“If I could share some advice to prospective students, it would be to really push yourself to experience as much of what university can offer you.”

My name is Elger. I am a graduate of the Honours Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program. I was fortunate to have been accepted into medical school at the University of Ottawa, where I will be obtaining my MD.

Entering my studies at McMaster, I knew that I had a profound interest in the sciences and possibly future clinical work. I knew the Life Sciences Gateway program would be the right fit for me because of the flexibility it provides. It grants the opportunity to explore many aspects of science which complements the wide array of second-year specializations to choose from. This flexibility led me to pursue Honours Biology & PNB, which granted me many experiential opportunities and a well-rounded background to prepare me for professional school applications.

The Honours Biology and PNB program is unique as it provided me with much infrastructural support to pursue research, clinical, experiential, and wide-ranging course experiences. I was able to pursue research across three disciplines including music cognition/auditory development, translational medicine (gastroenterology), and clinical psychology (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia). I was also able to gain experience at two clinics and a hospital (cardiology, neurology, and geriatrics) and work as one of two Head Teaching Assistants for the talented and caring MacIntroPsych team. In summary, being able to try out a bit of everything in the Life Sciences Gateway program and later the Honours Biology & PNB program, I learned what I am most passionate about as well as my shortcomings and was able to make a well-educated decision on my future pursuits.

If I could share some advice to prospective students, it would be to really push yourself to experience as much of what university can offer you. McMaster University and the Faculty of Science is an incredibly healthy environment to be in—the staff and students are so welcoming and supportive—and this will help discover who you are and celebrate your professional and personal achievements as you progress.

“My experiences in Co-op have informed my decision to pursue graduate school and work towards a senior scientist position in a government research lab.”

My name is Sami, and I am an undergraduate student in the Honours Chemical Biology Co-op program. I chose to study Chemical Biology because of its unique inter-disciplinary focus. As a Chemical Biology student, I have worked in research laboratories spanning the fields of computational chemistry, molecular biology, and chemical engineering.

I chose the Life Sciences Gateway program in the Faculty of Science at McMaster because of the flexibility in the first-year coursework. I am grateful that I had a full academic year to explore my options and make an informed decision about program specializations. My enjoyment of the introductory chemistry courses guided my decision to specialize in Chemical Biology in my second year.

The Honours Chemical Biology program has enhanced my understanding of what it means to be a scientist. Through the Co-op program, I have worked alongside individuals from the government, industry, and academic sectors. They have taught me that science is about working with real-world problems and making a difference through innovation. My experiences in Co-op have informed my decision to pursue graduate school and work towards a senior scientist position in a government research lab.

One piece of advice I would give a student interested in the Faculty of Science program is to be open-minded. The first year enables you to dabble in a range of subjects. I encourage you to take that opportunity to reflect on your experiences in each course. Those experiences are important in guiding you to make an informed decision about program specializations.

Best of luck with your journey at McMaster University and beyond!