Computer Science Canada Another university or collage question thingy |
| Author: | - IzAk - [ Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Another university or collage question thingy |
ok im not sure if i want collage or uni yet, and im not particularaly amazing at programming but i do get it. so my question is where should i go, or beter yet i live in st.catharines, ont. and if anyone knows how good the compsci departments around here are, i would love to hear your input. im not sure if i wanna become a programmer but i would like to learn more to the trade/profession. thnx: me  |
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| Author: | codemage [ Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:14 pm ] |
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The first year program of just about any college or uni will be fairly general and allow you to take a bunch of electives to see if you like subject matter from a different department. Furthermore, the first year of just about every same-named program will be fundamentally the same, no matter where you take it. If you're not sure if you want to have a career in a certain area, spread yourself out during your first year to give yourself other opportunities (in case your interest in CS dead-ends.) A bigger question than are you really good at CS is: do you like it enough to learn almost exclusively about that topic for another 2-4 years? Also... you might be interested in taking a summer or night course to see if the next "level" of study interests you. |
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| Author: | - IzAk - [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:22 pm ] |
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iaghty, thanks man... that's alot of good advice, really thanks alot  |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:22 pm ] |
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Sorry to ask this in your topic but is Waterloo an option if I'm getting 93 in programming, I got 90 in Comp. Engineering, 92 in Math, 84 in Science, 81 in English? I hear thats the best University to go to for computer related things. These marks are all in grade 10 by the way. I'm for sure going to go to a University and I have my sights set on Waterloo, though I'm not sure I'd make it. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:02 pm ] |
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if you keep that up, you're making it. |
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| Author: | cool dude [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:05 pm ] |
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grade 10 was a joke. once u get to grade 12 and start taking hard courses your mark will start slightly declining. to get into Waterloo u can get in with a 85% average. u actually can get in with an 80% average in some cases when theres not a lot of applicants, and u have a ton of extra curricular activities and you've done very well on a math contest or something like that. Getting into Waterloo would not be your problem, the problem as i stated before in other threads are the expenses. on average including residence, tuition, books, entertainment, travel, food, etc. costs around $18,000. and if your going for 4 years excluding masters you'll need $72,000. most people don't have that kind of money and yes there is co-op, but it does not fully cover everything all the time and there is no guarantees you'll even get a job at co-op. since your only in grade 10 u can relax for now and not worry about it. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:10 pm ] |
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cool dude - I think I've stated this before, but you'd have to pay about just as much for any other University. The only difference is the cost of residence (parent's basement vs. rent) And one would really have to screw up to not get a co-op job. Or be like... work challenged or something. Or in Arts 
Anyways, whatever co-op doesn't cover - OSAP does. Yey for social programs. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:58 pm ] |
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cool dude, what grade are you in? you seem to be talking alot of shit about waterloo. marks in the early grades mean nothing. i started grade 9 with an 70 avg, 85 in grade 10, 88 in grade 11 and 93 in grade 12. |
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| Author: | - IzAk - [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:02 pm ] |
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hey hey hey, hounor roll students like myself. n hear i thought you might all jsut be nerd  jokes, i'm just kidding. but yea thnx for all the tips, and i like the idea of parents basement while attending school, that's why i originally stated i hope you have good info on places closer to st.catharines, ont. but yea all this is being quite help full.... n i dont mind the talk of grades, doesnt bother me at all, aslong as thats not all this post turns into  lol. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:27 pm ] |
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cool dude wrote: grade 10 was a joke. once u get to grade 12 and start taking hard courses your mark will start slightly declining. to get into Waterloo u can get in with a 85% average. u actually can get in with an 80% average in some cases when theres not a lot of applicants, and u have a ton of extra curricular activities and you've done very well on a math contest or something like that. Getting into Waterloo would not be your problem, the problem as i stated before in other threads are the expenses. on average including residence, tuition, books, entertainment, travel, food, etc. costs around $18,000. and if your going for 4 years excluding masters you'll need $72,000. most people don't have that kind of money and yes there is co-op, but it does not fully cover everything all the time and there is no guarantees you'll even get a job at co-op. since your only in grade 10 u can relax for now and not worry about it.
