Doctor of Medicine (MD) — Queen’s University

Program status: Active

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score is required and must meet the annual threshold (not disclosed), but under the QARS system it functions only as a pass/fail gate. Once the threshold is met, a higher CASPer score provides no additional competitive advantage in the lottery. SpaceCat’s high CASPer virtually guarantees she clears the threshold, which is essential, but the score cannot offset a lower GPA the way it can at McMaster (where CASPer is 32% of the pre-interview formula). The CASPer advantage here is about reliably clearing the gate, not about gaining extra points.

2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the full cumulative undergraduate record (all courses). This is the least favorable window for incremental improvement. However, under QARS the GPA minimum of 3.0 is the only number that matters for the lottery stage. If SpaceCat’s GPA is at or above 3.0, she qualifies for the lottery on equal footing with every other qualified applicant. If her GPA is below 3.0, she needs to raise it above that threshold through additional undergraduate courses — all of which count. Post-degree courses are included. The cumulative nature means many courses would be needed to shift a sub-3.0 GPA above the threshold, but once 3.0 is reached, further GPA improvement provides no additional lottery advantage.

3. Experiential / written advantage: SpaceCat’s shelter work experience is directly relevant for the Autobiographical Sketch (top 3 activities highlighted in Employment and Volunteer categories) and the three Confidential Assessment Forms (which must address empathy, communication, and professionalism). More importantly, the interview stage (MMI + panel) is where SpaceCat’s experiential strengths would shine. The MMI assesses empathy, critical thinking, ethical decision making, and communication skills — all areas where shelter work provides rich, demonstrable experience. If SpaceCat clears the lottery and reaches the interview stage, her profile is well-suited to the qualities being assessed. The file review during the panel interview also considers the ABS, where shelter work can be prominently featured.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - Effective July 1, 2025, at least 95% of admissions reserved for Ontario residents. MD/PhD and MD/Master’s exempt. SpaceCat is an Ontario resident, so this is favorable. (). - Not identified — Queen’s MD tuition appears the same for all domestic Canadian students. ()

5. Overall assessment: Moderate fit — QARS lottery is a game-changer for lower-GPA applicants. Queen’s QARS system is uniquely favorable for SpaceCat’s profile. Unlike every other Canadian MD program where GPA is competitively scored, Queen’s treats GPA as pass/fail at 3.0. If SpaceCat meets the three thresholds (GPA 3.0, MCAT 500, CASPer pass), she enters the lottery with equal probability. The barriers are: (a) MCAT is required (unlike NOSM, Ottawa, or TMU), so she must prepare for and pass the MCAT; (b) the lottery is random — with 5,550 applicants and 512 interview spots (~9.2%), even qualifying applicants face long odds; (c) the average admitted GPA of 3.85 reflects the pool composition, not selection bias, since the lottery is random. SpaceCat should absolutely apply here if she meets the thresholds — the QARS system effectively neutralizes her GPA weakness at the pre-interview stage. The MCAT requirement is the main hurdle she must actively prepare for.

Quick Facts

• Institution: Queen’s University, School of Medicine (Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Program name: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Degree granted: MD
• City, Province: Kingston, Ontario (main campus); Oshawa, Ontario (Queen’s-Lakeridge Health satellite campus — 20 seats, family medicine stream)
• Program type: Standard (4-year MD)
• Duration: 4 years
• Delivery format: In-person
• Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
• Language of instruction: English
• Start date(s): August/September (Fall entry only)
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Application deadline(s): October 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM EST for Fall 2026 entry (OMSAS to receive application, transcripts, references, and payments). MCAT scores due by October 21, 2025. CASPer scores due by October 29, 2025. (Source)
• Application system: OMSAS (Ontario Medical School Application Service) via OUAC (Source)
• Application code: Queen’s University via OMSAS
• Supplementary application portal: None — all components submitted through OMSAS
• Program URL: https://meds.queensu.ca/academics/mdprogram
• Accredited: Yes — accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). Graduates are eligible for residency training across Canada and the US.

