thanks lawson
I'm applying to waterloo probably. U of T is my backup, or mcmaster.Computer Science Canada what should i do ? |
| Author: | implosion [ Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | what should i do ? |
okay so i've got my 3 exams coming up (1 tomorrow 2 on Friday)... right now I'm getting 67% in physics, 77 in adv. functions and 75 in chem... and i really want to go to Waterloo... but for every repeated course Waterloo takes 1% off your average.. i'm planning on choosing CE, CS, SE. next semester i have calculus, English, CE, CS. I'm confident i can get high 80s in CE, CS... as for calculus and English I'm praying to get 85 in... my question is what should i do... study more for math since my mark is higher in it ? and then come back and take chem and physics and only get 2% off... or take all 3 next year again and take 3% off. thing i've realized is that lets say i do take chem physics and adv. functions again... best case scenario i get 85 in calc. and English and 90 in compsci/engineering... I'd need a 90 in chem/functions/physics to get a 85.3% average to get into that mid 80s that Waterloo wants. i know not getting into waterloo isn't the end of the world.. but its the univeristy i actually loved.. only con i had about it was the size of the dorm in one of the housing.. other universities that i considered (mac and uoft). were okay.. mac i didn't mind the campus set up.. dorms were nice.. but there was just one huge building with everything in it and super crowded. i enjoyed how the program was set up thou. |
|
| Author: | smoovee [ Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
Not to sound pessimistic or anything, but what makes you think you can raise your marks THAT much if you retake them? Also you are not even guaranteed to get in to SE (you sound mid-80s right?) with an 85.3% The thing about retaking a course is that if you do decide to retake the course you need to get at least 6%(if you have a total of 6 courses) better just to keep the same average if what you are saying is true. (about them taking 1% off your final average) |
|
| Author: | Horus [ Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
I think you should apply for sience in waterloo if you really want to go there (high 70s only) but it's kinda too late... |
|
| Author: | implosion [ Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
i know i can get near to a 90 in adv. functions.. i would have this year, except during my holy month i was fasting. and bombed the first two tests... hard to focus when your super hungry.. lol as for chemistry, i'm pretty sure i could get a high 80s. as for physics a realistic answer would be mid 80s. reason my physics mark is so bad this year is because i was super behind on everything we were doing. now that i know whats going on i think i could do better, our teacher writes horrible notes, lol. whats the difference between computer science and computational science ? oh i also got the compsci award in gr. 11 ... how much do you think waterloo would like that on my AIF ? |
|
| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
implosion @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:19 pm wrote: whats the difference between computer science and computational science ? http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/prospect/faq.shtml |
|
| Author: | implosion [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
thanks for that link okay guys.. to be realistic... there is no way I'm gonna be able to get into Waterloo.. even if i do take a victory lap.. because the way my marks are.. (it'd be a miracle if i did)...I'll be lucky to pull off a low 80s.. even if i do repeat chem/physics/adv. func ... my physics mark is now after righting my exam in the mid 60s.. and my chem mark is now low 70s... going to be writing my functions exam tomorrow... now my question is... how hard is it to transfer from one university to another during my undergrad.. and for doing my graduates... the only university that i will be able to make in (i believe) will be mcmaster, if i take a victory lap... really don't like the campus.. (one big building with everything in it) but i guess i could get used to it... |
|
| Author: | Dan [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
