uoft med school essays

Non-Academic Requirements

In addition to academic requirements , brief personal essays, autobiographical sketches, and references are used in assessing your non-academic qualifications.

Throughout the admissions process, we assess your non-academic attributes, activities and achievements in terms of the Faculty’s mission and values , as well as the MD Program competencies . Our aim is to select students who we believe will make the most empathetic and highly skilled physicians.

Specifically, we evaluate materials according to the following four clusters. These four clusters are based on the CanMEDS Framework  that identifies and describes the abilities physicians require to effectively meet the health care needs of the people they serve.

Your ability to use the English language will be taken into consideration and you may be requested to submit additional information to supplement the application form.

Specific requirements 

Brief personal essays.

You are required to submit two original brief personal essays, with each essay answering a specific question related to the Faculty’s mission and values . The Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission statement embodies social responsibility, and the Faculty’s values are reflective of this responsibility. Each brief personal essay must be 250 words or less (this word count does not include titles, references, or verifiers, if you choose to include these). We evaluate brief personal essays independently of all other materials submitted within your application.

The two questions for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle (2023-2024 academic year):

We will perform random checks of your brief personal essays through a plagiarism detection tool. You will not be informed that your essay has been submitted for comparison. Essays submitted will be included as source documents in the reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. If you do not consent to your essays being submitted through a plagiarism detection tool, you must  email [email protected] by January 3, 2024 . We will honour this request. 

Autobiographical sketch & statements

The autobiographical sketch (ABS) is a comprehensive list of your activities and achievements since age 16 which provide insight into who you are. These can include your:

• volunteer activities
• extracurricular activities
• awards and accomplishments
• research, and,
• other activities and achievements.

You are not required to have undertaken a specific number of activities or completed a set number of hours. There are also no specific activities that will give you an ‘edge’. We do not believe there is a specific medical student ‘profile’. We are looking for students:

• with diverse backgrounds and interests
• who are well-rounded
• who are community-minded
• who have gained skills and maturity from their experiences
• who can demonstrate time management skills
• who show evidence of the the attribute clusters in their activities

Please see the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) Application Guide for more information on the ABS.

In addition, you are required to write and submit one ABS statement that discusses the following:

• Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character, and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?

Your ABS statement must be 500 words or less.  This word count does not include your activity title, references, or verifiers, if you choose to include these.

The ABS and the additional ABS statement will be evaluated as a whole. We evaluate ABS materials independently of all other materials submitted within your application.

In some cases, we may wish to verify additional information about activities that are described in either your brief personal essays or the ABS. Therefore, you must provide the name, address, and phone number of at least one contact person (verifier) for each activity. We perform random checks of applicants’ verifiers. Please notify your verifiers that they may be contacted by us. 

Note: Verifiers for ABS may or may not be the same as the verifiers you listed for your graduate studies or your references.

Let your verifiers know that they may be contacted by UME Enrolment Services.

You are required to arrange for three references to be sent to OMSAS as part of your application. Each reference includes a Confidential Assessment Form.

Note: You must not use family members, family friends, colleagues of family members, neighbours or someone who may be perceived as your peer as a referee, as we do not consider them to be objective. Letters written by a spiritual advisor are acceptable, provided the individual is not also a family member or close friend.

Applications from candidates with non-objective references will not be considered.

Referees may submit their confidential reference online. 

The deadline for receiving references is October 2nd, 2023. If OMSAS does not receive your reference by this date, your application to the University of Toronto’s MD Program will be incomplete and will not be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives your references by the deadline, so we advise you to confirm submission with all of your referees prior to the deadline.

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• July 10, 2023

How to Write Competitive UofT MD Essays (BPE/ABS) 2023-2024 

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• Medical School

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You can access our OMSAS guide that covers other parts of the application by clicking here!

Overview of the University of Toronto MD Program

The University of Toronto (UofT) MD program ,known as the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is a highly competitive and renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum and comprehensive training. As one of Canada’s leading medical schools, it attracts top-tier students from across the country and around the world. The program follows the CanMEDs competency framework , focusing on developing well-rounded physicians who excel in their clinical skills, professionalism, and leadership abilities. With a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and community engagement, the UofT MD program offers a unique learning experience that prepares students for a successful career in medicine.

You can see how competitive you need to be for UofT by checking out the acceptance statistics here.

Through the famous UofT MD essays in the OMSAS application, the program is able to identify the most competitive applicants that meet its requirements. For this reason, it is absolutely essential that your essays stand out and leave a lasting impact. Here are our top tips on how to write essays that help you stand out during the application cycle, and can help you score an interview invitation

Don’t forget to check out our database of medical students/residents who can help perfect your application by clicking below:

Understanding the Role of Essays in the Application Process

The University of Toronto’s MD program places great importance on the non-academic qualities and experiences of applicants. As part of the OMSAS application process, candidates are required to submit an Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) Statement and Brief Personal Essays (BPE). These essays offer an opportunity for applicants to showcase their non-academic experiences, personal growth, and soft skills.

The ABS Statement prompt is the same every year, and is as follows:

“Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character, and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?”

This statement allows the applicant to highlight the breadth and depth of their involvement in one specific extracurricular activity. This essay is limited to 500 words, which provides an opportunity to expand and elaborate on an important and formative experience that contributed to your journey to medical school.

On the other hand, Brief Personal Essays (BPEs) delve deeper into specific themes and prompts. The word count for each Brief Personal Essay is limited to 250 words. The prompts for this year’s OMSAS application are the following:

1) The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?

