St. Jerome's University

[Drew416]

I received a package in the mail with a form to register my math courses through St. Jerome's University. I don't understand what's going on here, do I have to register math courses through St. Jerome's? If not what is the difference between registering courses through University of Waterloo or St. Jerome's University? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of choosing one over the other?

[DanielG]

you don't have to register through St. Jerome, I don't know what is the difference either though (applying through normal UW).

[endless]

i might do faculty of math through St. Jerome's, yes it is optional.
it is a separate residence, and it seems like classes are separate from waterloo with smaller sizes, but you still get the same work and degree through waterloo.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

St. Jerome's has an arrangement with Math. Core Math/CS courses are taught there; classes are a bit smaller, the tutorial is twice as long and is taught by the instructor instead of an undergraduate tutor. It's a nice arrangement and I don't know why more people aren't clamouring to get in.

[CodeMonkey2000]

Why does UW have this campus? I don't think UW is even big enough to need one. Judging from the name, is this a religious university? Or does it have ties to religious institutes/philosophy?

[endless]

UW has a couple affiliated colleges, possibly with one main goal of accommodating religious prospective students. although i am not religious at all, i like the idea of getting a BMath from Waterloo without the massive classes, as well as a nice atmosphere of the residence.

"The best of old and new: As a Roman Catholic institution, St. Jerome's draws on an age-old tradition of free intellectual inquiry as the basis for its educational philosophy. It uses that philosophy to encourage lively debate, critical thinking, and a detailed examination of ideas. And if you're not Roman Catholic? That's ok too. You?ll be welcomed as a full and equal participant in our academic community, and your ideas and opinions will be a valuable contribution to the mix."

does anyone know if going through St. Jerome's may influence graduate studies applications?

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Historically, the affiliated colleges started as small colleges with religious affiliations. They have toned that down now and I haven't heard anyone complain that religious aspects affect life there in any sort of negative way. If you know about colleges at U of T and UWO, they operate similarly.

[CodeMonkey2000]

But it's not a truly secular institute is it? Do they get funding from churches?

[Prabhakar Ragde]

My sense is this: you can go live there and attend core math/CS classes there, or live at one of the other affiliated colleges with religious roots, and apart from some notices on bulletin boards, have little sense that anything religious is going on. I've known students of different religions, or ones with no religious beliefs, who enjoyed living there.

I don't know exactly how finances work, but they have a chaplain, and a small Catholic community working on social justice issues, and if the church is providing any funding, it would be for that sort of thing. As with all universities in Ontario, STJ gets public funding under constraints that dictate an inclusive approach to academics.

[Tony]

Prabhakar Ragde @ Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:46 pm wrote:

I've known students of different religions, or ones with no religious beliefs, who enjoyed living there.

I've had a friend of no religious belief stay in St. Jerome's residence (and attend Engineering classes at UW). They make you agree to certain conditions, such as that one can't have anyone of opposite sex stay in your residence overnight. Though since it's Waterloo, that's not usually an issue anyway

[md]

Tony @ 2009-03-29, 2:12 pm wrote:

Prabhakar Ragde @ Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:46 pm wrote:

I've known students of different religions, or ones with no religious beliefs, who enjoyed living there.

I've had a friend of no religious belief stay in St. Jerome's residence (and attend Engineering classes at UW). They make you agree to certain conditions, such as that one can't have anyone of opposite sex stay in your residence overnight. Though since it's Waterloo, that's not usually an issue anyway

Psha! I know the truth! That condition is impossible for all I know

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Afternoon delight.