Lots of university (if not most) accept students with marks in the 70s. I would say you have good odds at getting in to most university's in Ontario if you can keep your average there. You don't have to go to Waterloo to get a good job or be good in a computer related filed of study. My recommendation is to pick witch program you relay want and fits you best and then apply to 3 diffrent universities for the same program. I think it is more important to be in the right program at a good university then to be in the wrong program at the university with the best reputation. For more info on the difrences between the diffrent degrees in computers/tehcnogly see tony's blog post here: http://compsci.ca/blog/6-degrees-of-computer-science/ As for chaning universitys it is posible but you might lose some credits that are not the same at each universitiy, witch could mean adding a term on to your program. It would be a considerable amount of work so you would want to be sure that you want to make the change. |
|
| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
Waterloo is not the only place to do CE, CS, or SE. Get into the best place you can, and make the most of its opportunities. Every university has things that are good and things that are awful. Focus on the good. It's really about an opportunity for you to learn. A Waterloo graduate who just scraped through because of laziness or poor work habits is probably a worse prospect than someone from a "lesser" school who went at it 110%. |
|
| Author: | saltpro15 [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
this is somewhat unrelated, but I don't really know where else to ask, what would be a good average for waterloo acceptance? |
|
| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
I don't think either of these three programs accept students with averages below 80%. The exact cut-off depends on the applicant pool, and marks are not the only factor -- someone with a lower average and a good AIF might get in over someone with a higher average and no AIF. |
|
| Author: | saltpro15 [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
AIF? :S you lost me |
|
| Author: | zero-impact [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
Admission Information Form. It is an opportunity for you to tell waterloo more about yourself. Here is a link. |
|
| Author: | saltpro15 [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
thanks lawson I'm applying to waterloo probably. U of T is my backup, or mcmaster. |
|
| Author: | smoovee [ Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:what should i do ? |
Prabhakar Ragde @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:03 pm wrote: I don't think either of these three programs accept students with averages below 80%.
I'm not 100% sure but if he applied to St. George they might. http://www.electronicinfo.ca/en/program-details.php?pcode=0_190206_203_0 |
|
| Author: | ali_dada [ Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
You are at the age where you have to make right decisions and wise ones as well. Allow me to give me my own example, Back when I was in Grade 12, I had similar marks as you (just a little higher in physics) and a 70% in calculus. My overall average was 78%. I ended up choosing electrical engineering at Ryerson. From day 1, I had a tough time in engineering. The math and physics was beyond my expectations. Introductory electrical engineering courses blew me away. Well, I tried my best but after 2 years, I realized that engineering just wasn't for me. I ended up switching to Computer Science and have never looked back since. Now I am getting amazing marks and am on scholarship and was lucky enough to work as a programmer at one of Canada's largest banks for 15 months. I am going to graduate in couple of months and the following is my finding: . Rewind to 2003 when I was choosing University and programs, initially I wanted to go into ITM at Ryerson - should have gone into that. Would have skipped all the hard Maths and Science and by the time I would have graduated (2007) the IT sector was pretty good and by now I would have had a good IT job. . I am glad I didn't go into Bio-Informatics at Waterloo or Computer Science at UFT - I simply don't have high enough intelligence to do good there. Look, if you are like me - a person who just wants to graduate with good marks and get a job in IT, look for easy programs at Universities offering IT or Computer Science degrees and go there. With marks like yours, it would be a miracle if you graduate from Waterloo or UFT without spending a extra year or two and with good marks. The only regret I have is spending 2 more years to graduate - the economy is horrible and I am getting absolutely no job offers despite work experience and references and superb marks. I fear I would have to return in September to spend 2 more years doing MSc. Computer Science. |
|
| Author: | implosion [ Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
smoovee wrote: I'm not 100% sure but if he applied to St. George they might.
