SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
McMaster University is located in Hamilton, and comprises 57 buildings, 122 programs, and over 21 500 students [1]. It was first established in the year 1887 and is split into six different academic facilities: Degroote School of Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science [2] . They’re known as the McMaster Marauders with their mascot named “Mac the Marauder.” The institution is home to over 300 student organizations and clubs, however, they do not recognize any fraternities or sororities [2]. Their main academic policy is known as the “McMaster Model,” which focuses on a student-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning which has been used since the 1960s [2]. Only 3700 students live in twelve on-campus residences with a range of building sizes and dormitory styles [1]. Finally, McMaster University is a member of a group of research intensive Canadian universities known as the U15 [2].
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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McMaster University is located in Hamilton, and comprises 57 buildings, 122 programs, and over 21 500 students [1]. It was first established in the year 1887 and is split into six different academic facilities: Degroote School of Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science [2] . They’re known as the McMaster Marauders with their mascot named “Mac the Marauder.” The institution is home to over 300 student organizations and clubs, however, they do not recognize any fraternities or sororities [2]. Their main academic policy is known as the “McMaster Model,” which focuses on a student-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning which has been used since the 1960s [2]. Only 3700 students live in twelve on-campus residences with a range of building sizes and dormitory styles [1]. Finally, McMaster University is a member of a group of research intensive Canadian universities known as the U15 [2].
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Check out McMaster's official socials...
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UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
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According to the 2020 Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Check out University of Waterloo's official socials...
For more information, check out the official University of Waterloo links below...
Located in the heart of the Waterloo region, Waterloo University provides 103 programs, and has over 41,000 students enrolled [1, 6]. A powerhouse in Applied Health Sciences, Arts, Engineering, Environment Studies, Mathematics, and Science; Waterloo is impressively relevant despite only being established in 1957 [1, 2]. Their school colours are a Prussian reminiscent yellow, white, and black. The Waterloo Warriors are led into the future by the dauntless King Warrior [4]! The WUSA (Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association) organize, and lead the majority of student life at Waterloo (e.g. Welcome Week at the beginning of new terms) [3]. The WUSA administrates student services, businesses, and over 200 registered clubs; from arts, to athletics, to academics, there’s a little something for everyone to be found [3, 5]. Current professor of astronomy and physics, Dr. Donna Strickland was awarded the Nobel Prize; the third woman in history to receive it [6]. As well, the university has been ranked #2 in computer science, and engineering by the U.S. News and World Report; they’re also the most innovative university in Canada 28 years running according to Maclean’s 2020 [6]. Waterloo University is in league with some very prestigious groups, including, but not limited to: U15, ACU, CUSID, and ATS [4].
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For a UW Legal Studies & Peace and Conflict Student
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How would you describe residence? Would you recommend someone live on-campus? If so, what advice do you have for them?
I absolutely loved living at residence! For my first year at Waterloo, I lived in Claudette Millar Hall and had a blast. When living on campus, I made some of my best friends and made tons of lifelong memories. Not to mention, it was very convenient living only a short walk away from all my classes when I occasionally accidentally slept through my alarms. I would definitely recommend for someone to live on-campus, as I honestly think it made my university experience complete. I know it can be scary going into an environment in which you don’t know anybody! My most significant piece of advice is to keep in mind that everybody is in the same boat: nobody
knows anybody! Everybody is looking
to meet new friends, and meeting
people came more quickly and easily
than I expected.
What's one misconception about Waterloo or university in general?
I think a large misconception about the University of Waterloo is that it is a super boring and depressing institution, and none of its students know how to have fun. Don’t get me wrong, I understand where this misconception arises. I could see it having truth if one were to spend all of their time doing work or cooped up in their dorm room. However, while I made sure to keep the school as my main priority, I also held
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Why did you choose your program? What makes it unique to you?
I chose to do a double major in legal studies and peace and conflict studies simply because those topics piqued my interest, and I would like to have a career within those types of fields one day. I am personally very interested in social justice and making the world a better place, and the topic areas within the
programs I chose teach me about those interests. There is also a diverse set of courses to take within these majors, which allows me to have lots of choices when designing my schedule. I found it unique that the University of Waterloo offers co-op with my program, so I will get work experience when studying topics that I love!
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What is some advice you would give high school students when applying to your program?
The admission requirements are not very specific for Waterloo’s honours arts program when it comes to what classes one must take in grade 12. In fact, if I remember correctly, the only specific class requirement upon my application was grade 12 English. With this, I would advise grade 12 students to take classes that interest them, which will also benefit their average (that are U or M levelled or course). When entering into my first year at Waterloo, the first few classes were elementary, and it was not expected that the students had much prior knowledge of the topics taught.
