Check out our full OMSAS guide here that covers all parts of the OMSAS application!
The Importance of Medical School Essays
Medical school admissions essays are an integral part of the application process for aspiring medical students. They provide applicants with an opportunity to showcase their unique experiences, insights into the medical profession, and suitability for medical school. In Ontario, only three medical schools require personal essays as part of their OMSAS application, namely the University of Toronto (UofT), University of Western Ontario (UWO), and Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM).
We have a full UofT essays guide that you can check out by clicking here!
Despite being a requirement for only a select few schools, they are a heavy part of your application score, and greatly affect your admission into these institutions. The UofT, UWO, and NOSM admissions committees rely heavily on these personal essays to gain a deeper understanding of the applicant beyond their grades, test scores, and autobiographical sketch (ABS). Well-written, meaningful essays can make a significant impact on the perception of the applicant’s qualifications, allowing their communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and passion for medicine to be better assessed.
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Before Writing Your OMSAS Essays
Before you even begin to write your OMSAS essays, there are a few important steps you should take, as well as a few common mistakes to avoid.
Do: Research the School and Program
When it comes to writing a successful medical school essay, one crucial tip is to research the school and program thoroughly. Each medical school has specific attributes, achievements, and values that they are looking for in their applicants. By conducting thorough research, you can tailor your essay(s) to showcase how your experiences align with the school’s mission and values.
For example, the UofT MD program states on its website that it evaluates applicants according to four clusters of attributes, activities, and achievements: (1) Professional, (2) Communicator/Collaborator/Manager, (3) Advocate, and (4) Scholar. When writing your UofT MD essays, it is important to highlight life experiences that demonstrate these four clusters.
💡Pro Tip: We recommend having a checklist with the four clusters as you are reviewing your essays. This way, you can check off each cluster as it is touched on in the essay.
Source: https://applymd.utoronto.ca/non-academic-requirements
Don’t: Rely on Generic Ideals and Cliches
It is crucial to avoid relying on generic ideals and cliches. These overused and unoriginal concepts do not effectively showcase your unique qualities and extracurricular experiences. Admissions committees receive countless applications with the writing demonstrating ideals like “helping others” or “making a difference.” While these are certainly admirable goals, they do not demonstrate the specific ways in which you have taken action or the impact you have made.
💡Pro Tip: Instead, try listing specific examples and personal anecdotes from your life to demonstrate your individuality and the unique strengths and skills you can bring to the medical profession. These impactful experiences can include moments of triumph, challenges overcome, or significant personal insights that have shaped your journey towards medicine. These personal anecdotes will make your application more memorable and impactful.
Do: Brainstorm Ideas and Write an Outline
Brainstorming can be an effective way to generate ideas and give yourself a starting point. The following are some techniques that can help you generate ideas and get your creative juices flowing:
- Freewriting: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and allow yourself to write continuously without worrying about grammar, structure, or coherence. Write down anything that comes to mind related to the essay prompt/question and your experiences, values, or motivations for pursuing medicine. This is essentially an opportunity to “brain dump” on paper!
- Mind Mapping: Start by writing the essay prompt or question in the center of a blank page. Then, branch out and jot down related ideas or experiences. This visual representation can help you see connections between different aspects of your life and identify unique and compelling stories to include in your essay.
- Listing Key Experiences: Make a list of significant experiences, both personal and professional, that have shaped your journey towards medicine. Include achievements, challenges, or moments of growth. This list can serve as a reference point when crafting your essay.
Once you have generated ideas, it’s crucial to organize them into a clear and coherent structure.
💡Pro tip: We recommend creating an outline. This can help you create a roadmap for your essay and ensure that you address all of the necessary points while maintaining a cohesive and compelling narrative that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged.
Don’t: Dive Right Into Writing
It is absolutely crucial to resist the urge to dive right into writing. Instead, take the time to brainstorm ideas and create an outline before starting the actual writing process. By giving yourself the space to brainstorm, you allow yourself the opportunity to reflect on your experiences, values, and motivations for pursuing medicine. This reflection can lead to deeper insights and a more thoughtful approach to crafting your essay.
💡Pro Tip: Start the process early! This gives you the opportunity to discuss the essay prompts and your ideas with others. Having conversations with mentors, advisors and peers can help you gain a different perspective, which can guide your writing to be well-rounded and compelling.
Writing Your OMSAS Essays
Once you’ve done your research into the program you’re applying to and have taken the time to brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay, it’s time to begin writing.
Do: Craft a Compelling Narrative
One of the most effective ways to craft a compelling narrative is by sharing personal experiences and reflections that have led to your desire to pursue a career in medicine. By emphasizing the emotional and impactful aspects of these experiences, you can create a connection with the person that is rating your essay, and ultimately the admissions committee.
When discussing these moments, it’s important to also explain how they have shaped your understanding of the medical profession. Remember to demonstrate your insight into the challenges and rewards of a career in healthcare and show how these experiences have influenced your decision to pursue medicine.
