Universities/Visiting

[revangrey]

Hey guys, I was just wondering about the University of Waterloo open house on Tuesday.

I don't think I will be able to make it on Tuesday but it is alright to visit other times?

Anyone who goes to another University, and is willing to answer my question: please go ahead.

Not as important: if any university students could describe a typical day in university that would be helpful.
And if you could please say what university you are spending that typical day in it would be much appreciated.
What the lectures are like/work/assignments? (I have no clue what goes on there)

Also if anyone can describe how realistic the option of commuting is?

If workload is ridiculous then students might be too tired etc.

Thanks, (almost)any advice appreciated.

[Clayton]

Specify what you mean by "commuting." If by that you mean coming from ANYWHERE off campus, then yes, I commute. However, I am renting an apartment and going from there. The vast majority of students do this.

[revangrey]

I meant spending at least 1h travelling but yeah I can see where you wouldn't have been able to understand me...

thanks for response

[endless]

I'm currently at UW and although i'm not in CS anymore, it's what i did first semester.

First of all, you can come anytime you want. i've seen a couple tours around last week, if you want a tour then there's probably something on the website about that. If you want to just come and walk around and look in buildings thats fine too, i've been seeing lots of people wandering around lately, anytime is good for that. In some ways it would be better to come not on the open house day if you're not dead set on a tour, that way it is more relaxed looking around.

Since i'm not in CS anymore and therefore don't have a linear algebra midterm tomorrow, i will do my best in answering your second part.
Right now i'm in St. Jerome's residence which is probably the closest residence to most buildings on campus, I highly recommend this residence. But friends and I are looking into houses from here on out, the good thing about housing here is that because UW and Laurier are so close, there is tons of housing within walking distance the UW, and lots of busses too.

So, a typical day. Well, I highly doubt you are majoring in my new major, so I will assume you are interested in CS and will describe what it was like last semester.
You will be pre-enrolled in CS 135, math 135 and if you dont have transfer credits, math 137. CS started out easy, but towards the end I found it pretty challenging, yet still doable. it's in scheme, almost everything you will do is recursion based and forget everything you know about loops(until 136, at least). you will have 1 assignment a week unless there is a midterm that week, usually pretty doable, but the odd question that you may spend what seems like forever on.
math 135 (algebra) was an amazing class, very interesting and we covered some encryption which was really cool. also 1 assignment a week, midterm permitting.
math136(calculus) was alright, starts off very slow with limits stuff but in a somewhat more challenging manner. if you haven't done integrals, dont worry, i hadn't and i picked it up pretty quickly in the week or so we spent on it. also 1 assignment a week.
For your electives, don't choose them because they are super easy or hard, choose them because you are interested in them.

In the math lectures, you basically just write down everything the prof does, getting all examples down. they are only 50 minutes each (3x a week) so they fly by. CS is slide based in the lectures, so you have to decide how to deal with that; make your own notes, or just study straight from the slides.

When doing assignments, although it may go without saying, don't leave it until the night before. every week my friend hasn't even started his calc assignment until after our thursday econ class that ends at 10 pm with the assign due the next day. He suffers every friday, yet he still lets it happen every week. Time management is key to doing well in the assignments, and although the assignments don't seem very significant, you will learn that they definitely are. Not only are they confidence boosters (not hard to get perfect if you put the effort in), but if you consistently do well on the assignments, studying for midterms/ exams will be that much easier and less stressful.


Now, maybe this is more what you are looking for: what it's like being a first year student.
I am an early riser during the week and get up at 7.30am whether I have class at 8:30am or 1pm. If this is not you, thats fine; it seems i'm about 1 in 40 that are like this in res, I'm just more productive in the morning, probably since there is no one else around. So if i dont have class at 8.30, i'll just sit at my desk, listen to music and work on whatever assignment is next on the list and surf my regular online sites. Usually have classes and lunch in midday, so skip to after dinner. In the evening, lots of people are "trying" to do work, although not very hard. probably work on some assignments or hang out with friends, up to you depending on you schedule.

The workload isn't ridiculous. If you are wanting over a 90, then it will take some extra time and effort, but there is still time for fun and relaxation.


I realize this is pretty long, but I know that when I was in your position I would have appreciated it, so I hope this is helpful to you. If you have any more questions, I wouldn't mind answering them for you.

[revangrey]

endless @ Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:42 pm wrote:

When doing assignments, although it may go without saying, don't leave it until the night before.

working on this^

Also thank you so much for all the detail, I intend to share this with my friends.

So from what I understand there are only three subjects per day? It's just hard to believe...

And waking up at 7:30 is no problem for me, I have to get to band at 7:20 in the morning at my school (it is my first of five subjects of the day)

Again thanks for all the detail I really couldn't have asked for more.

[endless]

generally you choose 5 courses that you take. If you are in CS at UW, then you are already enrolled in the 3 courses above and you choose 2 electives.

But on average, yes 3 classes a day is about right.
eg. math's are mon, wed, fri but only 50 minutes each., i also have an economics class which is once a week, but a 3 hour lecture. (if you are interested in taking an elective in economics, Larry Smith is amazing)

[revangrey]

Alright thanks.

You have answered all of my questions, and it is VERY much appreciated.

p.s. I have no idea how I will pay attention for 3 hours in anything... but I will deal with that when the time comes I guess. (I can't pay attention for 30 seconds)

[endless]

Don't worry, there aren't many 3 hour lectures available, and there are usually alternatives to them. But if you get a prof like Larry Smith, it's almost impossible to lose focus because he's so entertaining.

[Euphoracle]

Helpful hint from me: Don't take a 3 hour lecture at Laurier (the other uni near by that offers some of UW's business classes) at night during first term. Just don't do it.

[revangrey]

Euphoracle @ Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:00 am wrote:

...Don't take a 3 hour lecture...at night during first term. Just don't do it.

I didn't even know I could take courses at night, but I will be sure not to

And I will try to avoid most 3 hour anythings that I can, but it is nice to know that there are alternatives. (including entertaining 3 hour anythings)