2) The Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva said: “it isn’t that you need time to think, you need time to feel.” How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?

How The Answers Are Marked

Before beginning to write your essays, it is important to understand how they are marked. The evaluation process for the UofT MD essays takes into consideration four clusters based on the CanMED roles.

Source: Royal College

The first cluster focuses on professionalism, which includes qualities like maturity, reliability, perseverance, and responsibility. The second cluster focuses on communication, collaboration, teamwork, time management, and leadership. The third cluster is about advocacy, community service, and social responsibility. The fourth cluster revolves around being a scholar, which entails demonstrating academic standing, achievements in leadership, research, and social responsibility.

Source: UofT Med

In addition to these clusters, the UofT MD essays are also evaluated for flow, grammar, spelling, and overall interest. It is crucial to make your essay captivating and impactful to stand out among the thousands of essays that are submitted every application cycle. A good introduction and an intriguing story can go a long way in capturing the attention of the reviewers and helping you stand out.

We advise against writing a “basic” essay that fails to differentiate itself. Remember that each reviewer reads numerous essays, so it is essential to make yours memorable. By addressing the assigned prompts creatively and showing a strong connection to the CanMED roles, you can increase your chances of a successful application.

💡Pro Tip: During the brainstorming process, we recommend using a spreadsheet that has a checklist with the four UofT MD clusters as you are reviewing your essays. This way, you can check off each cluster as it is touched on in the UofT MD essays.

Crafting an Impactful Essay

From the introduction to the conclusion, it is important that every single word in your essay is thoughtfully written because every word matters in your OMSAS application.

Creating a Compelling Introduction

A strong introduction can make all the difference in captivating the reviewer’s attention. It sets the tone for your essay and can leave a lasting impression. Here are our top tips and strategies for ensuring that your UofT MD essays have the “WOW” factor.

One approach is to start with a quote that relates to the prompt. For example, in response to a question about resilience, you could begin with a powerful quote from a renowned author or a public speaker that connects well with the topic and with your experience. Alternatively, you could start with a quote that challenges the reader’s perspective and brings something new to the essay.

Another strategy is to introduce a captivating anecdote or personal experience that highlights your passion for medicine and connects to the essay prompt. This can create an immediate emotional connection with the reader and engage them from the start. For instance, in response to a question asking about mentorship, you could share a personal experience related to a mentoring relationship and speak about the personal impacts that it had on you before pivoting to the main content of the essay.

Remember, a compelling introduction should not only grab the reviewer’s attention but also provide a glimpse of your unique perspective and set the stage for the rest of your essay. Don’t overlook the importance of your introduction. Take the time to brainstorm, experiment with different approaches, and ensure your UofT MD essay introduction truly has that “WOW” factor.

Incorporating A Good Personal Story/Anecdote

The BPE and ABS statement both require the incorporation of a strong personal story/anecdote within the text. It’s definitely easier to include an example within the ABS statement but the stories can still be integrated into the BPEs as well. Whether you’re addressing the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in assessing medical school applicants or connecting Maria Tsvetaeva’s quote to your future career in medicine, your essay should have a narrative arc that engages the reader. By incorporating a personal story, you can demonstrate your critical thinking skills and provide a unique perspective to the reader, leaving a lasting impact.

Similarly, when writing the ABS statement, use storytelling to convey your personal growth and how it relates to your journey towards becoming a medical professional. Highlight experiences, challenges, and achievements that have shaped your character and passion for medicine.

In both UofT MD essays categories, constantly think of the CanMEDS and UofT’s MD Program clusters to showcase your understanding of the medical profession within the and demonstrate how your stories/anecdotes align with their values. Remember to keep your essays concise and focused, highlighting the most impactful aspects of your story.

💡Pro Tip: If you are struggling to find a good experience for the UofT MD essays, try to think of impactful experiences in your life. These can include moments of triumph, challenges overcome, or significant personal insights that have shaped your journey towards medicine. In your brainstorming phase, we suggest creating a list of these experiences, and seeing which of them relate best to the essay questions. These personal anecdotes will help your essays leave a more lasting impression on the reviewer. 

BPE Specific Tips

The BPE component of the UofT MD essays consists of two questions that require thoughtful and reflective responses. Here are some tips for answering each of the questions:

1) “The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical, and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?”

In tackling this question, students could touch on multiple ethical considerations such as objectivity, fairness, transparency, and accountability. It is important to think beyond yourself, and really question and challenge the implications of using artificial intelligence (AI) both on a personal (microscopic) and societal (macroscopic) level. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the complexities of using AI as well as your critical thinking skills. 

2) “The Russian poet Maria Tsvetaeva said: ‘it isn’t that you need time to think, you need time to feel.’ How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?”

For this question, you can reflect on your personal experiences and the transformative power of emotions in healthcare. Some important points to consider could be empathy, emotional intelligence, and the physician-patient relationship. 

It is important to make sure that both essays combined cover all four UofT MD clusters! This is why it’s important to keep the CanMEDs/clusters in mind when brainstorming ideas for the essays from the very beginning.

ABS Statement Specific Tips

Here are our best tips for writing your ABS statement.

1. Demonstrate personal growth in your essay. This can be achieved by highlighting experiences within the ABS activity that have challenged you or helped you develop new skills and perspectives.

2. Keep the clusters in mind. Ideally, your chosen experience should align with all four of the UofT MD clusters. However, if your experience doesn’t fit all four clusters, that’s okay. The important thing to remember is that the UofT MD clusters represent qualities of a good MD candidate, so try to pick an experience that highlights attributes that make you a well-rounded candidate. You will likely hit the majority of the clusters when you pick the right experience.  