$18,000? 8 months of school costs me about... $7000 tuition and books, $4000 rent/bills/internet and another $2000 on food and entertainment. $13k. I don't know what else you're spending money on... |
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| Author: | Cervantes [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:46 pm ] |
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Ouch cool dude; that post sure is attracting a lot of attention. Just to beat a dead horse some more, cool dude wrote: grade 10 was a joke. once u get to grade 12 and start taking hard courses your mark will start slightly declining.
As Andy said, it's just the opposite. My marks increased with each year. The same is true for most of my friends who are university bound. |
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| Author: | cool dude [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:13 pm ] |
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Martin wrote: cool dude wrote: grade 10 was a joke. once u get to grade 12 and start taking hard courses your mark will start slightly declining. to get into Waterloo u can get in with a 85% average. u actually can get in with an 80% average in some cases when theres not a lot of applicants, and u have a ton of extra curricular activities and you've done very well on a math contest or something like that. Getting into Waterloo would not be your problem, the problem as i stated before in other threads are the expenses. on average including residence, tuition, books, entertainment, travel, food, etc. costs around $18,000. and if your going for 4 years excluding masters you'll need $72,000. most people don't have that kind of money and yes there is co-op, but it does not fully cover everything all the time and there is no guarantees you'll even get a job at co-op. since your only in grade 10 u can relax for now and not worry about it.
$18,000? 8 months of school costs me about... $7000 tuition and books, $4000 rent/bills/internet and another $2000 on food and entertainment. $13k. I don't know what else you're spending money on... well i got my facts from the Waterloo page http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/financing/expenses.htm scroll to the bottom of the page where it says estimated total expenses. i may be wrong u know better because u actually go there but this is the facts i got. @Andy and Cerventes: i didn't really mean it will for sure go down i just meant it gets a lot harder and u have to try harder to get the marks u r getting currently. wat i mean by that is in grade 10 i could have not tried at all and still got an A and then in higher grades that A would have been so much harder to get. so i'm just warning that its a heavier workload and harder to get the marks, but if your a good student you'll do fine, and thats why i said that getting into Waterloo wouldn't be such a problem with those marks. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:23 pm ] |
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Hmm, strange. I don't know why it would be that pricey. $1300 on textbooks though? Yeah right. |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:48 pm ] |
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Well, my marks have been going up since grade 7. My average in grade 7 was about high 70's to low 80's. Now its up in high 80's. I can also honestly say that I never once studied for a test (exclusing science). I usually procrastinate for projects as well. In grade 11 I will for sure work harder and if I can high 80's without even trying. To me, grade 10 is very easy. |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:56 pm ] |
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Also, money isn't an issue really. I have about 120k saved up (well my family saved up) strictly for my University. I also have a job at Staples and just about all the income goes into my bank account (aside from buying a lunch here and there and sometimes going to movies). I will most likely have enough to not only stay for the 4 years for the Computer Science degree, but possibly go for my Masters (should I decide to do so). I'm also hoping to have some luxury...I want to build an amazing computer for my room! Finally, should a couple fo my friends get in, were hoping to rent a big house or something together. If I don't get into Waterloo, UofT is awsome as well I guess. I'd like to ask this though, how benficial is it to stay for Masters? I didn't really plan on doing it but I've heard many people say that if they can, then go for it. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:04 pm ] |
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books does not cost 13 hundred.. i spent maybe 300 first term and 150 on the second. and what's this "others" fee, and how did it add up to 2k? i'd say 500 is plenty. there i just knocked 3k off. so yeah 14k per year is more than enough. reality check, your parents saved up 120k for your university? were they planning to send you to Ivy or something? |
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| Author: | codemage [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:50 am ] |
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Reality Check wrote: I also have a job at Staples and just about all the income goes into my bank account
...I'd like to ask this though, how benficial is it to stay for Masters? I didn't really plan on doing it but I've heard many people say that if they can, then go for it. A - good plan - keep saving. If you end up with extra savings, you'll be ahead of the game if you ever decide to buy a house, etc. B - what is your reason for wanting a masters? Will you be more eligible for advancement or will you be compensated in your place of employment for having one? ...or is this for purely intellectual advancement?  |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:00 pm ] |
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No, they didn't save up that much. What we did was buy 4 peices of land in Iran (my home country) at a combined cost of about 30k. That money has risen to about 120k now should we decide to sell them. They said its all going to me. I don't want to be cut financially. While in University, I want to focus 100% on the studying and not worry about money. I also want to rent a nice house there. If I have money left over after high school (most likely will), then I can do so many things with it. I could save that up, get a good job, and then I can put a nice down payment much faster than usual. Also, getting a masters is all about credentials. I mean if an employer is employing someone to his company and narrows it down to 2 people, one with a Masters and the other doesn't...I think he'll go for the masters. Of course its not guaranteed because the guy without the masters could be just as good, so I'm not sure yet. We'll see how it pans out. I could always do my 4 years, search around for a good job for a while and if I don't get one, I could always go back for my masters can't I? If I do get one then theres no need to get a masters. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:47 pm ] |
