A Canadian Premed Talks About His Journey to Med School

Session 130

Today, I have an awesome guest and the first Canadian premed student to be interviewed on The Premed Years.

I got an email from a listener who got two acceptances in Canada and an interview at a U.S. school. A Canadian native, Darby shares with us his experience applying for medical school both in the U.S. and in Canada.

If you’re planning to apply to medical school in Canada or if you’re an international student planning to apply at U.S. medical schools, this episode will give you great insights for your med school journey.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

When Darby knew he wanted to go to med school:

Hands-on experience in biology in 10th grade
Started undergrad taking a B.S. in pharmacology

Being Premed in Canada:

Most students not knowing what to do right after high school
From 90% down to 10-15% staying at med school
The difference for in-province and out-of-province students

What premed advising is like in Canada:

Nothing!
No resources
No premed programs
The difficult of finding shadowing opportunities in Canada

What to do when you lack resources as a premed:

Look at the qualifications of the schools you’re applying to, as well as their statistics.
Visit the school and get the feel of it. Assess the mindset and values at the school.
Reach out to current medical students or those who are 3-4 steps ahead of where you are.
Go to the medical admissions office to ask for some advice or help.

Visit the medical schools you're most interested in, and get a feel for them. Assess the mindset and values at the school.Click To Tweet

Online resources for Canadian premeds:

MedEd Media podcasts
Student Doctor Network: Take the facts but leave the opinions
School’s websites

Darby’s biggest struggles as a Canadian premed:

Having the GPA to get in
Volunteering

Darby’s advice for premed volunteering:

Volunteer where your passion is
Quality over quantity
Commitment shows more than anything
Hospital vs. non-hospital

As a premed student, volunteer where your passion is.Click To Tweet

The story behind Darby’s gap years before medical school:

Initially not knowing what to do
Joining the corporate world
Reaching maturity

Applying at U.S. medical schools as an international student:

MSAR as his lifeline
Creating a giant spreadsheet for all U.S. medical schools comparing everything
Apply early

Some pieces of advice for premed students:

Focus, focus, focus. Do not have a backup plan.
Apply early, and do not procrastinate.
Talk to people already there, and look at their mindset.
Don’t worry. Don’t compare yourself with others.
Instead of focusing on becoming a physician, focus on becoming the best you! Do what makes you happy.