yes i did apply there. my marks for this semester Physics: 61... Chemistry: 71 ... Advanced Functions 77 as you can see... i'm staying back a year to repeat those 3 courses again. Math i am really good at, just the first 2 tests i did horribly because i was fasting (part of my religon, basically starving yourself while the sun is up) and it was pretty hard to concentrate lost a ton of sleep that month. i know Waterloo isn't the only university to get into. but out of the universities its the one i liked the most. The campus was amazing and the lecture halls were pretty good too, only complaint was the size of one of the rooms in the engineering building on the bottom floor all the way down the hall and the small size of the dorm rooms. I'm pretty sure i could get into Toronto for compsci. since all they want is math / English... but I'm worried because there classes are going to be huge ! even at mcmaster they said for first year general engineering you could have a math class of 600 people... i'd prefer something smaller so you could have a conversation with the prof. during the lecture. i saw this on another post. but at UFT for computer science, they have software engineering under compsci program... if i specialized in software engineering... would i get the engineering title ? finally, lets say i go to McMaster (might end up happening since there is no penalty for repeated courses)... would i have to apply again from undergrad to graduate studies or is it automatically accepted if your marks are good enough? thanks ali_dada for telling me about how your path was... yeah i'd be kicking myself forever for wasting the two years... but i guess you really need the experience first ?... next semester i have my CS and CE courses.. hopefully that helps me out. but with going into university then realizing you don't like it.. i really can't afford to do that... i only have like 4000$.. and then after two years. thats like 20 000$ kinda wasted ? like sure you have the knowledge but it won't help you graduate with the other credits that you need. Dan wrote: For more info on the difrences between the diffrent degrees in computers/tehcnogly see tony's blog post here http//compsci.ca/blog/6-degrees-of-computer-science/ read that many times and still aren't sure of which one I'd rather pursue P.S i was talking to one of my friends mom who is an engineer.. not sure in what... be she said with physics its either you get it or not... i was talking to my physics teacher way before and he said if you like it then soon it will click in. eg, i was telling him i love physics.. but not sure why i'm doing so bad in it. |
|
| Author: | endless [ Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
it looks like you had physics and math in the same semester? i had physics before any grade 12 math and found it was hard to keep up with the math involved which everyone else knew from previously having advanced functions. now that i have advanced functions, i am convinced that i could do a lot better in physics. since it is my lowest mark going into uni, i might retake it to bring my average up a bit. what i'm getting at is that maybe now that you have advanced function you could do better in physics. example: exponents and logarithms was the last unit we had in functions, in physics i could not catch on with how to isolate a variable exponent without taking the learning into my own hands via the internet. |
|
| Author: | implosion [ Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
yeah, math chem and physics in the same semester.... it was hell... i'm looking over physics and adv. functions... but i don't see how having adv. functions before physics would help ?... but also we skipped a lot of stuff in physics because we were behind (eg. skipped centripetal force on a banked curve). for anyone whose in university right now... how was the change from highschool classes of 30 to (what was your class size approx.) i really enjoy the ability to ask questions and discuss with my peers during the class. i think for next year i'll have a good chance of getting into UofT for compsci since it only wants English, adv. functions, and calculus.... but they have classes of 1000 and that worries me a bit. |
|
| Author: | Dark [ Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
implosion @ Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:47 pm wrote: i saw this on another post. but at UFT for computer science, they have software engineering under compsci program... if i specialized in software engineering... would i get the engineering title ? No, you still get a BSc and no iron ring, software engineering is mostly comp sci anyway... implosion @ Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:47 pm wrote: my marks for this semester Physics: 61... Chemistry: 71 ... Advanced Functions 77 as you can see... i'm staying back a year to repeat those 3 courses again. Math i am really good at, just the first 2 tests i did horribly because i was fasting (part of my religon, basically starving yourself while the sun is up) and it was pretty hard to concentrate lost a ton of sleep that month. i know Waterloo isn't the only university to get into. but out of the universities its the one i liked the most. The campus was amazing and the lecture halls were pretty good too, only complaint was the size of one of the rooms in the engineering building on the bottom floor all the way down the hall and the small size of the dorm rooms. I'm pretty sure i could get into Toronto for compsci. since all they want is math / English... but I'm worried because there classes are going to be huge ! even at mcmaster they said for first year general engineering you could have a math class of 600 people... i'd prefer something smaller so you could have a conversation with the prof. during the lecture. finally, lets say i go to McMaster (might end up