3. Stay humble. While it’s essential to present yourself in a positive light, it’s equally important to remain humble. Be genuine and avoid exaggerating your accomplishments or experiences. The admissions committee is looking for applicants who are self-aware and can reflect on their experiences in a thoughtful manner.

By demonstrating personal growth and aligning with UofT MD clusters in the ABS statement, you’ll increase your chances of standing out as a strong candidate from all OMSAS applicants for the MD program.

How To Conclude The UofT MD Essay

Your conclusion is the final statement and should leave the rater with a lasting impression. This is your last opportunity to showcase yourself in this essay and it is therefore extremely important to craft a strong concluding statement. Remember, your word count is limited, so you will likely be left with a sentence or two to get your message across. The final statement should provide a succinct summary of your main points while also leaving an impact on the rater. While relating the conclusion to medicine and being a doctor can be advantageous, it is not a necessity. What matters most is showcasing your unique perspective and demonstrating your potential as a future doctor.

Finalizing Your MD Application Essay

Ideally, the UofT MD essays writing process should take place over the span of 4-6 weeks as you’ll need ample time for brainstorming and writing, and most importantly – editing!

Giving Yourself Enough Time to Revise and Edit Your Writing

Revision and editing are vital to crafting an impactful personal essay. By setting aside sufficient time for this process, you can carefully review each sentence and paragraph, making necessary changes to improve the flow and coherence of your ideas. This ensures that your essay is easy to understand and conveys your message effectively.

Additionally, allowing ample time for multiple rounds of editing enables you to identify and correct any grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. By thoroughly reviewing your essay, you can ensure that it is free from mistakes, showcasing your attention to detail and professionalism.

Seeking feedback from mentors or admissions consultants is also beneficial. They can provide valuable insights, helping you further refine your essay and make it more compelling. Their perspectives can point out areas that require improvement or highlight any weaknesses in your content.

💡Pro Tip: Overused buzzwords in essays include “collaborate”, “persevere” and “advocate”. Try to brainstorm ways of demonstrating these qualities without explicitly writing them out. Reviewers often roll their eyes when seeing the word “collaborate” overused!

Seeking Professional Feedback from an Admissions Consultant or Mentor

When it comes to crafting your UofT MD essays, seeking professional feedback from an admissions consultant or mentor can be invaluable. These experts have a deep understanding of the admissions process, including the specific OMSAS requirements as well as what a good UofT MD essay look like.

Admissions consultants can provide valuable insights and guidance, helping you highlight your strengths and address any weaknesses in your application. They can offer a fresh perspective on your essays, ensuring they effectively convey your motivations, experiences, and goals.

When choosing the right consultant or mentor, consider their expertise and experience in the medical school admissions process. Look for those who have a track record of success with OMSAS schools, such as current medical students or medical residents. It’s also important to find someone who is responsive and can provide personalized feedback tailored to your unique circumstances.

Remember, seeking professional feedback should complement your own efforts in crafting an authentic and compelling application. Ultimately, the goal is to present a comprehensive and well-rounded picture of yourself in your ABS Statement and BPEs of the UofT MD essays. With the right guidance, you can confidently showcase your qualifications and stand out as a strong candidate in the OMSAS application for University of Toronto MD program.

To find the best admissions consultant for you to help you craft an application with strong UofT MD essays that get you interviews, search our database of experienced consultants! .

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• Medical School Application

How To Make Your University of Toronto Medical School Brief Personal Essay Stand Out

Featured Expert: Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD, former University of Toronto Medical School admissions officer

Struggling to write the  University of Toronto medical school  brief personal essays? You aren’t alone. If you want to make your University of Toronto medical school application stand out above the competition, then you definitely need to put in some effort to write impressive brief personal essays, following the specific prompts you’ll be provided with. This is a key part of the University of Toronto Medical School’s admissions process that helps the admissions committee judge the applicants’ suitability for medical school. So, it goes without saying that you’ll have to pack a lot of punch into those 250 words in each brief personal essay!

In this blog, we’ll provide the latest* prompts for these essays, and their subsequent sample responses. We’ll also provide a few tips to help you write memorable essays that make your application stand out.

Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo ebook of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, our Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email us at content [at] bemoacademicconsulting.com with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.

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Article Contents 6 min read

You need to submit 2 essays to meet the University of Toronto medical school brief personal essay requirements as part of their admissions process. As one of the top  medical schools in Canada , the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine has a highly competitive admissions process. Even our own consultant, Dr. Jaime Cazes, has shared that after “applying to all Canadian medical schools and two in the United States, I only interviewed at one school; U of T.” In Dr. Cazes’ case, this was his top school – but this is also why he recommends students “apply broadly” and spend a lot of time fine-tuning their application components. To put it simply: In order to maximize your chances of getting accepted, you need to craft well-written, meaningful essays that demonstrate your suitability for medical school.

 And, we understand that naturally, this can be a daunting task! While we work with students to prepare for a variety of post-secondary interviews and application components, medical school essays are something our consultants commonly assist with!

“Just had a very productive brainstorming session with Marianne. She provided me with some good advice and direction to write my essays for the University of Toronto. Overall, I enjoyed the session.” – Anonymous, Former BeMo Student and UofT Applicant.

Because these essays have to be written in response to specific prompts, and must be brief, it can be helpful to take your time, and have an experienced, second (or third) set of eyes assist you in the process of curating your essay.

