Anyone has got accepted yet by Waterloo? Software Engineeing

[armstrong800]

Hi guys,

I need to reply to another school's offer by 26th, Apr. I haven't heard from Waterloo since February when I submitted my AIF so I figure if by now many people have already got offers from Waterloo then it means my chance of getting into Waterloo is almost gone.

Also someone gave me this idea of accepting the other school's offer for now, then if I get accepted by Waterloo I will change the decision. Is this feasible to do?

For those who are currently studying in Software Engineering. Can you give me a rough picture of the classroom? (i.e. how big is the class, how many classes are there that are in the same major for a level? What are the age groups, programming/ work experience in a class? Like are there people who have worked before full time for a few years then come back to school? Are classmates friendly/competitive? Many Asians? The last one is purely for my curiosity) That will be very helpful for me.

Thanks a lot

[apython1992]

I got into Waterloo back in December, but it was for Physics, not SE. SE is a very competitive program by comparison (as far as I can tell), so chances of getting early acceptance is much smaller. I would definitely not give up, because a ton of offers are made in May. That said, if you haven't gotten into any other school yet, don't bank everything on getting into Waterloo. If by that date you still haven't heard, accept the offer from your other school, and if you do end up getting into Waterloo, you can transfer. It will probably be a bit of work, but obviously worth it if you're set on going there.

[Tony]

I don't think there's anything to gain from taking a offer before all of them go out. I was accepted to Waterloo's Mechatronics (more competitive than SE, at least at the time) on the very last day of when a school can make an offer... by email.

[apython1992]

Tony @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:51 am wrote:

I don't think there's anything to gain from taking a offer before all of them go out. I was accepted to Waterloo's Mechatronics (more competitive than SE, at least at the time) on the very last day of when a school can make an offer... by email.

But at the same time, if it turns out Waterloo does not send out an offer, he will already have missed out on accepting his other offer, and maybe have no other place to go. Banking everything on one offer (which potentially will not come) is risky, so I think if Waterloo does not give out a response by that date, the safe thing to do is accept the offer from the other school. I don't think making a transfer would be too too bad should they give out an offer later.

[armstrong800]

apython1992 @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:19 pm wrote:

Tony @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:51 am wrote:

I don't think there's anything to gain from taking a offer before all of them go out. I was accepted to Waterloo's Mechatronics (more competitive than SE, at least at the time) on the very last day of when a school can make an offer... by email.

But at the same time, if it turns out Waterloo does not send out an offer, he will already have missed out on accepting his other offer, and maybe have no other place to go. Banking everything on one offer (which potentially will not come) is risky, so I think if Waterloo does not give out a response by that date, the safe thing to do is accept the offer from the other school. I don't think making a transfer would be too too bad should they give out an offer later.

Thanks guys for the opinions and the fast replies. I will contact the other university to see if I can prolong the deadline for reply first.

If I do accept the offer from that university, can't I just call them later and explain if Waterloo offer me entrance eventually? Transfer sounds like lots of paper works, and I am not sure how well it will work out since these two universities are in two different cities.

[apython1992]

There may or may not be ways to do this without transferring. Also, if you end up getting into Waterloo afterwards, don't let things like paperwork discourage you. The way I see it, it's an important decision and if a little work has to go into making sure you get the best out of the next 4+ years, then so be it. Email the admissions/transfers rep from each school and probe them for some answers.

[Tony]

apython1992 @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:19 pm wrote:

he will already have missed out on accepting his other offer

I thought that all of the offer/acceptance deadlines were synchronized between (at least Ontario) Universities to avoid just this kind of situations.

I guess there are exceptions in cases where less students than expected accept offers and a University finds itself with extra spots after the deadlines but before classes start... don't expect this to happen for something like UW SE though.

[apython1992]

I guess that may be the case...I keep thinking May for offer deadlines, but I don't know for sure.

[apython1992]

The deadline is late may. From OUAC:

Quote:

May 30, 2011
The latest date by which all secondary school applicants shall expect a response from an Ontario university. Such a response will be one of:

an offer of admission;
a refusal; or
a deferral pending the receipt of specific additional information.

[Tony]

And from the same page -- http://www.ouac.on.ca/ouac-101/101-dates/

Quote:

June 2, 2011
The earliest date by which Ontario universities may require a response to an offer of admission and a financial commitment of any kind

Meaning that the original "26th, Apr" deadline is either not from an Ontario University, or something else is up.

[apython1992]

Right, but this applies to Ontario Universities only, and armstrong800 seems to have to accept the offer from this other school by April 26th. We don't know where this school is, but if it's outside Ontario he will have to make some decisions regarding the posts made here.

[armstrong800]

apython1992 @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:55 pm wrote:

Right, but this applies to Ontario Universities only, and armstrong800 seems to have to accept the offer from this other school by April 26th. We don't know where this school is, but if it's outside Ontario he will have to make some decisions regarding the posts made here.

That's good to know. It's actually Carleton University in Ottawa. I got the offer letter on Apr 5th through email (good it wasn't on Apr 1st), and in the letter it says that I have to reply within 3 weeks from the date the letter was sent. Knowing June 2nd is the earliest date set by OUAC to reply to offers makes me think either staff at Carleton don't know what they are doing or they are doing this on intention. I have to say that neither case makes it look good on their side. I am attending an orientation there tomorrow and will question them about this.

Thanks a lot guys for this dig.