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (OMSAS conversion). This is a threshold, not a competitive target. (Source)
• Competitive GPA: Average accepted GPA is 3.85/4.0 (2026 entry cycle). GPA range of admitted students: 3.0-4.0. (Source)
• GPA calculated on: Cumulative GPA from ALL full-time, part-time, summer, and supplemental undergraduate courses. All years treated equally — no adjustments for course load or program. Current academic year (September-June) is excluded from calculation. Transfer credits count toward course requirements but NOT toward GPA. (Source)
• Number of credits in GPA window: All undergraduate courses — full cumulative undergraduate record. Minimum 20 half-courses or 10 full courses completed at time of application; minimum 30 half-courses or 15 full courses by June 30 of entry year. (Source)
• GPA scale used: 4.0 (OMSAS converted scale)
• Credit/No Credit courses: Maximum 2 credit/no credit academic components per year allowed for GPA eligibility (includes courses, labs, practicums, experiential learning). (Source)
• Do post-degree upgrading courses count? Yes — all undergraduate courses from recognized institutions are included, whether taken during or after a degree. Graduate-level courses and foreign exchange courses are excluded. (Source, Source — FAQ)
• Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? Not through a dedicated field. However, the Autobiographical Sketch and Confidential Assessment Forms provide some opportunity. The program explicitly states it does “not give preference based on: program choice, course levels, prerequisite courses, prior education level, university location, or demographic characteristics.” (Source — FAQ)

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required. Any undergraduate degree from any discipline is accepted. The program does not give preference based on program choice or course levels. (Source, Source — FAQ)

Prereq source URL: Eligibility & Application Process

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum credits / degree required: Minimum 30 half-courses (15 full courses) at the undergraduate level by June 30 of entry year. At time of application, minimum 20 half-courses (10 full courses) completed. No completed degree technically required — credit threshold is sufficient. (Source)
• Completed degree required? No — credit requirements can be met without a completed degree, though the vast majority of admitted students hold at least a bachelor’s degree (74% undergraduate, 24% master’s, 2% PhD for 2026 entry cycle). (Source)
• Degree field restrictions: Any field — no specific discipline required or preferred
• No course load requirements: “No requirements related to carrying a full course load.” (Source — FAQ)

Supplementary Requirements

• MCAT: Required. Minimum total score: 500. Minimum in each of the four sections: 125 (Biological and Biochemical Foundations, Chemical and Physical Foundations, Psychological/Social/Biological Foundations, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills). All thresholds must be achieved in one sitting — scores cannot be combined across attempts. Valid for 5 years from the application deadline. Unlimited retakes permitted. Competitive average for admitted students: 513 (2026 entry). (Source, Source — Admissions Statistics)
• CASPer: Required for all pathways except the Indigenous Student Admissions Pathway. Must complete “CSP-10211 — Canada Casper 2” version. CASPer threshold is determined annually and not disclosed. Separate fee paid to Acuity Insights. Must use current-cycle OMSAS reference number. (Source)
• Interview: Yes — combined format:
• MMI (Multiple Mini-Interview): Scenario-based stations assessing empathy, critical thinking, ethical decision making, communication skills.
• Panel interview: Additional file review and interview with panel.
• Virtual interviews only until further notice.
• Interviews typically January-March. Attendance mandatory; no rescheduling permitted. Confidentiality agreement required.
• 512 applicants were interviewed for the 2026 entry cycle out of 5,550 applications (~9.2% interview rate). (Source, Source — Admissions Statistics)
• Autobiographical Sketch (ABS): Required via OMSAS. Five categories: Employment, Volunteer Activities, Extra-Curricular Activities, Awards & Accomplishments, Publications & Research. Must identify top 3 activities in first three categories (maximum 9 total highlighted). Include year, description, location, and duration. Do not list high school activities unless continued into postsecondary. (Source)
• Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs): Three required:
• One academic or employment reference
• One non-academic reference
• One applicant’s choice
• Referees must have known applicant for minimum 6 months. Must address communication skills, problem-solving, professionalism, empathy, and areas for improvement. All three must be received by OMSAS deadline or application is disqualified. (Source)
• Language proficiency: TOEFL minimum 100 (internet or paper-based) if English is not native language. Exempt if studied 1+ year at an English-language university. (Source)
• Citizenship: Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person at the application deadline. Permanent residents must submit current PR card copy. (Source)
• Ontario residency (effective July 1, 2025): At least 95% of seats reserved for Ontario residents. MD/PhD and MD/Master’s programs are exempt from this requirement. (Source — FAQ)
• AI policy: Use of AI writing tools (ChatGPT, etc.) in the application constitutes a fraudulent application and will result in disqualification. (Source)

