⚕️ Canadian Med School Prerequisite GPA Calculator
Welcome to the Canadian Medical School Prerequisite GPA Calculator. This tool is designed to help pre-med students accurately assess their academic eligibility for various Canadian medical programs, including UofT, McGill, UBC, McMaster, and more. It converts letter/percentage grades to both the **Standard 4.0** and the **OMSAS 4.0** scales, calculates your Science GPA (sGPA), and uses your selected policy for handling multiple course attempts. Get started by adding your courses below!
1. Prerequisite Course Entry Table
| Course Name | Subject Category | Grade (Letter/%) | Credit Hours (e.g., 3.0) | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
📊 Results Dashboard
2 & 5. Canadian Medical School Prerequisite Mapping
Note: Course names/codes require manual verification against school lists, but subject categories are mapped automatically.
Understanding the Calculations for Canadian Med School Applications
Navigating the complex and often disparate GPA requirements for Canadian medical schools is one of the most significant challenges for applicants. Unlike the centralized system in the US, Canadian schools (especially in Ontario via OMSAS) have unique grading scales and prerequisite lists. This calculator addresses these nuances to give you a clear, actionable assessment of your standing.
How to Use the Canadian Prerequisite GPA Calculator
The calculator is structured for simplicity and accuracy. Begin by ensuring you select the **Multiple Attempt Handling Policy** that matches your target school (e.g., UofT generally takes the highest attempt, while others may average or require the most recent). Next, enter your courses one by one. The key to accurate results is the **Subject Category** selection, as this drives the prerequisite mapping for schools like McGill (Core Science) and UBC (Minimum Credits). Enter the course name, its grade (e.g., 'A' or '85'), and the assigned credit weight (e.g., 3.0 for a single-semester course). Finally, click 'Calculate' to view your results, including the crucial OMSAS-converted GPA.
Detailed GPA Calculation Formula and Conversion
The core functionality relies on two key components: the **Grade Conversion System** and the **Weighted GPA Calculation**.
Grade Conversion (3. GPA Conversion System)
Canadian medical schools use various scales. The most common are the standard 4.0 scale and the specialized **OMSAS 4.0 Scale** (used by Ontario schools like UofT, McMaster, Ottawa). The OMSAS scale is particularly strict, often resulting in lower converted GPAs than the standard 4.0 scale for high-achieving students. For instance, a 90-100% is a 4.0 on the OMSAS scale, but an 85-89% is a 3.9, a steeper drop than on many institutional scales.
The calculator uses an internal mapping to convert your input (Letter or Percentage) into the appropriate 4.0 value for both the Standard and OMSAS scales. The calculation for the **Weighted GPA** then applies this formula:
$$ \text{Weighted GPA} = \frac{\sum (\text{Grade Value} \times \text{Credit Hours})}{\sum \text{Credit Hours}} $$This ensures that courses with higher credit weights (e.g., a 6.0 credit full-year course) impact your final GPA score proportionally more than half-semester courses.
Weighted GPA Calculations (4. Weighted GPA Calculation)
- Prerequisite GPA: Calculated using only the courses that fulfill the specific prerequisites for the school being considered (e.g., 2 full-year Bio, 1 full-year Chem).
- Science GPA (sGPA): Calculated using all courses categorized as Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math/Stats, and Other Science. This is a common metric used to assess a candidate's strength in the core sciences.
- Cumulative Prerequisite GPA: The main output, calculated using all relevant courses based on the school's requirements and the selected attempt policy.
Importance of Prerequisite Mapping and School-Specific Filters
Failure to meet course prerequisites is an immediate cause for rejection. The calculator's **Prerequisite Completion Checker** and **School-Specific Requirement Filters** are critical to avoiding this outcome. Medical schools have highly specific requirements:
- UofT Medicine: Requires a focus on **Life Sciences**. While not a rigid prerequisite list, the Admissions Committee heavily favors applicants with a strong background in life science disciplines.
- McGill Medicine: Has rigid **Core Science Prerequisites** (e.g., specific number of credits in Chemistry, Biology, Physics).
- UBC Medicine: Requires minimum total credits in Bio, Chem, and Physics.
- Ottawa/McMaster: Are primary users of the strict **OMSAS scale**, meaning your GPA must meet the specific OMSAS thresholds.
By mapping your courses to these specific requirements, the calculator helps you identify **subject gaps** and ensures you're on track for the schools on your list.
Tips for Optimizing Your Med School Application GPA
A high GPA is essential, but strategic course selection and planning can maximize your success:
- Front-Load Science: Take challenging science courses early to demonstrate capacity for rigorous academics.
- Understand the Attempt Policy: If your target school uses the 'Highest Grade' policy, retaking a poor-performing prerequisite can significantly boost your overall application GPA.
- Focus on Credit Weight: Do not neglect full-year (6.0 credit) courses; a strong grade in these heavily influences your final weighted GPA.
- Verify with the School: Always treat calculator results as an estimate. The final authority on course categorization and grade conversion is the medical school itself. Use this tool for planning and checking for gaps, but confirm all requirements on the official admissions pages.