How would you describe the workload and work-life balance?
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The workload at university is MUCH different than at highschool. By this, I mean that much of the learning is done independently, rather than given to you. While some teaching is done in lectures, a lot is done outside of class as well (doing readings, working on assignments, studying, etc.). I think that there is a large misconception that students in the faculty of arts have it easy and do not spend much time doing work. While we may not be completing the same tasks as people within other faculties, I found that I spent A LOT of time doing homework, specifically writing papers. The fact that the workload was not light does not mean that I had no time for my life. I think that if you find an organization/time management system that works for you, you will have time for yourself to do whatever you’d like. Personally, I made sure that I scheduled to have all my assignments finished at least 24 hours before their due date (or longer if I had social plans), so I never found myself cramming last minute to get something done.
great importance in putting aside time for myself to have fun and do what I like (hanging out with friends, shopping, going to school events, etc.). Keep note that this is coming from an extreme
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introvert, haha! With this, I found my experience at Waterloo to be one of the most thrilling of my life, both academically and socially. I met some enjoyable and exciting people and made many unforgettable memories!
Anything else to add?
For more details and advice about my experience at the University of Waterloo, make sure you check out my youtube channel where I discuss these topics :)
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A very special thank you to our interviewee...
YASMIN
Hey everybody! My name is Yasmin, and I am currently entering my 2A term at the University of Waterloo, pursuing a double major in Legal Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. I am also a part of the co-op program, but my first co-op term is not until the spring. I am super passionate about social justice issues and advocacy and making the world a better place. One fun fact about me is that I have a YouTube channel where I make lots of university-based content and other lifestyle-type vides. I hope I can help people with their transition to university!! Feel free to message me on Instagram or leave a comment on any of my youtube videos with any questions you may have!
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How has the University of Waterloo dealt with the transition to an online learning platform?
I feel like Waterloo has dealt with the transition to online learning pretty well. For Software Engineering, all our courses are online. We use a website called LEARN created by D2L to mostly manage all our coursework. We have a combination of asynchronous (not scheduled, just view the course content) and part synchronous (scheduled) classes. There is a question
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Why did you choose your program? What makes it unique to you?
As someone who wanted to study a subject related to computer code, my top choices were Waterloo Software Engineering (SE) and Waterloo Computer Science (CS). Waterloo was my top choice because of its prestigious co-op program, but choosing between the two code-related programs was challenging. Ultimately though, I went with SE. Waterloo’s engineering programs are known to have a cohort system. Essentially, this means that students take most of your classes with the same people (for SE,
we have a class of about 150 people). It puts you in a setting similar to elementary/middle school, where you’d have one homeroom and move around the school with them. This makes it much easier to get to know your classmates since you spend to much time together. I had heard a lot of good things about the cohort system and wanted to try it out. Even though I’m only a week into my program, I can definitely see the benefits! I can’t wait to meet my cohort in person :)
What’s the biggest change from high school to university?
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I feel like university goes through content faster than high school does. It’s very manageable, but if you don’t read the content or do the practice work, it can be easy to fall behind. Also, in high school, teachers would often chase you down if you didn’t finish an assignment. In university, you’ll just get a zero. Essentially (especially in an online learning environment), you are responsible for your own learning. You have to time manage a lot to be successful. On a more positive note, university is much bigger than high school. There are so many people who come from all different interests and backgrounds. There are many niche clubs, design teams, and societies that you can join where you can meet people who are (and aren’t!) in your program or faculty! Even though it’s more limited because everything is online, there are still activities going on. For example, I tried out Quizbowl last week and found it pretty fun (despite not being able to answer almost all of the questions).
answers forum where we can ask instructors questions, and instructors and teaching assistants often hold office hours where we can log in and ask questions. Overall, I think things are going pretty well!
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Can you briefly describe what the application process was like for those who don't know?
For Waterloo Software Engineering, you’ll need to fill several parts of the application called an AIF (Admission Information Form). There are sections
about why you chose Waterloo, listing your extracurriculars, employment background, achievements, and personal external circumstances.For Engineering applications (SE-included), there are questions relating to your interest and ambitions in Waterloo Engineering. Finally, for Software Engineering specifically, you need to show you have modular programming experience by listing the languages you know and how you’ve
used them. I also included a link to my
Github in this section.
Make sure you read the length limit for all your responses. Waterloo (at least during my year) uses character limits instead of words, so remember that as you write your answers!