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to me a large portion of university is about growing up, and being independent.. but i suppse you can live in your parent's house til your 30  jk |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:31 pm ] |
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I'd prefer my University to be a medium distance. If I go to University close to home, I can expect lots of visits, and also be expected to visit quite often...thats just how my parents are. Not too far either I have to keep family close. So the distance would be good if its too far for weekly visits and continuous contact but not far enough to go visit once every 2 or so weeks. Thats why I like Waterloo |
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| Author: | Andy [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 1:27 am ] |
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i hope you realize living away from your parents but using their every penny does not really count as being independent |
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| Author: | Reality Check [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:24 am ] |
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Well I'm going to be working of course. I work now and most of my income goes in the bank. I don't think anyone can really pay for their own University without SOME help from parents. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:02 pm ] |
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my parents only paid for first term, and even that, if i wasnt buying a car, i'd pay it back to them |
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| Author: | codemage [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:52 am ] |
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Reality Check wrote: If an employer is employing someone to his company and narrows it down to 2 people, one with a Masters and the other doesn't...I think he'll go for the masters.
If you're choice of employment is heavy on theory or research in your Master's area of expertise, then definitely yes. Otherwise, many fields will take someone with a good portfolio over someone who'se only experience is in the sanitized world of academia. Oh... and I spent $1200 on books in my 1st year. As soon as you find out what books are assigned to your classes, start shopping for used versions. |
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| Author: | md [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:28 am ] |
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I've enver spent more then $400 a semester, and I *only* buy new books. Methinks the trick is knowing which books are *required*, and which ones are only *strongly recomended*. Get the required ones, check the strongly recomended ones out of the library if needed, or borrow from a friend.... or check the pirate bay
I found that the most expensive thing about living away from home was food. It's very difficult to get by on < $25 a week for food, and even that is a rather pitiful amount to eat. |
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| Author: | - IzAk - [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:16 pm ] |
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Ouch <25$ a week on food, i dont think i could survive with that, you people are nuts... i'd say i'd spend about 70+ dollors on food a week at any given place. but man theres alot of financial dispute on pricing for collage or uni. eh? but al lthis input is really helping me out, thx alot... |
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| Author: | md [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:49 pm ] |
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I didn't say I did get by on <$25... it was probably closer to $30-$35 a week. Cooking all your own food is key; eating out or buying lunches on campus can get real pricy quickly. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:02 pm ] |
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I cook my own meals and it still costs 50 bucks a week.. but thats cuz i eat at least a pound of meat and drink a litter of milk + juice per day =P |
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| Author: | md [ Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:15 pm ] |
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Andy wrote: I cook my own meals and it still costs 50 bucks a week.. but thats cuz i eat at least a pound of meat and drink a litter of milk + juice per day =P
Have you checked out St. Jacob's market? You can get *really* good deals on meat there |
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| Author: | McKenzie [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:36 am ] |
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From my experience a Masters is great if you plan on going into R&D or back into higher education. Some companies are not that impressed by a Masters. With a Masters you become very skilled/knowledgable in one very specific area. Most companies plan to train you in the way they do things and want you to be as well-rounded as posible. Quite frankly a lot of real companies would rather see that you were the captain of a Curling club than see a Masters on your resume. That said, top end companies look for very specific people to fill very specific needs. If you happen to be that person then you are in demand. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:15 am ] |
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And some companies may hire you with a Bachelor's degree, then while you're working for them, send you back to get a Master's degree. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:22 am ] |
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McKenzie wrote: Quite frankly a lot of real companies would rather see that you were the captain of a Curling club than see a Masters on your resume.