Whether or not you’re tackling your University of Toronto Medical School brief personal essays solo or with assistance, it’s imperative that you review the latest prompts (and pro tips) prior to writing your final drafts.

To apply to the University of Toronto medical school, you must write two essays, each being 250 words or less, in response to the two prompts given below.

Note that this word count does not include titles, references, or verifiers, if you choose to include these elements.

Here are two prompts ( as found on the University of Toronto’s website ) and sample responses:

University of Toronto Brief Personal Essay Prompts and Sample Response

Question 1:.

The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?

In the age where artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a cornerstone of our societal fabric, the integration of AI in medical school admissions prompts a profound ethical debate. Developing algorithms for such critical assessments demands a deep reflection on values like fairness, transparency, and accountability. It's paramount that these algorithms are designed to mitigate biases\u2014whether racial, gender-based, or socio-economic\u2014to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. Moreover, ethical considerations must include the privacy and security of applicants' data, ensuring it is used solely for the intended purpose of holistic evaluation. Societal implications also encompass the need for diverse medical professionals who can empathize and connect with patients from all walks of life, a quality not quantifiable by AI. As we tread this new frontier, the guiding principle should be the augmentation of human decision-making, not its replacement, to harness AI's potential while upholding the integrity and humanity of medical admissions. ","label":"Sample essay response #1","title":"Sample essay response #1"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Question 2:

The Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva said: “it isn't that you need time to think, you need time to feel.” How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?

Incorporating time to feel into my medical practice will be pivotal, as it encourages a holistic view of patient care. Recognizing the psychological, social, and emotional dimensions of health will enable me to treat patients more effectively, making their well-being my utmost priority. This perspective ensures that as a future physician, I will not only address the symptoms but also the human being experiencing them, embodying the art of medicine where feeling is as indispensable as thinking. ","label":"Sample essay response #2","title":"Sample essay response #2"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

The admissions committee will be evaluating these essays to see how well they align with the four core University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine "clusters" that identify and describe the abilities a physician must possess to effectively meet the healthcare needs of their patients.

These essays are similar in terms of their requirements, format, and style to the  medical school secondary essays  required at US medical schools.

Our own consultant (whom we mentioned earlier), Dr. Cazes, not only studied medicine at U of T, but sat on the admissions committee. His best advice?:

“Start a personal statement with a compelling story, akin to the opening lines of a novel meant to hook the reader.”  

He advises that the story should be real and possibly slightly embellished to be more interesting but warns against lying or presenting unrealistic situations. This approach aims to avoid the "cookie-cutter" format and make the personal statement stand out to those on the admissions committee!

Want to know more about other secondary medical school essays?

Tips to Help You Write the University of Toronto Medical School Brief Personal Essays

Tip#1:  .

The first step to writing the perfect medical school application essay is to  start as early as possible . You might think that two brief pieces of writing could be a breeze, but it’s important not to underestimate the fact that these types of essays are truly about quality…not quantity.

An excellent essay may take several drafts – and in some cases, weeks or months – to create. Not only will you need to brainstorm response ideas related to your prompts, but it is also important that you discuss the questions with others who may be able to shed some light on the deeper intentions behind the questions being asked. One of our consultants, Dr. Monica Taneja, reflects on her experience when she helps students navigate through various application components. Here's her advice:

“Don’t rush and (do) prioritize. The requirements for medical school are all tough! Don’t overload yourself on classes trying to knock out requirements as you don’t want to be spread too thin.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, BeMo Consultant.

Remember, this is a test of your written communications skills. Therefore,  the essay should have excellent structure and flow . This means it will need an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You must also be able to convey your sense of maturity, professionalism, and self-reflexivity (i.e. essential non-cognitive skills), while clearly demonstrating your motivation for the medical profession.

As with most pieces of writing, your introduction and opening sentence(s) will most certainly make or break your overall statement. Thus, ensure that you have a creative and captivating opening sentence that captivates the admissions committee. As Dr. Cazes has recommended, “Treat it like a story. It needs to be REAL but it has to hook the reader.”

Your introductory paragraph should also serve as a road map  to the reader and allow them to understand where the remainder of the story is headed. This can be tricky to do with a limited word count. The ‘less is more’ premise of these essays can be intimidating! One of our former students, Ruhee, found working with her advisor, Amanda, to be beneficial for this reason:

“Amanda really walked me through each part of my essay and broke down for me how I was going to go about writing it and what to include in each section and what we would include in them. She really helped me see the big picture and help breakdown the details step by step. I love Amanda and she's been really helpful! I don't think my application process would be the same if she wasn't my advisor.” – Ruhee Momin, Former BeMo Student

Tip#4: .

In  the   body of your essay , you essentially want to elaborate on the ideas that you have introduced in your opening paragraph and draw on your personal experiences to provide evidence. Dr. Taneja strongly recommends that you, “have a punch line.” By that, she means, “having 1-2 ‘sayings’ throughout your essay that give schools something to remember you by.”

Lastly,  the conclusion of your personal statement  should be insightful, captivating, and leave the reader with an impression, not just a summary. Remember, to quote Dr. Cazes: “It’s a real story that must hook and captivate the readers from beginning to end.” And, Dr. Taneja: “ Everyone’s path to validation is unique, but regardless of how you got to your medical application, you should detail your growth [from the opening line to conclusion of the personal essay].”

You need to submit 2 brief personal essays as part of your University of Toronto medical school application.