The Faculty of Engineering also has a video interview which can only improve your application, and I highly recommend doing it, even though it’s optional. The video interview is essentially recording yourself (live) as you answer some questions on the
screen. You’ll get an email with all the instructions. The website Waterloo uses gives you unlimited practice attempts with past questions, so I recommend using those to get comfortable talking in front of a camera.
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What is some advice you would give high school students when applying to your program?
Waterloo Software Engineering is quite a competitive program. No one formula or one perfect application essay answer will guarantee your admission. No one outside of the admissions office knows exactly how they sort applications, including current students! You just need to write your application as best as you can.
General tips I have to improve your application are:
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Maintain a high academic average -- Try to aim for above a 95%+. Some people are accepted with lower averages, but the high 90s is generally what you want to aim for.
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Do hackathons -- There are plenty of online ones lately, and it shows you have the initiative to code outside of school.
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Do extracurriculars -- Both code-related and non-code related. Whether you’re the president, executive or even just an active member, you can include the activity on your application.
As for the application process: don’t procrastinate your application. You have a ton of time to write and refine it, and you should make use of that time. I also recommend getting people to proofread it. Personally, I got my parents and some friends to help review mine, and was also lucky enough to get some upper-years to help too!
For a Software Engineering Student at Waterloo...
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A very special thank you to our interviewee...
HANNAH GUO
Hi everyone! My name is Hannah, and I'm currently a first-year (remotely) studying Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo! I'm happy to contribute to Project Uni, and I hope my interview helps you! When I'm not programming or doing schoolwork, I love reading, gaming, skating and catching up on animes. Shoot me a message if you have any questions about SE (or just want to chat)! :)
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For a UW Science & Aviation Student
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What do you think is special about the Waterloo campus life?
I think the most special thing about Waterloo campus life is how easy it is for everybody to fit in and find a group of people and things to do that they enjoy. Especially with Laurier down the street, everyone can live a decent social life
What was your favourite elective in first year?
In Science and Aviation, there were no electives in first year. The only choices we got were which sciences we wanted to take (needed to choose 2 out of physics, chemistry, earth sciences and biology), and i'd have to say that my favourite course was physics 121 with Richard Epp. It is a difficult course for first years, but he is a fantastic professor and that course really helped build my work ethic and made the rest of school seem easier. A course that was not an elective that I enjoyed was ENG193 with Brad Mehlenbacher. English in university is completely different than high school - Brad is an excellent professor, and we learned how to create, analyze and write scientific reports, along with much more.
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Why did you choose your program? What makes it unique to you?
The reason I chose this program is because it's the only Science and Aviation program in Canada. My goal in the future is to be an airline pilot, and many airlines make it clear that you will be a better candidate if you have a degree. Some schools will give you your pilots licence and an aviation degree, which may increase your chances of getting a job at an airline. I chose to pursue a different degree because I wanted to have something I can fall back on if being a pilot doesn't pan out. With a science degree, if being a pilot doesn't work out, I can easily find research positions, or go back to teaching college and become a teacher with this degree. This is what I have planned as my backup. I love learning about chemistry and physics, along with being able to fly. This is the only program in Canada that offers this, which I think makes the program and its students very unique.
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What is some advice you would give high school students when applying to your program?
Before applying to this program, really make sure and be one hundred percent confident that you want to enter the aviation industry. This is not something you
How would you describe the workload and work-life balance?
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The workload and work-life balance is completely different than anything in high school. The amount of work and studying you have to do becomes exponentially higher, and it's no secret that the majority of high schools struggle to prepare their students for this change. In the aviation program at Waterloo, in science and geography, aviation students are allowed to take one less course than a regular science or geography major. However, it still is a lot of work. There will definitely be nights where all your friends are going out yet you have to study, and a lot of late nights in the library or at your desk. The balance between work and life all depends on your time management skills. If you manage your time well enough, you can easily afford to go out on weekends, or on some weeks not have to do any work at all on the weekends. It will be overwhelming at first-it's important to remember that it's overwhelming for everyone and not just yourself. Try to meet people in your classes. Having someone to ask questions to can help significantly. The best advice I heard before going to university was ‘Sleep more than you study, study more than you party, and party as much as you possibly can’.
