University of Toronto Application Thread

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Hey motziyu,

Sorry, this is my first time too haha. The only advice I can give is to be familiar with pharmacy background and maybe potential subjects of controversy or discussion (e.g. what do you think about the movement to give pharmacists limited ability to proscribe certain medications?). This way you'll have more background knowledge to draw upon if any pharmacy specific situations pop up. But with an MMI, honestly they can concoct any situation they want. Like maybe, on an exam you see someone who is writing with what appears to be notes i.e. you suspect them of cheating. What do you do?

Don't be afraid to think outside the box. If it's a problem solving situation try to come up with more than just the standard response. If I were the examiner who had to sit through endless rotations and someone gave me an out of the box (but logically deduced) answer I'd rank them higher, just my 2 cents.

I don't know how easy it is, but try to figure out what they are trying to test you on. As in the exam cheater example, maybe they're testing your academic honesty/integrity? (<- it's probably never this obvious). Anyways, if you get a sense at what they're trying to test for you can cater your response to address that.

Also, don't be afraid to verbalize your reasoning. Quite often we do all of the logical thinking in the head and just give a response. The examiner can't read your mind so something logical to you may not be obvious to them. Just like how showing your work can net you part marks on an exam, verbalizing your logic and only help you. If your response is flawed because of an incorrect assumption the examiner will at least know how you reached the conclusion and see that you did in fact deduce your response logically. Heck, they may even prompt you by pointing out the mistaken assumption.

Everyone says this and it's common sense. Don't panic and lock up! Sometimes in the heat of the moment you try to process something too fast and just end up tripping over your thoughts and draw a blank. If you catch yourself doing this, just step back take a deep breath and start over. Try to think in a stepwise fashion (cause and effect: The problem is X. This is caused by A, B, and C. A causes X due to ... and we can solve this by... then go on to B, C, etc). Generally this approach works well in problem/solution cases.

Someone mentioned this already (i don't recall who), but you should socialize a bit with your fellow candidates prior to the interview. It allows to you settle down a bit and keep the nerves from creeping up.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help and good luck! :luck::luck::luck:

oh im not sure why I assumed that you had experience then! lol sorry - but thank you so much for the tips its nice to know that we're here to help each other!🙂
 
just did mine.

not bad.🙂 majority of people are good and not intimidating,except one.:scared:

advice:choose nice person and talk to that person before it starts. and always stand NEARBY(there is a strategic reason).
 
just did mine.

not bad.🙂 majority of people are good and not intimidating,except one.:scared:

advice:choose nice person and talk to that person before it starts. and always stand NEARBY(there is a strategic reason).

Congratulations on finishing the interview! All that's left for you is to wait...THREE MONTHS until the offers are sent out😱. I guess that 1 guy was just really nervous 🙄.
 
just did mine.

not bad.🙂 majority of people are good and not intimidating,except one.:scared:

advice:choose nice person and talk to that person before it starts. and always stand NEARBY(there is a strategic reason).

What do you mean choose a nice person? Another interviewee or interviewer?
 
another person being interviewed
its the person you would wanna debate with
 
I also had my interview today. Haven't posted on this forum but have been reading ever since applications prior to December 🙂 So hello everyone!

Today was great! All I can say is for those of you interviewing tomorrow especially, DON'T WORRY! If it's your first time, like it was for me, I was a little nervous for the outcome of it all but it's truly an amazing experience and the time flies by you!

Good luck everyone!! And all the students from pharmacy were very sweet and kind to talk to you and relax you. All of the fellow interviewees I met today were people I would gladly take courses with and would be honored to call them my classmates. Everyone is very nice 🙂

Hope these words of encouragement help!
 
I also had my interview today. Haven't posted on this forum but have been reading ever since applications prior to December 🙂 So hello everyone!

Today was great! All I can say is for those of you interviewing tomorrow especially, DON'T WORRY! If it's your first time, like it was for me, I was a little nervous for the outcome of it all but it's truly an amazing experience and the time flies by you!

Good luck everyone!! And all the students from pharmacy were very sweet and kind to talk to you and relax you. All of the fellow interviewees I met today were people I would gladly take courses with and would be honored to call them my classmates. Everyone is very nice 🙂

Hope these words of encouragement help!

I feel relieved hearing these nice things from you guys who did it today... I just can't wait for tomorrow night when I'll be able to say the same things lol 😀😉😛
 
I feel relieved hearing these nice things from you guys who did it today... I just can't wait for tomorrow night when I'll be able to say the same things lol 😀😉😛


same here, i just want to get it over with right now. im done trying to read all these different papers and finding different situations, i really doubt they will use a situation published in a paper so i'm just not trying to find anymore.

