[arathbon]

McMaster Applications Up Sharply

As demand for enrolment in universities increases across the province, McMaster's popularity is rising more quickly than most.

Preliminary numbers from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre show applications from graduating high-school students are up 6.6 per cent at McMaster, compared to 2.2 per cent across the province.

The number of students listing McMaster as their first choice is up 7.2 per cent.

“It's certainly gratifying,” said McMaster president Patrick Deane. “It tells you that this kind of growth is more than just a demographic consequence. It's a qualitative decision based on students' assessment of what McMaster has to offer.”

More at The Spec.com including:

With 21,000 full-time undergraduate students, the university is at or near capacity, so with more high-school graduates wanting in, the only option is to raise the cutoff for entering grades, leaving some would-be students out.

“Everybody is concerned about the issue of accessibility, because these will for the most part be deserving students we'd like to see accommodated in the university, but there are limits to which the university can grow,” Deane said.

[AelyaS]

Seems like I came at the right time.

[britb]

I wonder why everyone's coming here now specifically? A few years ago it seemed like Western was the pick (at least, it was at my school).

Health Sci might have a lot to do with it...

[jo87]

Originally Posted by britb

I wonder why everyone's coming here now specifically? A few years ago it seemed like Western was the pick (at least, it was at my school).

Health Sci might have a lot to do with it...

Im from Hamilton and most people from my school went to Mac, so I think that has a lot to do with it. Most people from Hamilton are probably applying here. I can't think of anyone from my high school that went away for school. Mac is in a good location, and Brock isn't much competition. Sometimes the number of students applying to university isn't based on the quality of education the university provides. Its hard to know how good the school is unless you're there for couple of years, then you really get to see what the school is like. I think government has also announced that it will make it easier for students to get OSAP, so that makes it easier for more people to pay. In my opinion the more students we have in university the less your degree is worth. Thats why Im not a fan of increasing numbers, I feel like it devalues the degree. They need to increase admissions avrg. Especially in social sciences and humanities.

[justinsftw]

They would definitely have to use higher cut-offs, because space is totally an issue. They would have to buy land if they are going to expand, and Hamilton and co. can only sell so much, as evident in the DeGroote Burlington building (which looks epic, by the way. I drove past it once, saw the big McMaster sign, and smiled).

[mcmasterrrrr]

Increased tuition fees in the future, yay!

[changturkey]

Is there any more space on campus for them to expand really?

[britb]

Originally Posted by jo87

Im from Hamilton and most people from my school went to Mac, so I think that has a lot to do with it. Most people from Hamilton are probably applying here. I can't think of anyone from my high school that went away for school. Mac is in a good location, and Brock isn't much competition. Sometimes the number of students applying to university isn't based on the quality of education the university provides. Its hard to know how good the school is unless you're there for couple of years, then you really get to see what the school is like. I think government has also announced that it will make it easier for students to get OSAP, so that makes it easier for more people to pay. In my opinion the more students we have in university the less your degree is worth. Thats why Im not a fan of increasing numbers, I feel like it devalues the degree. They need to increase admissions avrg. Especially in social sciences and humanities.

Somehow I don't think that's it, I mean its not like Hamilton exploded between this year and last year...

Anyway, I agree with you about letting more students in - anyone can get a degree these days, it means almost nothing now. Never mind how much it impacts other students' education - huge lectures, no space to sit down quietly for 10 minutes, etc.

They need to jump admission averages, srsy, or have a standardized test.

[britb]

Originally Posted by changturkey

Is there any more space on campus for them to expand really?

There is in their wallet. That's all the space you need.

[Mahratta]

Originally Posted by britb

Anyway, I agree with you about letting more students in - anyone can get a degree these days, it means almost nothing now. Never mind how much it impacts other students' education - huge lectures, no space to sit down quietly for 10 minutes, etc.

Well, that's only the case in a few programs, really...the obvious ones in science and eng, and a few in humanities (history, English) and social science...

[xo.monica]

Originally Posted by jo87

They need to increase admissions avrg. Especially in social sciences and humanities.

I agree completely. D:
Admission for Soc Sci/Hum. is SO low, and pretty much ANYONE can get in. (there are so many dumb people in my faculty, it's not even freakin' funny).

like a 75%-77% or whatever it is is ridiculous. Should at least be an 80%, that would cut off a decent chunk of people.

[changturkey]

Originally Posted by britb

There is in their wallet. That's all the space you need.

Uh, well if they wanted to build new residences, where exactly is there to build them?

[mcmastergcdb]

Originally Posted by changturkey

Uh, well if they wanted to build new residences, where exactly is there to build them?

The campus is buillt only on about 8% of the land Mac owns in Hamilton

[crazyfree]

Originally Posted by mcmastergcdb

The campus is buillt only on about 8% of the land Mac owns in Hamilton

Whhaaaat?? Where's the rest? Have they been holding out on us?

[optical]

Just think of how MORE crowded MUGSI's gonna get :(