The University introduced a new supplemental application process last application cycle, and the same format will apply for this year.
Beginning with the 2023-24 ission cycle, prospective students are required to submit a supplementary application that includes both a written and video response when applying to specific programs.
According to the University’s website, the programs requiring a supplementary application are the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), the on-campus Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), and the Bachelor of Nursing Science(BNSc). Transfer students for BCom and BHSc also need to submit a supplementary application.
In 2023, the University made the rubric for evaluating the written and recorded responses available on its website. The University’s website says applicants will have 10 minutes to write their written response, with a limit of 285 words. For the video component, they’ll have two minutes to prepare, followed by two minutes to record their video response.
With the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT, post-secondary institutions have been struggling with how to handle the situation. In a 2023 survey by KPMG, 52 per cent of Canadian students older than 18 years old said they use generative AI for school despite 60 per cent feeling that it constitutes cheating.
“A new platform (called Kira Talent) replaced a platform that was developed in-house and was at the end of its life cycle,” the University said in a statement to The Journal.
The University said the capability of the Kira Talent platform allows for an enhanced applicant experience, including step-by-step instructions, the ability to practice within the platform, for both the written and new video sections, 24/7 applicant tech , and increased fraud detection—features that align with best practices across the Ontario university sector.
As part of the check-in process on the new platform, it’s mandatory for applicants to practice on unofficial questions, and students can practice as many times as they want, the University’s website says.
Other Ontario schools have been using the recorded video format for a long time, such as the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
A recent study has suggested in-person interviews may disadvantage overweight applicants because of biases. The study found phone interviews had no effect on the ission rates.
The supplemental application is available after applications are submitted through the Ontario University Application Centre. The deadline to submit the supplemental application is Feb. 15, 2025.
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