Hi, what does the program of health in macmaster look for in a student? Academic wise and extra-cirricular wise? are there any other related in other universities that are similar to health science?

thanks for the help

No, there is nothing else similar to health sci at any other university. You'll want at least a 93-94 average hopefully higher though, I think a high mark in English is important. Obviously great extra curriculars are a must, being the president of a club or being on your school's student council are good. It's a hard program to get in to, and if you don't make it, I would NOT recommend life science at McMaster.

why not life sci at mcmaster? you can always study hard and re-apply to health sci for your second year... and if you want to be in health sci get ready for a lot of group meetings and some meditation in your tutorials... gl

Originally Posted by Souldier

It's a hard program to get in to, and if you don't make it, I would NOT recommend life science at McMaster.

What?!? I loved mac sci! Although, my first year was structured differently.. and I was a physics/origins student.

Well, life science first year may not have all the appeal of Health Sci, but if your passions lie in Chemistry, or Chem Bio or Physics, or you find the Origins specialisation interesting, then it's a great place to start. Remember, your program is not defined by your first year - it's the cumulative average of your experience all through those four years, the opportunities you have available to you - not just to get good grades, but to meet the best professors, learn the most about what you want to learn, develop your learning styles and adapt to challenges and to pursue YOUR passions.

You need to look for a program that fits that, not just one as appealing or lucrative as the Health Sci program.
Sit down with a Health Sci or come to campus for a tour, or ask to meet one and see if their experiences are something that you really feel complements your interests and what you want to learn.

(just a disclosure, I'm not in any Science program, I know the following information from my intimate conversations with my many friends in life science, health science and other science programs and you don't have to be a genius to figure most of this stuff out)

There are a few reasons I wouldn't recommend life science at Mac :
1) You feel like you're in a second place program at Mac, especially when you consider just how much more money and care is put into crafting the health sci program. You'll constantly be reminded of this throughout your years at Mac, which is simply because McMaster cares more about their Health Sci program than any of their other programs and it shows.

2) About 95% of people in life science at Mac want to go into medical school/dental school, etc. which you will need outstanding grades for and it is very very hard to get good grades in life science especially when compared to health science. Just look at Provost's list and compare the amount of health sci's on it compared to any other faculty, over 70% were Health Sci's, I'm quite frankly not sure how McMaster gets away with it.

3) You can't do much with just a degree in life science, and any job you can get won't be well paying.

^ I don't think that's true (other than health sci overrepresentation on the Provost's list).

I've done well enough in life science (although I'm not staying in a life science / biology / bio chem related field next year) to maintain my post-undergraduate goals and know other life science students who can say the same.

Life science is not as hard as everyone makes it seem. However, it's not like health science either - it's an 'old fashioned' university science program where the first year just sifts through the students...

I am a life science student at mac and COMPLETELY DISAGREE with your above points.
1) I don't in any way feel second place.

2)So what, people in health science got amazing marks in high school, my friends have told me the program is actually not very hard, the hardest part is getting in. A lot of their courses don't even have exams. From what I've heard from people on acceptance boards for med schools, they know mac health sci is fairly easy so when they look at the students mark, they realize it probably should be lower.

3) Life science leaves a lot of doors open for you to choose which path you would like to take in terms of a career. I personally would much rather have a B.Sc. than B.A. and think it can get you further.

get over ideas of the greatness of "doctor" everyone else slowly is. and it makes life so much easier. Write Haiku's instead, you'll be better off

Actually, in my soic class we were talking about average earnings of different graduates, and B.A.'s as far as I remember did better. But my memory is rather shoddy at the moment, so don't quote me on it lol

Really? I couldn't care less about the Health Science program, I don't feel second place being in Life Science.

I do feel Life Science is easy as hell, which means Health Science must be a worthlessly easy program if it's "very very hard to get good grades in life science".

Seriously, forget health science, go into Life Science, get mostly 12's which is not hard to do at all even if you don't go to class, and you're set.

And that post, though I mean it, is mainly meant to contradict some other stuff that's been said here.

Considering the first post: why are you asking what the program wants to see in you? It should be the other way around. Find the program than fits YOU and DO NOT compromize yourself for some false sense of prestige (or whatever).

Don't believe all the hype for a program, and don't be fooled by high admissions averages meaning more "intelligent" students or better-ness/competitiveness later on. Make sure you check them both out. HthSci is heavily PBL (I'll avoid ranting about that right now...), Life Sci is a more traditional, university feel.

Originally Posted by Alchemist11

Really? I couldn't care less about the Health Science program, I don't feel second place being in Life Science.

I do feel Life Science is easy as hell, which means Health Science must be a worthlessly easy program if it's "very very hard to get good grades in life science".

Seriously, forget health science, go into Life Science, get mostly 12's which is not hard to do at all even if you don't go to class, and you're set.

And that post, though I mean it, is mainly meant to contradict some other stuff that's been said here.

First year science programs tend to be pretty straight-forward - it's mainly review, and they still baby you a bit.

Life science seems to be a pretty boring stream to stay in - probably because bio / biochem is awfully drab for me - but I'm sure it gets tougher and more interesting next year.

By the way, I was in your physics lab group two weeks ago.

Life science is a decent program where you get to really explore your options before choosing a major. Physical science, its counterpart as general science, is also a great option.

Health sci is not general science. It's a different faculty altogether and a unique program to say the least.

Explore your options and find your fit.

all health sci students do the same mcats as everyone else for medical school. If they have a low score they wont get in, regardless of the high GPA.