Queen's / How to get in
How to Get Into Queen's
Queen's does not publish a single official undergraduate acceptance rate. Independent estimates place it roughly in the 40-50% range overall, with Smith Commerce, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Nursing, and Engineering admitting at notably lower rates. Admission is grades-led for most programs, with writing weighed alongside marks. Verify program-specific selectivity with Queen's directly. Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what Queen's weighs most, and where to put your energy.
- mid-80s to low-90s (Ontario %)
- GPA (middle 50%)
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how Queen's reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- The application essay
- Geographic origin
- Class rank
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- First-generation status
OUAC applications open October 1 · Apply by (Commerce, Health Sciences, Nursing) February 1 · Supplementary Application due (those 3 programs) February 15 · Apply by (all other first-year programs) March 1 · Final document deadline (transcripts, English tests) March 31. Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. Queen's reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into Queen's: FAQ
Is Queen's hard to get into?
Queen's does not publish a single official undergraduate acceptance rate. Independent estimates place it roughly in the 40-50% range overall, with Smith Commerce, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Nursing, and Engineering admitting at notably lower rates. Admission is grades-led for most programs, with writing weighed alongside marks. Verify program-specific selectivity with Queen's directly. At Queen's, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What GPA do you need to get into Queen's?
Admitted students at Queen's typically have a GPA around mid-80s to low-90s (Ontario %) (middle 50 percent). A strong GPA in demanding courses is the foundation, though it never guarantees admission.
What does Queen's look for in applicants?
Queen's weighs course rigor and grades (gpa) most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
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