Waterloo residence question.

[Reality Check]

So I am doing CS at waterloo next year and I wanted to get residence suggestions and insights on UW students. I never got a good chance to look at any of the places but I looked at V1 and I didn't like it at all. I also don't want a meal plan so I'd rather not do REV (unfortunately most people end up in village ). How are UWP and MKV?

I also had a question about streams. Are there specific streams that are easier for certain residences? I also heard one of the streams is easier to get into Co-Op? I honestly have no idea which to choose.

A final question as well, should I or should not bring my PS3? I have a pretty good self control but I am afraid it'll hinder the learning environment. I already procrastinate way too much...

[Tony]

I lived in UWP for a term and I liked it there. Though in part that also depends on who your room-mates and your floor-mates are (Martin was my room-mate and md lived on our floor). We had adapted an open-door policy, propped our suite's door open for most of the time, and great fun has been had by all. MKV is similarly awesome, but I'm a fan of suite style residences, over single room dorms.

The new CS program (talked about here) will be stream-8 only, so you don't actually get any choice there.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

All Math faculty programs, including CS, have eight months of school at the start now, but there are still streams after that in order to distribute people. I don't think anyone knows at this point what will be better for this or that. It's all new.

There are going to be piles of gaming and other distractions anyway, so I don't know that it makes that much difference about your PS3.

[Reality Check]

I guess. I'm just worried the PS3 will ruin me. And I kind of like NOT having the choice lol. I was torn between the two streams but now I don't have to choose .

[Brightguy]

I'd recommend V1 for those who don't want to cook for themselves, and UWP or MKV otherwise. MKV is newer but probably harder to get into since it's smaller. I lived in UWP for 3 terms and it was fine. One of my roommates I saw... twice.

[Reality Check]

So I got one more question. Where should my skills be at to attempt CS 145? I'm pretty confident in my Math and CS abilities. I got 62 on the Euclid (not great I know) and 3/5 on the CCC. I didn't prepare at all for either so that's why I scored low. My CS mark is 98% and my Math is 94% and overall I feel good about both. I know I'm not at the level of a lot of the people (I also know my enrollment in 145 is not guaranteed) that will be in 145 but I REALLY like CS and am prepared to work hard for it. I THINK I have abilities to succeed in it if I work hard.

Or is it better to play it safe and take the 135 course?

[Tony]

It seems that the general approach to advanced Math has been to enroll into advance and switch out into regular once you realize that you are in over your head. I suppose it could be the same for 145/135, but it would be best to talk with a program advisor, regarding administrative gotchas, important dates, etc.

[Reality Check]

Thanks Tony.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Are you still uninterested in anything that isn't Java or C++? There isn't a scrap of either in 145.

You'll have to apply and be selected to get in. Getting out is reasonably straightforward -- you move into 135, and can do so at any point during the term.

[Reality Check]

Oh yeah I'm aware there isn't any Java or C++ in the 145. My love of programming really isn't in the select languages. It's just overall CS and learning a language isn't TOO hard. I just really like the problem solving and theory aspect of it (call me crazy lol). I guess it won't hurt to try and get in. Worst comes to worst, I drop it and move into 135.