Indigenous Applicants
Acknowledging Territory
We acknowledge the history of the traditional territory in which the University operates and respect the longstanding relationships of the three local First Nations groups of this land and place in Southwestern Ontario.
The Attawandaran (Neutral) peoples once settled this region alongside the Algonquin and Haudenosaunee peoples, and used this land as their traditional beaver hunting grounds. The three other longstanding Indigenous groups of this geographic region are:
- The Haudenosaunee Peoples (also known as the Iroquois people or Six Nations Confederacy consisting of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora);
- The Anishinaabe Peoples (also referred to as the Three Fires Confederacy including; Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatami Nations);
- The Leni-Lunaape Peoples (also referred to as the Delaware and/or Munsee).
The three First Nation communities closest in proximity to Western University are:
- Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabe)
- Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee)
- Munsee-Delaware Nation (part of the Leni-Lunaape)
For more information about Indigenous communities in proximity to the University, please visit Western's Indigenous Services website.
How to Apply
As a demonstration of our commitment to help increase the number of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit physicians, Schulich Medicine designates five seats in each entering class for Indigenous students.
Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous and who wish to be considered for one of the five designated seats must submit the following additional documents to OMSAS by the application deadline:
Confirmation of Indigenous Status or Proof of Ancestral Origin
Documentation includes but not is limited to:
- A copy of a Certificate of Indian Status or Treaty card.
- A certified copy of a Nunavut Trust certificate card, roll number, or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
- A certified copy of a membership card in a Metis registry recognized by the Metis National Council (e.g. Metis Nation of Ontario, the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Metis Nation of Alberta, the Metis Nation of British Columbia).
- Written confirmation of Aboriginal ancestry from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
- Written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code.
Personal Statement
A personal statement in the form of a letter describing:
- Why you would like to be considered for a designated Indigenous Applicant seat.
- Current and past experiences/involvement in the Indigenous community and the impact of these experiences/involvement.
- Your goals for future involvement within your respective community.
Letters of Support
Letters of support from:
- Indigenous communities or organizations attesting to your involvement in and connectedness to the community.
Consideration & Assessment
Applications are assessed holistically based on GPA and MCAT scores, Confidential Assessment Forms and Abbreviated Autobiographical Sketch, as well as a Personal Statement, and Letters of Support from Indigenous communities or organizations as described above.
Only in exceptional circumstances will Indigenous applicants with a GPA of less than 3.30 or MCAT scores below the 50th percentile be considered for a designated seat.
Interviews
Schulich Medicine interviews are 45-minutes duration, structured and standardized. Applicants who are invited for an interview will be welcomed by an interview panel consisting of an Indigenous physician, an Indigenous community member, and a senior medical student.
Each applicant invited for an interview may also be required to participate in a brief online component comprised of reading and then summarizing a passage according to instructions.
Contact Us
First Nations, Metis and Inuit applicants considering a future career in medicine are welcomed and encouraged to contact:
Admissions Office
admissions.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca
519.661.3744
