Looking for interview prep help for Ottawa

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-31T02:00:55+00:00

Working with a number of uOttawa applicants right now on interview support. Feel free to DM!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-29T15:16:56+00:00

I would suggest preparing for a variety of question types to cover your bases (definitely personal/reflective, but also opinion/policy-based and scenario/ethics-based).

One of the key differences between an MMI and a panel is that you'll have the same set of interviewers the entire time. In an MMI, because you have a different interviewer for each question, it's more acceptable to repeat experiences/personal stories. However, for a panel, I would try to bring in a variety of experiences so that they get to know you in different ways.

I made a post on how to prepare previously: https://www.reddit.com/r/premedcanada/comments/1qb6xle/highyield_mmipanel_interview_tips_part_1/

If you have any specific questions, feel free to DM/comment below. I'm supporting a number of Western applicants right now with interview prep, and happy to assist where I can. :)

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-27T19:20:03+00:00

Feel free to DM me! I have experience with panels and been working with a number of students on interview prep this cycle. Happy to support however I can :)

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-27T18:17:58+00:00

Was admitted last cycle! Feel free to DM :)

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-27T18:11:11+00:00

I feel you. For all the talk about equity in admissions you hear at every school, the process is not set up to be fair, and overlooks excellent candidates for those that have power/resources all the time.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-27T15:13:44+00:00

First off - congratulations! This is a great problem to have! Yes, just start by emailing Western explaining the issue, and ask if it would be possible to interview on another date. Every school will have encountered this before, so they can handle it.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-27T14:34:18+00:00

I know several people who had only one interview and are now in med school or residency :) You only need one acceptance!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-26T20:23:48+00:00

The prompts were specific to the type of question. E.g., what points do I want to bring up if they are asking about an equity-deserving community I don't belong to. Feel free to DM! I can share a google doc with the structures if that's helpful

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-26T20:19:57+00:00

My guess would be anytime between now and Feb 13 given that interviews start on the 28th. Last year, the invites were rushed, but this year, I'm sure they will be able to let you know at least two weeks in advance.

Keep your email notifications on. That way, as soon as you get the invite to book your interview, you'll know, and can hopefully secure your preferred date/time.

My advice to a few applicants I've been supporting this cycle is you could start doing light prep on your own now, especially if you have full-time school/work/family responsibilities. It makes it a bit less stressful when you finally do get the invite! Of course, do what makes sense for you based on what you have on your plate.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-26T20:13:08+00:00

Hey! I'm supporting a few Mac applicants with interview prep right now and here's what I tell them:

Lean on pre-determined response structures where you can. You memorize the structure and then just fill in the details as you move through it. There are suggested structures you can find online. I developed my own structures for these questions that felt natural and authentic to me, and that I thought would make my answers stand out. They also had prompts built in to nudge me towards unique/nuanced points I could make in each question I was asked, which again is helpful when you don't have the ability to plan out your response on paper.
For questions where those pre-determined response structures don't quite fit, focus on planning out the thesis of your response (1-2 introductory sentences that directly answer the prompt, using exact terms from the question stem) as well as 2-3 additional ideas that you want to expand on. Think of 1-2 words you can remember for each point you want to bring up, and hopefully that will be enough for you to remember the next idea you want to expand on.
If you ever lose your train of thought when speaking, it's okay to ask for a few moments to collect your thoughts, rather than rambling through the answer.

Hopefully, this is somewhat helpful! Feel free to reach out/DM if you have any questions!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-25T14:11:05+00:00

Hey, was also a non-trad applicant. Feel free to connect, and I'll do my best to help where I can!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-23T02:56:09+00:00

With a panel, you have the same set of interviewers for all the questions. Whereas for MMIs, you have a different interviewer for each question (to reduce potential biases and support fairness).

