Since Waterloo is one of Canada's as well as world's best universities, there is no easy way getting admitted here. Waterloo’s admission averages range from low 80s to mid-90s. These can vary depending on the number of applications received as well as the number of spaces available in each program. You should already assume that the grades of students who apply will be generally very good. Your requirements will also differ with your nationality or where you’ve studied previously. But most importantly, you should know that grades alone won’t get you inside Waterloo as they take a good look at many other things. Thus, there are some aspects to work on if you're an Indian student wishing to study here:
These are the general requirements. Please note that some programs will have different criteria depending on the competition, degree type and program specification. There will not be one way to prepare for your application as the university looks at your whole profile and then takes a decision.
Securing admission at University of Toronto is really difficult. You will find it very competitive which is fair- it’s currently ranked at #29 among world universities by QS. The overall acceptance rate of the University is 43% but things are harder if you are an international student. There will be a lot of extra formalities like English proficiency, LORs, funding abilities that the university will consider. This is around 23.1%
Factors to be considered:
GPA requirements:
For admission in undergraduate programs, an average score of 90 in class 12th can be considered competitive. Expected scores for some courses are mentioned below:
In case of graduate program admission, the minimum GPA requirement is 3.0 while 3.4 out of 4.0 is considered as a competitive score.
English language proficiency:
TOEFL or IELTS scores are accepted and It is mandatory for international students to submit one of these test scores.
GRE score:
Few courses demand GRE test scores for the admission process whereas Courses like CS , material science have made it optional, however submitting a GRE with a score around 320+ will definitely create an edge to your profile which may enhance your chances of selection.
GMAT:
Minimum GMAT score of 570 is demanded for admission in MBA courses at University of Toronto while the average score of the University is 665.
Other requirements:
Minimum 3 letters of recommendations along with good resume and Participation in Co-Curricular activities are expected.
If you fulfill all the above mentioned criteria including good grades, standard test scores and LORs you will be good to go. Ultimately it depends on the competition in the course which you are inclined towards.
While GRE is an important factor in MS Computer Science admissions at Cheriton School of Computer Science, there is not a defined cut off. This is because the University of Waterloo accepts or rejects a candidate on the basis of their overall profile. So you should simply not rely only on your strong GRE score as this doesn’t guarantee you admission. This being said, a high GPA, strong academic background with a good GRE score increases your chances of getting admitted.
On an average, it will not be wrong to claim that 75th GRE score percentile is a good GRE score. In simpler words, 161 or higher in GRE quant and 157 or higher in GRE verbal will be a good score. Lower than this will make enrollment in a top University like Waterloo much difficult.
The score of GRE quant and GRE verbal contributes towards the overall GRE score, so it recommended to aim for 75 percentile or higher in quant and 60+ percentile in verbal. The competition will be higher since this is a very sought-after subject. If you're from India then the competition is even higher as there are so many talented students applying.
So assuming your high GPA, it's better if you do better in Quant as compared to Verbal. This is because the subject of computer science is more oriented towards quant.
Mcgill University and Concordia University both are public affiliated universities and bagged #=31 and #=477 position in the QS world ranking list. As per QS and THE, the universities count among the top 25 Canadian Universities. McGill’s Finance discipline is internationally appreciated for its innovative teaching and high-quality research whereas the John Molson of Business School believes in awarding more hands-on experience to its students and in building a unique co-op program.
McGill allows its students to work and interact with people from all around the world and at the same time interact with alumni and different industry leaders to learn more about the subfields of Finance. The presented table gives a clear cut comparison between two universities:
PARTICULARS | CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY | McGILL UNIVERSITY |
RANK | #477 QS World University 2021 #462 as World University 2020 | #31 QS World University 2021 #35 QS World University 2020 |
ACCEPTANCE RATE | 49.3% | 45% |
COST OF STUDY | Average Tuition Fees 19856 USD (For UG Program) Average Tuition Fees 13725 USD (For PG Program) Hostel + Meal - 21862 USD Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 34242 USD (For UG Program) Average Tuition Fees 13470 USD (For PG Program) Hostel + Meal - 29142 USD Per Year |
AVG PACKAGE | MBA Graduates: $108,000 MS Graduates: $100,000 | $66,552 TOP RECRUITERS: EY, KPMG, McKinsey Consulting,Adidas, Loreal, etc. |
EMPLOYMENT RATE | 87% | 85% |
The John Molson of Business School's principle is to apply whatever students learned in the classroom to the real world as it will help them to confront live cases, work with real-life companies facing real problems, and will get some hands-on experience in the world of Business. McGill holds ideology and theory focussed programs, on the other hand, Concordia University programs are generally Practical-Based.
