How is York for Computer Science?

[Leela]

Hi everyone!
I'm really curious as to how good is York University's comp.sci. program. It seems to offer the best package (in terms of transfer credit and flexibility). Does/did anyone go there?
Thanks!

[Leela]

oh, and guys... i heard all about Waterloo, but unfortunately, because of its location, it's off limit to me. so please don't upset me with insisting that it's an absolute best, and those who don't go there don't get a job

[syntax_error]

Leela @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:58 pm wrote:

oh, and guys... i heard all about Waterloo, but unfortunately, because of its location, it's off limit to me. so please don't upset me with insisting that it's an absolute best, and those who don't go there don't get a job

You're going for an undergrad. A well paying job from anywhere is hard to think of with just an undergrad in anything.

[Zeroth]

Leela @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:58 pm wrote:

oh, and guys... i heard all about Waterloo, but unfortunately, because of its location, it's off limit to me. so please don't upset me with insisting that it's an absolute best, and those who don't go there don't get a job

I think everyone fails to realize just how much companies need good programmers. They are not about to restrict their hiring to Waterloo. Here is what is important to learn: be passionate, curious, skillful, logical, mathematical, creative, and have a desire to work hard. Learn to integrate good coding practices into your theoretical assignments. Combine practice and theory well, and you can get your way at any company you want.

[gianni]

Passion is, above all, the most important factor. It will lead you to success and happiness.

[[Gandalf]]

syntax_error @ 2008-12-09, 11:01 pm wrote:

You're going for an undergrad. A well paying job from anywhere is hard to think of with just an undergrad in anything.

I hardly think that's true, though I guess it depends on how you define "well paying".

As for York, I can't say much except... I dismissed it (when I was choosing) because I found there were better options, not exclusively Waterloo, and that York was more oriented around the "arts" than the "sciences". However, that said I know someone who goes there for CS and they're quite happy with it. Not to mention, York gives pretty generous scholarships compared to places like Waterloo or U of T, with far lower tuition.

OTOH, incidents like the current strike at York don't speak well for it.

[TheFerret]

I would say avoid York and Seneca like the plague for any subject... I know people who go there for many topics and they did not or are not enjoying it one bit... Like for example, the teachers or TAs (can't remember which) are on strike right now...

[Leela]

syntax_error @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:01 pm wrote:

Leela @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:58 pm wrote:

oh, and guys... i heard all about Waterloo, but unfortunately, because of its location, it's off limit to me. so please don't upset me with insisting that it's an absolute best, and those who don't go there don't get a job

You're going for an undergrad. A well paying job from anywhere is hard to think of with just an undergrad in anything.

no, I actually aim at a Masters. I already have a BA (and another Masters) in a different subject, so I probably won't even need to finish the BA in comp.sci. to get into a Masters program.

[Leela]

Zeroth @ Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:17 am wrote:

Leela @ Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:58 pm wrote:

oh, and guys... i heard all about Waterloo, but unfortunately, because of its location, it's off limit to me. so please don't upset me with insisting that it's an absolute best, and those who don't go there don't get a job

I think everyone fails to realize just how much companies need good programmers. They are not about to restrict their hiring to Waterloo. Here is what is important to learn: be passionate, curious, skillful, logical, mathematical, creative, and have a desire to work hard. Learn to integrate good coding practices into your theoretical assignments. Combine practice and theory well, and you can get your way at any company you want.

Thanks for your support!

[Leela]

[quote="[Gandalf] @ Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:50 am"]

syntax_error @ 2008-12-09, 11:01 pm wrote:

You're going for an undergrad. A well paying job from anywhere is hard to think of with just an undergrad in anything.

I hardly think that's true, though I guess it depends on how you define "well paying".

As for York, I can't say much except... I dismissed it (when I was choosing) because I found there were better options, not exclusively Waterloo, and that York was more oriented around the "arts" than the "sciences". However, that said I know someone who goes there for CS and they're quite happy with it. Not to mention, York gives pretty generous scholarships compared to places like Waterloo or U of T, with far lower tuition.

OTOH, incidents like the current strike at York don't speak well for it.[/quote]
Thank you for your opinion. I hated the strike when I came to see the campus today. I had to walk extra mile and got really cold because the strikers won't let in the buses.

[Leela]

TheFerret @ Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:00 am wrote:

I would say avoid York and Seneca like the plague for any subject... I know people who go there for many topics and they did not or are not enjoying it one bit... Like for example, the teachers or TAs (can't remember which) are on strike right now...

Thanks for your response. I actually quite liked the campus - it is very modern and it seems like there is a lot of money invested in it's infrastructure. Huge plasma TVs eveywhere in the halways, new buildings, townhouses for student residences, modern waiting areas (like government offices), etc. I would say UofT looks worse.
Strikers should go home, I agree with you totally on that one.

[TheFerret]

The townhouses around York are crap to live it and it also doesn't help that you are basically living at Jane Finch which is never fun to do...

On the other hand, I like UofT a lot lot lot more than York...

[Leela]

TheFerret @ Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:07 pm wrote:

The townhouses around York are crap to live it and it also doesn't help that you are basically living at Jane Finch which is never fun to do...

On the other hand, I like UofT a lot lot lot more than York...

True, the location isn't that great. But I won't be living there. I will live at home and drive there, and since I live a little bit up north of GTA, instead of wasting 3 hours a day for commuting to downtown, it should take me about 15 min. to get to York. I'm not saying UofT is crap and York is great, I actually love UofT for its medieval charm and vintage buildings and libraries and a lot more things (I went there, so I get emotional about it ), and I know I will miss all of these greatly, if I go to York, which is a lot more industrial-looking. I'm just saying that from my visit to York today - it seems that it has no trouble to get funding. Which can't be a bad thing if you want to study technology. But, boy, is the campus huge!