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should apply to because you think it might be cool, or you want to be a scientist, and have a pilots licence as your backup. If that is the case, this program will be very difficult for you. Despite only being a couple courses a semester, the aviation side to things has an immense workload, in which courses you need to maintain good grades. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that entering flight school is very, very expensive, and as a pilot, entry level salaries are very low. A relatively high number of students drop out of this program because they cannot afford it, yet only realize this in second or third year. Also make sure you can keep up academically, yet that applies to any student in any program. For aviation, it is important that you know this is something you want to do before you commit to it.
should apply to because you think it might be cool, or you want to be a scientist, and have a pilots licence as your backup. If that is the case, this program will be very difficult for you. Despite only being a couple courses a semester, the aviation side to things has an immense workload, in which courses you need to maintain good grades. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that entering flight school is very, very expensive, and as a pilot, entry level salaries are very low. A relatively high number of students drop out of this program because they cannot afford it, yet only realize this in second or third year. Also make sure you can keep up academically, yet that applies to any student in any program. For aviation, it is important that you know this is something you want to do before you commit to it.
A very special thank you to our interviewee...
JEREMY WEISBERG
My name is Jeremy Weisberg, I am currently in 2A Science and Aviation at the University of Waterloo. I have always had a passion for aviation and hope to help incoming students with the same passion. Feel free to connect with me on linkedin, instagram @jeremy.weisberg, or by email at jeremyweisberg1@gmail.com if you have any questions, need advice, or anything of the sort.
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For a Kinesiology Student At Waterloo
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Can you tell us more about the Kinesiology program? What kinds of things will first year students be studying/learning?
Kinesiology is the science of human movement. The courses that we are required to take, as well as the elective courses are centralized among a couple themes: physiology (how the internal body systems function), biomechanics (the physics of how we move), neuroscience (the study of the brain and nervous system), anatomy, and social sciences. In first year, you’ll take courses that may overlap with courses you took in highschool (ex. Chemistry, biology, physics, calculus), but you’ll also be taking Kinesiology-specific courses, such as Human Anatomy: Limbs and Trunk, Introduction to Human Nutrition, and Human Physiology I. Specifically, you’ll also take a human anatomy lab in your second term of first year, where you’ll get the opportunity to work with cadavers - one of my favourite labs to date! In second year, you’ll be taking courses focused on physiology, biomechanics, and neuroscience - giving you a good base of knowledge and exposing you to the different pathways in kinesiology. In third and fourth year, the courses are up to you!
How does Waterloo prepare students for a career after graduation?
There’s a lot of opportunities for experiential learning, even outside of the co-op program. Our cadaver lab is available for all first-year students, and was an experience that enriched my knowledge of human anatomy. It’s one thing to study an image in a textbook, but I grew a totally different appreciation for human anatomy when being able to see and feel the different structures. Undergraduate students can also get involved in some of the Kinesiology research labs - either volunteering as a participant in a study, or volunteering with the research team. This is a really good opportunity to network with different professors and upper year students, and discover the realm of research! There are also numerous ways to get involved with the university to enrich your experience - becoming a strength and conditioning intern for varsity athletes, a member of the Campus Response Team, or a fitness/sports instructor for fitness classes! Lastly, there’s often events hosted by the faculty to allow undergraduate students to explore different career paths, such as presentations by prospective graduate programs of different universities and opportunities to network with Kinesiology alumni.
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Why did you choose your program? What makes it unique to you?
I was really interested in anatomy and physiology, and specifically in humans. I thought Kinesiology was a good fit
because we study human movement – the physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, anatomy, and social sciences. What I find most interesting is applying this knowledge to injury and rehabilitation. The flexibility of the Kinesiology program also influenced my decision to go to the University of Waterloo. I knew that I wanted to pursue some sort of higher education after my undergrad, and knew that grades could be an important factor for admission into these programs. It was important to me that I could take the courses that interested me the most, since I knew I would excel in courses that personally interested me. In fact, 3rd and 4th year are composed of all electives, which is helpful to tailor your degree or pursue a minor!
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What are the pros/cons of the co-op program?
I think the biggest advantage is that you’re able to apply skills from our labs to workplaces - for example, using research-grade equipment to measure skeletal muscle activity, taking blood pressure measurements, or understanding how to cue a client during strengthening exercises. On the other hand, I’m also able to relate patient cases to relevant musculoskeletal conditions that I learn in lecture, which makes the content more meaningful. Lastly, co-op gives me a break from academic commitments, but also gives me the flexibility to take extra courses over my co-op term. Some disadvantages include having to coordinate housing arrangements before every co-op term, and course planning. As some courses are only available in certain semesters (ex. Only winter term), you would have to plan out your courses such that you have all the prerequisites to take all the courses that you want to take in the right semester.