Written / Personal Components

How Applications Are Evaluated

Queen’s uses a distinctive Qualified Applicant Randomization Selection (QARS) system, introduced to create a more inclusive process and reduce systemic barriers (Source):

• Admission model: Staged — threshold screening, randomized lottery, then interview-weighted final ranking
• Step 1 — Minimum thresholds: GPA (3.0), MCAT (500 total, 125 per section), and CASPer (threshold determined annually, not disclosed). These are pass/fail thresholds, not competitive scores. “There is no weighting applied to the threshold criteria for the QARS selection.” (Source)
• Step 2 — Lottery (QARS): All qualified applicants who meet the minimum thresholds are entered into a random lottery. Those selected in the lottery are invited to the MMI. This replaces competitive scoring — meeting the threshold gives equal opportunity regardless of how far above the threshold you score. (Source, Source)
• Step 3 — MMI: Selected applicants complete scenario-based evaluations. (Source)
• Step 4 — Panel interview and file review: Top MMI candidates undergo panel interviews with additional file review. (Source)
• Step 5 — Final decision: Successful applicants are ranked by the Admissions Committee and offers are made based on the ranked list. (Source)
• Equity pathway in lottery: ~8% of lottery spots reserved for low-SES applicants (SAAP pathway). Low-SES applicants who are unsuccessful in the general draw enter a second lottery. Indigenous pathway applicants who are oversubscribed enter a separate lottery. (Source)

Critical implication of QARS for SpaceCat: Under the old system, a GPA of 3.85 was the admitted average because high-GPA applicants were scored higher. Under QARS, once SpaceCat meets the 3.0 GPA minimum, the 500 MCAT minimum, and the CASPer threshold, she has an equal chance of being selected in the lottery as someone with a 4.0 GPA and 528 MCAT. This fundamentally changes the calculus for applicants with lower-but-qualifying GPAs.

Admission Pathways

Six pathways (Source):

1. Kingston Campus (MD) — Standard pathway, 114 seats.
2. Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program — 20 seats at satellite campus in Durham Region (Oshawa). Family medicine-focused; students commit to family medicine career. Dedicated postgraduate Family Medicine Residency spots without CaRMS. (Source)
3. MD/PhD & MD/Master’s Combined Programs — ~3 seats annually. Exempt from 95% Ontario residency requirement.
4. Indigenous Student Admissions Pathway (ISAP) — Minimum 4 seats reserved. CASPer waived. Requires Indigenous ancestry declaration, community membership proof, community verifier. (Source)
5. Black Student Admissions Pathway (BSAP) — Optional pathway with supplementary personal essay. No designated quota. (Source)
6. Socioeconomic Accountability Admissions Pathway (SAAP) — 8% of MMI spots reserved for low-SES applicants eligible for AFMC Ontario Medical School Fee Waiver. (Source)
7. Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) — Up to 6 supernumerary seats for Canadian Forces members. Exempt from 95% Ontario residency requirement. (Source)

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: Effective July 1, 2025, at least 95% of admissions reserved for Ontario residents. MD/PhD and MD/Master’s exempt. SpaceCat is an Ontario resident, so this is favorable. (Source — FAQ)
• Residency definition: Applicants self-assess Ontario residency based on regulatory definition. (Source)
• Geographic origin of admitted students (2026): Ontario 75.9%, Western Provinces/Territories 17.6%, Quebec/Eastern Provinces 5.6%, Outside Canada 0.9%. (Source)
• Out-of-province tuition differential: Not identified — Queen’s MD tuition appears the same for all domestic Canadian students. (Source)
• Equity / priority seats: Indigenous Student Admissions Pathway (minimum 4 seats), Black Student Admissions Pathway (no quota), Socioeconomic Accountability Admissions Pathway (8% of MMI spots), MMTP (up to 6 supernumerary). (Source)

Cost

• Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$102,000-$105,000 over 4 years (domestic students). Based on ~$25,541/year.
• Annual tuition (domestic, 2025-2026): ~$25,541.14 per year. First-year students charged additional $100. (Source — BeMo, Source — Registrar)
• International students: ~$86,250/year tuition (moot — program is only for Canadian citizens/PRs). (Source — Shiksha)
• Application fees: OMSAS service fee + institutional fee. Ontario Medical School Application Fee Waiver Program available (saves ~$600 for eligible applicants). MCAT Fee Assistance Program available through AFMC. (Source)
• Financial aid: Details available through Queen’s Office of the University Registrar and School of Medicine Financial Resources page. (Source)
• Kingston cost of living: Mid-sized city (~130,000 population) — lower than Toronto, which helps offset tuition costs.

