As someone who just finished their first Semester at one of Canada's top engineering schools, here are my raw thoughts:
A LinkedIn post by Sammy Tourani, . Post 88 of 90, newest first.
As someone who just finished their first Semester at one of Canada's top engineering schools, here are my raw thoughts:
1️⃣ Engineering is the Same Everywhere.
No matter which Canadian university you attend, the engineering experience in the first year is basically the same. I stay in touch with friends in Track One at U of T, CE/SE at Waterloo, McGill, and Western/Ivey. The truth? We're all suffering the same.
Engineering education in Canada is standardized. I've written exams from other schools and passed with flying colours. Some assume schools like McMaster are easier than Waterloo or U of T. The kids who thought that...failed. Engineering is tough everywhere—thinking otherwise will set you up for disaster.
2️⃣ The Fight for Competitive Streams in a General Eng Program Is Brutal.
McMaster's general first-year program offers "free choice" to students with exceptionally well high-school grades, guaranteeing their top-choice stream.
I think this system sucks.
No, I'm not bitter—my worst mark this Semester was an A (85–90%). The problem is inflated and inconsistent high school grades in Canada. A 95% at one school might be an 85% at another, but most universities (except Waterloo) don't account for this. As a result, a 97% student in high school might be a 60% student in first-year engineering, while an 84% first-year student misses their top program because the cutoff was 85%.
So... If you're choosing between a specialized program at a less competitive school and a general first-year at a top-tier university, go with the latter. I am saving you unnecessary stress, all-nighters, and eventual burnout come finals.
3️⃣ C's Get Degrees—Just Don't Fail
Wanna know the difference between a 75% and 90% average student in first-year eng? The 75% average student has better mental health, school-life balance, and a more positive overall experience in post-secondary.
Unless you're aiming for grad school @ an Ivy League or a scholarship, the extra effort for top marks often isn't worth it. In engineering, consistency matters more than natural talent. I've seen genius students let one bad exam derail them.
It's not about how well you perform but how you perform after repeatedly getting beat up.
4️⃣ Don't Skip Lectures. Ever
Yes, you can probably learn better on your own through YouTube since your professor might not teach the material well, but don't skip lectures (speaking from someone who tried it this Semester and regrets it).
People might tell you that the first year is just a recap of Grade 12 material—it's not. Even if you took IB or AP, you won't be fully prepared for how quickly concepts are covered.
Missing lectures makes catching up nearly impossible. Seniors will tell you that a slightly worse learning experience in class is better than cramming ten missed lectures later.
If you're about to start your engineering journey, don't worry—you've got this. You will be fine.
#engineering #mcmaster #firstyear #stem #university
Photos in this post:
- Sammy holding a pink #MacEng sign next to a red and yellow fireball mascot, in front of a brick wall.
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