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Students Helping Students
MacInsiders is a student-run information network at McMaster University. Run entirely by students, the site features student views on life at university, advice and tips, plus discussions on thousands of topics. With 6000+ members, 25,500+ discussions, 360+ advice articles, and 370+ course reviews, MacInsiders has become the largest and most popular resource for student-written information. MacInsiders aims to enhance the McMaster student experience by providing an inclusive community that informs, motivates, inspires, and promotes student involvement and leadership through online initiatives and events on campus. Become a member or learn more about us.
The University is launching a new website that will provide updated information on McMaster's ongoing negotiations with various employee groups.
McMaster is currently negotiating collective agreements with CAW Local 555 Unit 1 (representing approximately 2200 administrative and technical workers), CUPE Local 3906 Unit 3 (representing 130 Post Doctoral Fellows) and CUPE Local 3906 Unit 1 (representing approximately 3000 Teaching and Research Assistants).
A week ago we posted about Quarters, the MSU-run campus restaurant/bar, changing it's name and having a complete renovation with what MSU staff are calling a new 'rustic' look and feel. With a new menu, staff, and look, they are hoping to completely revitalize the establishment into something that will turn around the roughly $425,000 deficit that Quarters ran in the last fiscal year.
In our MacInsiders thread we included a poll to choose between the proposed names for the new restaurant. 236 members voted on our site and the name "1280" (named after the street number) was the winner. Plus we saw many users discussing the name change, with almost 400 posts in the manythreadsstarted on the topic.
The MSU has posted their own official poll which includes a new choice, calling the establishment after the old and very successful "The Downstairs John". We've been told that right now it is a very close race between "The Downstairs John" and "1280" as the new name... which follows the results we received on MacInsiders. So be sure to go to the MSU website and vote to make your opinion official!
We've also posted a new macinsiders user poll on our homepage to see which you, the MacInsiders members, prefer... "1280" or "The Downstairs John"? Let us know!
Here is all the 'official' information provided about MacPass via the First Year Experience Office website, and what you get with it. Read the items that you get with it and if you feel they are worth the money, then feel free to buy it here. For students in residence, the pass is quite valuable as there are specific residence events which you will want to participate in. For off-campus students, there are certain concerts and Faculty Day events that can make the pass worth it if you attend them all. However, if you don't see yourself attending those events, then you can still go and enjoy certain WW activities without the pass.
Also check out the other discussions on MacInsiders about MacPass:
Last year these events did NOT REQUIRE the MacPass. This year we aren't sure yet which ones won't require the pass, but we'll keep you updated!
MAC Connector (meet hundreds of fellow students all at once with icebreakers and games)
Faculty Hollow Concerts TWO concerts, both are first-come-first-serve and will be two really well-known bands... but we can't say who yet! Keep checking back to MacInsiders and the MSU Campus Events website for details.
Airbands
PJ Parade (travel through the streets of the McMaster community showing your spirit)
Mission to Mac, hosted by the McMaster Alumni Association (MAA), is an
excellent opportunity for incoming students to get all their questions answered about what it's like at McMaster answered. Current students and new alumni travel to your hometown to help you get a taste of what it's really like to be in a class of 400, what profs are really like, what it's like in a residence bathroom, a taste of what it's like to get involved with student activities, and anything and everything to help you out with your upcoming university career.
This is an amazing opportunity to meet future classmates, involved upper-year students and McMaster Alumni.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend; Their questions are welcomed too!
The presentations will occur in the following locations:
· London · Sarnia · Niagara · Brantford · · Kitchener-Waterloo · Oakville · Mississauga · · Toronto · Barrie · Kingston · Ottawa · · Hong Kong ·Scarborough · Richmond Hill ·
BY MACINSIDERS INSIDERS AGENT SARAH M. (sara_h216)
Hi everyone, I just received an e-mail a few minutes ago saying that the residence lottery process was done! Check your e-mails!
The e-mail :
Hi Sara
Great news! The Residence allocation process has been completed and your assignment has been posted to your online application. Please log-in to your application and select 'Application Status' on the left menu. Details on your room assignment and roommates (if applicable) will be available.
Wondering about move-in? Move-in takes place the weekend of September 5-7th. You will be emailed with your specific date and time. This information will be sent later in the summer by email - watch your inbox for details
Understanding the Undergraduate Calendar Prerequisites
BY JEREMY HAN, MACINSIDERS INSIDER AGENT
The Undergraduate Calendar Prerequisites are very confusing when seeing them for the first time. However, McMaster uses the same format for all their prerequisites in all their courses. So after you've read this article, you should be able to decode the Undergraduate Calendar.
I'll start from the basics.