💡Pro Tip: A personal essay that features a narrative is more engaging than an essay consisting of discrete points. Use vivid descriptions and heartfelt anecdotes to captivate the reader’s attention and make your essay memorable.
Don’t: Overuse Buzzwords
While there may be a temptation to sprinkle your essay with buzzwords in an attempt to impress the admissions committee, it is important to remember that genuine and meaningful content is what truly matters. The overuse of buzzwords can make your essay come across as insincere and may actually detract from the impact you’re trying to make. Instead, focus on conveying your thoughts and experiences in a genuine manner.
Share personal insights and reflections that showcase your unique perspective and passion for medicine. Discuss the moments that have had a profound impact on your understanding of the medical profession, and explain how these experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a career in healthcare.
💡Pro Tip: Common buzzwords include “collaborate”, “persevere” and “advocate”. Try to brainstorm ways of demonstrating these qualities without explicitly writing them out. It is also important to touch on the CanMEDS roles in your writing.
Do: Demonstrate Your Insight Into the Medical Profession
The admissions committee is eager to understand how your personal experiences have shaped your perception of the medical profession and field. To effectively showcase your insight, draw on specific instances where you have observed or interacted with healthcare professionals. Discuss how these encounters have provided you with a firsthand understanding of the challenges, rewards, and complexities inherent to the profession.
Reflect on the knowledge you have gained from these encounters and explain how it has influenced your decision to pursue a career in medicine. Articulate how these insights have deepened your passion for healthcare and your dedication to making a positive impact in the field.
💡Pro Tip: Outline how you plan to apply the insights that you have gained through your various interactions in your future practice. Whether it’s through adopting a patient-centred approach, advocating for health equity, or promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, make sure to explicitly showcase how your insight will shape your professional endeavours.
Don’t: Overlook Some Parts of the Prompt
Medical school essay prompts can contain multiple components; when writing your essay, it is crucial not to overlook any part of the essay prompt. Overlooking parts of the prompt may result in an incomplete or disjointed essay, which can negatively impact the overall impression you make on the admissions committee. Each part of the prompt is included for a reason, and by addressing all aspects of the prompt, you show your attention to detail and ability to follow directions.
💡Pro Tip: We suggest thoroughly reviewing the prompt in your “brainstorming phase” to ensure that you are addressing all of the components of the question. Make sure to pay attention to specific keywords or phrases and consider how different parts of the prompt relate to each other. This will allow you to structure your essay effectively so that you cover all of the required points.
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Refining Your OMSAS Essays
Once you’ve finished the first draft of your essay, the next step is refining it until you have a final copy that you feel confident submitting.
Do: Make Several Rounds of Edits
When it comes to editing, it’s essential to do multiple rounds of edits to ensure your essay is the best it can be. Making several passes at your essay allows you to catch any grammatical or spelling errors that may have been missed initially. In addition to checking for errors, evaluate the organization and flow of your essay. Ensure there is a logical progression of ideas and that each paragraph or section connects smoothly to the next. This will help your essay read coherently and effectively convey your message to the admissions committee.
💡Pro Tip: Spread these rounds of edits over a long period of time. This allows you to approach your essay with a fresh perspective every time and gives you several opportunities to catch any areas that need improvement.
Don’t: Edit Just by Yourself
Editing your own work can be a challenging task. This is why seeking outside assistance is crucial when evaluating and refining your essay. Arguably the most significant benefit of this is that it helps clarify your writing. The input from mentors, peers, or professionals in the field can help identify any areas where your message may not be effectively conveyed.
They can provide valuable insights on structuring your essay to create a logical progression of ideas and ensuring each section smoothly connects to the next. Moreover, having a fresh set of eyes to review your essay is invaluable. After investing a significant amount of time and effort into your writing, it’s easy to overlook errors or areas that require improvement. These outside perspectives can catch mistakes you may have missed and identify areas where your essay can be strengthened.
💡Pro Tip: When seeking assistance, consider approaching medical students who have gone through the application process, mentors with expertise in medical school admissions, friends who have a strong grasp of writing, or even doctors who understand the profession firsthand.
Conclusion
Writing compelling essays for the OMSAS applications is crucial for showcasing your unique experiences and attributes to the admissions committee. By following these key “do’s and don’ts”, you can craft OMSAS essays that stand out in the highly competitive application process. The investment of time and effort in the essay-writing process is well worth it, as a well-written and meaningful essay will make a lasting impression on the admissions committee, regardless of where you are applying.
The AcceptedTogether team wishes you luck with your OMSAS medical school essays! If you require help with editing your essays or wish to consult with someone regarding what to write about, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our consultants by clicking here. Our consultants can give you a second opinion as people who have been through the process already and help you present your best and most authentic self in your essays. Good luck! You got this!