4 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.

Full	Laurier (Waterloo) Data Science (BSc) OUAC UDS Remove	Carleton Media Production and Design OUAC CMP Remove	Lakehead Media, Film & Communications (Orillia) OUAC AAC Remove	Ontario Tech Strategic Communications, Social Media & Society OUAC DAN Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	73–77%“Mid-70s”	75%“75% (regular and co-op)”	70%	70–73%“Low 70s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English at 70% Advanced Functions at 80% Calculus and Vectors at 80% Prerequisite courses are calculated in the admission average.	English (ENG4U) 1 Math credit (4U) 4 best 4U/M courses	ENG4U A portfolio is required. More about the application details Alternative Offers If you do not meet the admission requirements for your program of choice but do meet Lakehead University's general admission requirements, you will automatically be considered for an alternate program.	Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M courses, including English (ENG4U). Alternative Offers If you do not meet the admission requirements, or we cannot accommodate your application, you may receive an offer to another closely related program.
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	No	Available
Degree	—	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	50	—	—
What you study	Information ServicesInformation SystemsOperational ResearchStatistics	Cinematics & Photography Creative Writing Design Media and Communication Studies	Cinematics & Photography Design Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Business Studies Cinematics & Photography Comparative Literary Studies Creative Writing
What it is	Data Science combines statistics, programming, and problem-solving to extract useful patterns and insights from large datasets. Unlike a pure computer science degree, this program emphasizes the mathematical and statistical foundation needed to analyze data rather than just building software. A co-op placement is built in, so you'll work in real data roles while studying. It suits people who enjoy both math and logic puzzles and want to solve practical business problems using data.	You study how to create and produce media across film, photography, writing, and design, learning both the technical skills and creative thinking behind what you see on screens and in print. Unlike a pure communication theory program, this one emphasizes hands-on production and design work alongside studying media's role in society. It suits people who want to make things, not just analyze them, and who enjoy combining visual, written, and conceptual work.	You study how films, photographs, and media messages are made and understood, combining hands-on work in cinematography and design with analysis of how communication shapes culture. This program blends technical skills — camera work, editing, visual design — with critical thinking about media's role in society. It suits people who want to create visual work and understand the stories media tells.	You study how organizations and individuals use digital platforms and media to communicate with audiences, drawing from business strategy, creative writing, design, law, and sociology. Unlike a straight marketing or media studies program, this one explicitly connects social media tactics to broader social impact and strategic business goals. It suits people who want to understand both the creative and analytical sides of digital communication, and who benefit from hands-on co-op work experience.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	communications	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	11 published, 1 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	3 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo on OUInfo	Carleton University on OUInfo	Lakehead University on OUInfo	Ontario Tech University on OUInfo

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Same subject area and a similar published range, at a campus you have not got in the table yet.

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.