Short answer: The Queen's BHSc supplementary application is a 10-minute, 335-word written response to a random prompt and a video interview with 2 minutes to prepare and 2 to answer, both scored against CanMEDS. Build a 10-scenario experience bank in advance and give about 30% of each answer to reflection and changed behaviour.
Key points
- Top-6 average in the mid-to-high 90s; high grades don't guarantee admission.
- Written: random prompt, 10 minutes, 335-word cap, copy-paste blocked.
- Word split: context about 60 / action about 150 / reflection about 100.
- Video: 2 minutes to prepare, 2 to answer, one take only.
- Scoring maps to the seven CanMEDS roles: collaborator, communicator, advocate, leader, scholar, professional and expert.
1. Program Overview and Admission Benchmarks
Queen's University's Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is one of Canada's most competitive pre-med programs. It uses a flipped learning approach: students learn the core theory before class, then deepen it in class through small-group discussion, case work and hands-on clinical practice. The program is student-centred, and its curriculum is built around upstream thinking — identifying risks at the social and biological roots of health rather than only intervening after disease appears.
The curriculum combines practical required courses and distinctive modules, including:
- GLPH 171 (Social Determinants of Health)
- IDIS 173 (History and Philosophy of Health and Healthcare)
- HSCI 190 (Statistics for Health Sciences)
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy (including hands-on teaching in a cadaver lab, rare at the undergraduate level)
Academically, Queen's looks at your Grade 12 Top-6 average, with a threshold in the mid-to-high 90s (95%–99%). But with grade inflation, most applicants have 95%–98%, and honour roll is the norm. Even a 98%–99% average does not guarantee admission. The decision rests heavily on the supplementary application, where a timed written response and a video interview assess non-academic qualities, critical thinking and deep self-examination.
Key takeaways
- Academic benchmark: a Top-6 average in the mid-to-high 90s (95%+), but grades only get you reviewed.
- What's distinctive: flipped learning, upstream thinking and a cadaver lab.
- What decides it: the supplementary application (written response + video interview) is what breaks the tie among equally high-achieving applicants.
Queen's BHSc at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Top-6 average | Mid-to-high 90s (95%+); a threshold, not a guarantee |
| Teaching model | Flipped learning + upstream thinking |
| Core and distinctive courses | GLPH 171 (social determinants of health), IDIS 173 (history and philosophy of healthcare), HSCI 190 (health statistics), pharmacology, anatomy (with cadaver lab) |
| Supplementary application format | Timed written response (10 minutes, 335-word cap) + video interview (2 minutes to prepare, 2 to answer) |
| Role of the supplementary application | With uniformly high grades, a CanMEDS-based rubric identifies candidates with both soft skills and depth of thinking |
2. The 2026/2027 Application Workflow
Applying to Queen's Health Sciences takes careful timing and preparation. Here is the full process from OUAC to completing the supplementary application:
Queen's BHSc application workflow 2. Step 1: Apply through OUAC 3. - Choose Queen's University BHSc on OUAC and submit your basic information 4. Step 2: Receive portal credentials and supplementary application access 5. - Get your Queen's portal (SOLUS / Supp App Portal) login and access 6. Step 3: Build your experience bank 7. - Review the last 2–3 years against the official rubric; prepare STAR+T stories 8. Step 4: Log in to the Supp App Portal 9. - Check camera/mic/connection, confirm a quiet room, then start 10. Step 5: Complete the 10-minute timed written response 11. - Random prompt; 10-minute countdown; 335-word cap; no preview; no copy-paste 12. Step 6: (After a break) complete the video interview 13. - Random prompt; 2 minutes to prepare; 2 minutes to record; one take, no redos
Step-by-step guide
- Apply through OUAC: submit your BHSc application through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre and make sure your contact email is correct.
- Receive your portal credentials: after submitting, watch your inbox for Queen's portal login details and supplementary application access.
- Build your experience bank first: don't jump straight in. Using Queen's official rubric, build a bank of stories covering leadership, adaptability, conflict resolution and receiving difficult feedback.
