Waterloo acceptance rate, especially for engineering is about 15%. Why do we expect a drop in enrolment? Can’t we adjust the offers sent accordingly?

There has never been more uncertainty around enrolment than there is now, due to the current pandemic.  We simply do not know with certainty how prospective students and families can and will respond, particularly our international students. Financial, health, and numerous other reasons affect the ability of students to study in the fall. We use historical data, our own experience, and the information we have, to inform how many offers to make for each program. This year we expect that there will be fewer students able and willing to study in the fall. As a result, we have made additional offers in an effort to meet the university’s enrolment goals.