rejected

[dissappointed]

I just would like to comment on how arbitrary Ottawa's selection process is. This is my second year applying to meds and I had an interview at Ottawa last year. I basically submitted the same application this year with the addition of another summer research job and my fourth year honour's research project but this time I was rejected. If anything, being a year older and having more research experience should have made my application better. There are only two explanations I can think of as to why I was rejected: 1) the applicant pool's detailed autobiographical sketches this year are far superior to last year's and compared to this year's sketches mine was not up to par or 2) they remembered me from last year and really hated me so the blacklisted me (although I didn't think my interview was that bad!).

If anyone has any comments please let me know.

Also, my grades are not an issue-I made the grade cutoffs this year too.

[given up]

I have yet to receive a rejection letter from them although they promised to. I have great MCAT 36/45 and 4.0 GPA and lots of life experience stuffs. I guess I will just have to be satisfied with the other 5 interviews I got.

[heyheyhey]

My mcats are not as high as you and my GPA is a bit lower and I got an interview. 33/45 T, and 3.8. But I have TONS of extracurriculars. I think ottawa looks at the types of extracurriculas. For example alot of people have research and clubs but not alot of jobs. Also, I worked 30 hrs per week and got this gpa. I think that probably counted for something. I think they look at that, they want to see who can achieve high grades with other commitments. Also they judge you 50% extra 50 % grades so for the guy who made the cutoffs, that doesnt matter people could have had better grades this year.
Later Good luck all :) :) :) ( I like happy faces)

[just listening]

I did not think that Ottawa looked at MCATs. My scores were pretty dismal 28/35 but I got an interview. If it make you guys feel any better I definitely did not pass that interview (more my fault than that of the interviewers), but good luck next year if you don't get in at other places

[heyheyhey]

Hi, I am interested to know why you think your interview didnt go so well. I also think my interview didnt go well and would be interested to hear what "potentialy" went bad in other peoples interviews. It may help the healing process to talk :)

[tutifruiti]

Everybody have different standards. I believe mine went well but my interviewers may not have had the same impression. I wasn't stressed at all, but it's possible that the adcom didn't think so. Acing an interview is also a question of luck, ei the questions the adcoms with ask you. In my case they didn't asked me about my oversea trip in the 3rd world country, but did ask about some volunteer work I did 2 years ago which I considered as a much less significative experience... anyway... I just hope they read my whole sketch!!!!!!! There are so many things we did not discuss!!! (o.

Sorry for people who didn't get the interview, your chance will come.

Sorry for my poor English, i'm a francophone

[aa]

tutufruiti,
I'm a francophone as well and i felt my interview went poorly! I agree with you that they didn't at all discuss anything that i deemed significant on my autobiographical sketch!! they seemed to concentrate on the "stupid" stuff if you will. Also, i really never had the opportunity to integrate the important stuff into our conversation. They would ask about small accomplishments instead of the large scale ones...

déçu...

[just listening]

Yes I guess I need some healing too heyheyhey. I think it did not go well because I did not talk to much about my strengths (I froze on that one). As well I did not think that I walked them through my decision making for the ethical dilemma (I just gave them an answer). And finally when they asked me about my work in groups I did not give any examples on how I actually did perform those skills. I think they interviewers could have said give me an example and I could have given them one without them asking. As well they did not ask about my travelling, or any of the volunteer work that I considered worth while thy just focused on the volunteer work that I did that was cliche and that every other applicant probably has. All in all I was disappointed but I hope this experience helps for my next interview.

[TimmyMax]

Hey guys,

Keep your chins up- your interviews probably went a lot better than you all think they did; we are, after all, our own worst critics.
One question- what do the interviewers have of your submission when you walk in? I've gathered that they have your OMSAS autobiographical sketch, but do they have your Ottawa Detailed Sketch as well? Did they ask current events and ethical questions as well?
The last time I checked, Ottawa didn't even consider MCAT scores; I have to agree that having strong extracurriculars is an asset with this school in particular- hooray! That's how I figure that I got an interview.
Oh well, I guess my turn will come to sit in the hotseat and as they say, dinner will be served. Thanks a lot for your help!

Best of luck!

Tim

[just listening]

They have your detailed Ottawa sketch. They will ask you to pick one news item that you have been following, so pick something that you know lots about. Good luck !

[heyheyhey]

One thing that was kind of annoying in the interview was the number of open ended questions. I found I couldnt understand where the interviewers wanted me to take the answers despite the follow up questions. Oh well...maybe next year

[maxell]

Selection for an interview depends on the candidate pool for that current year. It could be very well that some aspect of your application did not make the cut-off this year

[Registrar]

If you have a perfect GPA and tons of EC stuff as you say, than I'm guessing one of your references wrote something bad because Ottawa & Toronto are the only schools that look at reference letters before inviting you for an interview. Other school look at the reference letters after they've interviewed.

[heyheyhey]

Ottawa looks at letters of references before inviting for an interview? This is news to me can some one confirm it.