what if you were the captain of a Curling club AND have a Masters under your belt? |
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| Author: | wtd [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:35 am ] |
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What if you have a Masters in Curling sociology? |
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| Author: | Andy [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:45 am ] |
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then you shouldnt be looking for a tech job |
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| Author: | md [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:37 pm ] |
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I'm curious as to how curling because the topic... but seeing as it is actually more wide spread in tech people then you'd think perhaps it's not surprising. I should really look into taking curling up again... I could use some team sports on my resume. |
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| Author: | Mazer [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:24 pm ] |
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Real geeks play polo on segways. |
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| Author: | md [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:47 pm ] |
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I actually can buy a segway... they sell them in a store just by my house. They cost a rediculous amount though, more then a decent motorcycle. Besides; I think it's well established I'm not a geek... what with spending lots of time in the sun and having a girlfriend and all |
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| Author: | Clayton [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:20 pm ] |
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that doesnt necessarily mean u arent a geek you could have a geeky girlfriend  oh and a geek doesnt necessarily not get a lot of sun either  |
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| Author: | md [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:22 pm ] |
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Ok... so she is geeky too... and I suppose geeks can get sun. But what about sports? Do geekss play sports? |
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| Author: | Tony [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:42 pm ] |
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Cornflake wrote: Do geekss play sports?
Apparently Mazer wrote: Real geeks play polo on segways.
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| Author: | Mazer [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:25 pm ] |
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I'm not sure I'd classify polo as a sport. Polo on segways, definitely not. In fact, if a sport involves the use of machines/computers (by the "athlete") then probably not. So all you CAL pros can put your hands down, you're not that cool. Minsc plays sports. We don't know if he's any good though. And it's not like we can verify they're real sports and not "today in my weekly D&D session I was roleplaying the hundred meter dash with my boots of the cheetah." Tsk. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:56 pm ] |
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Mazer wrote: I'm not sure I'd classify polo as a sport. Polo on segways, definitely not. In fact, if a sport involves the use of machines/computers (by the "athlete") then probably not. So all you CAL pros can put your hands down, you're not that cool.
Wheelchair basketball isn't a sport then eh? I think these "athletes" would have something to say about that. Move back to Germany, fascist. |
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| Author: | codemage [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:59 am ] |
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Given that the most popular "sport" in America is NASCAR racing (and by a good margin), the machine / computer definition might need reworking. |
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| Author: | Mazer [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:08 am ] |
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Martin wrote: Mazer wrote: I'm not sure I'd classify polo as a sport. Polo on segways, definitely not. In fact, if a sport involves the use of machines/computers (by the "athlete") then probably not. So all you CAL pros can put your hands down, you're not that cool.
Wheelchair basketball isn't a sport then eh? I think these "athletes" would have something to say about that. Move back to Germany, fascist. Back to Germany? Sorry if I didn't explain myself clearly. Wheelchair basketball involves physical activity, and grats to those you participate in that sport. Things I don't count as physical activity include the likes of standing on a multi-thousand dollar vehicle occassionally swinging at a ball, or sitting in a chair using "uber micro". I still don't get Nascar as a sport. But then, I don't really get spending a day to watch it. |
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| Author: | we64 [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:49 pm ] |
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Well, my marks through high school has been almost the same. It is all high 80s except for this year, just got above 90 to get president scholarship. I don't think I have worked any harder in grade 12 than grade 9 actually, every year it is almost like the same to me. I can say my average falls in a range of 88+- 2%. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:48 pm ] |
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Mazer wrote: I still don't get Nascar as a sport. But then, I don't really get spending a day to watch it.