- Log in and test your setup: run the hardware check in the Supp App system, and make sure you're in a quiet room with good light and a stable connection.
- Complete the 10-minute written response: once the prompt appears, a 10-minute countdown starts, with a strict 335-word limit. You must type live; the system monitors and blocks copy-paste (violations can cancel your application).
- Complete the video interview: after the written response you can take a short break. The video section then draws a random prompt, gives you 2 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to record. You get one take with no redos.
3. The CanMEDS Framework and How You're Assessed
The Queen's Health Sciences supplementary application is built on the well-known CanMEDS framework (widely used to assess Canadian medical and health professionals). The official rubric turns the seven roles into observable behaviours. The table below shows which roles are emphasised in the written response and which in the video interview.
CanMEDS roles mapped to Queen's scoring criteria
| CanMEDS role and criteria | Where it's assessed | What it looks like in your application |
|---|---|---|
| Collaborator • Impact on team • Appreciation of perspectives |
Mainly the video | • How you build trust in a team and listen to different voices. • In disagreements, showing real understanding of others' positions and backgrounds rather than imposing your view. • Clearly assessing how your words and actions affect the team's mood, morale and output. |
| Communicator • Clarity and conciseness • Authenticity |
Both | • Expressing yourself accurately in 10 minutes / 335 words or in a 2-minute video, with no filler. • Sounding sincere and natural, avoiding empty lines like "I am passionate," with an authentic voice. |
| Advocate • Upstream thinking • Initiative |
Both | • Insight into health and social issues that focuses on prevention at the root, not surface fixes. • Spotting unmet needs in a community or group and taking targeted action. |
| Leader • Initiative • Ownership |
Mainly the video | • Leadership isn't a title; it's stepping up when things get hard or resources are limited. • Taking ownership of failures, mistakes or team conflict rather than shifting blame. |
| Scholar • Critical thinking and problem solving • Deep reflection |
Mainly the written response | • Breaking down complex, unfamiliar or resource-limited situations logically. • Showing deep self-examination and clearly explaining how the experience changed your thinking and behaviour. |
| Professional • Adaptability • Persistence • Composure under pressure |
Mainly the written response | • Adjusting quickly and staying steady when plans change or feedback is hard to hear. • Showing persistence and quick recovery through repeated setbacks. |
| Content Expert • Specificity |
Both | • No generalities: support your points with specific scenes, conflicts, numbers and actions so your story is unmistakably real. |
4. The 10-Minute Timed Written Response (335 Words)
How it works, and the anti-cheating rules
The written section uses random prompts. The 10-minute countdown starts the moment you see the prompt, and the cap is 335 words. There is no published question bank, and pasting pre-written text is prohibited (the system monitors this, and copy-paste is flagged and can void your application). Prompts fall into four broad scenarios:
- Setbacks
- Uncomfortable feedback
- Unexpected change
- Resourcefulness under constraints
Allocating 335 words
The most common reason applicants fall short is spending over half their words on background, leaving too little room for the action and reflection that are actually assessed. Use this allocation (aim for 300–320 words):
- Context & challenge (~60 words / 2–3 sentences): get to the point; give the who, what, when, where, why and how and the core difficulty fast. Don't tell a long backstory.
- Action & ownership (~150 words / 4–5 sentences): what "I" did, how I solved the problem or responded to feedback, showing initiative and problem solving.
- Reflection & growth (~100 words / 3–4 sentences): how the experience changed my thinking and later behaviour. This is the highest-scoring part of the Queen's rubric.
Three time blocks
Minutes 1–2: break down the prompt and match a story
- Read the prompt quickly and identify which CanMEDS criteria it targets (for example, "uncomfortable feedback" tests adaptability and reflection).
- Pull the best-fitting story from your experience bank. Don't spend more than 90 seconds deciding.
Minutes 3–8: write
Follow the allocation:
- Sentences 1–2 (context and conflict): "During [Context], I faced [Specific Challenge], which disrupted [Goal]."
