Applying to McMaster BTech Software Engineering Technology (DCP): questions about the 75% average requirement

Hey everyone, hoping someone here has gone through the BTech degree completion program admissions process or knows someone currently in the program.

I'm a Centennial College Software Engineering Technology advanced diploma student graduating August 2026. I emailed the thinkeng email a couple days ago but haven't heard back yet, so figured I'd try here.

My current standing

My Centennial program produces two separate GPA figures — a cumulative GPA that includes all course attempts, and a program GPA that only counts program-specific courses with the highest grade for repeats. There's a meaningful difference between the two for me because I have some early course failures that I've since retaken and significantly improved. After my summer retakes my best-attempt average is around 76-80%.

I gues some of the things i'm kind of worried about are

1. Is the 75% minimum a hard cutoff or more of a soft guideline? Does admissions consider your full application on a case by case basis, or is it strictly binary like above 75% you're in, below you're out?
2. How do they actually calculate the 75%? Do they take the GPA figure printed on your transcript, or do they recalculate themselves using individual course grades? And do they use all attempts or best/most recent grades for repeated courses?
3. Does the upward trajectory of grades matter at all? I had a rough start but my most recent semester was a near 4.0 GPA. Does admissions factor that in or is it purely about the overall average?
4. For those already in the BTech — does completing it make you eligible for McMaster's MEng programs afterward, specifically ECE or Systems and Technology?
5. Is a conditional offer possible for someone graduating in August 2026 given the July 1st application deadline? Or is Fall 2027 the realistic start date?

Any insight from people in the program or who've been through admissions would be massively appreciated im lowk stressing out