Also, its not like I can improve my "soft skills" overnight, or even within the 2 week notice that i had. I guess for the people interviewing tomorrow we can all just try to relax and not think about it anymore.

So goodluck to everyone tomorrow, and hopefully it will be fun debating and having all these different disscusions.
 
same here, i just want to get it over with right now. im done trying to read all these different papers and finding different situations, i really doubt they will use a situation published in a paper so i'm just not trying to find anymore.

Also, its not like I can improve my "soft skills" overnight, or even within the 2 week notice that i had. I guess for the people interviewing tomorrow we can all just try to relax and not think about it anymore.

So goodluck to everyone tomorrow, and hopefully it will be fun debating and having all these different disscusions.

Absolutely the right idea. Soft skills you learn throughout your life, through experiences, through being social. You can't read that in a book. It becomes very obvious in an MMI situation who can actually communicate and who's a good candidate only on paper.

GOOD LUCK! "Be yourself" so cheesy but that seems to do the trick.
 
Absolutely the right idea. Soft skills you learn throughout your life, through experiences, through being social. You can't read that in a book. It becomes very obvious in an MMI situation who can actually communicate and who's a good candidate only on paper.

GOOD LUCK! "Be yourself" so cheesy but that seems to do the trick.
Hahaha so true. Even if you do read it in a book and try to be someone you aren't it usually ends up a bit awkward as your inner self and outer facade conflict😀. Just be yourself and think before you speak 👍.

It's definitely encouraging to know that you guys had a good experience.

Hope many of you will be around on the forum come May to support all of us 2nd rounders (though many of you will probably be enjoying the summer)
 
are we trying to get into pharmd or bachelor of pharmacy😳
It's BScPhm but with a modified curriculum, which is supposed to reflect that of an ELPD program. However, without approval from the Ministry of Education, the Bachelor degree stands.

If the change to ELPD is granted within the next 4 years, the 1T5 class will graduate as PharmDs (i.e. the degree conferred changes from BScPhm to PharmD).

If the change is granted after 4 years, the 1T5 class graduates as BScPhm but will retroactively get the PharmD degree.

If no change is granted, 1T5 stays BScPhm.

If the ELPD is granted but with modifications to the curriculum then 1T5 will have to go through a bridging program (probably with limited seats).

I don't think the PharmD will give you much of an advantage when looking for a job though. Previous work experience is much more important.
 
Alrighty, just came back from the 11 am session... (sigh of relief) 😀

It was actually a fun experience, I definitely enjoyed it and can't wait to hear back from them in a few months 😉 I'm just so relieved that it's all over, thank goodness :soexcited:

For those who are waiting to do theirs in May: I would say just remain positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic throughout the process... most importantly be yourself and don't be afraid to defend your personal point of view even when they prompt you in a way so that you would change your mind (they just wanna see how good you are at defending and supporting your ideas).


I hope everyone who did it yesterday/today was happy with their interviews,:claps: and I wish the best for those doing it in may :xf:

And sorry that I couldn't say more due to confidentiality reasons... but if you had questions that I could answer (without breaking the confidentiality rules that we signed), I would gladly answer it for you 🙂
 
Alrighty, just came back from the 11 am session... (sigh of relief) 😀

It was actually a fun experience, I definitely enjoyed it and can't wait to hear back from them in a few months 😉 I'm just so relieved that it's all over, thank goodness :soexcited:

For those who are waiting to do theirs in May: I would say just remain positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic throughout the process... most importantly be yourself and don't be afraid to defend your personal point of view even when they prompt you in a way so that you would change your mind (they just wanna see how good you are at defending and supporting your ideas).


I hope everyone who did it yesterday/today was happy with their interviews,:claps: and I wish the best for those doing it in may :xf:

And sorry that I couldn't say more due to confidentiality reasons... but if you had questions that I could answer (without breaking the confidentiality rules that we signed), I would gladly answer it for you 🙂


Haha wasn't it fun after all?!?! I'm so glad to hear!! Congratulations! Now the worst part for March interviewees is that we wait until June for results... Such a ways away!

Good luck to everyone in May!
 
Haha wasn't it fun after all?!?! I'm so glad to hear!! Congratulations! Now the worst part for March interviewees is that we wait until June for results... Such a ways away!