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JUICY
should apply to because you think it might be cool, or you want to be a scientist, and have a pilots licence as your backup. If that is the case, this program will be very difficult for you. Despite only being a couple courses a semester, the aviation side to things has an immense workload, in which courses you need to maintain good grades. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that entering flight school is very, very expensive, and as a pilot, entry level salaries are very low. A relatively high number of students drop out of this program because they cannot afford it, yet only realize this in second or third year. Also make sure you can keep up academically, yet that applies to any student in any program. For aviation, it is important that you know this is something you want to do before you commit to it.
A very special thank you to our interviewee...
EMILY MAE-YAE TAM
Hey everyone! My name is Emily, and I’m in my fourth year of Kinesiology co-op at the University of Waterloo. Through my co-op experiences, I’ve worked at a chiropractic clinic, an athletic therapy clinic working with university-level varsity athletes, and I’m about to start my fourth co-op term working with kinesiologists and physiotherapists to create targeted exercise programs for diabetic clients! At school, I hold a student-staff role as a Residence Life Don (an upper-year student that lives with first-years in residence) and I also work as a varsity trainer for UW’s Varsity Women’s Volleyball team! Feel free to connect with me if you have questions - I’d love to share my experiences :)
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For a Health Studies Student At Waterloo
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What’s an interesting quirk of your school that freshmen should know?
Waterloo is home to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College and is therefore really student friendly! Waterloo students come from diverse backgrounds and I love how it influences the campus culture of the university. Because of the co-op program, students alternate between academic and work terms and so there are people on campus and in the city year-round. There are plenty of restaurants, bubble tea shops, and board game cafes for students to visit, all of which are located close to the university. We are also surrounded by parks and forests which contribute to the chilled-out atmosphere. Campus is particularly cheerful during the spring and fall!
What is the class environment like? How often are collaborative work or group presentations required?
Something I love about my program and faculty is the tight-knit community. Professors and students are so caring and supportive of your learning. It is common for students to connect with their professors during lectures, office hours, and faculty socials. My program offers a combination of large lectures and small seminars. Lectures consist of presentations from professors and guest speakers while the corresponding tutorials allow students to further explore course content, assignments, and quizzes with teaching assistants. Seminars are more intimate courses with a narrower topic of focus and discussions with your professor and classmates. Collaborative work and presentations are common in seminars and tutorials. Oftentimes, students are expected to collaborate with their peers using course discussion boards and in person for projects and presentations. Health Studies students are well connected outside of the classroom as well.
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Why did you choose your program? What makes it unique to you?
I chose Health Studies at the University of Waterloo because I wanted to learn about health from a holistic perspective. My program allows me to study all aspects of health, including life sciences, public health and health systems, and health informatics. The interdisciplinary nature of the program empowers students to explore their diverse interests - I am currently pursuing a Health Research specialization and Aging Studies option. Another reason I chose Health Studies is because of the co-op program. I discovered my love for health technologies through my co-op terms at a hospital and biotechnology company. Moreover, I have connected with incredible professors, students, and colleagues during my academic and co-op terms. The tight-knit community within my program and faculty is what I love most about university life.
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What is some advice you would give high school students when applying to your program?
The most important advice I would give to high school students interested in Health Studies at the University of Waterloo is to be bold. University is a chance to learn about yourself and your interests, so take risks! Participate in your faculty, student union, and co-op or experiential learning opportunities to make the most of your time in university. It is an amazing way to make friends and develop skills for your future career. I would recommend taking some time to reflect on your priorities and goals for university. Consider which university, program, and campus culture aligns with your priorities and trust your instincts! What matters most is that you love what you are learning and the people around you. Moreover, a good work-life balance is critical to thriving in university. Create a schedule and prioritize time for sleeping, eating well, and staying in touch with your family and friends. No assignment or midterm is worth sacrificing your mental health and wellbeing!
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How has being a part of the co-op program been beneficial for you?
The co-op program was a major contributing factor in my decision to attend the University of Waterloo. For one, I was drawn to the prospect of graduating with twenty months of paid work experience. I also looked forward to living in different cities and alternating between school and work terms. Through my co-op terms at a hospital and biotechnology company, I discovered my interest in the area of health informatics and learned more about the scope of healthcare career opportunities. Moreover, I learned how to network and had the chance to develop meaningful relationships with my colleagues. Thus far, some of my favourite university memories have been made during my co-op terms and I have learned so much about myself along the way!
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A very special thank you to our interviewee...
MAISHA ADIL
Hi! My name is Maisha Adil and I am in my third year of Honours Health Studies at the University of Waterloo. I am passionate about health informatics, g