While all these have their own perks, it's a given to prefer Dalhousie over Ryerson and Manitoba. QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020 has ranked only Dalhousie University at #301-500. Ryerson is your best choice if you're planning to live in a big city- while the others are situated in small towns. Still, all three have pretty similar foundation courses and ultimately depends on how seriously you take it.
Ryerson University is known for many leading programs like Journalism, Sports Media, Arts, Communication and Design, Community Services, Engineering, and Business; there are some specialised programs only for international students with the Ryerson ESL Foundation Program. It has 62 undergraduate programs and 49 minor technical programs.
The University of Manitoba is one of the oldest medical-doctoral research universities known for its professional schools like law, engineering, business, medicine, dentistry, architecture which has a total of 108 different degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Dalhousie University is known for many leading programs like Arts & Humanities, Clinical, pre-clinical & health, Engineering & Technology, Life sciences, Physical sciences, Social sciences, and Business & Economics. It has 120 undergraduate programs, and 80+ postgraduate and doctorate programs.Ryerson University has been ranked #601-800, the University of Manitoba has been ranked #351-400, and Dalhousie University has been ranked #251-300 by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.
All these three universities have a good placement with 86.7% Employment rate of Ryerson University, 83% for the University of Manitoba, and 84% for Dalhousie University.
Each of these colleges has its specialty program. So, you should choose one of these three colleges based on the course you are choosing. It will be even better if you reach out to employers in your field, and find out which college they prefer. The Architecture program is widely recognized among recruiters. Most employers prefer technologists from Sheridan.
Mohawk College is known for its health and technology education. Most recognized programs in George Brown are Culinary Arts, Business, Design, etc.
Both McGill University and the University of Toronto are widely reputed. If you have to choose between these, make a choice based on the subject and the department you are interested in.
Don’t put too much emphasis on the university rankings. It changes each year. Here is a brief comparison of the two. Currently, McGill University world ranking is #44 (THE World University Ranking). While University of Toronto is ranked #18 by THE World University Ranking.
Here is a brief comparison of these two.
Parameters | McGill University | University of Toronto |
Tuition fees (undergraduate) | 29,200 CAD (International students) | 45,690 CAD (International students) |
Acceptance rate | 48.9% | 43% |
Popular courses | Medical and Health Science, Computer Science, Social Science & Humanities | Psychology, Medical Technology, Automation and Control, Human and Biological Sciences |
Average salary | CAD 62k | CAD 68k |
You can’t go wrong with either of these schools.
Short answer, yes. It won’t hurt your case unless the score is too bad but the Computer science department website of University of Toronto states that there is no requirement of GRE test score for the admission process. Submitting IELTS or TOEFL scores will suffice the process of admission for international students. The online application form does provide a field where you can submit your GRE scores, but it is made optional.
However it is recommended to upload a GRE score as it will create an edge over other applicants. Target for a safe score of 320+ in GRE so that you leave no stone unturned to create a good impression.
Tabulation below gives a brief overview on expected test scores of University of Toronto:
When you are applying for such competitive programs, it's always wise to present yourself in the best way possible by keeping your best foot ahead.
Submitting a GRE score along with a good GPA and resume will definitely enhance the chances of your selection.
The University of Waterloo has a good scope and facilities for Biological science when compared to Concordia University. Moreover, it is one of the top universities with a good employment rate and average salary. QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020 has ranked University of Waterloo at #25 and Concordia University #301-500.
Both the university has a good placement rate with a 96.46% employment rate for the University of Waterloo and an average salary of $92,889. Concordia has an 87% employment rate with an average salary of $62,993.
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 has placed Waterloo’s Biological Sciences program at #251-300. Particulars for Biological science are:
The University of Waterloo is ranked #9 in Canada and #201-250 in the world whereas Concordia University has been ranked #22 in Canada and #601-800 in the world by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. Overall, The University of Waterloo is the potential choice for Biological science.
Among these three, George Brown College has the most advantage in terms of their course and placements. GBC has the best connections in the industry of construction and building. This course is mostly 1-2 year long depending on your college and may cost anywhere from $17,904 to $42,113. George Brown College has an edge over others as it holds the best industry professional faculties and grants a wide variety of job opportunities to its students.
Even their faculty are professionals from established firms and companies so if you work hard and leave a good impression, you might as well be hired for many internships and jobs in future.
Centennial College and Fanshawe have an average reputation for this particular course- as compared to GBC the contacts are way too less and your chances to get a great job reduce because of factors like location and exposure.
Here is a brief comparison of all the three colleges:
Average salary of a project manager ranges from $89,400- 108,820 per year. The college ensures an excellent collaboration with the top prominent construction and industrial companies of Canada that include: Bird Construction, Aecon, EllisDon, PCL and many more.