- Sentences 3–7 (action and ownership): "To resolve this, I took initiative by [Action 1]. When met with [Obstacle], I adaptively [Action 2] and took ownership of [Responsibility]."
- Sentences 8–10 (reflection and behaviour change): "This forced me to re-examine my assumption that [Old Mindset]. Today, I systematically [New Behavior]."
Minutes 9–10: proofread
- Read it through quickly and fix grammar and typos.
- Check you're under 335 words. Cut every unnecessary modifier (cut the fluff).
5. The Video Interview (2 Minutes to Prepare + 2 to Answer)
The Queen's video interview tests how you communicate under pressure, how logically you organise your thoughts, how authentic your presence is and how well you understand other people's perspectives. The flow: a random prompt -> 2 minutes to prepare -> 2 minutes to record (one take, no redos).
STAR + T with precise timing
For behavioural questions, follow STAR + T and control your timing within 2 minutes (120 seconds):
STAR + T timing model
| S - Situation T - Task A - Action R - Result T - Takeaway |
15–20s15–20s40–50s15–20s20–25s |
Minimal background, time and place; no long build-up The core task, conflict or bottleneck The core: the specific steps "I" took and why Quantified or concrete outcome and team impact Key to a high score: mindset and behaviour change |
|---|
Situation (15–20s): get straight to the background and setting.
Task (15–20s): the responsibility you had, the difficulty you faced or the conflict to resolve.
Action (40–50s): the core of the answer. What specific steps did you take? Why? How did you communicate with others? Show your reasoning and CanMEDS qualities.
Result (15–20s): the direct outcome or change for the team.
Takeaway / Reflection (20–25s): what Queen's values most. Not "I learned teamwork," but: "This made me realise I tended to micromanage under pressure. Since then, I've made a point of building trust and delegating early in every project."
On-camera delivery and setup checklist
Delivery and practice checklist
- Lens focus: look at the physical camera lens throughout (a small red dot next to it helps), never at yourself on screen. That's what creates real eye contact with the reviewer.
- One-second pause: at thinking points or transitions, use a one-second deliberate pause. To a reviewer, a steady pause signals composure; rapid-fire talking signals nerves.
- No filler words: work hard to eliminate "um," "ah," "like" and "you know."
- AI interview simulator practice: before the real interview, practise for at least 5–7 days on an AI video simulator, adjusting pace, clarity, time use and filler words based on the feedback.
- Gestures and energy: use natural, moderate gestures, a steady pace and warm, professional energy.
Hardware and environment checklist
- Dress: business casual, to show a professional attitude.
- Room: completely quiet, no interruptions from family or pets, tidy background.
- Light: good light on your face from the front; avoid backlighting.
- Equipment: test your camera, microphone level and connection in advance.
🎯 Practise as you read: record one answer now and see which band you're in. Try a timed MockView mock interview →
6. Building a High-Impact Experience Bank
The biggest mistake in the supplementary application is making up a story on the spot or simply listing achievements. You need to move from listing to translating — this is the translation gap that decides admission.
The translation gap, explained Most rejected candidates stay at listing facts: "I did this activity, held this title and learned teamwork." Admitted candidates translate: "This specific event exposed a limitation in how I used to think; here's what I did, and here's how it permanently changed how I think and act now."