You need to write an essay in response to each of the following questions:

• Question 1: The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?
• Question 2: The Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva said: “it isn't that you need time to think, you need time to feel.” How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?

To make your essays stand out, start by making sure you give yourself enough time to write the essay, at least 3 to 4 weeks. That will give you enough time to first brainstorm the topics and think deeply about what you want to write about. Make sure your essays have an excellent structure and flow, and a captivating introduction that draws in the reader and clearly establishes the thesis of the essay. Draw on your personal experiences to flesh out your ideas and finally, make sure you conclude with a memorable key takeaway or meaningful insight.

Each essay should be no longer than 250 words.

The brief personal essays play a crucial role in your application review, and you must put in both time and effort to make them as memorable as possible. They demonstrate certain key qualities about yourself to the admissions committee and this information helps them rate your application.

The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine designates 4 core clusters that identify and describe the abilities a physician must possess to effectively meet the healthcare needs of their patients - professional, communicator/collaborator/manager, advocate, and scholar. They review the autobiographical sketch, brief personal essays, and reference letters in each application to evaluate how well the applicant aligns with these four clusters and their associated skills and qualities. 

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☰ navigation, mastering the university of toronto medical school essay – part 1: the secret.

Categories: Application

Disclaimer: The following article was originally written in 2009 for the University of Toronto medical school admissions essay. Although the advice here is still useful for general medical school essays, since 2012, the University of Toronto medical school changed its admissions process to require the applicant write 4 Brief Personal Essays instead. Don’t fret – I have a written a new step-by-step guide to help applicants with these new 4 Brief Personal Essays.

I want to share a secret with you. It’s something I discovered last summer, and is the reason I believe my essay was successful in the University of Toronto medical school admissions process.

It began when a friend of mine (who by coincidence, or perhaps not, is also entering UofT medicine this fall) showed me the essay of one of his friends who was accepted into UofT’s medical school last year. The content of the essay was rather unexpected as it went against the common intuition of what the essay should include. I think most applicants think that the essay should be some sort of interesting piece that simply highlights the applicant’s accomplishments and qualifications for medicine – but if anything, this essay had a different overall focus.

Without getting into the specifics of the essay, I remember reading through it, and being rather engrossed in it. And when I finally finished the essay, I had this strong feeling inside of me – the essay made me want to help him get into medical school.

It wasn’t that the applicant was a Rhodes scholar, or published in a million journals, or had a resume that blew my mind. And it’s not like he had some traumatic life changing moment that made him want to be a doctor that moved me to tears. No, nothing like that. In fact, there was nothing particularly outstanding about him on paper that would make him stand out among any other random applicant.

I mean, let’s think about it. If I read that you’re a Rhodes scholar who has been on the front page of Nature magazine, I’m sure as heck going to be really impressed and think you have the sickest resume ever. But that isn’t necessarily going to give me this strong, deep feeling that I want to do whatever possible to help you become a doctor. I’m just going to think you’ve done some crazy cool things.

However, this essay was different – in his own words, he was able to make me, the reader (and potential admissions judges) want to help him get into medical school. And if there’s someone you want to have that feeling, it’s the person deciding whether you get an interview or not.

Why is this so powerful and how was his essay able to make me feel this way?

The fact is that, right now, there are too many qualified applicants for medical school spots. As a result, the admissions committee probably receives a lot of essays that present very qualified applicants – and I’m sure many of these applicants would make good doctors. But with so many applicants who could be “good, competent doctors”, how do you sift through them even further?

Think about it from the admissions committee’s perspective. Training a medical student involves making a significant investment of time and money. So they want to pick students who they think will be good long term investments .

The reason this person’s essay was so powerful was because he was able to demonstrate to the reader that he would go above and beyond as a physician – that he is seriously interested in being the best physician he could be for the long haul . He showed that he has put serious, mature thought into being a doctor, and that he wasn’t applying just for the heck of it. He demonstrated that it really does make sense for him to be a doctor.

When there is an abundance of talent and impressive resumes, “stats” alone aren’t good enough. And from the perspective of medical schools and health care, perhaps that’s rightly so. They want (and as patients, wouldn’t you?) candidates who won’t just be competent at their jobs, but will be dedicated day after day for the unforeseeable future – because dedicated individuals are more likely to make significant impacts in health care and in the community. An essay just focusing on accomplishments and qualifications, while impressive, isn’t enough to create that special feeling in the reader.

And while you might very well be that serious, long-term dedicated individual, as I’ve mentioned countless times before, no one knows that unless you tell them – and the same goes for the telling the admissions committee in your essay.

So how do we show this serious, long term interest and dedication?

Of course, we need to present these ideas in a structured manner in the context of the essay. The UofT admissions committee helps us out by presenting three items they want us to think about and answer within the 1000 word essay. It’s amazing not only how often applicants neglect the guidelines (either absentmindedly, or as if thinking they know better than to answer the actual questions the admissions committee want answered), or don’t spend enough time thinking deeply about those items and why they might be asked. These guidelines are provided for a reason. Without further adieu, here they are:

• As a general guideline, the statement should address and discuss the applicant’s personal background, including particular interests and extracurricular experiences.
• Candidates should outline their choice of, and preparation for, a career in medicine.
• Applicants should also describe their premedical studies, expanding on what they have chosen to pursue and how this has prepared them for their future, including a career in medicine.

