Montreal, QC
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 11% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.7
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 102 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (61%)
Negatively (10%)
No change (29%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (17%)
Good (56%)
Average (28%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally described the MD/PhD interviews at McGill as straightforward, with a focus on autobiographical information and motivations for the program. They appreciated the friendly interviewers and conversational tone, though some felt the interviews were impersonal or challenging.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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MD/PhD interviewers had a long day, with 2 30 minute interviews in the morning and 2 45 minute interviews with the program director and a former program director in the afternoon. These interviews were very straightforward, and they wanted to know that you had some direction and were clear about your motivations and really wanted MD/PhD. In the morning interviews, I was asked a lot of questions from my autobio and CV, one interview was very casual and one was trying to assess my level of involvement in most of the activities I was involved with. Overall it was very positive, and I came out of each interview feeling good.
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This was for the Med-P program at McGill. Overall, it was a very good experience. They were very friendly but since they are like this with everyone, it is difficult to tell whether you impressed them or not.
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Well organized. There are two separate 30 minute interviews. Other interviewees were kind and pleasant to talk to. I think there were organized tours but they took place later in the day.
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Great experience, great school.
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It was a really long day, but the school and the people were really nice. The interviews were pretty straight forward, just asking questions about my autobiographical letter. Be prepared for a lot of waiting around between your two interviews because they don't give you much to do.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
34 Minutes Average
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Number:
2 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
100% One-on-One
0% Group Interview
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File Type:
90% Open-File
10% Closed-File
McGill-FOM-COMP interviews are an average of 34 minutes, with an average of 2 interviews. 100% of interviews are one-on-one, and 10% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about where applicants see themselves in the future, their motivations for pursuing medicine and specific specialties, their views on healthcare issues, as well as their experiences demonstrating empathy, communication skills, and leadership capabilities. Some respondents mentioned questions about the MMI format, nondisclosure agreements, and unique scenarios related to ethics and community involvement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Where do you see yourself in X years?
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What did you think of the students who gave the presentation, they were dressed so informally while you weren't? What does empathy mean to you?
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What kind of specialty would you like to do?
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Direct from sketch (work)
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Explain [particular activity/event] in your essay. (I got a lot of these questions)
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at McGill University Faculty of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including ethical dilemmas, healthcare issues, personal values, and hypothetical scenarios like accidentally causing harm to a patient. Some responses hinted at an MMI format and possible nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions asked.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What was the last movie you saw?
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When was the last time you cried?
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Have you ever had to report something to an authority about someone who was acting in an unethical or unlawful manner?
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Some quality of life and euthanasia questions.
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What are three major issues in healthcare (in north american and globally)
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reading extensively on healthcare, ethics, and current affairs, practicing mock interviews with friends and advisors, revisiting their personal statements, and researching the school and its curriculum. Many also emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date with news and healthcare issues, as well as engaging in discussions with peers to prepare for potential questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Forums, feedback, practice with friends, med students.
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Mock interviews with a friend, CAPS, practiced/researched lots of interview questions, watched the news, read about ethical situations
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Read the newspaper, Time magazine, Ethics in Canadian Health Care textbook, mock interviews, etc.
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Read a little bit about the school, faculty. What was new in the province, city.
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Kept up with the news, read ethics books, mock interviews with career advisor and friends
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult questions asked at McGill University Faculty of Medicine discussed a range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, compassion, healthcare issues, personal weaknesses, and hypothetical medical scenarios. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, with questions focusing on ethics, personal experiences, and decision-making, potentially subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is your response to people who say that all use of animals in experiments is wrong, and that weighing the pros and cons shouldn't even enter into it?
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How would you improve the long waiting times in clinics, and how would you address the families who are waiting?
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What does compassion mean to you?
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What do you think about cosmetic dermatology and the doctors who pursue it?
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No really difficulty questions. The question above was probably the most difficult. no ethics questions
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere during interviews, the enthusiasm and support shown by current students, the informative presentations, the focus on hands-on training, and the efforts made to keep the interview process low-stress and engaging. Additionally, the beautiful campus, the diverse and international student body, and the city of Montreal were highlighted as positive aspects of the experience.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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One of the interviewers was from outside the faculty of medicine. People really got into my personal statement and my motivations.
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Good presentation by the students.
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The kindness of the interviewers.
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Admissions people were extremely friendly and well organized. I had some friends who gave me a tour. Everything put me at ease.
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Great school, dean's presentations were informative, great food
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of interaction with current medical students, outdated facilities, long waiting times between interviews, unengaging presentations, and the absence of tours or information sessions during their visit to the school. Suggestions include incorporating more student interactions, updating facilities, shortening waiting times, improving presentation quality, and providing informative tours to enhance the overall interview experience.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Despite what they tell you that day, not every interview is easy going. I had a lot of ethical questions in my first interview, (however the second one was very relaxed).
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I was there from 830-4 for two 30 minutes interviews.
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Nothing. The school/faculty/city are amazing.
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No tours but I attended this school for undergrad therefore already knew the campus well
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Nothing in particular, but I would have liked to visit one of the hospitals while I was there.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known ahead of time about the lack of emphasis on grades during interviews, the hilly campus, the amount of waiting during interview day, the transitioning teaching methods, the importance of personal statements, and the limited out-of-province Canadian seats available. They also noted the need for better preparation for standard interview questions and the potential for getting lost in the metro stations.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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That the interviewers do not know our grades.
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How hilly the campus is. Streets go up and down at 45 degree angles.
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Nothing except that there would be a lot of waiting during interview day and that the interviews were really low stress
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Nothing.
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How I overprepared and really shouldn't have been as stressed out as I was
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office improve response times, noting that delays were likely due to temporary staffing shortages.
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They were a bit slow to respond, but I understand this was because they were temporarily short staff
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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YUL
75% interviewees used YUL (YUL), with 25% using DOR (DOR).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by train or subway to the interview.
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24% Airplane
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12% Automobile
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59% Train or Subway
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6% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Holiday Inn - Midtown (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at Hotel Manoir Ambrose (average rating 9/10). (Top 2 displayed)
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Holiday Inn - Midtown
10/10
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Hotel Manoir Ambrose
9/10
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.7
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 102 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Friends or family or with friends or family.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (6%)
Other (6%)
Student (88%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (75%)
Neutral (25%)
All Responses
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