Western University Medicine: CASPer and Interview Format

Does Western University's Schulich MD program require CASPer, and what is the interview like?

No. Western's Schulich School of Medicine does not require Casper, Duet or Snapshot for its MD program. Instead it uses the Western autobiographical sketch (ABS), which has written and oral (video) components and is completed on Kira Talent. Interviews are structured, standardized panel interviews with three people, conducted virtually in late February and early March.

Key facts

✓Western's Schulich MD program does not require Casper for fall 2027 entry; it uses the Western ABS, with written and oral (video) components on Kira Talent.
✓For fall 2027 entry, the Western ABS for medicine opened on 8 October 2026 and was due by 4:30 p.m. ET on 14 October 2026, with no extensions.
✓Western medicine interviews for fall 2027 entry are structured, standardized, virtual panel interviews with three interviewers, held in late February and early March.
✓Western invites about 700 highest-ranked MD applicants to interview each cycle, based on a composite of academic and non-academic requirements.
✓At least 95% of Western MD seats for fall 2027 entry are reserved for Ontario residents, with some exemptions such as combined MD/PhD seats.
✓Arvin Ardakani, a final-year medical student who founded ExperienceMED, coaches CASPer and interviews for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing and every other pre-health applicant, plus residency applicants, and marks every answer himself.

Arvin Ardakani presenting to a seminar room of students, explaining a thoughts, feelings and behaviour diagram on the screen

Arvin Ardakani presenting to a class

No. Western’s Schulich MD program does not require Casper for fall 2027 entry. It uses its own autobiographical sketch on Kira Talent, and it interviews with panels, not an MMI, which changes how you should practise.

Does Western medicine require CASPer?

No. Western’s Schulich MD program does not require Casper, Duet or Snapshot; none appears in its admission requirements or FAQ. Instead, Western uses its own autobiographical sketch, the Western ABS, which has written and oral (video) components and is completed on the Kira Talent platform in a one-week window in October. For fall 2027 entry that window ran from 8 to 14 October 2026, and missing it leaves the application incomplete. The Kira Talent guide explains how a Kira assessment works.

What is the Western medicine interview like?

Western states its interviews are structured, standardized and conducted virtually by three-person panels of physicians, community members and current medical students. They run from late February to early March, with invitations in late January or early February. For how other Ontario schools interview, see which Ontario medical schools use the early-phase MMI and the Ottawa medicine interview format.

How does Western select MD applicants?

About 700 highest-ranked applicants are invited to interview, based on a composite of academic and non-academic requirements: GPA and MCAT minimums, the Western ABS and Confidential Assessment Forms. Western does not share how each part of the application is weighted for offers. At least 95% of seats go to Ontario residents.

What does Western medicine not publish?

The weighting of each part of the application.
How long the interview lasts.

How do you prepare for the Western panel interview?

A panel interview is a conversation, so it rewards real stories, a clear reason for the profession and calm answers to follow-up questions. Arvin Ardakani coaches applicants on the personal stories behind their answers, for the ABS and the panel alike, and runs mock interviews with follow-ups through the Interview course. See panel interview vs MMI and how to answer “tell me about yourself”.

To have your interview answers marked by Arvin, try the free MMI assessment or see the interview programs.

Frequently asked

Does Western medicine require CASPer?

No. Western's Schulich MD program does not require Casper, Snapshot or Duet for fall 2027 entry. It uses the Western ABS, completed on Kira Talent with written and oral (video) components.

What is the Western ABS for medicine?

The Western ABS is Western's own autobiographical sketch, with written and oral (video) components on the Kira Talent platform. For fall 2027 entry it opened on 8 October 2026 and was due by 4:30 p.m. ET on 14 October 2026, with no extensions; missing it leaves a Western MD application incomplete.

Is Western's medicine interview an MMI?

No. For fall 2027 entry, Western's Schulich MD program uses structured, standardized panel interviews with three interviewers, conducted virtually in late February and early March.

Does Western publish its MD admissions weighting?

No. Western's Schulich School of Medicine states it does not share how each section is weighed for offers.

Does Arvin Ardakani coach Western medicine applicants?

Yes. Medicine is Arvin Ardakani's first focus. He coaches interviews and Kira assessments personally, marks answers himself and gives students direct WhatsApp access. Aida moved from the 2nd quartile to the 4th on CASPer with his coaching and was admitted to the University of Ottawa's MD program.

By the ExperienceMED team. Reviewed by Arvin Ardakani, final-year medical student, 4x 4th-quartile CASPer scorer.

Updated 2026-10-21

Does Western University's Schulich MD program require CASPer, and what is the interview like?

Key facts

Does Western medicine require CASPer?

What is the Western medicine interview like?

How does Western select MD applicants?

What does Western medicine not publish?

How do you prepare for the Western panel interview?

Sources

Frequently asked

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