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Snapshot

What is Snapshot?

Snapshot is a short, one-way video interview. It is made up of three interview-style questions, with two minutes to respond to each. Although short, it offers programs an additional piece of information about yourself to support informed decisions, while giving you an opportunity to bring your personal statement to life. Depending on when programs review your Snapshot responses, it could help increase your chances of landing an interview spot!

How does it work?

You’ll see a prompt to complete Snapshot when you log in to your Altus Suite account. Click the prompt and complete a systems requirement check.

You will be asked to complete a practice session. This is mandatory and helps you be prepared for the real thing. You can practice as many times as you’d like.

After practicing, you can begin your Snapshot interview. You’ll read the first question and have 30 seconds to reflect before the recording begins.

You will have up to 2 minutes to record your answer. You can stop the timer if you finish early. Hit Submit to move to the next question and repeat the process.

After you complete Snapshot, click Submit. Please note responses are automatically saved and you cannot re-record yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Why do programs require Snapshot?

How do programs review or use Snapshot?

Programs use Snapshot to further probe your communication skills and motivation for the profession. Snapshot can be used at multiple points in the admissions process, but is often used to help refine the pool of candidates they’d like to interview, inform their rank list or to break a tie among the team. Program reviewers go through similar training as Casper raters to ensure they’re rating as objectively as possible. They learn about implicit bias and use a rubric to guide their rating.

When do I need to complete Snapshot?

You can complete Snapshot anytime after logging in to your Altus Suite account to reserve your Casper test date. It is recommended that you complete Snapshot within 14 days of taking Casper. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page

Do I need to complete more than one Snapshot interview?

Although you may need to complete more than one Casper test (i.e., US Professional Health Sciences and US Medicine Casper tests) for the different programs you’re applying to, you’ll usually only need to complete one Snapshot, which will be sent to all the programs on your distribution list. The most common situation in which you’ll need to complete more than one Snapshot is if you’re applying to both English and French programs. In this case you’ll need to take Snapshot for each language. To check if you need to complete more than 1 Snapshot, please refer to the Snapshot section of your Altus Suite account after reserving your Casper tests.

How do I prepare for Snapshot?

Preparing for Snapshot is easy. Ensure your internet, microphone, and webcam are working and reliable before starting. We recommend you wear headphones with a microphone as this will help programs hear you more clearly. Although raters are advised not to consider your clothing, certain clothing choices (e.g., pyjamas) can be distracting. Wear what you would normally wear to an interview and make sure the room you’re in is free of distractions and potential disruptions (e.g., clutter and noise). You can read our blog for more tips on succeeding in a video interview.