Thank you for the response. Another question I have is how the application works. Do you select a certain campus you are applying to or do you send the application and get offers from the different campuses? Like do I have to choose a campus when I’m applying or is undecided until offers come?
You choose programs at the specific campuses, so in theory, if you wanted to apply to life sciences at all 3 campuses, you’d have to apply thrice (check three boxes).
You select the campus when you send in the application.
Application fees for Ontario universities are cheaper than US universities. $140 for the first 3 and $47 for every one after that.
Here are a couple of websites that should be useful:
So in theory I could apply for engineering at St. George and computer science at Scarborough and Mississauga?
Disregard.
@arkm110 Yes.
@arkm110
I applied to U of T engineering this year, and I’m from the United States just like you. I attended the information session that they held and talked to some admission officers. The university of Toronto engineering faculty is direct entry, so they handle their own admission. This year they have a new requirement which counts for as much as 50% of the decision. You have to do two video interviews and write an essay, in a short amount of time. So grades don’t matter as much. One of the heads of the departmenttold me that someone with a 95 average and a bad video interview, might get denied. While a kid with a mid 80 average and a good interview will be accepted. So make sure you are prepared for the video interview. Also, the interview isn’t really about yourself. It involves problem solving.
Good luck!
P.s sorry if I misspelled anything or have bad grammar. I’m writing this on my phone in class.
Also, about the fees. The engineering department makes you pay an additional fee. I think it’s around $50 but I am not sure.
Engineering is a separate faculty at the St. George campus, so you could apply for engineering at St. George and computer science at all 3 campuses.
@zach1198 thanks for the reply. Was this new requirement speculation or is it for sure happening? Also do you know how the process of the video interview works? What types of questions they ask you and how much time you have. Lastly, is the video interview in the beginning of the application process or later on? Thanks again
@arkm110
The video interview is a new requirement for people applying for the fall 2015 semester (I think). I’m pretty sure it will remain a requirement. Basically, they implemented this because they were receiving a lot of international applicants who would have outstanding grades and test scores, but couldn’t function socially or communicate/be understood. The video interview is more of a video essay I would say. Basically you are given a few minutes to prepare. The first question has a two minute time limit. My question was along the lines of “tell us about yourself and why U of T is a good fit for you”. Then you have two wrote an essay in ten minutes. I forget my question. Next you have a 3 minute video. My question was more of a problem solving question. Not sure the specifics. But keep in mind, you don’t need to speak for the whole time, so when you finish what you want to say you can end early. The video thing is part of the second application you fill out for the engineering department after you send in your OUAC application.
Also, you can only do the video essays once, so if you mess up on it, you can’t redo it, you just have to keep going. I would prepare for this, just have your friend/ a family member help you by asking questions and timing you.
@zach1198 is the interview for engineering only or for all applicants
@arkm110 It’s only for engineering as far as I know.
@arkm110 I think it’s only for engineering applicants. But I think I remember hearing the guy say that it might be added to other direct entry faculty requirements. But I’m not sure.
I got into Physical and Applied Math at St. George(Innis), Life Science at Mississauga, and Math, Computer Science and Statistics at Scarborough. I didn’t need to write an essay or do anything for that matter( my grade 12 avg. is high, so I guess they just accepted me).
BTW I’m Canadian…
Also, University of Waterloo is MUCH better than UofT for engineering. UofT has like 80k people. Though they have great faculty, so does Waterloo. And Waterloo has arguably the best math program in the world. They have the best co op in the NA and to top it all of, they have a world class Physics research institute nearby.
@manas1997
I agree with you that Waterloo is also great. Both are great schools. But, waterloo is not really in a city which was why I didn’t want to go there. Regardless, @arkm110 you should check out Waterloo as well, you might enjoy it more. When I visited there, it seemed much smaller than U of T and they have a great co-op like manas said.
Thanks guys. I’m going to applie to Waterloo as well because my dad went there for undergrad and he’s told me a lot about it. I prefer U of T over Waterloo because I was born in Toronto and its a more popular school although both are great. What would be my chances in getting in at Waterloo? @zach1198 and @manas1997
@arkm110 It depends on the specific engineering program you’re applying to.
https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering/future-undergraduate-students/application-process/admission-averages Those are averages and acceptance rate for specific engineering programs at Waterloo. Now, I suppose these statistics pertain mostly to domestic students, so no one really knows the statistics for say international students.
And I agree with the above posters, Waterloo has a far more integrated engineering faculty than U of T. The co-op program is what really makes it shine. If you are planning to go into industry right after your undergraduate, the experience you get through the co-op program will get you farther than the international recognition U of T gets.
@arkm110
I have no idea how to chance. I have a 93 average all honors and ap classes, and Waterloo rejected me. I’m hoping I’ll have better luck at u of t. I think I might have been rejected b/c I only have one club and volunteer work for my ec’s. But I have no idea.
Also, Waterloo has a much better co-op program than U of T. But, U of T also has a year between 3 and 4th year (optional) where you can work for a year as a paid intern. I remember hearing from the admissions director that participants in that usually get a higher starting salary than those who don’t. As well as a good chunk of participants have guaranteed jobs from their previous employers. But, either way both schools are good. But Waterloo has a much better co-op program.
Based on US News rankings, U of T ranks 32nd in engineering, and waterloo ranks 40th in the world. Just saying the rankings. I’m not sure how accurate they are. I’m sure a lot of people know way more than me. I just applied to waterloo, i was never really interested in going there, so i never did much research into it. So I would take the advice from other people about this.