In the next three parts of this series, we will analyze each of these questions in terms of what they really mean, figure out why the admissions committee want to know about them, and therefore, what we need to be presenting in the essay. Moreover, we will study how we should be answering these questions in the context of the overarching concept of showing our long term dedication, and thus, making the reader want to help us become physicians.

Part 2: Background, Interests, and Experiences >>

• Part 1 – The Secret
• Part 2 – Background, Interests, and Experiences
• Part 3 – Why Medicine and How Did You Prepare
• Part 4 – How Your Premedical Studies have Prepared You for Medicine
• Part 5 – Putting it All Together

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• University of Toronto Medical School

UofT Personal Essay

By pokaroo July 11, 2011 in University of Toronto Medical School

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Well, I started with a humorous "hook" which was a story about volunteering in a hospital where I did something laughable and silly.

Then I basically started at the beginning and did a little paragraph about each major bullet point in the story of why I want to go into medicine. I tried to tell it like a narrative, and I tried to do "showing not telling" and use imagery and interesting words. It's all about keeping their attention.

Then I finished by linking the points together and referring again to my "hook" to give it a cyclic feel and a sense of closure.

At first, don't worry about the length. Just say everything you want to say and then pare it down and streamline your wording.

anxious_101

I started off my essay about my first time landing a plane on my own - flying solo. I devoted an entire paragraph to this experience and how it has shaped me as a person.

Always good to start with something unique, interesting and compelling. Remember, the 3 file reviewers who will read your essay read dozens of these in a single sitting so you want to keep them engaged. They score each essay right after reading it - so I am told. Don't pull a plain vanilla.

I got this directly from UofT website:

6) Will an interesting narrative style make my application stand out?

No. The essay is assessed on content rather than style. A thoughtful, clear and concise essay with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation is the best way to get your ideas across. OMSAS renders essays in a standardized format.

According to them, style/narrative doesn't get you any more points--what are your thoughts on this?

I got this directly from UofT website:   6) Will an interesting narrative style make my application stand out?   No. The essay is assessed on content rather than style. A thoughtful, clear and concise essay with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation is the best way to get your ideas across. OMSAS renders essays in a standardized format.   According to them, style/narrative doesn't get you any more points--what are your thoughts on this?

fb6 - You're right in that you don't want to make the point of your essay about style and swagger rather than substance. But being interesting and compelling in your writing isn't necessarily about upping the style. It's about content. A clear and professional to the point essay with minimal flowery language will work best.

What I meant by don't pull a vanilla is to not talk about the same old boring thing. You know: I volunteered at this hospital. I was president of that club. Instead, talk about unique and exciting things you've done and how those experiences have shaped you as a person - and ultimately for a career in medicine. Don't use the essay as a venue to thread your 48 autobiographical sketch items into sentences. Instead use it as an outlet to sell yourself in a unique and exciting manner - content-wise that is.

Technically, they won't give you points for it, but it's a subjective process and IMO anything you can do to make your essay catchy and appealing will work for you, as long as it's not super gimmicky and obvious. You want the person reading it to like/be interested in/want to meet you.

Thanks for the quick responses! I totally agree with anxious and ellorie. The essay is about being honest, personal, and talking about how your experiences have shaped your path. I totally agree that simply saying the same old stuff about helping people, and regurgitating the 48-item sketch won't get you too far.

I agree- it needs to be personal... so from what I hear an anecdote at the starting would be most ideal.. also in terms of courses how did people address that stem of the question?

Finally.. what qualities does UofT generally look for iin their class...

I agree- it needs to be personal... so from what I hear an anecdote at the starting would be most ideal.. also in terms of courses how did people address that stem of the question? . Finally.. what qualities does UofT generally look for iin their class...

They are looking for the same qualities as all med schools are seeking and these qualities should fly off the pages in your Essay (without listing them).

Your essay needs to be compelling such that the readers will want to meet you. There is no standard beginning but it must be well written so that it flows, well structured and organized. Having a theme helps to keep you focused.

keep it real

don't use "flowery" language

Patho_Medicus

I started out with a hook, a pretty emotional one I guess about a teacher of mine. Then I used it as recurrent metaphor throughout the essay I suppose. I wrote my essay in a day and asked 2 of my friends to read it through...I was happy with what I wrote cause I actually believed in what I wrote, it made sense to me and I got that satisfied-smirk/happy gut feeling about it once it was done.

Be yourself, don't exaggerate and don't tell lies..I think that is all they ask for anyways right?

Have fun with the process!!

Everyone above almost covers anything. I really valued Joshua's thoughts on his blog post ( http://www.medhopeful.com/archive/mastering-the-university-of-toronto-medical-school-essay-part-1-the-secret/ )

I don't suppose starting off with your experience with psilocibin is appropriate?

Hi Everyone,

I just completed the second draft of my essay and finally got the word count down to just a few over 1000.

Now, I'm pretty happy with my essay because it highlights the most important aspects of my experiences while also answering the specifics in UofT's prompt. However, so much good stuff has simply been left out due to the word count.

I am assuming that given UofT's holistic review system, they will read the essay, but also look at the 48-item sketch for plenty more details. Do you think it's safe to not try and put every conceivable award, experience, and item possible in the essay and just let them consult the 48-item sketch for more info?

Any ideas/comments would be helpful. Thanks!

Absolutely. I think if you tried to list each of the 48 items you'd be left with about one sentence per item and really that is a waste of an opportunity to provide a coherent story for the evaluators to read.

Personally, my essay focused on about 3 aspects and each included 2ish items from my list. I used the essay to talk about the bigger things and how they shaped me and and even introduce some background about myself that had no place on the ABS.