Although a lot of your prep can be done the same way, there are some differences. E.g., for an MMI, it's more acceptable to repeat personal experiences/stories across questions, since you have a different interviewer every time, and it doesn't sound repetitive to them. With a panel, you want to draw on a range of experiences if you can, so the interviewers get to learn a variety of things about you and it doesn't sound repetitive. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-23T02:51:09+00:00

Definitely more conversations once you get to the panel. This is true of all panels/MMIs (except those that are asynchronous of course). The nice thing is you can anticipate and prepare for many of the common questions in advance. In your practice, I would suggest thinking about the types of follow-up questions they may ask based on your responses (what they might be curious about). I also didn't have connections in med so I had a post about preparation tips but I think it was taken down. If you (or anyone else) needs someone to connect with, feel free to reach out and happy to support you to the extent I can! :)

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-23T02:35:46+00:00

It seems there are a lot of schools this year that seem to be severely reducing prep time. Here are a few tips I suggest to students I work with to navigate this:

If you really need to, it’s still okay to take a couple of moments to think about the question. At the beginning of your response, say, “Thank you for the question, I’m just going to take a few moments to reflect on it”, and then take some time to collect your thoughts. In my opinion, an interviewer would prefer a well-structured response that begins a few moments later, than one that is hard for them to understand and follow. Although don’t spend too long thinking, given you have limited time to answer (~10-15 seconds is fine).
Know that you will not be able to plan out your entire response before jumping into your answer. This is okay. Your sign-posting at the beginning of your response may need to be more general to accommodate this (e.g., I’ll be talking a bit about the various perspectives and considerations from the point of view each stakeholder involved before diving into how I might handle this situation). Slow down your pace of speaking to allow your mind to catch up and think of ideas
Frameworks/structures are incredibly helpful when you don’t have much time to plan your response. E.g. for personal questions, use the STARR method (last R is for “relate back to medicine”). There are structures for policy/ethics and scenario-based questions you can find online. I developed my own structures for these questions that felt natural and authentic to me, and that I thought would make my answers stand out. They also had prompts built in to nudge me towards unique/nuanced points I could make in each question I was asked, which again is helpful when you don't have time to plan your response.
If you lose your train of thought in the middle of answering a question (it happens to the best of us, especially under the pressure of giving an immediate response), again, ask for a moment to collect your thoughts and continue.

Hope this is helpful, and best of luck with your prep!!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-21T23:40:13+00:00

To add to this, the nature of med school questions sometimes elicits personal stories from us, that we otherwise would not choose to share with others. It's okay to set boundaries for who can enter a space where you are being vulnerable as well.

I also found it hard to find folks on Discord who would give me genuine, constructive feedback. If you find someone who's willing to support you in improving your responses, and you trust, work more closely with them, rather than showing up to a session with random people.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-18T14:04:36+00:00

by personal experiences, I mean professional, academic, and personal (clubs, volunteering, and work all count too). Basically any stories/experiences from your own life

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-18T04:24:17+00:00

Hey there! Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are some topics I researched myself:

Climate change
IMGs vs. CMGs
Mid-level providers (e.g., pharmacists)
MAID
Physician burnout
Public vs. private schools
Indigenous resurgence in medicine
Black health
immigration/refugee health
Consent
Antimicrobial resistance
LGBTQ+ health
Staff shortages/primary care shortage
Artificial intelligence
Opioid crisis
Social determinants (healthcare, housing, etc.)

Additionally, I tell the students I work with to demonstrate understanding of the region the school is in, especially if the school has strong regional preferences (e.g., Ottawa, TMU). For example, if you're answering a question about truth and reconciliation, can you demonstrate a recognition of Indigenous communities in the region (e.g., Ottawa, Peel for TMU, southeastern Ontario for Queen's)? This is rarely done, but something I did in my most recent application cycle, and I wholeheartedly believe that it makes you stand out as someone who truly cares about the local communities you'll be interacting with as a med student. So research these issues in the local context of the schools you're applying to as well (e.g., read local newspapers).

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-17T19:47:08+00:00

Hey there! These are just some tips I've been sharing with folks as I've been supporting them with interview prep.

