Uhm, there's a survey that people are asked to fill out which asks questions about cultural background/family income, etc. in an effort to determine how well the university is doing at getting applications from a variety of different backgrounds; but, that survey doesn't affect people's chance of admission at all (and is never matched to individuals).

The university is explicitly forbidden from discriminating against applicants on the basis of race amongst other things.

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4th Year Computer Science student at Queen's University finishing in April, 2008;
starting a Masters in Human Computer Interaction shortly afterward (also at Queen's).
e-mail: tim [at] timginn [dot] com

Exactly where on your application to a Canadian university do you say that you are wealthy and Caucasian?


The only filtering system there would be the cost of attending Queen's (primarily vs. attending a school you can commute to, but also Queen's is expensive for those programs where it can be) which would probably tend to make it more wealthy on average than, say, U of T. The location outside of a major center would tend to make it more white, and I've definitely seen minorities post here who are hesitant to go there because they want to have a large community of their particular minority and they don't think Queen's has enough.

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I would think there would be a lack of discrimination, if anything. I applied to Queen's for ConEd with Trent, and filled out an Equity of Admissions form with my application, the sole purpose of which is to help minorities. Basically it says there is allocated space for minorities which are under represented in teaching. I was pretty impressed, this is the first sort of thing I've come across, though I'm sure there are other schools who have similar attitudes. It would be nice.

I guess this is what that person meant by student-filtering-system.
Thank you for fulfilling my curiosity.

While I never heard of the student filtering system, as someone neither "wealthy or Caucasian", I got accepted. But I can see where you're coming from, I'm still a little hesitant about committing to attending because I'm still a little worried that it'll be too small a university with not as much diversity as say U of T, or U of O.

I want to do a student exchange though, probably to Australia in third year so I suppose that if my plans go through that should be a pretty grand alternative. I just hope I get to do that.

Haha I'm wondering if you are referring to my post about the Best Canadian University and how Queen's has a good student-filtering-method?

What I like about Queen's is that they don't just look at your marks to admit you, they require you to fill out the PSE (like how Waterloo has its AIF, and McMaster has the HealthSci, ArtsSci, (Nursing?) supplementary applications; and other competitive programs at U of T, York, Western make you fill out those applications to become more selective of the students...) for alll the students who apply (Except for Cegep students?).

I think this is really beneficial for the school and the students that attend. I mean most of the students that will be admitted will have demonstrated different qualities, personalities, talents, etc and bring a neat diversity and willingness to participate in Queen's. Hence Queen's school spirit: their renowned university life can't be just because of the school, it's the students who make up the school, who got accepted for their good marks as well as their past involvement in extracurriculars.

I'm not sure how much of a difference the PSE makes in terms of admission selection, but I was comparing their system to schools like McGill that require to you maintain a high average and nothing more.

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They sent me an email asking to take a survey where they take 'anonymous data' on the diversity of the students who have applied?
I don't think it counts for admission since I was accepted before I receieved the email...
But my friend from last year did mention that he thinks he didn't get in because he put he was a minority on the form before any acceptances :S
I doubt it, but who knows.

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So not true. That survey is for stats ONLY. Its never linked to your personal application and it said like a billion times that it does not affect your admission decision. You friend didn't get in because he wasn't what they wanted.