OMSAS – Referee Requirements

Refer to the application and the university's website for up-to-date program details.

You should send requests for references to your referees by September 15, 2024, to allow enough time for them to submit their reference by the deadline. Check Document Tracking in your application frequently to ensure that all documents are received by their respective deadlines.

Notes:

• It is your responsibility to review the referee requirements for each program that you apply to.
• OMSAS cannot advise you in selecting referees.
• References cannot be submitted after the application deadline.
• OMSAS applicants applying to Ottawa, Western, Toronto, and Queen’s combined MD/PhD-MD/Master’s program must have additional references submitted for the MD/PhD or MD/Master’s portion of their application using this common MD/PhD reference form.
  • These MD/PhD (or Queen’s MD/PhD-MD/Master’s combined program) reference forms are in addition to the 3 Confidential Assessment Forms that are part of the standard OMSAS application.

  Selecting Referees

  You are required to ask 3 different individuals to provide a reference on your behalf:

  • 1 academic- or employment-related referee,
  • 1 non-academic referee and
  • 1 referee of your choosing.

  Select referees who have extensive personal knowledge of you and, as a result, can answer the Confidential Assessment Form (CAF) questions.

  For referees to provide uniform information that admission committees are specifically looking for from the reference process, each of your referees will be asked to fill out a CAF. It is your responsibility to inform your referees that they must fill out the CAF, and that additional letters of reference are not accepted.

  CAF Questions

  On the CAF, your references will be asked to respond to the following questions:

  1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
  2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
     • Communication skills
     • Problem-solving skills
     • Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour and accountability to others)
     • Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
  3. Identify and comment on 1 area of improvement for the applicant.
  4. Share any other information you feel may be relevant to a medical school’s admission committee.

  Referees are not allowed to submit an additional letter. We will send only the CAF to the medical schools.

  University of Ottawa Applicants

  MD/PhD Program

  If you are applying to the University of Ottawa’s MD/PhD program, you must submit 2 additional references for the MD/PhD portion of your application that attest to graduate research potential (in addition to the 3 confidential assessment forms requested by the MD program).

  Queen’s University Applicants

  Combined MD/PhD or MD/MSc Programs

  If you are applying to the Queen’s University Combined MD/PhD program or MD/MSc programs, you must have additional references submitted for the MD/PhD and or MD/MSc portion of your application.

  This includes 2 additional confidential letters of recommendation (to be submitted under separate cover) focusing on your research accomplishments and potential to become a physician-scientist, in addition to the 3 recommendation letters that are required for the MD application.

  Further information is provided in your OMSAS application.

  Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program

  If you are applying to the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program, you must submit additional references in addition to the 3 references that are required for the MD application.

  This includes responses to a series of short answer questions, a highlighted selection of autobiographical sketch activities and 2 additional confidential assessment letters.

  Further information is provided in your OMSAS application.

  University of Toronto Applicants

  MD/PhD Program

  If you are applying to the University of Toronto’s MD/PhD program, you must have additional references submitted for the MD/PhD portion of your application.

  Graduate Applicants

  If you are a graduate applicant to the University of Toronto, you must provide the contact details of a graduate verifier. The University of Toronto may contact this verifier directly to confirm your degree type and program completion date. The verifier may be either your graduate supervisor or graduate program administrator.

  Western University Applicants

  MD/PhD Program

  If you are applying to the Schulich School of Medicine’s MD/PhD program, you must submit additional references for the MD/PhD portion of your application. This includes 2 confidential letters of recommendations focusing on your research accomplishments and potential to become a clinician-scientist.

  Sending the Confidential Assessment Form (CAF)

  Ensure that your referee is prepared to use the online form before entering an email address. Enter a business or university email address rather than a personal email address.

  Once you add a referee, click “Send Email” to notify them about completing their online CAF in a protected environment.

  Your comments to the referee should include your contact information, so they will be able to reach you if necessary.

  It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives your reference by the deadline.

  All references are confidential. Any information provided on your behalf by your chosen referees will be sent only to your chosen university and choices, and will not be made available to you.

  Checking the Status of Your References

  You can check the status of your references under the Actions/Status column in the Referees section of your application.

  Reference Status

  • Email Sent: Your email was sent to your selected referee.
  • Form Viewed: Your referee viewed the CAF.
  • In Progress: Your referee started the CAF but did not submit it.
  • Received: The OUAC received the CAF from your referee.

  Resetting Your References

  You may reset your reference as long as the referee has not started the CAF.