Disappointing marks
No that's actually very impressive English is the toughest subject by farComputer Science Canada A Lesson. |
| Author: | apython1992 [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | A Lesson. |
Here were my final applying marks to university: Chem: 97 Bio: 98 Calc: 98 Adv. Func: 98 Eng: 83 Physics: 99 Not too shabby, right? But guess how much scholarship money I got from the school I'm going to? Zero. Yup. They take grade 11 marks into account too. All of them. I slacked off through almost all of high school and got terrible marks, thinking everything would work out if I just did well in a few select courses - but I was totally wrong. So if you're in grade 10 or 11, and thinking along these same lines to just "cruise along and do well where it matters", rethink your strategy, because you're probably worth more than $0.00. This also applies to English, the oh-so-hated course by many of us mathy-sciency-computery folks. My english mark of 83 didn't help my case at all. Even if you're sure you're going to a school that only considers the top six grade 12 courses for scholarships, don't think that you should settle down and just "chill out" for the other courses, because that is only an entrance scholarship and there are tons more out there that you can apply for that have different criteria, and besides you should try to leave as many doors open as possible. In grade 11, I was sure I was going to go to Waterloo or McMaster, but two years later I decided that mcgill was the right school for me. In short - learn from my mistakes! |
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| Author: | yumrum [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Disappointing marks No that's actually very impressive English is the toughest subject by far |
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| Author: | 2goto1 [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
If you keep the excellent work up in your first university year, you could be eligible for scholarships that are purely based on your university grades. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
That's encouraging, I hope I can keep that up. I really don't know much about scholarships beyond first year entrance, so that's something to keep my eyes on. I'm killing myself with a good amount of second year math in first year, so I'll have to work pretty hard I think. The good thing is I have a lot of free time these days (I'm only working, not in school) and I have some resources to teach myself a lot of math in advance. Thanks  |
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| Author: | mirhagk [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
This scares me deeply, like I'm a quick learner (I've always done tests just from lessons and looking at the textbook examples, never done a whole lot of review questions or anything) but my works aren't actually that high, like they are all around 95, and english is 80 if I'm lucky. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
I'm very much the same way - I've never found a need to study very much, and this will probably have to change come university. Don't worry too much though, I think as long as you remain passionate about what you learn you'll find a way to do well in it. As far as the scholarship issue is concerned - worry just enough to take my example and make your own case better. |
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| Author: | Raknarg [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Oh man, I don't do any work in English at all -.-' last mark I got was 70 :/ Do any band courses count? |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Definitely try harder to get the english mark higher in upcoming years. As for band - I highly doubt it. I don't think band is a grade 12 U level course. |
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| Author: | chrisbrown [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:A Lesson. |
apython1992 @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:05 pm wrote: I've never found a need to study very much, and this will probably have to change come university.
Definitely, not probably. If you are open to learning from the mistakes of others, I made <a href="http://compsci.ca/v3/viewtopic.php?t=23769">this thread</a> for exactly that purpose. tl;dr? Work your ass off. You'll thank yourself later. |
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| Author: | Insectoid [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Well, you could just go to an easy school and continue not working your ass off (as well as getting a hefty scholarship). You won't learn as much formally, but you'll have time to teach yourself the things you want to know. |
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| Author: | rdrake [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Might be slightly off topic, but... Don't forget that if you have financial difficulties you can also apply for things like bursaries. I applied for one in my fourth year and it helped a lot in paying down tuition. There are also a lot of grants and other things available that many people don't bother applying for. P.S. A lot of schools consider your top 6 12U-level courses including English. It might suck, but there's no getting around it. |
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| Author: | Raknarg [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Yeah, I'm considering taking my last 2 english courses over the summer, I heard it was easier that way. Quick question, has anyone ever found English useful in CS? Like are there essays or something? |
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| Author: | Insectoid [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
Hell no. They just want to know you can communicate. There might be essays in the upper years, but all I've written so far is code. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:A Lesson. |
chrisbrown @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:13 pm wrote: apython1992 @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:05 pm wrote: I've never found a need to study very much, and this will probably have to change come university.
Definitely, not probably. If you are open to learning from the mistakes of others, I made <a href="http://compsci.ca/v3/viewtopic.php?t=23769">this thread</a> for exactly that purpose. tl;dr? Work your ass off. You'll thank yourself later. You're totally right, definitely is the word. I'm ready to study hard, I mean I did study quite hard for things like biology. I love math and computer science and physics and even chemistry so I think I'll be able to turn it on and study. Also, this is something I've been thinking about too, but nobody agrees with me. I learn far better in lectures/lessons when I don't take notes and am able to pay full attention to what is being said, as I'm not being distracted by writing. Any thoughts on this? Everybody I know has told me I need to take notes in university, but I really don't learn well that way. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:A Lesson. |
Insectoid @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:45 pm wrote: Well, you could just go to an easy school and continue not working your ass off (as well as getting a hefty scholarship). You won't learn as much formally, but you'll have time to teach yourself the things you want to know.
You're totally right, I could. On a slightly related note, I actually got a major scholarship to UofT (which is by no means an easier school; some would probably argue it's harder, especially in CS) but I'm really just not feeling it. At mcgill, I get to do quite a bit of second math first year, which will be a good challenge. I definitely don't want to go to an easier school just for financial reasons. |
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| Author: | ultimatebuster [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
I find that I learn best on my own, under the support of a teacher who can answer my questions or confusions that I have on the topic. Paying attention to most lectures would almost certainly lead me to become very bored as most of the time (This is in HS) it's a bit slower than learning on my own. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
University will definitely be faster, don't worry about that. |
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| Author: | Brightguy [ Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Lesson. |
apython1992 @ Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:45 am wrote: So if you're in grade 10 or 11, and thinking along these same lines to just "cruise along and do well where it matters", rethink your strategy, because you're probably worth more than $0.00.
I think the real reason to do your best in the courses which don't matter is that it's hard to change your behaviour on a dime. In fact I am completely amazed that one could not work hard at all throughout high school and then suddenly decide to work hard for six courses. |
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| Author: | apython1992 [ Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
I didn't even work hard, at that. I'm not worried about being able to switch it on and study for courses I really like. I really like school and I don't think that's going to be an issue. |
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| Author: | jhnmichle [ Wed May 04, 2011 4:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Lesson. |
you should not lose your heart. keep it up. |
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| Author: | Raknarg [ Wed May 04, 2011 8:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:A Lesson. |
@jhnmichle Yeah, I can imagine it would be rather painful. |
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