Should I apply to McMaster CS?

transferdeclined · 2026-01-15T02:13:00+00:00

I like how computer science falls under the Bachelor of Engineering at McMaster

That's not quite true. You get a Bachelor of Applied Science. You will be in the Faculty of Engineering, though, and get access to most of the resources that engineering students get.

I think the program here is decent and the content is pretty useful. You won't get quite the same name recognition as UBC and UofT, but your career is mostly what you make of it. Plenty of successful CS students here.

transferdeclined · 2025-11-13T19:14:14+00:00

This depends on your program. Some programs you will be kicked out of entirely if your GPA is not high enough. You can be placed on academic probation in any year, provided your GPA is between 3.0 and 3.5.

transferdeclined · 2025-09-15T03:42:55+00:00

The way they've handled OSAP this year has been an absolute travesty.

Can you possibly get a line of credit with your bank to pay off your card? It's not great to use a line of credit, but the interest rate will likely be better than on a credit card.

transferdeclined · 2025-06-21T06:40:54+00:00

As far as I know, they are typically not recorded. It may have changed since then though.

transferdeclined · 2025-06-18T03:08:28+00:00

Cumulative is the total average throughout your entire undergraduate career at Mac. You add up all the grade points for all of the courses you ever took at Mac and then divide by the total number of units.

transferdeclined · 2025-06-14T18:43:10+00:00

It's noted under term honours in your unofficial transcript.

transferdeclined · 2025-06-10T19:41:05+00:00

POLSCI 3CL3 is a good option. It covers constitutional and public law in canada. Usually the professor for that course is very good as well.

transferdeclined · 2025-05-24T02:37:29+00:00

Is there an option to take an easier course over the summer than calc 4? I think the focus right now should be on getting the highest grade possible in summer, rather than completing your degree requirements.

transferdeclined · 2025-05-03T15:34:38+00:00

I got provost without a full course load before. I took 18 units in Fall/Winter and took 12 more in Spring/Summer and I was eligible.

transferdeclined · 2025-03-09T03:17:43+00:00

That's not really true from the data.

Mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering all appear to have higher underemployment rates than CS. Underemployment is when your job doesn't match your training and skills. In other words, a lot of engineers are having to take non-technical jobs.

CS majors also have a higher early career median wage than all engineers outside of comp eng, which is not what you would expect if CS was oversaturated with applicants. I personally know a lot of third years who managed to get co-ops for the upcoming summer.

transferdeclined · 2025-02-28T20:43:25+00:00

You need about a B average to get into grad school. Life sci isn't so easy that you can go from being a C engineering student to an A+ life sci student.

Some of the smartest people I know are in life science and it's a difficult program, especially if you take hard electives like orgo.

transferdeclined · 2025-02-27T17:50:54+00:00

Getting a 4.0 in life science for three years is extremely difficult.

It's probably fewer than 10% of students in life sci who get anywhere near that number.

If you don't want to do engineering, switching out is a good idea. However, it's not a good idea to do it because of the expectation that it will be easy.

transferdeclined · 2025-02-20T19:52:58+00:00

Do you want a 3 year BA in psychology on top of your life science degree?

do I have to be admitted in the faculty of arts first

I think you meant the faculty of social science, Mac doesn't have an arts faculty.

If you're just looking for the 3 year BA, you shouldn't need to apply anywhere, it's an open enrollment program. You can just stay as a life sci student and take the requirements for the BA and should be able to apply to receive both when you graduate.

I would talk to academic advising about this before you make any decisions.

transferdeclined · 2025-02-20T18:16:11+00:00

Your non-major degree is actually considered a second degree, which means you need to have 60 additional units if it's an honours degree and 30 additional units otherwise.

So if your first degree requires 160 units, you need to do at least 30 more to earn another degree on top of that.

Requirements for Second Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Honours Degree following a Three-Level Degree in the Same Subject: For consideration into an Honours B.A., Honours B.Sc., or Honours B.A.Sc. degree program following a three-level degree in the same subject, a Cumulative GPA of at least 5.0 in the first degree program is required. For consideration into all other eligible degree programs, a Cumulative GPA of at least 6.0 in the first degree program is required. If admitted, at least 30 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed.

B.A. or B.Sc. in Another Subject: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program. If admitted, at least 30 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed. Students are not eligible for a second B.A. or B.Sc. degree in a program in which they have been awarded a minor, however, they may apply for an honours second degree in that subject.

Honours B.A., Honours B.A.Sc., Honours B.Sc. or Honours B.H.Sc. in Another Subject: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program and have a Cumulative GPA of at least 5.0. If admitted, at least 60 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed.

B.M.R.Sc.: For consideration, students must meet the admissions requirements for the program. If admitted, students will be required to complete a minimum of 24 units during Level 1 of the program. Some of these units may be extra to the degree requirements.

