Some trouble...

[UnknownID]

Currently in gr11 going to gr12. My school deciding to throw in a gr12 compsci course as a test (e-learning) so I took the course. I did terrible since my transition to Turing to Java was... pretty bad. My teacher didn't know Java so he had to go through all the stuff that we did too. I ended up with a 64 in that course. Since the class did pretty bad the school decided to just not offer gr12 compsci at all. Now I can't improve my mark since my school doesn't offer it anymore.

Am I officially screwed on my chances to going into compsci in uni/college? Or is it possible for me to get 6 other good courses and ignore my compsci mark?... If so then I'd probably end up going into computer engineering since I ended up with a 90 in that course. Something completely irrelevant: I'm also currently learning C++ from a book.

[Analysis Mode]

Wow, that's pretty unlucky. One thing you could do would be to contact the Computer Science Department at the universities you want to attend and pose the same question. However, I think it's difficult to say how universities will respond to that. Maybe you could go into CE, and if you don't like it, transfer to CS.

[endless]

it shouldn't matter. no university computer science courses have gr.12 CS as a required course, so they will only be looking at your top 6 classes including the required courses (in most cases).

[[Gandalf]]

All that matters for pretty much all CS programs in Ontario are your 6 best marks in U/M courses. I'd just do your best in math and english, as well as any other "university preparation" courses you decide to take.

I'm not sure what the case is if you're not in Ontario.

[Analysis Mode]

endless @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:33 pm wrote:

it shouldn't matter. no university computer science courses have gr.12 CS as a required course, so they will only be looking at your top 6 classes including the required courses (in most cases).

What, really? That's strange.

[Horus]

Analysis Mode @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:13 pm wrote:

endless @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:33 pm wrote:

it shouldn't matter. no university computer science courses have gr.12 CS as a required course, so they will only be looking at your top 6 classes including the required courses (in most cases).

What, really? That's strange.

yea really,

and it seems that your advanced function and calculus marks are much more important than your other 4 marks.

[[Gandalf]]

Analysis Mode @ 2009-07-27, 11:13 pm wrote:

endless @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:33 pm wrote:

it shouldn't matter. no university computer science courses have gr.12 CS as a required course, so they will only be looking at your top 6 classes including the required courses (in most cases).

What, really? That's strange.

Yes. Waterloo, apparently, also considers it a potential disadvantage to have taken grade 12 computer science. IMHO, basically the only "knowledge" you need to enter a CS program at most universities is:
-good English comprehension
-a relatively solid understanding of math up to a grade 12 level
-the ability to learn

[Tony]

Analysis Mode @ Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:13 pm wrote:

What, really? That's strange.

It's not, considering the poor quality or even complete lack of CS in a lot of high schools.

Horus @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:15 am wrote:

and it seems that your advanced function and calculus marks are much more important than your other 4 marks.

It actually seems that your English is the single "most important" course in your application.

[x30Jx]

[quote="[Gandalf] @ Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:18 am"] <SNIP>
Yes. Waterloo, apparently, also considers it a potential disadvantage to have taken grade 12 computer science. IMHO, basically the only "knowledge" you need to enter a CS program at most universities is:
-good English comprehension
-a relatively solid understanding of math up to a grade 12 level
-the ability to learn
[/quote]


Huh? http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/programs/full_description.php?program=Computer%20Science <-UW's CompSci Program Req's list Grade 12 M Computer Science OR one other U course as a requirement now. And I thought it was even a "Recommended" before. So suddenly we should do it, and you say it is a disadvantage. *MEBRAIN*

can you get in safely doing only the req's? My calender for next year has Physics, Religion (mandatory in catholic school) and Advanced Functions first semester, and Chem, English and calculus second semester.

[endless]

^^ you'll be fine, physics will be your other U class. taking gr.12 CS will make it easier to get into your program because face it, high school CS is easier than physics.

many people say that taking CS in high school leads to bad habits that will act negatively affect you once you get to university. there are other reasons too, ill find the write-up in the morning and post it here for you.

[endless]

just remembered now, here is the link.
http://compsci.ca/blog/the-disadvantages-of-high-school-programming/

[UnknownID]

My high-school teacher focused on both making it work and explaining what every single line does.

[x30Jx]

Wow. This is all very good news. It turns out that a large number of people I work with are either back for the summer from Waterloo, or are going into their freshman year this fall. So I am getting information from them, too. Our CompSci teacher... isn't the best, IMO. He is one of the "Oh, it works? 100%." Not one line of commenting, not even a header, and you can have completely unnecessary lines that do nothing. Plus, he only works with Turing, and does not teach even his Grade 12's Java (which seems to be the standard).
So happy.

-Joe