There are many approaches to writing this essay but I think if you feel like you've answered the prompt well and you are happy with the piece (both of which you seem to have covered) then you are well on your way.

Absolutely. I think if you tried to list each of the 48 items you'd be left with about one sentence per item and really that is a waste of an opportunity to provide a coherent story for the evaluators to read.   Personally, my essay focused on about 3 aspects and each included 2ish items from my list. I used the essay to talk about the bigger things and how they shaped me and and even introduce some background about myself that had no place on the ABS.   There are many approaches to writing this essay but I think if you feel like you've answered the prompt well and you are happy with the piece (both of which you seem to have covered) then you are well on your way.

Coming from OIC and rmorelan, the advice is gold!

Thanks for the quick responses!

• 3 weeks later...

keepontrying

I'm wondering if it's a good idea to write a new essay considering that I got an interview last year? I've read in past threads that I should go with whatever worked before? Sort of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix" mentality?

Hi Everyone,   I just completed the second draft of my essay and finally got the word count down to just a few over 1000.   Now, I'm pretty happy with my essay because it highlights the most important aspects of my experiences while also answering the specifics in UofT's prompt. However, so much good stuff has simply been left out due to the word count.   I am assuming that given UofT's holistic review system, they will read the essay, but also look at the 48-item sketch for plenty more details. Do you think it's safe to not try and put every conceivable award, experience, and item possible in the essay and just let them consult the 48-item sketch for more info?   Any ideas/comments would be helpful. Thanks!

You want your essay to highlight the most important aspects of your application i.e what were the big 5 reasons that convinced you to pursue medicine. You can try and expand on some of 48 items from your list but try and avoid being redundant. When you get interviewed, they will look at both and you should know them both really well. There has to be a good reason why something deserves to be in your application to 'medical school' so you have to learn to be selective.

Consider updating it where appropriate, otherwise I would not tinker with it.

This is something I want to find out about as well. What is the general consensus on re-using your personal essay from the last application cycle if it netted you an interview before?

I'm tempted to change a few things (updates really), but leave the rest pretty much as is.

Thanks f_d. I'll just add an extra paragraph to add more insights and that's it.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

The History of Moscow City

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34 Best Medical schools in Moscow, Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Moscow ranked based on their research performance in Medicine. A graph of 922K citations received by 111K academic papers made by 34 universities in Moscow was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Medicine

2. Moscow Medical Academy

3. Russian National Research Medical University

4. RUDN University

5. National Research University Higher School of Economics

6. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

7. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

8. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

9. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

10. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

11. Moscow State Pedagogical University

12. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

13. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

14. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

15. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

16. Moscow Aviation Institute

17. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

18. Russian State Social University

19. Russian State Agricultural University

20. National Research University of Electronic Technology

21. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

22. new economic school.

23. Russian State University for the Humanities

24. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

25. State University of Management

26. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

27. Moscow Polytech

28. Moscow Technical University - MIREA

29. Moscow State Linguistic University

30. Moscow State Mining University

31. Moscow International University

32. Pushkin State Russian Language Institute

33. Russian State Geological Prospecting University

34. moscow state technical university of civil aviation.

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Heart Pump Is Linked to 49 Deaths, the F.D.A. Warns

The agency faulted the device maker for delayed notice of mounting complications, citing increasing reports of how use of the device perforated the walls of the heart.

By Christina Jewett

A troubled heart pump that has now been linked to 49 deaths and dozens of injuries worldwide will be allowed to remain in use, despite the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to issue an alert about the risk that it could puncture a wall of the heart.

The tiny Impella pumps, about the width of a candy cane, are threaded through blood vessels to take over the work of the heart in patients who are undergoing complex procedures or have life-threatening conditions.

The F.D.A. said the manufacturer of the device, Abiomed, should have notified the agency more than two years ago, when the company first posted an update on its website about the perforation risk. Such a notice, the F.D.A. added, would have led to a much broader official agency warning to hospitals and doctors.

The alert is the latest of concerns raised in recent years about the deadly side effects of cardiac devices, especially those that take over the heart’s role in circulating blood. It is the third major F.D.A. action for an Impella device in a year.

A series of studies suggested that the Impella heart devices heighten the risk of death in patients with unstable medical conditions. Meanwhile, the device maker has spent millions of dollars promoting the device and awarding consulting payments to cardiologists and grants to hospitals.

Since Abiomed’s first notice about the Impella’s complications in October 2021, the F.D.A. received 21 additional reports of heart-wall tears linked to patient deaths, according to Audra Harrison, a spokeswoman for the agency.

The F.D.A. classified the alert sent last week as the most serious type of action it could take for a product that can result in death or serious injury, short of removal from the market. The alert still permits use of the device, with an update on the risks requested for the 243-page instruction manual that accompanies the pump.

There are currently 66,000 Impella pumps in the United States and 26,000 such devices in Australia, Canada, France, India and other countries.

The number of Impella-related injuries struck some cardiologists as troubling. Some doctors said that the role of the pumps was already being questioned, citing a lack of high-quality studies that would establish whether the devices offered more benefit than harm. Some also questioned whether the call for enhanced caution in a dense instruction booklet would prevent deaths.

“I think cardiologists are already extremely careful,” said Dr. Rita F. Redberg, a cardiologist and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, who has been critical of the devices. “To say that you’re addressing 49 deaths by saying ‘be careful’ is not addressing the problem at all.”

