How important are extra-curriculars to U of T and McGill?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>(University of Toronto and McGill University)</p>

<p>Could I get in with just one summer of volunteering at a hospital (planning to do it this summer)? I haven't done any extra-curriculars yet and am in grade 11 right now. Although, I did play in the winter/summer concerts (in the band), however that was sort of part of one of my courses. I also have been playing guitar since I was 11, self-taught for the most part, although about a year and a half of lessons throughout the last few years.</p>

<p>This is assuming an average of ~95% in grade 12 with all science/math courses (and one english of course).</p>

<p>Is this enough to get in? I'm looking to do engineering, theoretical physics, or maybe pre-med.</p>

<p>What else would I need to do?</p>

2

<p>They dont’ care or ask about your extra curriculars. That is an uniquely american thing.</p>

3

<p>If you’re looking to go into Trinity or Vic, ECs may help you get a spot when you’re filling out that supplementary form.</p>

<p>But if you’re looking for admission, your average is enough.</p>

4

<p>McGill DOES look at EC’s if you are applying for a major scholarship.</p>

5

<p>Trinity and Vic are universities? Why do they value ECs more than others in Canada do?</p>

6

<p>for simple entrance, ECs are not important. But as people have said, for certain scholarships, competitive programs like Schulich, McMaster Health Sci, they do look at your ECs but still put 90% of focus on grades. For me, ECs were a huge focus because Emory and other top US schools heavily look at ECs in the process.</p>

7

<p>Trinity and Vic are two of the colleges of UofT similar to like how Christ College is in Cambridge. (You can only apply to either Trin or Vic and not both btw). They’re the more prestigious ones and usually house the smarter bunch of of UofT. As a result, they’re more selective and require supplementary applications where you talk about yourself.</p>

<p>For Health Sci, I believe they focus more on your supplementary. Once you meet the cutoff, they get 3 people to read your supplementary and score it. They accept people based on that supplementary score. If the supp score ties with someone else, they then look at your average (the higher one wins obviously).</p>

8

<p>EC = not important at all.
Sure you need them for Trin/Vic, but even there you can still get in easily with a low 80 and no ecs…</p>