Good luck to everyone in May!

i was SO nervous going into it but actually ended up really getting into it after the 1st station. I also found for me that how I did on a particular station really depended a lot on the interviewer. some of the interviewers were really good at keeping a straight face which i found really intimidating and this made me a little nervous, but others were welcoming and relaxed which actually was really helpful in making me feel relaxed.

i loved the fact that there were 1st year students there in the lobby, that was really nice to have.

despite june being really far away, i'm actually REALLY glad the interview is over 🙂
 
lol CONGRATS u guys, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😀😀 You're starting to make me wish I had mine now so I can get it over and done with. At least now you will be able to enjoy your spring/summer without worrying about preping for it and all that 🙂
Just out of curiosity, did everyone in march have a debating station? because not everyone had one last year and I was just curious!
 
i was SO nervous going into it but actually ended up really getting into it after the 1st station. I also found for me that how I did on a particular station really depended a lot on the interviewer. some of the interviewers were really good at keeping a straight face which i found really intimidating and this made me a little nervous, but others were welcoming and relaxed which actually was really helpful in making me feel relaxed.

i loved the fact that there were 1st year students there in the lobby, that was really nice to have.

despite june being really far away, i'm actually REALLY glad the interview is over 🙂

lol, I strongly agree with you on this one... I remember at least 1-2 stations having interviewers with super neutral expression, it was kinda intimidating!!!

And I can't agree more on the fact that we are SOOO glad it's all over 😉
 
lol CONGRATS u guys, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😀😀 You're starting to make me wish I had mine now so I can get it over and done with. At least now you will be able to enjoy your spring/summer without worrying about preping for it and all that 🙂
Just out of curiosity, did everyone in march have a debating station? because not everyone had one last year and I was just curious!

What I can say is that I believe this year is exactly same as last year with regards to the debate station... if you know what I mean!
 
Haha wasn't it fun after all?!?! I'm so glad to hear!! Congratulations! Now the worst part for March interviewees is that we wait until June for results... Such a ways away!

Good luck to everyone in May!

Yes, it sure was a lot of fun for me 🙂 man, I can't tell you how great it feels to be done... but on the down side we gotta wait a LONG time to hear back!!!
 
What I can say is that I believe this year is exactly same as last year with regards to the debate station... if you know what I mean!

hmm, interesting, that must mean they use different scenarios for different interview sessions b/c i didn't have one. i wouldn't have expected this to be the case though.
 
hmm, interesting, that must mean they use different scenarios for different interview sessions b/c i didn't have one. i wouldn't have expected this to be the case though.

Someone said last year that they talked to heide about it and she told him that the stations in march and may are totally different. However, I do think that the two sessions in the morning have the same stations because by the time the second session enters the interview process, the first session would not have been done yet. This way they can't reveal the stations to the other applicants if they wanted to break the confidentiality agreement. Similarly, I think the two afternoon sessions have the same stations. So really, they probably have 8 combinations or so.
 
BTW, I forgot to mention something... while I was there in the lobby, I talked to a first year student regarding the number of applicants, how many interviews where given out etc... He told me some numbers and I believe that he is right because he said it with confidence.

So the following is what he told me:

Number of applicants = about 600 (no surprise there)
Number of applicants invited for interviews = 470 (NOT 500 as we thought before)

And considering that they'll be making roughly 260-270 offers, your odds are even greater than 50 % 😉
 
BTW, I forgot to mention something... while I was there in the lobby, I talked to a first year student regarding the number of applicants, how many interviews where given out etc... He told me some numbers and I believe that he is right because he said it with confidence.

So the following is what he told me:

Number of applicants = about 600 (no surprise there)
Number of applicants invited for interviews = 470 (NOT 500 as we thought before)

And considering that they'll be making roughly 260-270 offers, your odds are even greater than 50 % 😉
Thanks for the info..that is quit a relief to know.
 
BTW, I forgot to mention something... while I was there in the lobby, I talked to a first year student regarding the number of applicants, how many interviews where given out etc... He told me some numbers and I believe that he is right because he said it with confidence.

So the following is what he told me:

Number of applicants = about 600 (no surprise there)
Number of applicants invited for interviews = 470 (NOT 500 as we thought before)

And considering that they'll be making roughly 260-270 offers, your odds are even greater than 50 % 😉


oh wow. that's good news. i wonder how they know before we do LOL.
 
BTW, I forgot to mention something... while I was there in the lobby, I talked to a first year student regarding the number of applicants, how many interviews where given out etc... He told me some numbers and I believe that he is right because he said it with confidence.

So the following is what he told me:

Number of applicants = about 600 (no surprise there)
Number of applicants invited for interviews = 470 (NOT 500 as we thought before)

And considering that they'll be making roughly 260-270 offers, your odds are even greater than 50 % 😉

wow, 470!! well that is awesome! thanks for the info 😀 🙂
 
BTW, I forgot to mention something... while I was there in the lobby, I talked to a first year student regarding the number of applicants, how many interviews where given out etc... He told me some numbers and I believe that he is right because he said it with confidence.

So the following is what he told me:

Number of applicants = about 600 (no surprise there)
Number of applicants invited for interviews = 470 (NOT 500 as we thought before)

And considering that they'll be making roughly 260-270 offers, your odds are even greater than 50 % 😉

*I was told 448 by at least two volunteers. 👍
 
470 is also what I heard from volunteers on the interview day... so how did you hear about this number?