Johnson & Johnson MedTech bought Abiomed in 2022. Dr. Seth D. Bilazarian, a senior vice president of Abiomed, said in a statement that 300,000 Impella devices had been used in patients worldwide in more than a decade. There were no reported instances of heart-wall perforations related to product design or manufacturing, he said.

“We are proud of the positive impact our technology is having on patients facing life-threatening conditions,” Dr. Bilazarian said.

Asked why Abiomed did not report the deadly risk earlier, Johnson & Johnson MedTech said it was putting broad improvements in place. The company said the heart-wall tears were rare and are a “known complication during invasive cardiology procedures.”

Since 2013 , research has highlighted the potential for the device to sever vessels and cause serious bleeding .

F.D.A. records show that the company has attributed the heart-wall tears to “operator handling,” urging to couple use of the device with imaging tools to avoid puncturing delicate heart tissue. Older adults, women and people with heart disease are particularly at risk, the agency said.

The pumps are temporary implants, tailored to the right or left heart chamber with different levels of pumping power. They are often used after a patient has had a major heart attack and the heart loses its ability to move blood through the body. The devices tend to be used on very ill patients, many with a mortality risk of about 40 to 50 percent.

If a wall of the heart is torn by a device, “it’s a surgical emergency that very rarely people survive from,” said Dr. Boback Ziaeian, a cardiologist and an assistant professor of medicine at University of California, Los Angeles.

The F.D.A.’s new alert stems from a lengthy agency inspection last year at Abiomed’s Massachusetts headquarters that resulted in a warning letter in September. Inspectors turned up numerous complaints that the agency said should have been reported, and also discovered a bulletin dated October 2021 that outlined the tearing risk, according to the F.D.A.

The bulletin , which the company said it posted on its website and on an app, described the heart-wall perforations as a “rare complication” that was first noted in January 2018. Abiomed should have filed a “report of correction or removal” to the F.D.A. within 10 days of that notice, according to Ms. Harrison, the agency spokeswoman.

Abiomed said that it had incorporated advice on how to use the device safely in its physician training and that it had sent an alert letter to doctors late last December.

Dr. Bilazarian said that Abiomed counted all tears of walls in the heart’s left chamber that had occurred during a procedure “regardless of whether they were directly related to the patient outcome.”

The company initiated two other major warnings last year of Impella pumps that the F.D.A. deemed to be linked to risk of serious injury or death.

In June, the company warned that the pump could malfunction if it hit an artificial heart valve, linking it to four deaths and 26 injuries. The company also addressed that problem with an update to the device instructions, F.D.A. records show .

Impella heart pumps were first cleared for use in 2008, and their use was contested among cardiologists even before the recent spate of problematic reports. When the one model of the device was approved by the F.D.A. after additional review in 2015, company-sponsored studies found that 73 percent, or 44 of the 60 patients meeting the criteria for use, survived a month after the operation.

By 2022, a study mandated by the F.D.A. showed a similar outcome for 23 surviving patients in a group of 33. But of 70 other patients tracked in the same study, only 19 percent of them, or 13 people , survived a month after use of the Impella device.

The F.D.A. stood by the device but urged doctors not to use it in patients suffering from organ failure and major neurologic injury.

Impella devices have increasingly taken the place of intra-aortic balloon pumps, which were once used to pump blood through vessels of very sick patients and fell out of favor after a study in 2012 questioned their efficacy.

Yet several studies have since concluded that the Impella devices are associated with higher death rates than the balloon pumps — and with far more bleeding complications.

“When you go look at the quality of the evidence to support this device, it’s quite little to have for a high-risk device like this,” said Dr. Nihar Desai, the vice chief of cardiovascular medicine at Yale School of Medicine and an author of four studies on Impella devices.

The company has reported the benefits of deploying Impella devices in nonemergency procedures where doctors place stents, or tiny metal tubes, to open vessels near the heart. Other studies at a single hospital and with no comparison group have shown survival benefits.Supporters of the device say it can be helpful in certain patients.

Dr. Srihari S. Naidu, a professor of medicine at New York Medical College, said that Impella devices are valuable to have on hand. “The onus comes on us as physicians and the community to make sure that we’re approving the appropriate devices, we have enough evidence to support its use, that we use it in the areas where we have the most evidence and that we develop the skill set that keeps it safe,” he added.

Dr. Naidu said that he had not received funds from Abiomed.

Medicare pays hospitals about $71,000 each time the device is used on a patient. Medicare data for 2022, the most recent year available, shows that Abiomed spent $6.3 million on consulting, meals and research payments for doctors and grants of up to $50,000 to hospitals.

Those expenses were broken into about 24,000 payments, which were made to about 9,500 U.S. cardiologists who perform surgery. The company has made similar payments since at least 2016, spending $3.7 million to $7.5 million each year.

Johnson & Johnson MedTech bought Abiomed, which primarily sold Impella devices, in late 2022 for $16.6 billion. Johnson & Johnson reported $1.3 billion in sales of the devices for 2023 in a securities filing, largely driven by purchases of one Impella model listed in the recent alerts.

When reporting on outsize bleeding rates related to the Impella devices, Dr. Desai, of Yale, has also noted that its payments are far higher than the balloon pump, creating an urgent need for rigorous studies of how to best treat patients.

“You hate to think this is part of that story, but I think we would be naïve to think that that couldn’t be part of the story,” he said.

Christina Jewett covers the Food and Drug Administration, which means keeping a close eye on drugs, medical devices, food safety and tobacco policy. More about Christina Jewett

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