there is more than enough time to study during the day to have lots of time left for observerships, sports and fun!
It also varies. Most of our weekly clinical sessions are with standardized patients, which really takes some of the pressure off and lets you try things multiple times. Most people consider that a strength of the program, and the patients are amazing. Some sessions will use real patient to demonstrate specific situations. Also observerships can start from the very beginning and you are free to do as many as you want.
Very! Keep in mind that we see each other for 3 hours a day in lecture (there is one giant screen that just shows the class view). We also have several official integration weekends where the London class heads down to Windsor for some fun and learning as well as vice versa.
The physicians in London are very happy to take on students and most people have little difficulty arranging observerships. You will find that doctors will work with you and accommodate you to help you have a great experience. Also, the previous year’s class (that’s us for you guys) will send out an observership list of doctors who have been known to be happy to take on students. Doesn’t get any easier than that. As for surgeries, you will find surgeons just as excited to take you on and should have no problem viewing (and sometimes assisting) surgeries. In Windsor, physicians are also happy to have students observe them. In our system we fill out a survey which specifies areas of interest and available times, and our (extremely) amazing Undergraduate Medicine Administrator sets up the observership for us!
The class of 2012 has 24 students, the class of 2013 has 30 students, the class of 2014 has 38 students, and in 2015, 38 of you will be in Windsor!
VC is a system that we use to transmit lectures, talks and meetings between campuses. The system allows you to ask questions, see your peers from both classes, see the notes the prof makes on the slides and is fully interactive. It takes a few days to get used to, but overall the responses are very positive.
Note that each campus has its own anatomy lab, clinical skills department and small groups.
Yes, classes are recorded as a podcast (i.e. audio and visual on slides with annotations from prof). This is an entirely student-driven project.
Varies by class. We don’t take age into account in our admission process so it can vary widely. There are many people from many backgrounds. Many are straight from undergraduate degrees, some have taken time off, done a graduate degree or have worked for several years before applying for medical school. We are all part of one class.
Yes. We have people from all backgrounds, it makes the class more diverse.
Theses can be found here.
That is a rumour. Western has not released their weighing formula for admissions. Please ensure that all parts of the application are provided on time.
None in particular. Do what you love, what interests you and what you think prepares you for a career in medicine. Our interviews are closed, meaning the interviewers don’t know anything about you, so its your job to talk about your experiences.
Yes.
Information will be in the interview weekend section closer to the date, but there will be hotels available and lots of billeting with friendly medical students.
Our interviews are not stressful; rather then are friendly and relaxed. We just want to get to know you, so don’t stress. As of last year, you will be asked a series of questions by three interviewers (community member, faculty member and senior medical student) who do not have access to your file. The interview length varies but is about 45 minutes and is standardized.
A good advice is show, don’t tell. Go through your experiences and be prepared to provide examples for questions. Mock interviews are a great ideas and you will find lots of common medical school interview questions online.
You will be able to request your campus online after you are offered an interview. However, offers will be binding to one campus. The official policy is here. The admission requirements for both campuses are the same.
