Applying to Waterloo webinar recap

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline to apply for the fall 2027 intake is February 1, 2027 (or Jan 15, for Engineering programs).

Do I need English language test results before applying?

No. You will first apply and then afterward submit your test results by the deadline.

Does applying early improve my chances or lead to early admission?

No, there is no advantage based on when you apply. Although we can make some earlier offers, we ensure all applications are assessed on an equal basis by the time we make our final decisions.

When are offers sent out?

This is dependent on the program you are applying to. Offers are sent on a rolling basis, usually between December through to May.

Are offers conditional?

Yes, most of our offers are conditional based on a variety of admission conditions.

Are Grade 11 marks considered?

Initially, we would be using your Grade 11 marks, as well as any Grade 12 marks that are available to assess your application. If you were not admitted based on your Grade 11 marks, we would wait and re-assess you when we receive more Grade 12 marks. You would never be denied based on Grade 11 marks.

How do online courses and summer school affect admission?

If you're applying for admission to any Waterloo program to start in September 2027, we will not penalize you if you choose to take courses outside your regular day school. For all Waterloo programs, we accept courses from schools that are accredited by your provincial or territorial ministry of education.

Does retaking or repeating a course affect my admission chances?

If you repeat a course and apply to any program at Waterloo for September 2027 entry, you will not be penalized in the application process. If you repeat a course, we'll use your highest grade in that course when calculating your admission average.

Will courses outside my top six be considered?

All your Grade 11 and 12 courses will be submitted to us through OUAC. If they are not in the top 6 though, we will not be considering them in any way. They will not affect your application.

Are all top six courses weighted equally?

Yes.

Which programs require the AIF?

All programs in the faculties of Engineering (excluding Architecture) and Mathematics require the AIF. 

Do my AIF answers need to be related to my program and faculty to benefit my application?

It will not hinder your application if your answers are not specific to your program! We are looking for you to talk about all the things you are passionate about outside your courses. It's a chance for us to get to know you better as a student.

Do I need to complete the AIF with well-structured sentences?

Yes, we recommend taking the time to structure and edit your responses. We do not recommend submitting answers in point form.

Do you have to do multiple AIFs or just one if applying to multiple programs requiring an AIF?

The AIF is the same for all programs so you'll only complete one.

Is the AIF about your experiences, your accomplishments, or your personality?

All three! Overall, we want to get to know you as a person outside your grades.

Question 5 on the AIF asks for hours involved in the past 12 months. Can I still add activities I did earlier?

We are only looking for 12 months from the date you complete the application. While we know you were likely involved in activities before those months, they do not need to be included in the AIF.

For the AIF, do we need to connect the answers to all questions, or can we answer each question independently?

Your answers to each of the questions do not have to connect. The more variety you have in your answers, the more we learn about you!

Can you use the same experiences to answer multiple questions on the AIF?

Yes, there is no right or wrong way to complete the AIF — just do your best!

If I have plans to do more community involvement soon, should I hold off on submitting documents until I'm comfortable that I have completed all that I plan to? 

If you are applying to a program that requires the AIF/supplemental forms, you have until the document deadline to submit. You're welcome to wait to submit your AIF if you intend to include specific information, so long as it is submitted by the deadline.

For the outside the classroom section, can you add your work experience as well?

Yes, please do! You can include any experiences you have had to answer the AIF questions.

How much does the AIF influence admissions compared to grades?

Grades are the key factor, but Engineering does look at other factors. A strong AIF can help differentiate your application from other students with similar grades. It won’t make up for low grades though. 

Do school clubs count as extracurricular activities on the AIF?

Absolutely, club activity counts toward your AIF.

When can I access my AIF?

Within 24-48 hours of applying on OUAC, you’ll gain access to your Waterloo applicant portal which contains your AIF. 

Is the AIF timed?

No, the AIF is not timed.

Do Waterloo math contests help with admission?

No, the Maths contests are only used for scholarship decisions.

Can I apply to more than one Engineering program?

You can only apply to one Engineering program at Waterloo, excluding Architecture, on your OUAC application. If you wish to be considered for a second Engineering program at Waterloo, you can specify an alternate choice on the Engineering Program Alternate Choice form available within the applicant portal once you've applied. Biomedical Engineering and Software Engineering are not available as alternate choices. 

What is the Engineering adjustment factor, and how does it affect admissions?

Waterloo Engineering does apply an adjustment factor based on historical performance from a given school (first-year university averages minus final high school averages) over the past 6+ years. This helps us select applicants with the highest likelihood of success. This adjustment is only a small part of the overall admissions decision. The weight of academic performance, the Admission Information Form, and the online interview will have more of an impact on an applicant’s probability of receiving an offer. 

Do all Engineering applicants complete an interview?

Yes, Engineering programs will have a quick online interview.

Are scholarships automatic or do I need to apply?

Requirements for scholarships vary by scholarship. Some are automatic and others require an application. There are merit-based scholarships based off your grades, and other scholarships based off your extra-curriculars.