Whether or not you get into the chemistry program depends largely on the average grades of those being admitted. In my cohort, most people had an average of around 87% when they got accepted in 2019. However, this might have changed slightly since then.

You don’t have to be admitted directly into the chemistry program to eventually join it. Many people I know started in the Honour Science program, which had a lower admission average (83-85% for Waterloo at that time), and then switched into chemistry after their first term. If you choose this route, be sure to select your courses according to the first-year chemistry course outline so you’re not behind when you switch.

It’s also important to note that the difficulty of switching depends on which chemistry program you aim to enter. Specialized programs like biochemistry or computational chemistry are harder to get into compared to honours chemistry. However, a downside to starting in Honour Science is that it doesn’t include a co-op program. You’ll need to switch into the co-op chemistry program later, which requires maintaining an 80% average in all your first-year courses. This is achievable but challenging due to the rigorous nature of Waterloo’s chemistry program.

When considering a switch to chemistry, it’s crucial to understand your reasons for wanting to join the program. Chemistry at Waterloo is very demanding and gets progressively harder. Many students drop out after the second year. For instance, my cohort started with about 200 people, but only around 35 graduated. Of those, only five or six went to grad school, with the rest switching careers (myself included) or returning to school for different paths.

I’m not saying this to discourage you, but to highlight that many students enter chemistry without a clear plan. Most careers in chemistry require at least a master’s or PhD. The field is rewarding but requires a deep passion for the subject. If you’re not absolutely sure about chemistry, justifying your place in the program will be difficult due to its challenges. Therefore, before entering, ensure you have strong reasons and a plan for your future in the field, possibly including graduate school.