University of Waterloo Speciality : Chemistry
programme: Biochemistry

Studying Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo is a challenging experience that pushes you to grow both academically and personally. The program is rigorous and research-oriented, with courses that dive deep into genetics, ecology, and biochemistry. Labs are detailed and sometimes overwhelming, but they teach you discipline and precision. What makes Waterloo stand out is its emphasis on innovation and opportunities, you don’t just study science, you learn how to apply it in real-world settings. It’s not the easiest path, but if you’re self-driven and curious, Waterloo gives you the tools and mindset to thrive in science and beyond

UWaterloo is best known for its STEM courses however so far I’ve talked to a bunch of people from other programmes and they’ve all been happy. The only thing is they UWaterloo is SUPER competitive the students here are more focused on getting good grades the partying. Don’t be surprised if 70 students out of 200 get an 85 on a major test (I’m in 2 programmes: psychology and biochemistry). So if you do decide to come to UWaterloo you really need to be open to being competitive or at least being happy with the grades you get or else your mental health can be in jeopardy. Lastly, the party life is majorly lacking here but luckily there are other close unis who party HARDDD, you just need to make some friends first. Overall, I know it might sound like I’m trashing the uni but it’s a really nice place to be and can be very rewarding if you are someone who is organised, passionate about studying, and don’t mind placing academia above your social life at times.

Some very good courses taught by very engaging professors, Engelhardt, Dayeh, Bissonnette, Forsey, Marta, Stacey, these are all very very good profs, from having a down to earth personality and being approachable, to the fact that they genuinely care about you and your wellbeing, you can just tell, some profs they actually care and you’re not just a number to them.

However there are so many other courses that you just spend the entire time thinking, why exactly do I need this? Why is this prof not fired yet? You really start to question your life choices and whether or not you’ve gone down the wrong path when you’re reading all your lecture notes for CHEM264, took all kinds of notes during lectures, and did all the practice questions in the textbook after the lecture, but Chong’s class is still at a 50% passing rate, while you are stuck in 8:30 lectures in DC with him just for him to talk condescendingly at you. Ah yes, don’t forget how Miskovic made a girl in her 20s cry in front of a bunch of people during her office hours because apparently her question was a stupid question and she should be ashamed of asking that.

There is next to zero student life, life on campus is so dead there were like 3 reported suicides on campus while I was there, and I bet a dozen more off-campus that weren’t reported at all.

My degree had no coop, no stress about applying to 200 jobs just to get 2 interviews, where people fight to the death to work in the storage room of some office to move boxes, but that really doesn’t help you get a job after graduating.

Overall, it is a nice piece of paper to hang on the wall after getting myself in a bottomless pit of student debt. Would not recommend it if you’re not going into something else bigger like med school or something.