happening since there is no penalty for repeated courses)... would i have to apply again from undergrad to graduate studies or is it automatically accepted if your marks are good enough? thanks ali_dada for telling me about how your path was... yeah i'd be kicking myself forever for wasting the two years... but i guess you really need the experience first ?... next semester i have my CS and CE courses.. hopefully that helps me out. but with going into university then realizing you don't like it.. i really can't afford to do that... i only have like 4000$.. and then after two years. thats like 20 000$ kinda wasted ? like sure you have the knowledge but it won't help you graduate with the other credits that you need. You probably won't get into Waterloo...I'm on the borderline with a 83% average I think too, but I know of someone who got in with a 74% average, 70% in calc, no extracurriculars...etc. I can't say anything about the big UofT class sizes, but if I was you I would change one of your choices to Ryerson. They are known as the whore of Universities and accept many people. (Cut off for comp sci is 70-74%). They also are very engaging, good coop, well known by corporate employers, etc. It's like Waterloo comp sci without all the l33t asians, and a noticeable change in difficulty. But with your marks it might be a good bet, (unless you take a victory lap and get a good math mark since u say you're good at it). And with your money issue, take a fifth year for coop. You'll make back tuition (and usually rez) by the time you graduate, with money left over. I'm thinking between Ryerson, Waterloo, and UofT Scarborough comp sci atm, with a fear of not getting into Loo, and even if I do...I don't know if I'll be able to handle the intense math there... plus I need rez and more cash...Ryerson no rez + scholarship = 4k a year only... But good luck on whatever you do. Oh, and write the Euclid. |
|
| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
implosion @ 2009-02-01, 9:47 pm wrote: i saw this on another post. but at UFT for computer science, they have software engineering under compsci program... if i specialized in software engineering... would i get the engineering title ?
No you wouldn't get the professional engineer title, I lost the link but it's under U of T's academic calendar for Computer Science. implosion wrote: for anyone whose in university right now... how was the change from highschool classes of 30 to (what was your class size approx.) i really enjoy the ability to ask questions and discuss with my peers during the class. i think for next year i'll have a good chance of getting into UofT for compsci since it only wants English, adv. functions, and calculus.... but they have classes of 1000 and that worries me a bit.
You'll have large classes almost anywhere you go, especially in first year. However, think of that 1000 estimate as a worst case scenario that mostly applies to common courses such as, say, Psychology. With CS you'll often have more specialized classes with far fewer people, especially after the final date to drop the course. This effect is even more apparent in later years. In the relatively large courses, you'll still have plenty of opportunities to talk with your professors, you just have to be willing to go to them. And there's nothing stopping you from discussing things with friends, who you almost always find even in large lectures. Though generally it's a better idea to listen during the lecture. There's tutorials that are more on the discussion side of things, and those are much smaller than lectures. Dark wrote: change one of your choices to Ryerson. They are known as the whore of Universities
Uh, no. Dark wrote: fear of not getting into Loo, and even if I do...I don't know if I'll be able to handle the intense math there...
Don't deceive yourself, to be a decent computer scientist you'll have to get through a certain amount of 'intense math'. If that's not what you're prepared for, go to college. That said, you don't necessarily have to be prepared straight from high school, but at least come expecting something challenging. |
|
| Author: | Dark [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
Dark wrote: change one of your choices to Ryerson. They are known as the whore of Universities
Gandalf @ Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:48 pm wrote: Uh, no.
Yes they are cutie, and that's not a bad thing for many people Dark wrote: fear of not getting into Loo, and even if I do...I don't know if I'll be able to handle the intense math there...
Gandalf @ Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:48 pm wrote: Don't deceive yourself, to be a decent computer scientist you'll have to get through a certain amount of 'intense math'. If that's not what you're prepared for, go to college. That said, you don't necessarily have to be prepared straight from high school, but at least come expecting something challenging.
And of course math will be challenging at any accredited Uni Comp Sci program, but Waterloo math really is intense, I've compared math tests from first year Ryerson students, UofT students, and Waterloo students in comp sci, the Waterloo comp sci are killer... |
|
| Author: | saltpro15 [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:what should i do ? |
well if the tests are harder then just work harder... |
|
| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: what should i do ? |
Dark @ 2009-02-11, 4:34 pm wrote: And of course math will be challenging at any accredited Uni Comp Sci program, but Waterloo math really is intense, I've compared math tests from first year Ryerson students, UofT students, and Waterloo students in comp sci, the Waterloo comp sci are killer...
Oh really... and here I thought you were still in high school. Oh well, since you've compared math tests I'm sure you've got it all figured out. |
|