2022 Undergraduate Program Review
In this week’s blog, the OYMS Content Creation team takes look at select STEM undergraduate programs in Canada which may be of interest to students deciding on their choice university program for next year. Throughout this blog, we’ll be looking at McMaster Nursing, Queen’s Health Sciences, University of Toronto Life Sciences and McMaster’s Health Sciences.
McMaster Nursing
McMaster Nursing continues to be a popular choice for many aspiring students who want to enter the healthcare industry. The BScN, Nursing, program at McMaster University is a direct-entry program and is four years in duration which allows students to gain clinical experience and hands-on skills once they enter the program, even starting in their first year of study. To learn more about the BScN program at McMaster, continue reading below for some important information regarding the application and admissions process!
Admission Averages
The admission average for the BScN program at McMaster University is a minimum of 85% for consideration, and it is common that the admission averages of students who are accepted are above the low 90s which is considered to be a competitive average. The program is competitive and therefore it is good to have a high average to increase your chances of being accepted.
Class Size
The first-year class of the BScN program at McMaster is 120 students per site since the BScN program is offered at McMaster University (main campus), Mohawk College, and Conestoga College. The small class size makes for a tight-knit community among the students and facilitates close relationships between professors and their students. It is common for students in the program to befriend their classmates and form many close connections with the majority of their class since they participate in classes and laboratories together.
Application Process
The application process for the BScN program involves both course prerequisites and a supplementary application. To be considered as a successful candidate, you must have completed English (U), Biology (U), Chemistry (U), one of Advanced Functions (U), Calculus and Vectors (U) or Mathematics of Data Management (U), and two additional Grade 12 U or M courses. In addition to the course prerequisites required for admission into the program, you will also be required to complete the CASPer assessment which is the supplementary application. This assessment is an online test that assesses your ability to assess situations and conflicts and provide your professional judgment to make decisions based on the information presented. During the selection process, the weighting is 80% of your grades, and 20% is your CASPer mark.
To learn more about the BScN program, be sure to check out the free information sessions linked here, which are hosted by the BScN program coordinators at McMaster.
Queen’s Health Sciences
Queen’s Health Sciences began as an online program but over the past few years, it has become a highly-sought after undergraduate program for anyone interested in the field of healthcare! If you’re interested in careers in medicine, health sciences research, pharmacology, or veterinary medicine, this program may be a great fit for you.
Admission Averages
To be considered for the Queen’s Health Sciences program, you need “a minimum cumulative average of 75%.” However, as this program is highly competitive and receives many applications each year, an average in the 90s is usually required to earn a spot in the program.
Class Size
The class size for this program at the Kingston campus is 170. This is quite a small class size. This program is often compared to the McMaster Health Sciences program as the two are similar in many aspects. In this case, McMaster has a slightly larger class size at 240 students.
Application Process
We’ve already discussed one of the requirements for the program: a minimum 75% average on your top 6 courses. As for other required courses, these include a ENG4U (or French) course with a minimum 80% average, 4U biology, 4U chemistry, and any 4U math (that means MDM4U, MHF4U, or MCV4U). As well, you must complete an additional two university or university/college mixed (U or M) courses. In addition to your high school courses, Queen’s Health Sciences requires you to complete a supplementary essay (SE). The questions for the SE differ based on when you complete the essay and the final deadline is February 15.
To learn more about the Queen’s Health Sciences program, including the teaching style and thoughts from students currently enrolled in the program, be sure to read our blog on the program here!
UofT Life Sciences
Being one of the oldest and top universities in Canada, the University of Toronto offers its students a wide range of programs within it’s Honours Bachelor of Science degree in the Life Sciences category. The great thing about this program is that upon admission, students get to choose a particular program/specialty they’d like to focus on — ranging from Animal Physiology to Biomedical Toxicology and so much more!
Admission Averages
Considering that this one of the most popular pre-med programs in the country, the approximate admission range is from mid to high 80s. However, to be competitive among the thousands of applicants each year, students should aim to be in the low 90s to maximize their chances at admission. With that said, the Life Sciences category does require ENG4U and MCV4U — both with a grade in the mid to high 80s for the St. George campus, and only ENG4U with a top-6 low-mid 80s average at the Mississauga campus. At the Scarborough campus, the grade ranges are mid-70s for regular admission, and high 70s for co-op.
Class Size
Depending on your chosen campus, class sizes can vary. At UofT Mississauga Campus, in some cases classes hold fewer than 35 students. This is due to its small campus. The Scarborough campus has an enrollment number of 680 and 400 for the Mississauga campus. Unfortunately, the enrollment information isn’t available for the St. George campus.
Application Process
Because Life Sciences is a gateway degree, students will need to pick a specific program to study which all have different required courses in addition to the general requirements for the category. For example, the Biology for Health Sciences program (Mississauga campus) has ENG4U, MHF4U, SBI4U, and SCH4U as course prerequisites, with the recommended MCV4U. And for Forest Conservation Science (St. George campus), MCV4U and SBI4U are required with a recommendation of SCH4U. Admission to the category and program(s) are solely based on the competitive average of your top-six courses (with the required courses).
Make sure to check the websites for the Life Sciences category for UofT’s respective campuses — St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. Each campus will have its own admission averages and offered specialty programs.
McMaster Health Science
As one of the most competitive programs in Canada, McMaster’s Health Sciences Program is a unique interdisciplinary program that focuses on various aspects of health. This program prepares students aspiring to study medicine and work within health-related fields through several perspectives, including the biological, behavioural, and public lenses. Keep reading to learn more about key information on this program!
Admission Averages
For McMaster’s Health Science Program, the minimum admissions range is an average of 90%. However, keep in mind that grades are not the only aspect McMaster considers — supplementary applications also factor into the decisions. While 90% is the minimum requirement, McMaster states that applicants with GPAs in the lower 90s but very strong supplementary applications have been admitted in the past.
Class Size
As mentioned, McMaster’s Health Science program is highly competitive, with thousands of applicants per year and a target enrolment of 240 places for 2023. One big advantage of a small class size such as this is that there are more opportunities for students to interact with their professors and participate in class.
Application Process
Aside from a minimum GPA of 90%, applicants from Ontario must have obtained their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and completed size 4U/M courses. Out of these sox courses, students must include ENG4U, either MHF4U, MCV4U, or MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, and one 4U/M credit that is no-maths, non-science, and non-technology. In addition to the required courses and grades, McMaster’s Health Sciences Program requires that you submit a supplementary application, which is reviewed for those who meet the grade and course requirements.
To find out more about McMaster’s Health Sciences Program, read our in-depth blog on the program here. You can also visit McMaster’s application requirements search engine to learn more about the application process and requirements specific to you.