Okay, Okay. I must be wrong. I gues its 470. 50% is not a bad odd. I hope I''m one of the 240:xf: Oh BTW, I heard that if they hadn't reduced the PCAT there woundt haven been an interview. i.e most applicants didnt meet the original 20/20/20/50/50 on PCAT. So they reduced it to interview at least 2 applicants per seat and keep it competative.
 
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Okay, Okay. I must be wrong. I gues its 470. 50% is not a bad odd. I hope I''m one of the 240:xf: Oh BTW, I heard that if they hadn't reduced the PCAT there woundt haven been an interview. i.e most applicants didnt meet the original 20/20/20/50/50 on PCAT. So they reduced it to interview at least 2 applicants per seat and keep it competative.

wow that sounds really good, but i find it very hard to believe even though i want to.

I mean it is likely that the applicants were about 600 and thats why the pcat is so low to make sure atleast 2 applicants per seat avaliable, but i really dont think its that bad.

the new cut offs must have been to include maybe 40 or 50 applicants in the interview, not most applicants. It must only be for the people that had a problem with writing the pcat and could not perform well for other reasons, because I still can't see how anyone who finished most of the required courses would get any less than 50 composite let alone 20 or 30.
 
Okay, Okay. I must be wrong. I gues its 470. 50% is not a bad odd. I hope I''m one of the 240:xf: Oh BTW, I heard that if they hadn't reduced the PCAT there woundt haven been an interview. i.e most applicants didnt meet the original 20/20/20/50/50 on PCAT. So they reduced it to interview at least 2 applicants per seat and keep it competative.

That's actually a little frustrating, i sincerely hope they take into account PCAT scores post-interview - otherwise, what exactly was the point in studying long and hard for it when a mere 50 or 60th percentile would've sufficed to get into uoft. It makes very little sense to me!
 
That's actually a little frustrating, i sincerely hope they take into account PCAT scores post-interview - otherwise, what exactly was the point in studying long and hard for it when a mere 50 or 60th percentile would've sufficed to get into uoft. It makes very little sense to me!

i feel exactly the same way you do, especially considering the fact that the pcat is my strongest point.

I really hope they will still use the pcat as more than just an interview filter or more than maybe 20% of the application worth. In the pcat notice they did mention that pcat mins will increase. regardless of whether thats true or not, it still means that the pcat will be looked at after interviews, and hopefully it will still count for alot.
 
i feel exactly the same way you do, especially considering the fact that the pcat is my strongest point.

I really hope they will still use the pcat as more than just an interview filter or more than maybe 20% of the application worth. In the pcat notice they did mention that pcat mins will increase. regardless of whether thats true or not, it still means that the pcat will be looked at after interviews, and hopefully it will still count for alot.


These conservative preliminary PCAT scores are set below our 2010 levels – thus permitting close to 80 percent of the applicant pool to remain eligible and participate in interviews. It should be noted that subsequent to interviews, and during final selections, the Faculty may raise minimum PCAT requirements at its discretion.
 
These conservative preliminary PCAT scores are set below our 2010 levels – thus permitting close to 80 percent of the applicant pool to remain eligible and participate in interviews. It should be noted that subsequent to interviews, and during final selections, the Faculty may raise minimum PCAT requirements at its discretion.
If we assume 600 applicants, 80% corresponds to approx. 480 interviews. "Close to 80%" would be that 470 number some of you have mentioned, so I agree that the 470 number is more realistic.

If they send out ~260 offers for the 240 seats, at the end of the day just over 50% of the interviewees will get offers of admission. I expect they will increase the PCAT cut offs just a little bit, maybe like a 5 percentile hike here and there since they used the words "conservative preliminary" to describe the cutoffs. They also explicitly state they reserve the right to raise the minimum cutoffs later. I bet they're waiting for all of the MMI results, and depending on how those pan out, they'll adjust the PCAT cutoffs accordingly.
 
Did most of the interviewees dress up formally? i.e., wearing black / grey business suits with a tie?
 
there was one guy that was wearing jeans in my session 🙄 but most people were pretty dressed up
 
there was one guy that was wearing jeans in my session 🙄 but most people were pretty dressed up

I heard this last year too that someone wore jeans on the interview day... I wonder what those people are thinking 🙄
 
haha ive been reading this forum for a while now but finally decided to make an account 🙂

oh yes, on my interview day i recall somebody that wore jeans too LOL
 
Does anybody know how the timetables work? Is it a standard timetable in which all classes are schedulled to end say around 3pm? Or are they scattered throughout the day? I just want to know since..at least I'm gonna need part time job to fund this. Any info would help. Especially from current pharmacy students. Thanks in advance.
 
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