Hi,
I'm now very struggling for deciding whether go to Electrical and biomedical eng or Mechatronics eng on the second year...
So can anyone tell me for these two programs which has the higher cut-off? or any suggestions??

I've heard that it is really hard to get into EBE, is that true???

Thank you

Biomedical definitely has the higher cut-off! I am pretty sure there's an info session for each faculty around this time of the year..go to both faculty sessions and just ask the profs/upper year students about the program. The biomed info session is part of the ece one and mechatronics is part of the cas session (with software).

You shouldn't worry about the cut-off.. just list it as your top choice, and tron as a second...

EBE is harder simply because of its competiveness (I'd also say it's the hardest eng program academically). If you are just writing it down in choices, do EB>Tron (+mgmt/society if you want it) in that order. If it is actual choice for next year, that's up to you to decide.

Do realize if you are going into EB for the biological engineering stuff, that might not happen till 3rd or even 4th year if at all (ask another EB person). I know for a fact that 2nd n 3rd year they just slap on biology courses on so far. Compared to the states for example, the foundation is laid in this program unlike the specialized schools in the states that actually teach about prosthetics, etc

How about mechatronics? I've done quite a bit of research into it and most of the people say that the workload is very heavy and it's probably because the program isn't refined well enough. I'm also considering mechatronics but i'm concerned about the too much programming since the only experience I have was from taking 1D04. I like the concept of building robots and everything but i'm not sure if the types of courses mechtron offers is right for me.

here's course listings for,

Mechatronics : http://registrar.mcmaster.ca /CALEN...nt/pg1229.html
Elec & Bio med : http://registrar.mcmaster.ca /CALEN...nt/pg1214.html

I suggest you go over both links, read the description of every course being offered for each program and think for yourself, what you might be more interested in. In addition, as stated already, attending course/faculty info session might be of great help too.

Originally Posted by Anizer

How about mechatronics? I've done quite a bit of research into it and most of the people say that the workload is very heavy and it's probably because the program isn't refined well enough. I'm also considering mechatronics but i'm concerned about the too much programming since the only experience I have was from taking 1D04. I like the concept of building robots and everything but i'm not sure if the types of courses mechtron offers is right for me.

The workload isn't very heavy in tron (well, beyond second year at least)...

Software engineering and tron are very similar programs after second year, so if you don't like programming - you should look elsewhere.

I personally wouldn't recommend it because in the end, you don't really learn enough to do anything (except maybe software).

The "You get to build robots" thing is a big lie.

As a friend of mine graduating this year said,

Man, I went 4 whole years and didn't even build one robot...

Yeah... I went to Mac for the Mechatronics program and discovered that there was a lot of software courses involved. I immediately made EE my first choice.

I had a chance to build 3 robots in ECE (somewhat as I specialized in controls engineering). Whoever your friend was in fourth year, I feel bad for him.

Cookie?

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

I personally wouldn't recommend it because in the end, you don't really learn enough to do anything (except maybe software).

,

Wow, please don't influence the decisions of people with uneducated comments like this. I'm in tron, after 2nd year I got a job with a mechanical company, and after 3rd year I got a job with an automation company. Looks like I'm doing a lot more than software

Originally Posted by patso29

Wow, please don't influence the decisions of people with uneducated comments like this. I'm in tron, after 2nd year I got a job with a mechanical company, and after 3rd year I got a job with an automation company. Looks like I'm doing a lot more than software

Didn't know you represent the entirety of the mechatronics program. I'll admit, my statement could have expanded more. I'm not saying someone going through the mechatronics program can't do any of those things, more that they only really receive a mostly full education in software engineering. If you talk to any recent mechatronics graduate, many of them have that complaint.

As a recent grad of Mechatronics, it is a lot of software. basically software with some circuits and a dabble into mech. Job prospects were basically software related. Industrial Automation industry is looking for mechatronic engineers though.