Workload Questions

Hello everyone,

I was happily informed today that I had been accepted to iSci and was wondering if any of the student users can give me some idea of the difficulty level of the program.
Normally I love a challenge, as well as pretty much everything to do with science, and I figure that marks are secondary to learning, but I want to keep a solid GPA through university due to hopes of making it into Medical School

I have heard that the McMaster Life Science students find thier program very much doable and from what I've seen of those I know currently in Life Sci, they seem pretty easy going and stress-free. They also have pretty good marks, well enough to make Medical School (about a 3.8-3.7 GPA) and while pretty smart, they certainly aren't geniuses. Although I am very attracted to the idea of entering a program that emphasizes interdisciplinary science, I must say the idea of ending up with too much work and too little time is very daunting.

So, without further ado, my questions to any iSci student willing to answer are as follows:
How many hours of work will the average iSci student get per day? How common is it for an iSci student to have...say, a 3.7 GPA (or a 10 on the Mac 12-point system)? How helpful did you find the profs? How many electives are permitted? How do you think iSci would compare to Life or Health sci? Is the iSci program a good choice for graduate school? and any other details you would care to mention.

So, if anyone would kindly quell my fears of going into iSci and then slowly finding myself drowning in assignments and graduating with a low GPA by providing a rough summary of the average week as an iSci student, it would be greatly appreciated

note:
-Medical school is only a door I'd like to keep open, it isn't my ultimate goal in life or anything, I was told to go into something I love and that's what I intend to do.

Hey paikaat,

First of all, congratulations on your achievement!!!!!

Difficulty depends on student's level. Some may find some concepts more difficult or easier than another, and others may feel the same. So if you take time to learn, its not very difficult. So I don't know exactly what you find easy or difficult. However, there are quite a bit of work. You may find this anywhere you go.

Two things that I would like to address. First, life science is not "easy going and stress free" as you think it is, and second, having an average GPA of 3.7-3.8 is definitely incorrect. That grade is ridiculously high for a program with 600 people. From what i've encountered thus far, life scis may have somewhere around 3.0, and their marks go higher throughout the years. However, I know there are life scis who have 3.7-3.8 like you mentioned. It really doesn't matter which program you are in. If you study well, you will do well (i think that's a general philosophy to anywhere you go )

Hours of work per day, again, depends on students, so I cannot say. However, iSci does require time commitment. In terms of iSci average, for our year, from what i checked last time our class GPA is well above 3.7. We all worked hard this year, and if you do what you are told to do, you'll do well. In terms of profs, we talk to them regularly, and they are always willing to help. Two electives are permitted.
For life sci vs. health sci vs. iSci, it really depends on the person. There is no such thing as "better" program. It is all about what fits you. iSci would be a good choice for grad school, and other things as well. You will just have to make things work around you. I think iSci leads more towards research field. However, we can also aim to go to other fields too (like me - med school ).

If you can come to May@Mac, we would be able to answer more specific questions

-James

Thank you very much for replying!

Yes, I intend to visit the campus tomorrow to learn more

Hey, James answered your questions really well! Great job James. There will be us as students around tomorrow to answer your questions.

Also, not sure if you have been accepted to all three programs: iSci, Health Sci, and Life Sci, but on a really fundamental level all three are very different in terms of pedagogy and their approach. I would recommend learning about each of them and figuring out which one suits you best as a student. My obvious bias is that iSci is the best choice!

Also, I would say the profs in the program are extremely helpful and caring of the students! I would go so far to say that this connection is definitely something present and unique in the iSci program not present to such a level in any other program.

Looking forward to potentially seeing you and other accepted students tomorrow!