While I also fail to see the appeal, driving a car at high speeds around a curving track for long periods of time is mentally and physically exhausting. It is a surprisingly impressive achievement to be able to maintain focus and endurance long enough to complete such a race. |
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| Author: | md [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:22 pm ] |
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Mazer wrote: Things I don't count as physical activity include the likes of standing on a multi-thousand dollar vehicle...
So you'd rule out the around-the-world-alone race? Seems to me like sailing around the world alone (and backwards too... against wind and current) is pretty sporting...
I think there are two types of geeks; there are the nerdy geeks who play dnd and don't play sports or know girls, and there are the hippy geeks who play sports and get sun; and most importantly know girls. There is definitely some mixing of the two types, but that's pretty much how I see it. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:52 pm ] |
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Cornflake wrote: Mazer wrote: Things I don't count as physical activity include the likes of standing on a multi-thousand dollar vehicle...
So you'd rule out the around-the-world-alone race? Seems to me like sailing around the world alone (and backwards too... against wind and current) is pretty sporting...
I think there are two types of geeks; there are the nerdy geeks who play dnd and don't play sports or know girls, and there are the hippy geeks who play sports and get sun; and most importantly know girls. There is definitely some mixing of the two types, but that's pretty much how I see it. The latter type is much more likely to make forays into the world of the former, than vice versa. |
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| Author: | Regeane [ Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:01 pm ] |
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wtd wrote: While I also fail to see the appeal, driving a car at high speeds around a curving track for long periods of time is mentally and physically exhausting. It is a surprisingly impressive achievement to be able to maintain focus and endurance long enough to complete such a race.
Apparently one can lose up to 10lbs in just one race... I'd say that falls under physical sport. Cornflake wrote: I think there are two types of geeks; there are the nerdy geeks who play dnd and don't play sports or know girls, and there are the hippy geeks who play sports and get sun; and most importantly know girls.
And then there's just some girls who like geeks, cause they're so much more interesting. :p |
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| Author: | codemage [ Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:00 am ] |
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The word "geek" is actually undergoing some language change. Now that geeks own the world, the term isn't quite so derogatory. It implies technical mastery - kind of like the word "hacker" before it became synonymous with "cracker" & criminality. It's ok to be a geek. The old useage of geek is covered by the ever-derogatory "nerd". |
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| Author: | Regeane [ Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:50 pm ] |
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So supposed 'geeks' would now be cooler than supposed 'nerds'? I always took it the other way... Or maybe I'm just totally mixed up. |
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| Author: | Dan [ Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:26 pm ] |
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I allways thought nerd was some one who is upsesed with school to the point where it is there life and that geek was some one who had an above then averge intrest and/or knowgale in/of thecnogly. I think geek is aucatly postive in some ways, well nerd is not. But thats just my option and hardly a dictory defftion. Also i think it is sad that word "hacker" has become raped so bad by the media. I like the orginal meanings of "some one who programs for fun/.", "some one who tests/pushes the limits of a system.", "some one who hacks together code or others code. Where hacks means to chage from it's orginal purposes to do somthing difrent or to code in a fast, dirty way that is like using ducktape on somthing." Don't even get me started on "hacker" speak witch peoleop call 1337 speak. I have yet to find some one i consider a hacker under any deftion who speaks in 1337. (That could be b/c i try not to know peoleop that speak in 1337 all the time....) |
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| Author: | codemage [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:25 am ] |
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1337 speak automatically precludes someone from the hacker designation. |
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| Author: | Slaivis [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:12 pm ] |
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codemage wrote: 1337 speak automatically precludes someone from the hacker designation.
I agree. People who speak '1337' usually prove themselves to be idiots pretty quickly. |
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| Author: | Clayton [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:30 pm ] |
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ya the whole 1337 speak thing.... its just not my thing but anyways... as for the difference between nerds and geeks here it is: nerds are the people that decide to stay home and study into all hours of the night while theres a party going on next door, geeks on the other hand are at that party having a good time and making some good money selling the answers to tomorrows test to some idiots (i fall under the latter), oh and a geeks girlfriend doesnt have to be geeky, take mine for example... |
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