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: 108 total for 2026 entry (funded and supernumerary seats combined). Breakdown: 114 Kingston campus + 20 Lakeridge Health + up to 6 MMTP supernumerary = up to 140 seats total. (Source, Source — Admissions Statistics)
• Number of applicants: 5,550 for 2026 entry. (Source)
• Number of interviews: 512 (~9.2% of applicants). (Source)
• Acceptance rate: ~1.9% overall (108 from 5,550). ~21% of interviewed candidates receive offers.
• Average admitted GPA: 3.85/4.0. (Source)
• Average admitted MCAT: 513. (Source)
• Average age: 24 years. Age range: 19-44. (Source)
• Gender: Female 65%, Male 28%, Unreported 7%. (Source)
• Education level: Undergraduate 74%, Master’s 24%, PhD 2%. (Source)

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Placements guaranteed? Yes — clinical placements arranged by Queen’s School of Medicine.
• Total required hours: Standard MD clinical hours across clerkship rotations (Years 3-4).
• Placement settings / locations: Kingston-area hospitals (Kingston Health Sciences Centre is the primary teaching hospital), as well as regional sites in southeastern Ontario. Lakeridge Health campus students are placed primarily in Durham Region.
• Scheduling: Years 1-2 primarily classroom/small-group based. Years 3-4 clinical clerkship rotations.

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and Part II
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — CACMS-accredited MD degree recognized across Canada and in the US.
• Any known issues with credential recognition? None — full CACMS accreditation.
• Notable: Queen’s-Lakeridge Health graduates receive dedicated postgraduate Family Medicine Residency spots without going through CaRMS, under the authorization of the Queen’s Family Medicine Training Program. (Source)

Reputation & Notes

• Queen’s is a well-established, research-intensive medical school with a strong reputation in Canadian medicine
• The QARS (lottery) system is a recent and significant change that fundamentally alters the admissions dynamic — it is one of the most progressive admissions models in Canadian medicine, designed to reduce systemic barriers
• The Queen’s-Lakeridge Health Family Medicine Program (launched 2025) is the first program in Canada to offer a dedicated family medicine career track with guaranteed residency spots — an innovative model addressing the family physician shortage
• Kingston is a university town with a strong medical community, but smaller than major urban centres
• The 5,550 applicants for ~108 spots reflects extreme overall competitiveness, but the QARS lottery means the pre-interview competition is different from traditional programs
• Virtual interviews are used until further notice
• The program explicitly prohibits AI writing tool use in applications and considers it fraudulent

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with Queen’s:

1. CASPer threshold — the annual CASPer score threshold is not disclosed. SpaceCat should assume her high score clears it, but confirmation is impossible.
2. Exact lottery odds — how many applicants meet all three thresholds (GPA, MCAT, CASPer) and enter the lottery is not published. The 512 interview spots are allocated from this qualified pool, not from all 5,550 applicants.
3. Post-interview scoring formula — the relative weight of MMI performance, panel interview, file review, and ABS in the final ranking is not disclosed.
4. Whether the QARS system was used for 2026 entry or is being phased in — the “new admissions process” page describes it as a change, but the exact implementation timeline is not specified.
5. Lakeridge Health campus-specific admission requirements — whether the family medicine stream has different thresholds or additional requirements beyond the main campus.
6. Detailed ancillary fee breakdown — the registrar page did not provide medicine-specific ancillary fees.
7. Financial aid packages specific to MD students — bursaries, awards, or loan forgiveness programs.

Program contact: queensmd@queensu.ca — MD Program Admissions

Sources

Official program pages: - MD Program Admissions - Eligibility & Application Process - Methods of Selection - Admissions Statistics 2026 - Frequently Asked Questions - Admissions Pathways & Programs - New MD Program Admissions Process (QARS) - Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program - Financial Resources

Official fee/tuition pages: - Queen’s Tuition & Fees

Application system pages: - OMSAS — Queen’s University

Third-party / forum sources: - BeMo — Queen’s University School of Medicine: How to Get In - MedApplications — Queen’s Application Guide - Student Doctor Network — Queen’s University School of Medicine - Shiksha — Doctor of Medicine from Queen’s University