Can't decide over course selection...

[Horus]

So for the waterloo course selection it asks you "Do you wish to enrol in Computer Science/Digital Hardware Option?"

and I can't really decide right now...

I might be interested,
if I say yes, will it prevent me from choosing software engineer or business option in 2nd year?
but if i said no, what if I want it later?

I'm kinda interested in all 3 of the computer science options in waterloo... I really kinda want to learn all 3 if it's possible.

what will happen if I say yes or no?


also for the advanced math course, I'm really interested, and I'll select the advanced math though what's the chance of me getting into it if I don't have a score of 80?

[Tony]

It might help to look up exactly what courses you'd be taking for each option. Take note if you can enroll into the same courses regardless (you would typically have access to all of the MATH/CS courses, but there might be more requirements for courses from other faculties).

[Horus]

Tony @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:06 pm wrote:

It might help to look up exactly what courses you'd be taking for each option. Take note if you can enroll into the same courses regardless (you would typically have access to all of the MATH/CS courses, but there might be more requirements for courses from other faculties).

for digital hardware it's just physics that's required right?
I plan to take that anyways cause it's easy for me.

also is it possible to be doing 2 or 3 different plans at the same time.



btw i hate the stupid course selection thing:
right after I pressed "yes" for advanced math it gives me:
You have not been accepted into Advanced Math since your Euclid score did not meet the required cut-off.

then what's the point of asking in the first place?

for the computer science course it just only showed 1 option for me cause I didn't meet the requirement for advanced.
why wouldn't they do the same for math?

it's like asking me if I want pie, and after I say yes, they said "you are not getting any"
this pisses me off...

[endless]

the digital hardware option really appealed to me... until i found its usually the top 15 in of the year that get into it.

if you find physics easy, look into the physics based calc 1 (MATH 137 i think). i wanted to do that, but it automatically enrolls you in physics for a non-math course, where i want to minor in business.

if you are wanting a specific sequence for co op, you might want to send that in soon, first come first serve.

[Dark]

...I can't even take physics since I have no high school physics background

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Digital hardware is not just for "the top 15". They accept a small number of students, but only a small number apply (not always "top" students -- many of these aren't interested), and even fewer finish. It's a pretty constrained program due to the need to pick up ECE courses at just the right times (ECE has a cohort system and only offers certain courses when a cohort is scheduled to take them).

Horus: the other two options are just packages of courses. You can take as few or as many of them as you like. The only reason to have these options is to entice people (by giving them a line on their diploma) to do something more meaningful with their electives than just taking bird courses. Personally, I think that putting together your own program is a lot better. DH is different, though, as it does get you into the ECE courses. I have known of students who got permission to take these courses without being in DH, but it takes work.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Oh, also: one can get into the advanced math or CS courses later. The point of the current restrictions is to give students with high contest scores first crack at them, and to send the message that the courses are designed for top students.

[Horus]

I chose the digital hardware option.
but just wondering, since digital hardware will get you to take ECE courses, do I need chemistry? cause I didn't take gr 11 or 12 chemistry.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

No, I don't think so. ECE students have to take chemistry because of the engineering accreditation board's belief that all the hard sciences are fundamental to engineering, but it isn't actually used in any of the courses. Physics is important, though. You take a serious E&M course.

[CodeMonkey2000]

Is there a knowledge integration option for CS? Even though I am leaving highschool, I still want to be exposed to english, history, physics, chem, bio, various other sciences and the arts. Will I get enough electives in honors CS to do this anyway?

CS and mathematics is what I really enjoy, but I don't want to lose touch with the other disciplines.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

CodeMonkey2000 @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:14 pm wrote:

Is there a knowledge integration option for CS? Even though I am leaving highschool, I still want to be exposed to english, history, physics, chem, bio, various other sciences and the arts. Will I get enough electives in honors CS to do this anyway?

CS and mathematics is what I really enjoy, but I don't want to lose touch with the other disciplines.

That's important. The core BCS degree offers 17 out of 40 courses as free-choice electives (10 of those 17 must be taken outside the Faculty of Mathematics). There are breadth and depth requirements to convince people not as forward-thinking as you to pay serious attention to other disciplines. Given that you already want to do that, you have the latitude you need without a KI option.