University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why medicine?

Why University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine?

What challenges do you anticipate in medical school?

How would you expedite specialist care for an Indigenous patient facing dangerous wait times?

What clinical experiences have you had?

Should physicians in Ontario have an ethical obligation to work in underserviced areas for a specified period after receiving publicly funded medical education?

How does the University of Toronto's competency-based medical education curriculum align with your learning preferences?

With 2.3 million Ontarians lacking a family doctor and physician compensation disputes ongoing, should Ontario prioritize expanding physician training programs or improving working conditions to retain existing doctors?

What are you reading right now?

If you could have dinner with anyone, who and why?

Tell me about your research.

What would you do if a competent patient requests MAiD but their family strongly opposes it?

What attracts you specifically to the Foundations curriculum structure used in the first two years at University of Toronto?

What role should traditional or indigenous healing practices play in modern healthcare systems?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Ontario is expanding medical school seats with a focus on northern training partnerships between Lakehead University and University of Guelph. Should medical school admissions prioritize applicants from underserviced regions to improve retention in those areas?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

How would you contribute to the diverse and collaborative learning environment at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine?

What would you do if a patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs?

What specialty are you interested in?

Do physicians have an ethical obligation to advocate for coverage of treatments they believe are necessary but that Canada's healthcare system deems non-essential?

Tell me about a time you failed.

Should Canada shift toward team-based primary care models where nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals provide primary care, with physicians overseeing more complex cases, to address the family doctor shortage?

What aspects of studying medicine in Toronto's multicultural healthcare environment appeal to you?

Teach me something.

How do you work in groups?

How would you approach a situation where a patient's DNR order conflicts with family wishes?

What was your most challenging experience?

Do physicians have an ethical obligation to provide free care to refugee patients whose interim federal health coverage has expired but who have not yet qualified for provincial coverage?

How does the University of Toronto's emphasis on research integration throughout medical training match your career goals?

Should Canada prioritize virtual care over in-person appointments as a standard practice?

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

What would you do if you notice a colleague treating patients differently based on gender?

What do you know about the longitudinal clerkship opportunities available at University of Toronto's affiliated teaching hospitals?

What are the ethical obligations of non-Indigenous physicians in providing care to Indigenous patients in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for culturally safe healthcare?

How would you keep yourself up-to-date on medicine education once you begin practicing?

Should Canada substantially increase the number of medical school seats to address physician shortages?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

How would you take advantage of the University of Toronto's strong connections to Toronto's hospital networks during your clinical training?

What would you do if you suspect child abuse but the explanation seems plausible?

What is one thing you want to highlight about your application?

Is it ethically acceptable for physicians to interpret MAiD eligibility criteria flexibly based on their clinical judgment of suffering when patients may not strictly meet the legal criteria?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

Should the federal government impose national healthcare standards on provinces to reduce variations in coverage, wait times, and access?

What interests you about the University of Toronto's approach to integrating social accountability and community health into medical education?

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What is your worst habit?

How would you allocate limited medication supplies among multiple patients who need treatment?

Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone who wasn’t being heard.

Is it ethically problematic for physicians in remote Canadian communities to treat friends, neighbors, or community members with whom they have personal relationships?

How do you see yourself fitting into the University of Toronto's mission to advance health through discovery and application of knowledge?

Should Canada further expand the eligibility criteria for medical assistance in dying?

How would your friends describe you?

If your life were a movie, what would the theme?

Tell me about a time when you were impacted by miscommunication.

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

What specific resources or opportunities at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine would support your professional development goals?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

What do you think makes our program unique?

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

How do you handle failure?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

How do you relate to our mission?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

Where do you plan to practice?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex scientific concept to someone without a science background. How did you approach it?

Should healthcare institutions implement mandatory unconscious bias training for all staff and students?

What are University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine's values?

Do you think pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to advertise drugs to consumers?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

Why do you want to go to school in Toronto?

Should patients have the right to request a healthcare provider of a specific gender, race, or cultural background?

What negative feedback have you received?

What are your thoughts on the role of private vs. public healthcare?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

What ethical issues do you think will impact you as a doctor?

What do you think about stem cell research?

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

Do you believe diversity is important in a healthcare setting? Why or why not?

What does “success” look like to you?

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

Who should receive an organ transplant: a convicted felon or an uninsured mother?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

What role should technology and AI play in the future of healthcare?

Describe a moment when you connected with someone who was going through a difficult time.

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

Do you think it's ever ethical to lie to a patient?

Describe a situation where you had to maintain professionalism under difficult or frustrating circumstances.

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

How do you handle stress?

What would you do if a team member isn’t contributing on a group project?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

As AI becomes better at diagnosis than human doctors, should we rely more on AI decision-making?

What are your strengths?

What would you do if a colleague comes to work smelling of alcohol?

Walk me through a period when you were overwhelmed with responsibilities. How did you use to get through it?

Should people with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smokers, heavy drinkers) have reduced access to certain treatments?

What are your weaknesses?

What would you do if a teenager confides they're being abused at home but begs you not to tell anyone?

What was the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?

Can compassion be taught?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

What would you do if your employer forced you to work over Thanksgiving weekend, interfering with your family plans?

What community service activities have you done?

Should healthcare workers strike if working conditions are unsafe for them or their patients?

What do you do for fun?

What would you do if a colleague of yours made a mistake and doesn't want to tell the patient?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

Should students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive preferential admission to health professions programs?

Tell me about a skill or knowledge area where you've shown significant improvement over time. What was your learning process?

You're at a party and a friend insists on driving herself home, even though she has been drinking. What do you do?

What do you think are important qualities for a doctor?

While volunteering at a community center, a family refuses to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs. The father quietly tells you he disagrees but fears community backlash if he consents. What do you do?

What are three words people who know you would use to describe you?

You’re working in a research lab when you discover that your supervisor has failed to report a conflict of interest—he’s consulting for the company funding the study. You depend on him for a strong reference for grad school. What do you do?

Who is your role model?

A colleague you respect makes a dismissive comment toward a patient from a marginalized background. You know confronting them could damage your working relationship. What do you do?

What is your biggest regret?

A grateful patient leaves a $100 gift card and a thank-you note at the front desk addressed specifically to you. What do you do?

What makes you special?

You’re walking out of a coffee shop when you notice someone drop their wallet. You pick it up and realize there’s a large amount of cash inside, but no ID. You also notice the person quickly leaving in a taxi before you can call out. What do you do?

What is your biggest fear?

Your roommate confides in you that they have been struggling with depression and occasionally use prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

You’re catching a ride home from a friend who begins texting while driving. When you ask them to stop, they brush you off and say, “Relax, I do this all the time.” How do you respond?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

A close friend in your study group admits they copied answers from another student on a recent exam but asks you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

What is your learning style?

You see a friend post misleading health information on social media that’s getting lots of attention. How do you handle it?

How do you study?

You accidentally receive an email from your supervisor that contains private performance evaluations, including criticism of a close friend. Later that day, your friend mentions feeling anxious about whether management trusts them. What do you do?

How might the transition to medical school affect you.

A patient you've been working with for months asks you out on a date. How do you handle this?

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

What will you do if you do not get into medical school?