Commerce Supplemental Application
Getting to Know You
DeGroote values a well-balanced student body, which includes a diverse range of applicants. We assess applicants using various criteria, not just academic achievement. We are looking for motivated individuals who demonstrate significant achievement, leadership, and passion for the world of business, regardless of their academic marks.
The written supplemental application is an optional but highly recommended component of your application. It is designed to support the overall applications of students who may have marks at the lower end of the expected admission range, providing you with an opportunity to showcase your strengths beyond your academic performance.
Deadline
The supplemental application opens in early December 2024 and close on February 3, 2025.
As the supplemental application is optional, your application will not be adversely impacted if you choose not to submit an application.
How it Works
You can access the supplemental application here. The link will take you to the Slate platform.
To access your supplemental application, please log in using your MacID@mcmaster.ca email address and the password you set when activating your MacID. If you haven’t activated your MacID yet, please do so. You should have received an email called “Next Steps for your McMaster Application” that contained this information.
If you applied within the last four days, you may not have your MacID information yet, so please check back in a few days.
If you need additional help with password resets, please contact McMaster University’s UTS (University Technology Services) team. They can resolve such concerns. Visit their website for contact details: UTS Contact Us
The application has two sections. The first section is to learn about what you do outside of academics and involves recording basic information about your extracurricular activities. These 8 questions will take you 1-2 minutes. The second section helps us better understand who you are and includes three written questions about your skills, character, and experiences. The 3 questions in this section have a time limit of 20 minutes each.
If you require an accommodation to complete the supplemental application, please email buscom@mcmaster.ca. Based on your individual education plan (IEP), we will work with you.
Preparation
Before you begin your supplemental application, brainstorm ideas and reflect on your past experiences. The following questions may be helpful.
Leadership
- What leadership roles have you taken on?
- What type of leader are you?
- What have you learned from leading a team?
- How would you build cohesion on a team whose members disagree?
Resilience
- How have you dealt with failure in the past?
- How have you “bounced back” from it?
- How do you stay engaged when working on a long, extended project or task?
- How do you keep a positive attitude in difficult situations?
Motivation
- What motivates you to go above and beyond?
- How do you keep yourself motivated?
- How do you motivate others on your team?
Questions
For technical support questions, please contact Slate directly for assistance.
If you have any other questions or concerns, you can contact us by email at buscom@mcmaster.ca.
Please note that your responses to the supplementary application questions must be prepared entirely by you. Posting answers on the internet, working with others to prepare your responses, or use of generative AI are not permitted, and may result in removal from the applicant pool.