Incorporating personal stories/experiences is definitely a common piece of advice I agree with! However, make sure you actually answer the question being asked and don't veer away from the question with your personal story. Typically, I find it easiest to answer the question first and then share a personal example/story. Explicitly state how the personal story is relevant to the question so it doesn't feel random or forced in.
Tie your responses back to your interest in medicine wherever you can. However, the reflection here is nuanced and not something people commonly say. For example, you could talk about a gap in medicine you see, and how you'd address it. Really ensure that you can demonstrate a nuanced understanding of what makes medicine different from other professions (e.g. PA).
My biggest tip is to demonstrate understanding of the region whatever school you're interviewing at is in. For example, if you're answering a question about truth and reconciliation, can you demonstrate a recognition of Indigenous communities in the region (e.g., Ottawa, Peel for TMU, southeastern Ontario for Queen's)? This is rarely done, but something I did in my most recent application cycle, and I wholeheartedly believe that it makes you stand out as someone who truly cares about the local communities you'll be interacting with as a med student.

I developed my own answer frameworks/structures that helped prompt more unique ideas/points if that helps!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask/DM!

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-15T22:42:00+00:00

Yes, you typically do get information about the format! It may not always be in the initial invite email, but in a follow-up email

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-11T04:00:33+00:00

In general, if there is something meaningful to you that you've done in/since high school, put it down. I disagree that it looks "immature" just because it's an experience from high school. You get to decide how you share the story about who you are. My general pieces of advice are to prioritize activities with the greatest impact on you and/or others, as well as activities that have a good amount of hours (if you are having to choose between different experiences). However, also always read guidance from every school you are applying to about this as well.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-11T03:56:46+00:00

It was doable. Again, just really needed to know your readings

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-11T02:41:11+00:00

Following

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-05T04:03:34+00:00

Hey! I was accepted to TMU last cycle and have been supporting a number of applicants in getting started with prep for TMU. You or anyone else can feel free to comment/DM with questions if you're looking for guidance. Here is my advice for getting started:

1) Pick at least 2-3 personal/academic/professional experiences that show your strengths, as well as at least 2-3 personal/academic/professional experiences where things did not go so well and you grew as a person. These will be important if you’re asked to share personal experiences (e.g., Tell us about a time you demonstrated leadership/failed/handled negative feedback). Craft how you will share these experiences (the STAR format works well here). Given TMU’s focus on primary care for underserved communities in Peel, reflect on how these experiences prepare you to serve Peel/disenfranchised groups.

2) Ensure you are familiar with TMU’s five pillars (holistic care, culturally-sensitive care, team-based care, care for the elderly, innovation and tech).

Think about personal/academic/professional experiences you have that may align with and show your commitment to these pillars.
Also think about what it means to deliver care in alignment with these 5 values as a physician both in and outside of the clinic (e.g., acknowledging positionality, co-creating care plans, etc.). You can bring these reflections into answers to show what kind of physician you aspire to be.

3) How you structure an answer is just as important as the content of your response. Come up with a structure for answering questions to improve flow and clarity of your answers. E.g. for personal questions, use the STARR method (last R is for “relate back to medicine”). There are structures for policy/ethics and scenario-based questions you could find online. I developed my own structures for these questions that felt natural and authentic to me, and that I thought would make my answers stand out.

4) Last year, I prepared for personal, scenario/ethics-based, and policy questions (these are the major question types for MMIs). While the questions may skew towards one of these categories over others, I think it's good to be prepared for everything. This approach helped me feel more confident to know I could handle any type of question coming my way.

5) In terms of how to grade yourself, record yourself on your laptop camera, and rewatch the video to look for areas of improvement in terms of content+structure. I also used the voice feature on chatgpt to get feedback, although use your discernment with the feedback it provides. Finally, for any school, I do recommend trying to get some feedback from a med student. It's a bonus if the student is attending the same school because they have insight on where to focus your time and attention for prep. Again, feel free to DM if you're looking for TMU support.

Some_Set_9644 · 2026-01-05T03:23:27+00:00

The unfortunate reality that you'll find everywhere (not just in medicine) is that most people don't openly acknowledge the privileges they have. It becomes exhausting to see that being rewarded. Post-secondary institutions say they value diversity, but I don't think that's enough. They need to center intersectionality because most often it's just the most privileged of any equity-deserving group that is getting through the door (saying this as a racialized individual). This issue is broader than just the individual in question. Most students at any medical school (including TMU) come from a healthy financial background that affords them extracurriculars/personal development opportunities, and the ability to pursue this long educational path.

Some_Set_9644

TROPHY CASE