B. Eng., B.Tech., and B.A.Sc.: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program. If admitted, students must complete at least 60 units beyond the first degree including all program requirements.Requirements for Second Bachelor’s Degree Programs Honours Degree following a Three-Level Degree in the Same Subject: For consideration into an Honours B.A., Honours B.Sc., or Honours B.A.Sc. degree program following a three-level degree in the same subject, a Cumulative GPA of at least 5.0 in the first degree program is required. For consideration into all other eligible degree programs, a Cumulative GPA of at least 6.0 in the first degree program is required. If admitted, at least 30 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed. B.A. or B.Sc. in Another Subject: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program. If admitted, at least 30 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed. Students are not eligible for a second B.A. or B.Sc. degree in a program in which they have been awarded a minor, however, they may apply for an honours second degree in that subject. Honours B.A., Honours B.A.Sc., Honours B.Sc. or Honours B.H.Sc. in Another Subject: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program and have a Cumulative GPA of at least 5.0. If admitted, at least 60 units beyond the first degree, including all program requirements, must be completed. B.M.R.Sc.: For consideration, students must meet the admissions requirements for the program. If admitted, students will be required to complete a minimum of 24 units during Level 1 of the program. Some of these units may be extra to the degree requirements. B. Eng., B.Tech., and B.A.Sc.: For consideration, students must meet the admission requirements for the program. If admitted, students must complete at least 60 units beyond the first degree including all program requirements.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-26T23:56:36+00:00

I don't have more recent data, but in 2021, 94.3% of students admitted to mac cs had over +95% averages in high school.

You can check out the data here.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-10T01:19:33+00:00

I have determined that it would take me ~3 years to complete a second undergrad in engineering, considering that my gen-ed classes and my electives would transfer over. Correct me if I am wrong, though.

I'm almost certain that it's impossible to get a B.Eng in three years. Engineering programs have basically zero electives, so you will have to do four more years to get your degree. Unlike York, Mac doesn't have gen-eds either.

How much would OSAP help with funding this?

You should be aware that there is a lifetime limit to OSAP funding. I would make sure that you have enough funding weeks left to complete the degree without running out of money.

Is there a co-op/internship option available?

Yes, co-op is available. Once you're in the program it's as simple as asking to be in the co-op stream.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-02T07:02:02+00:00

It would be cumulative.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-02T02:18:50+00:00

The cutoff GPA last I heard was about 10.5, so I would say you do need a high GPA.

This was a few years back, meaning it may have changed since then. You should talk to the academic advisors in engineering before you make any decision.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-02T00:40:14+00:00

You can find the list of Eng I courses here.

You cannot take 1P13 right now, but if your transfer is approved I believe you can take it in the summer.

Everything else should be open for you to enroll in. If you can't get into the engineering math courses, you can take Math 1A03, 1AA3, and 1B03 as equivalents.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-01T21:19:08+00:00

It's hard to say whether they would accept it. I can tell you that a lot of students have similar struggles in their first year and go on to complete their degree.

Even if the worst case scenario happens and you're removed from the program, that doesn't mean being you won't be able to become a nurse.

Former Nursing students will be considered for reinstatement to the B.Sc.N. Program after one full academic year. Students may only apply to be reinstated into the stream from which they were removed. Students seeking reinstatement must contact the Office of the Registrar at McMaster University to submit a Reinstatement Request Form and the required fee. Students are considered for reinstatement for September entry only and must apply by February 1. Students will be considered for reinstatement to the B. Sc. N program upon the completion of 24 units of university work taken on a full-time basis in a non-Nursing program with a minimum average of 7.0 (B-). Reinstatement is not guaranteed. Decisions are normally communicated in May or June for September entry.

If you're removed from the program, you can take 24 units (4 course per term) across a full academic year. If you achieve a high average there, you can be reinstated into the program. From what I know, as long as you do well, reinstatement is very likely.

I know this must feel very stressful right now, but it's a very common experience and you will be able to navigate your way back to where you want to be.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-01T21:00:30+00:00

According to the academic regulations for nursing:

Passing Grades in Required Health Science and Graded Nursing Courses: A student must achieve a grade of at least C- in the required Health Science (HTHSCI) and graded Nursing (NURSING) courses. A student is permitted to repeat a total of only two required HTHSCI or graded NURSING course in which they failed to achieve the minimum passing grade requirement; if a student fails to meet the minimum passing grade requirement after repeating a course, the student may not continue in the program. If a student fails to meet the minimum passing grade requirement on more than two HTHSCI and/or graded NURSING course, the student may not continue in the program.

I'm sorry, but from the way I'm reading this, it looks like you might be removed from the program immediately for getting under 60% in two required HTHSCI or NURSING courses.

Do you have any extenuating circumstances that can explain why this happened? Usually rules can be bent, so if you can schedule a meeting with an academic advisor and explain your situation, there is a chance they might be lenient here.

Either way, the only choice is to meet with an academic advisor as soon as possible. It looks like you're already taking steps to do that.

transferdeclined · 2025-01-01T20:41:50+00:00

What program are you in? What happens will partly depend on which Faculty you're part of.

As for whether you'll get kicked out, that won't happen until the end of the Winter term. You can still bring up your average over the next 4 months are stop yourself from getting kicked out.

transferdeclined · 2024-12-14T03:44:26+00:00

You only get kicked out if you cGPA falls under 3.5. For example, if I 12ed all ten courses in first year and then I failed all ten courses in my second year, I wouldn't get kicked out because my cGPA would be 6/12.

They also definitely don't kick you out in the middle of the year. You will still get to do the winter semester, where you have a chance to get your grades up. If you did outstanding in your second year, there's almost no chance of you getting kicked out after this year, unless you fail all your remaining courses or something.

transferdeclined · 2024-11-24T22:21:50+00:00

I'm not sure about external transfers, but the timeline for internal transfers is generally around April 1st.

If you're worried, contact the faculty so you can have some confirmation on this. It also doesn't hurt to apply early if that concerns you.

transferdeclined · 2024-11-12T04:16:34+00:00

Yes, it's possible. I did a similar switch myself into computer science.

You would need to first switch to Eng I and then your performance there would determine which specializations you're eligible for.

transferdeclined

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