FAQ's for Ontario High School Applicants

Q. Is there an application deadline?
A. The recommended deadline for Ontario high school students to submit their application to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) is Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

Q. Are applicants required to submit a supplementary application or a personal information form in addition to the OUAC application?
A. The Medical Radiation Sciences Program does not currently use a mandatory supplementary application form. Admission decisions are based on academic performance. However, if there are extenuating circumstances that have affected a student's grades in his/her final year of high school, he/she should write to the Admissions Office to explain .

Q. Do students take their courses at McMaster or Mohawk, or both?
A. The Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) building, where many of the classes and labs are scheduled, is located on the McMaster campus. Students will also take classes in other buildings across the McMaster campus. All first year classes are on the McMaster campus. In upper levels radiation therapy students take some classes at the Juravinski Cancer Centre.

Q. How many places are available in the Program?
A. The target enrollment for Level I is 135 students.

Q. What are the specific course requirements for admission?
A. Ontario high school applicants must present six Grade 12 U and/or M courses in total, including: 

• English (ENG4U)
• One of: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U) 
• Biology (SBI4U)
• Chemistry (SCH4U)
• One of: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U), Physics (SPH4U)

                    Note: Both Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U) and Physics (SPH4U) are strongly recommended.

Q. What is the cut-off for admission?
A. We are anticipating a cut-off in the 83 - 85% range. Note: the actual cut-off will not be determined until mid-March when we receive grade data from the Ontario Universities Application Centre.

Q. When will offers of admission be made?
A. Offers of admission to Ontario high school applicants will begin in March, based on either a minimum of six midterm (for non-semester students) or three final (for semester students) grades. At this time applicants must have at least six Grade 12 U/M courses either completed or in progress, including the subjects required for admission. Applicants not receiving an offer in March will be reviewed again in May when second semester midterm grades are available).

Q. If I am not admitted to the MRSc Program, will I automatically be considered for admission to another Program at McMaster?
A. Students with specific alternate program(s) in mind are encouraged to include them on their OUAC application in order to receive equal consideration. McMaster will consider all program choices simultaneously. Applicants will receive an admission decision for each program applied to.

Q. How is the Mohawk-McMaster Program different from similar Programs in the Province?
A. The Mohawk-McMaster MRSc Program is one of three degree level programs offered in Ontario. The remaining Medical Radiation Technology programs are offered by community colleges as a three-year diploma program. The program offered at Mohawk-McMaster is situated on an expansive and beautiful university campus away from a busy downtown core. All academic courses are taken on the McMaster University campus. Students in the program will benefit from a fully integrated college/university curriculum throughout all program levels. Students participate in extensive lab practice through levels 2 and 3 of the program, developing and reinforcing clinical skills, in the largest and one of the most up-to-date medical imaging learning laboratories.

Q. Will the Program prepare me for graduate studies in Science or for professional programs such as teaching, law or medicine?
A. Due to the nature of this Program, it is anticipated that graduates of Medical Radiation Sciences will pursue a career in radiography or ultrasound. In fact, graduates will be highly employable as the demand for sonographers and MRTs is very high.

The collaborative Mohawk-McMaster MRSc Program does not offer enough opportunity for specialization within the three-year Science degree component to prepare students for direct entry into graduate level studies. Additional university course work (at the undergraduate level), in the specific Science discipline being pursued at the graduate level, would have to be completed before applying to Graduate School.

Q. How do the clinical placements work? Are they in the local area? Can I arrange for my own placement?
A. The program has three clinical semesters which run for 13-15 weeks each. Clinical placements may be assigned at a teaching or community hospital or community clinics. As well as local placements throughout Hamilton and the surrounding area, approved placements are located in Ottawa, Windsor, London, Niagara, Guelph, Kitchener, Halton and Mississauga, etc.

The student does not arrange his or her own placements; rather, the program determines the student placement. Students should expect to relocate for at least one of the three clinical semesters.

Q. What are the tuition fees for Medical Radiation Sciences? Are there any additional fees for the clinical placements?
A. The tuition fees as of September 2011 are approximately $6,400.  Fees are available online: McMaster Fees

Students should recognize that there are additional costs associated with their clinical training such as transportation, moving or living out-of-town expenses. For a commutable placement we would suggest the cost could be approximately $1,000. When a student is required to relocate for a placement it could cost $2,500 to $3,000 depending on a student's individual spending habits, type of accommodation, location of placement, etc.

Q. What is the job market like for graduates of the Program? What salary scale can graduates expect?
A. The job market is excellent for graduates of the Program. Graduates are needed in hospitals, labs, mobile units and clinics just to name a few.  Demand for sonographers and MRTs is very high. A new graduate can expect a starting salary ranging between $52,000 - $55,000 annually.

Q. I notice that you strongly recommend applicants to present Grade 12 (4U) Physics. Will I be disadvantaged if I don't have this course?
A. Grade 12 U Physics is strongly recommended because MRSc students are required to take a half- course in Physics in second semester of their first year. In order to take the half-course in Physics, students must have either completed Grade 12 U Physics or an introductory (university) Physics course in first semester (using the ‘elective' portion of the student's program). Students who have already completed Grade 12 Physics won't have to worry about adding the introductory physics course to an already challenging first semester. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to select a subject outside of science and mathematics for their first-year elective course.

Q. Am I eligible for McMaster entrance scholarships and residence accommodation?
A. Yes. Applicants to MRSc will be treated the same with regards to entrance scholarships and residence placement as Ontario high school applicants to any other Level I Program. Please visit Student Financial Aid & Scholarships for specific information about our automatic Honour Awards.  Residence options are available here: McMaster Housing.

Q. If I start in another first-year program at McMaster can I transfer into the MRSc program in second year?
A. Although this is possible in principle, it is not the best route of entry. In the first year of the program there are nine courses (27 units) that are required. It is highly unlikely, therefore, that someone pursuing the first year of another program would have the right preparation to enter the second year of the MRSc program directly.

Places in the MRSc program are limited because of the limited number of clinical placements available. It is quite possible that someone, who was otherwise qualified to enter the second year of the MRSc program, could still not be admitted because no places were available.