3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	Western Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	McMaster Social Sciences I OUAC ML Remove	Waterloo Mathematics (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WM Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	80–87%“Low-to mid-80s”	83–87%“Mid 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English, ENG4U	English 4U * Completion of Advanced Functions 4U and Calculus & Vectors 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Economics. * Completion of Calculus & Vectors 4U and Biology 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.	Any Grade 12 U English Advanced Functions Calculus and Vectors One other Grade 12 U course
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Yes An Admission Information Form is required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. You are strongly encouraged to write the Euclid Mathematics Contest and the Canadian Senior Mathematics Competition. Individual selection may vary. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Social Work, BSW	—
First-year intakewhere published	300	950	479
What you study	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Anthropology Economics Health Informatics Human Geography	Artificial Intelligence Economics Education Studies Entrepreneurship
What it is	This program combines the study of media, communication, and information technology — learning how messages are created, shared, and understood across digital and traditional platforms alongside practical IT skills. The co-op requirement means you alternate between classroom terms and paid work placements in media, tech, or communications companies, giving you real industry experience alongside your degree. It suits students interested in how technology shapes storytelling and public conversation, who want hands-on workplace experience before graduating.	Social Sciences I is a first-year entry point where you explore human behaviour, society, and social systems through subjects like economics, sociology, anthropology, politics, and social work. Unlike a specialized program, you sample multiple disciplines before declaring a focus, letting you discover which area — from international development to health policy — matches your interests. It suits students curious about how societies work and drawn to understanding people and social issues from different angles.	You study pure and applied mathematics, with courses ranging from algebra and calculus to artificial intelligence and data analysis. The co-op option means you alternate between study terms and paid work terms at companies or organizations, giving you real workplace experience alongside your degree. This program suits students who want strong mathematical foundations and are willing to structure their degree around multiple internships.
The door tomajors you reach through it	communications	criminology geography political science psychology sociology	mathematics statistics
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	Western University on OUInfo	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.