Hey MacInsiders, I'm currently a grade 12 student in Sir.John.A.Macdonald C.I. Got my offers from UTSG life sci, UWO biomed and MAC LIFE SCI

I was debating on which school I should go but this site really swayed me over to Mac!It's really organized and informative, i found the course outline especially helpful! Anyway,, after researching a little more on the programs offered at Mac, the Biochemistry program really interests me, especially with the Biomed and Biochem specialization + Coop. I really want to get some work experience while studying, and I think it opens up a lot of future job opportunities.

So, I know that the required courses for Biochem and Life Sci are really similar (as in Bio, chem, Physic), so it is easy to transfer? And can we only transfer at the end of first year? (I'm just confused over the notes said on Mac offical website that you can transfer any time, how does that work when they need to look at your first year grades?) Also, I heard that the Coop program for biochem is very competitive, how competitve is it? What do you look at other than marks? What kind of questions might they ask you in the interview?

Lastly, I want to live off-campus the first year (as in rent a house near the school), but many people told me that living in residence is the best way to meet new people and built network, so is living off-campus first year an unwise choice? *the only reason is because it is less expensive*

---- Thanks for anyone who replies, all helps are appreciated, ------

Hey, welcome to MI!

I'm not in biochem, so I can't really help much.

Coop in general at mac can be pretty competitive. The hardest bit is writing a captivating, yet concise cover letter and resume.. most coop interviews in general focus on your problem solving ability and thought process, while the higher end and intensive ones require a solid background in the fundamentals of your program (lab synthesis, design problems, communication ability (depending if in science, engineering, etc)).

Can't really comment on res/off-campus, but its really based on what kind of person you are.. you may greatly benefit from being forced to open up, but then again you might thrive in an independent enviroment (off campus) given more responsibilities.. cooking versus using your meal card for every meal for instance. The main thing about living near campus is having much more free time since you don't have to commute.

Honestly, I would always take the cheaper route as long as you don't live more than an hour away (obviously).

Thanks alot I guess I'll settle with rent a house then

All students enter first year in either life sciences, physical sciences, enviro/earth sciences or math and stats. You then apply to second year programs near the end of your first year (around this time). So there's no need for transferring between programs unless you don't get into biochem in second year.

I can't answer any questions about coop though.

Be prepared though, I know a couple people in biochem specializations and it's A LOT of work.

Hi jennifer! Really hope you choose MAC!!! Welcome to the MacInsiders Community

Originally Posted by Yan_220

Lastly, I want to live off-campus the first year (as in rent a house near the school), but many people told me that living in residence is the best way to meet new people and built network, so is living off-campus first year an unwise choice? *the only reason is because it is less expensive*

---- Thanks for anyone who replies, all helps are appreciated, ------

I don't live on residence, but I can tell you that all of the people I've become friends with I've met mainly through being in the same tutorials and being in the same group for group work.

You'll meet people no matter where you live, you just might know about more parties..etc if you live on campus.