Earning high grades in high school was once a clear path to top university programs in Ontario. Today, even students with averages exceeding 90% face rejection and waitlists as competition for limited spots intensifies across the province, particularly at institutions like McMaster University. This escalating pressure stems from record application numbers, inflating high school grades, and a shift towards more selective admission criteria beyond academic scores alone.
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Key takeaways:
- Competition for popular Ontario university programs is at an all-time high.
- High school averages of 90% or more are increasingly common but not sufficient for admission to the most sought-after programs.
- Universities are relying more on supplementary applications (essays, interviews) to differentiate candidates.
- The surge in applicants and rising grades contribute to extremely low acceptance rates in top fields like Health Sciences and Business.
The New Reality of High School Averages
The experience of many applicants this year highlights the challenge. Despite holding a 90 per cent average and a strong interest in health sciences, one student was accepted to only two Ontario university programs less than two weeks before the offer deadline. Of nine applications, she faced two rejections, including from McMaster’s health sciences program, and three waitlist notifications. This situation points to actual admission thresholds being significantly higher than publicly stated minimums, according to her parent.
Industry experts suggest that competition for certain programs at Ontario universities has become fiercer than ever before, driven partly by increasing demand.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The volume of students applying to undergraduate programs has seen a consistent rise over the past two decades. Data from the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) shows 164,660 students applied to full-time undergraduate degrees in 2024, a substantial increase from 114,055 in 2004, representing roughly 50,000 additional applicants.
This surge in applications, coupled with other factors like rising high school grades, has resulted in steep competition for limited spots. For example, McMaster’s bachelor of health sciences program reported an acceptance rate of just 3.3 per cent in 2023, admitting only 222 students from 6,636 applications. Similarly, the integrated business and humanities program enrolled only 47 first-year students from 739 applicants, an acceptance rate of 6.4 per cent. Programs in engineering, integrated biomedical engineering and health sciences (iBioMed), and computer science are also widely regarded as extremely competitive.
Health programs, a strong suit for McMaster, have recently seen a significant increase in popularity across Ontario, receiving the second-highest number of applications this year, surpassing science programs for the first time since at least 2017. Programs in commerce, management, and business administration consistently attract the highest volume of applications overall.
Signs for McMaster University on campus, symbolizing the high competition for admissions to its popular programs.
According to Registrar Darran Fernandez, McMaster is observing a significant shift. The university saw a 10 per cent increase in applicants choosing it as their first choice for 2025 compared to the previous year. While this is positive for the university’s recruitment goals, it inherently leads to greater competition for prospective students. Fernandez explains that bringing more applicants into the pool alters the distribution of grade-point averages, effectively raising the bar.
The challenge isn’t isolated to McMaster. Other institutions like the University of Waterloo also experience intense competition for their sought-after programs. Last September, Waterloo accepted just over five per cent of applicants into its software engineering program, with an even lower acceptance rate for computer science.
Why Admissions Are Getting Tougher
While not the sole path to a successful career, a post-secondary degree is increasingly required across many professions. This growing demand is a primary driver of competition. Furthermore, students are more mobile than in the past, with more applicants applying to McMaster from outside of Ontario, adding to the applicant pool.
This heightened competition necessitates that programs look beyond grades alone. Universities are increasingly incorporating criteria such as essays, interviews, auditions, and letters of recommendation to gain a more comprehensive understanding of applicants. Simultaneously, the academic averages required for admission have climbed significantly over the last 15 to 20 years as the applicant pool has grown.
Beyond the Grades: The Rise of Supplementary Applications
McMaster’s health sciences program exemplifies this trend. In addition to requiring specific Grade 12 subjects and a minimum average of 90 per cent, applicants must complete a supplementary application with written prompts designed to assess character and critical thinking. This year’s prompts covered diverse topics, including generative AI, traditional Indigenous teachings, and time travel, even allowing students to propose their own question. The program’s website explicitly states, “A high GPA alone does not guarantee admission.”
Indeed, the average entry mark for the program in 2023 was 96 per cent, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement. While the Faculty of Health Sciences has historically maintained high standards, the required marks have risen dramatically; in 2002, applicants needed marks in the high 80s for consideration, though most admitted students had over 90.
The entrance sign for McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences building, home to the highly competitive Honours Health Sciences program.
The integrated business and humanities program also requires a supplementary application, including a resume and five video interview questions, alongside required courses and a minimum average of 88 per cent. The actual entry average in 2023 was several points higher, at 92.36 per cent.
Daniel Corral, an assistant professor of higher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, notes that “Things have changed a lot.” He points to rising high school grades, potentially exacerbated by pandemic-era assessment shifts, creating a larger pool of applicants in the top percentiles. This means achieving a 90 or 95 average is now just the baseline to be considered; applicants then need to differentiate themselves through other means.
Many feel high school grades alone are no longer a sufficient metric of skill, citing pressure for grade inflation and inconsistencies in grading across different schools.
Challenges and Equity Concerns
While supplementary applications offer a way for students to showcase skills beyond academics, they also raise equity concerns. Critics question whether all students have equal access to resources like writing tutors or guidance counsellors needed to craft strong supplementary materials. Students who work part-time, care for family, or have significant responsibilities at home may be disadvantaged due to less time for extracurricular activities or leadership roles often valued in these applications.
Stephen DeCordova, vice-president of education for the McMaster Students Union, attributes the steep competition in part to provincial underfunding of post-secondary institutions. This underfunding leads institutions to rely heavily on tuition fees, and a decline in international enrolment, which historically subsidized domestic seats, intensifies this pressure. This creates an incredibly competitive market where institutions may push average requirements even higher to manage demand.
The current environment takes a toll on student well-being, with many reporting significant stress from the application process, compounded by financial pressures.
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
Ontario universities have until May 29 to issue offers of admission, making this a tense waiting period for students. The reality is that intense competition is likely to continue for high-demand programs. While achieving excellent grades remains crucial, applicants must recognize the increasing importance of supplementary applications and presenting a well-rounded profile.
Expert advice for applicants navigating this competitive landscape includes being authentic in supplementary materials and keeping options open by applying to a range of programs and universities. Ultimately, success and achievement are possible at any Canadian institution, regardless of whether a student gains entry to their initial top choice program.