1. Unless specified, when a course is listed as a prerequisite the default is that you have to have completed the prerequisite course before registering in the new course.
Example: Chem 1A03 is the prerequisite of Chem 1AA3. You can take Chem 1A03 in term 1 and Chem 1AA3 in term 2
Note: SOLAR assumes you have completed the course if you are taking the prerequisite the term before the new course.
The first thing you should do is look at the prerequisites and minimum/average GPAs of each school. Please keep in mind that the minimum MCAT and GPA scores are likely to change each year as the competition grows. Additionally, minimum scores do not guarantee acceptance into a program.
Listed below are the requirements for the six Ontario medical schools for 2009:
McMaster University:
GPA Calculation: OSMAS Scale – All marks are used.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 out of 4.0
MCAT: Verbal Reasoning (minimum score: 6)
Prequisites: None.
Northern Ontario School of Medicine:
GPA Calculation: OSMAS Scale – All marks are used.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 out of 4.0
MCAT: Not required.
Prequisites: None.
University of Ottawa
Minimum years of undergraduate study: 3
GPA Calculation: (1st year GPA + 2nd year GPA x 2 + 3rd year GPA x 3) ÷ 6
Minimum GPA: not stated; however, aim for a weighted average of 3.85
MCAT: Not required.
Prerequisites: 6 units arts or social sciences; 6 units biology; and 6 units from biochemistry, chemistry, or organic chemistry
Queen’s University
GPA Calculation: Either the average of all of your courses (or your two best full-years (at least 30 units per year). You must meet the minimum GPA cut-offs using either method.
Minimum GPA: Not stated, but 3.7 unofficially.
MCAT: Not stated, but minimum 10/10/10 R * unofficially.
Prerequisites: 6 units in life sciences, 6 units in physical science, 6 units in humanities or social sciences.
University of Toronto:
GPA Calculation: If you have completed at least three years of undergrad with a full course load (30 units) each year, then you can eliminate the grade of one full credit (6 unit course) or two half credits (3 unit course) for each year of study. Summer courses are not included in the calculation of GPA.
Minimum GPA: 3.6 out of 4.0
MCAT: Minimum 9/9/9 N*
Prerequisites: 12 units in life sciences, 6 units in humanities, social sciences or languages.
University of Western Ontario
GPA Calculation: Only years with 5 full year courses are considered. The level of courses should correspond to your year of program. For example: if you’re in 3rd year, then three out of five courses must be 3rd year courses or higher. Your two best years must meet the minimum GPA cut-offs. Residents of Western Ontario qualify for the SWOMEN academic requirements, see their website for details.
Average GPA (Class of ’09): 3.75.
MCAT: 11/10/9 Q *
Prerequisites: None, but a mixture of science, humanities, and...
Last year I wrote an article for all incoming first year students that gave them an overview of important deadlines from mid-May until the end of August. It’s a new year, and a new incoming first year class, so I thought I’d write (rewrite?) the article with information pertinent to 2009. You can still check out the previous article here.
Once McMaster gets your final grades from high school, you will get your final letter of acceptance. It is only until you have gotten this letter that are you actually considered a McMaster student, regardless of if you will already started choosing your courses.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to facilitate the new student process, and things to remember to do a little bit later in the summer. Trust me, by getting as much out of the way now as possible the easier life will be for you.
MAC ID
If you haven’t done it already, set up your MAC ID. You will need this to pick your courses. Course selection for first year students is June 29th until July 4th. You can check out what day your faculty chooses here. If You really want to make sure that you sign up for your MAC ID a few business days before your course selection just in case a) there are some issues and b) to offset any processing time that may occur.
OSAP
Will you need some sort of financial assistance in first year? If so, consult with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Find out your eligibility, and begin the application process. There are some scholarships and grants that you must apply for before a certain date. To have OSAP as a payment agreement when picking courses you must have applied by a certain date as well. MacInsiders user Danny Vacar wrote a great article about OSAP last May, and even though it is “dated” I suggest you read it. You can find it here. If you want more information, you can also consult with the OSAP website.
Easy Summer Orientation Program
If you have concerns about picking your courses, or first year in general, the First Year Experience Office (FYEO) is offering an orientation program focused on academics. The Easy Summer Orientation Program has sessions on academic success, goal-setting, decision-making, and an...
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Notice: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the student(s) who authored the content. Views and actions of MacInsiders may not reflect the views of all the members of the McMaster Students Union. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by McMaster University or the MSU (McMaster Students Union). Being a student-run community, all articles and discussion posts on MacInsiders are unofficial and it is therefore always recommended that you visit the official McMaster website for the most accurate up-to-date information.
MacInsiders is putting together a new 'Insider Agents' staff team. 
