First Impressions Matter: How open houses impacted McMaster Students.

Authors: Salena Jandu, Ashleigh Warren

Deciding on the university you would like to attend to further your academic career can be confusing and difficult. Remembering when we were looking at programs and schools, we felt lost with so many amazing opportunities to choose from. However, we found that the decision was made a lot easier when we chose to attend various schools’ open houses, which in turn helped us pick McMaster as our final choice.

Open houses are an amazing way to explore the universities you are interested in. You can check out the campus that you will be living on for 4+ years, see your future classrooms, meet upper-year students, ask professors about the courses they lead or research they are involved with, and get a better understanding of academic and student life. McMaster’s two fall open houses, also known as Fall Preview Days, held in October and again in November, create a perfect space to check out the campus and everything it has to offer.

Although we know those who attended the previous fall previews in person experienced everything that Fall Preview had to offer, we wanted to share insights from our Faculty of Engineering students for everyone around the world about McMaster & McMaster Engineering! We have compiled some great notes from our students when we asked them to share with us their own Fall Preview experiences and how they assisted them in making their decisions to come to McMaster.

Atmosphere and Aesthetic

What can we say, first impressions matter! Students immediately notice how beautiful and energetic our campus is.

“I was drawn to McMaster’s campus because it was compact, walkable, and is home to some beautiful buildings — campus is particularly pretty in the fall with the leaves changing colours.” — Sarah, 5th year Chemical Engineering & Management Student

“The campus being so walkable and pedestrian friendly were also a good factor, it made it feel like students are prioritized.” — Olivia, 1st year Engineering 1 Student

“During my first visit to Mac, I could only pay attention to how lively the campus was!” — Johnathan, 6th year Chemical and Bioengineering Student

“The thing about Fall Preview Day that most convinced me to come to McMaster was just the overall vibe I felt from the people on campus.” — Joel, 4th year Electrical Engineering and Management Student

Clubs and Teams

With over 70 clubs and teams in the engineering faculty alone, and over 300 campus-wide , there is a space for everyone to find a new passion or nurture the ones they already partake in! Joining a club or team is a wonderful way to meet people, develop new skills, and looks great on a resume!

“It was great to see all the clubs that I never knew existed at the events. It made me want to come to the school and join the teams.” — 5th year Automotive Bachelor of Technology Student

“Students at the clubs and team’s booths were (and are to this day) so passionate and excited about their streams, projects, and extracurricular activities. I remember going home, exploring more about Mac Eng clubs, and finding the Women in Engineering Society’s website. I joined the Society’s Executive Team as a First Year Representative and am currently serving as Co-President!” — Sarah, 5th year Chemical Engineering & Management Student

Welcoming and Supportive Community

The Fireball Family’s goal is to make everyone feel at home and welcome. We pride ourselves on being a diverse and friendly community where everyone has a place to feel heard and valued.

“I felt right at home. I remember someone in her PJs welcoming me to McMaster on her way to breakfast. It was cool that she was so friendly without even being a part of the open house.” — Maddy, 4th year Chemical Engineering and Society Student

“What drew me to Mac Eng were the welcoming and enthusiastic community! There is truly something for everyone!” — Sarah, 5th year Chemical Engineering & Management Student

“I could tell that there was a welcoming and supportive community at McMaster, which were the main reason I chose this university. Just from attending this event, I could tell that everyone looks out for each other and wants to help each other succeed.” — Rita, 4th year Chemical Engineering & Management Student

Dedicated Faculty, Department Reps and Ambassadors

When you visit McMaster, our goal is to make sure all your questions are answered. This is why we have hundreds of students and faculty volunteering their time to ensure everyone attending our previews has a chance to talk to someone one-on-one.

“I got to talk to a professor whom I have now had for multiple courses. He took the time to talk to me about chemical engineering for easily 10 minutes at the department booth! That was the first time I saw how dedicated the faculty at McMaster are to their students’ experiences.

Additionally, talking to student ambassadors really helped me to gain perspective and confidence in myself. Learning about their experiences made me excited to start at McMaster!” — Allison, 4th year Chemical Engineering Student

“I talked to some representatives in the chemical engineering program, and they were so friendly and were so helpful in answering our questions!” — Rita, 4th year Chemical Engineering & Management Student

Unique Academic Opportunities

McMaster has some amazing and unique academic opportunities to help customize your degree to what interests you the most. Whether it be our 5-year Management and Society programs, the newly integrated design course, our state-of-the art research facilities, or having the flexibility to pursue a minor, the Fall Preview is a fantastic opportunity to ask questions about how to cater your degree towards your personal goals.

“I had the chance to go over to McMaster Automotive Research Centre (MARC) to see labs and some demonstrations for the classes that I would be taking. It was so cool to see the hands-on learning opportunities I would be able to have.” — 5th year Automotive Bachelor of Technology Student

“I was also impressed by the Engineering 1 presentation; they talked about how we would get to work with a real client at the end of the year in the Eng 1P13 course, and that real-world experiences were exciting to me!” — Joel, 4th year Electrical Engineering and Management Student

“What sold me on Mac Eng were how helpful everyone was and the fact that Mac was the only school that gave me a solid answer when I asked about how I could integrate sustainability into our degree. The engineering and society program felt like it was designed for me, and no other school lived up to the customization of degree that Mac has.” — Maddy, 4th year Chemical Engineering and Society Student

Conclusion

Going into university can certainly be daunting, but there are so many resources available to help. Each member of the Fireball Family was once in your shoes. Going to open houses, touring campuses, and conducting your own research is a solid way to make the most informed decision as possible.

We used to ask ourselves questions like, “Can I see myself here? Running from JHE (John Hodgins Engineering Building) to ETB (Engineering Technology Building) between classes, studying in Thode, or even just going out to explore Hamilton.” The answer was yes!

We have a beautiful campus, 70+ clubs and teams, a strong/supportive community, a dedicated faculty, and unique academic opportunities. McMaster has endless opportunities and a tight-knit community that will always be there to lend a hand. We hope that you feel this excited for McMaster as we do each day, and we encourage you to reach out to our staff and students throughout your application process to ask question! Connect with current students on us online chat platform here.

Not sure who to contact about your questions? Reach out to the Mac Eng Recruitment Team! @thinkeng@mcmaster.ca