I'm hoping to go to mac, but I just got my first semester marks back and got 81 in Bio, 83 in Advanced Functions and 87 in Chemistry....Thats 83.67. I will probably get a high 80 average at midterm for 2nd semester. I was wondering if its good enough to get into Life Sciences at Mac or Waterloo even. And I was also wondering because if its not good enough, could I change my application to Environmental Science or something easier because I hear first year is same for all sciences pretty much anyways or is it too late for that?

You can easily switch between the Sciences at Mac, just make sure you take the required courses needed to switch. And its definitely not too late, but make sure to make a decision.

I'd definitely apply to both life science and enviro sci as a back-up if I were in your position(I did it too). With either one, if you pick your courses wisely you can enter into any second year science course (with the exception of math & stats / comp sci which are only included in teh faculty of science since they don't have their own faculty yet).

Also if you really do want to get into science, I suggest trying your hardest for Mac over Waterloo. Don't get me wrong, Waterloo is a wonderful school if you like math/engineering that is. They aren't exactly known for science and their science faculty is much smaller compared to ours. You'd get a better science education here at Mac, especially in your upper years.

Thanks, but I mean like, I applied already and everything. I'm in my final semester at high school, but I don't know if I will get in to Life Science. I was wondering if its still possible to apply to Environmental Science because the deadline was early January. I'm confident my overall average will be around 85, but I'm not sure if its good enough.

oh sorry, I must have skimmed over it a little too fast... life Sci is usually 84-86.. so you would have a decent shot at getting in with an 85.

I'm not sure if it is possible to change admission applications at this point. You should talk to your Councillor at your school

i was told i wouldn't get into life sci with an 85.66 and i was told to apply to enviro sci because you take the same courses and within 2 days of applying i was accepted! So if you really wanna go to mac and your average isn't high enough, definitely apply for enviro sci and just take the courses a life sci student takes! It says you need to take 2 enviro sci courses but if you have no intention of graduating with a degree in enviro sci you can take 2 electives instead!

Last year the cutoff for life sci was 87 i believe!

You can even do Soc Sci and switch in to Science, which is what I'm doing.

last years cut off was 87 correct

Ultimately, it's down to how hard you work. As current students, we can give you our general ideas about your possible options, but your best bet in this case would be to really put in that extra effort to bring your marks up this semester. A lot of 80-average students have the abilities to be 90-average students, they just have to push themselves to do better.

Is life sci the only program you applied to at Mac?

Good luck with the rest of the semester!

Yea, life science was all I applied for. I had a 90 average at the end of December which is why I applied to life science, but basketball brought be down greatly. Well, I also got lazy too lol. So there's no way for me to get into Mac or change my application to something easier? Danggg

Originally Posted by MCHEDDENITE

last years cut off was 87 correct

I know a guy who got in with an 85.4 average, so I doubt that 87 is correct. I would be willing to bet, that if anything, the 87% is the cut off for the first rounds of admissions, and it gets lowered for the second round of admissions.

As far as I know the cut off is never publicly released, so don't trust anyone who gives you an exact number on admission averages.

it was for sure 87 last year because i got a letter saying that i wouldn't be accepted because the cut off was 87

Originally Posted by jamiebenyovi

it was for sure 87 last year because i got a letter saying that i wouldn't be accepted because the cut off was 87

Yet your status says you're in first year life sci??

Also, I'm fairly sure the rejection letters don't mention the admission cut off.

Originally Posted by REPLEKIA/.

Yet your status says you're in first year life sci??

Also, I'm fairly sure the rejection letters don't mention the admission cut off.

If you read her posts she says she is technically in enviro sci and shadowing life sci...she probably just set her thing to say life sci since that is what she wants to go into.

Originally Posted by MCHEDDENITE

last years cut off was 87 correct

Originally Posted by REPLEKIA/.

I know a guy who got in with an 85.4 average, so I doubt that 87 is correct.

You should take note of the fact that the average required to get into a particular program is different depending on your high school. When I applied, the so called 'cutoff' was mid 80's but I had an 83 average, but I was still admitted. At the same time, I heard of students from different schools that weren't accepted who had an average that was higher than mine.
If your school school has a reputation for being easy, then you probably need a higher average, and conversely, if your school has a reputation for being hard, then your average probably doesn't need to be as high.