McGill, Mount Allison, or Waterloo for Computer Science?

[Tony]

dideler @ Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:13 pm wrote:

md wrote:

Waterloo CS students have apparently developed a reputation for not actually knowing how to program.

You're not the only one who has heard this. I hear it fairly often around my university. The story goes that they're so focused on the theory that they have no practical experience. Is it true? I don't know.

Definitely not for co-op students. It's hard to tell for the other half. It's certainly possible to get through the program with minimal emphasis on software implementation, but it's doubtful that this represents a majority of graduates. Besides, the "knowing how to program" is very difficult to quantify.

[dideler]

Tony wrote:

Definitely not for co-op students.

A CS Co-op position isn't necessarily a guaranteed programming position.

[Tony]

I should have qualified that with "in my experience", but falling through the cracks this badly seems exceptional (that is, taking on only junior jobs, even in senior years of study).

[dideler]

You can have a senior position that involves little to no programming yet it's still in the CS field. Remember, CS isn't just programming.

[apython1992]

If you're still having trouble deciding, I'm going to tell you that without question you should be going to McGill. I mean, come on, Waterloo for CS?

Naw, just kidding of course. I'm personally going to McGill, but I'm only going to be minoring in CS, so I haven't looked into it enough to be able to tell you much about their CS program (except that they start with Java first, which really kind of sucks).

I am not even sure I've heard about Mount Allison. Primarily undergraduate?

If you're looking to major in CS, Waterloo is probably your top choice here academically. And as everyone's already said, the cost difference will be made up with co-op in no time.