Before you apply, review the last 2–3 years and make sure your bank covers these ten core scenarios:
- Initiative & leadership
- Teamwork & conflict resolution
- Adapting to unexpected change
- Receiving difficult feedback
- Learning from mistakes or setbacks
- Problem solving under pressure
- Considering others' perspectives
- Ownership & team impact
- Changing a mindset or habit
- Resourcefulness under constraints
Experience bank template (two-part reflection: old flaw vs. new behaviour)
| Experience | CanMEDS role / criteria | STAR summary (Situation, Task, Action, Result) | Takeaway (two-part reflection) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community tutoring program | Initiative Problem solving |
S/T: during the pandemic, younger students in the community had no tutoring support, and recruiting volunteers faced both funding and space limits. A: built a free online matching platform, created a standard training process and coordinated 15 volunteers. R: served 80+ students and 300 hours of tutoring. |
Old flaw: I used to think leadership meant giving clear instructions and controlling the whole project. New behaviour: this taught me real leadership is building a safe system; now when organising events I first understand each person's needs and give them room to decide. |
| Handling a complaint at a restaurant job | Adaptability Communicator |
S/T: during the dinner rush the kitchen missed an order and a customer became very angry. A: stayed calm, listened and acknowledged their frustration; quickly arranged a rush order with the kitchen and offered a discount. R: the customer calmed down and left understanding. |
Old flaw: I used to treat emotional pushback as a logical argument to win (a defensive mindset). New behaviour: now in conflict I separate the emotion from the underlying need first, then find a targeted solution. |
| A failed design competition | Persistence Reflection |
S/T: in an engineering design competition, over-complicating our design caused the structure to collapse during testing. A: didn't avoid the failure; re-analysed the data and load deviations and asked our advisor for honest feedback. R: designed a simpler, sturdier structure that scored well on re-assessment. |
Old flaw: self-examination showed I tended to over-design to look sophisticated. New behaviour: now with complex tasks I start from first principles and the core requirement, and cut every unnecessary complication. |
7. Queen's Supp App Dos & Don'ts
Queen's admissions officers review thousands of responses in a cycle. Pattern recognition means that when reviewers see the same clichés (like "I have always been passionate about health care"), they mentally check out and put the response in the forgettable pile. Here are the core rules for standing out:
| Dos | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Break pattern recognition Open with a specific dramatic moment or vivid detail and use contrast to grab the reviewer's attention. |
No cliché openings Never use "I have always been passionate..." or "Since I was young..."; reviewers tune out immediately. |
| Bridge the translation gap Explain not just what happened, but the limitation in your old thinking and the specific change in your behaviour now. |
Don't list without translating Admissions doesn't care how many titles you have; listing activities without translating them is the top reason for rejection. |
| Follow the STAR+T split In both the written response (335 words) and the video (2 minutes), keep 20%–30% for the final T (reflection and growth). |
No copy-pasting The system monitors copy-paste in real time; flagged text can cancel your application. |
| Look at the lens Keep your eyes on the physical camera lens (not the screen preview) to come across as confident and real. |
No reading from a script on video A pre-written script read from the screen sounds flat with wandering eyes; reviewers spot it in seconds and mark it down heavily. |
| Use one-second pauses At thinking points, pause for a second to show calm and emotional control (composure). |
Don't ask for too many opinions Too many voices (parents, friends, forums) wipe out your authentic voice. |
| Plan early and practise with AI simulation Build your ten-scenario experience bank weeks ahead and use an AI video simulator to refine pace, tone and filler words. |
Don't force an unrelated story Squeezing a prepared story into an unrelated random prompt means not answering the question, and that costs you everything. |
FAQ
Can I write my response in advance and paste it?
No. Prompts are random and timed, and the system blocks and flags copy-paste, which can void your application.
What do the written prompts cover?
Setbacks, uncomfortable feedback, unexpected change and solving problems with limited resources.
How does CanMEDS relate to the application?
The rubric turns the seven CanMEDS roles into observable behaviours. Collaborator looks at your impact on a team; scholar looks at problem-solving and reflection.
How should I split the 2-minute video?
Situation 15–20s, task 15–20s, action 40–50s, result 15–20s, reflection 20–25s.
Related reading
- McMaster Health Sciences (BHSc) Guide 2026/2027: Writing the 1,500-Character Supplementary Essays
- Five Pre-Med Pathways for Canadian High School Students (2026/2027): McMaster, Queen's, Waterloo+SGU, UBC and UK/Ireland Medicine
- Queen's Commerce (Smith) Supplementary Application Guide 2026/2027: The 10-Minute, 335-Word Response and 2-Minute Video
Next step: from understanding to practised
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