Offer...but?

[Fasih]

Ok so I checked my Quest account on waterloo and it says I got a conditional offer for Computer Science. It doesnt say co-op, but it says "If your academic standing at the end of your first year is sufficiently high, you may apply to the co-operative program for your second year."
Does that mean I didn't get into the Co-Op program but If i can maintain a good GPA i can apply for co-op?

I applied for Computer Science Co-Op but it just says "Computer Science, Honours" on Quest.

[Tony]

Yeah, that's what it seems like.

Edit: that is, UW would automatically consider you for Honours CS, if you don't get selected for co-op.

[Fasih]

But I had an average of 88 when I applied, how come I wasn't offered Co-Op? I thought the cut-off was low-80s

Edit: Oh, so it means I have a spot in the program, and If i don't get the Co-Op, I'll get regular?

Edit 2: Um, just wondering but it says first year, so I won't be selected for Co-Op in high school, but if I maintain a good mark in first year Uni I'll get co-op?

[Tony]

It's an "individual selection" program. Meaning that there is no automatic guarantee of admission for a certain grade. They take some chunk from the top applications (so it depends on who else and how many of them are applying), and manually select people from the group.

From what you've posted, it seems like the conditional offer is for "Computer Science, Honours", and you would need to apply for co-op again.

[Fasih]

Oh that just made me sad... meaning in first year I would have to apply to Co-Op again.

Now I'm doubting even getting into Software Engineering...

[Biotaki]

How was your AIF? I was writing about how much I love the CO-OP system in the first section =p

[Fasih]

Didn't write anything about co-op in my AIF but I wouldn't think or would be necessary. Do they judge differently for each program? Cause of they judge the same for Software engineering then I doubt I'll get in

[Tony]

Different admissions committee and different AIF (assuming SE goes with an Engineering AIF, instead of Math). So they would judge separately and differently, but typically it's

SE > CS-coop > CS > other-Math

[Fasih]

I only had to write one AIF, the engineering one. Didn't get a math AIF

Also is that list difficulty?

[Sur_real]

yeah, I think the list is difficulty in terms of getting in.
I don't want to get your hopes up but I think there have been people who got into soft eng and not into comp sci.

[Tony]

Fasih @ Tue May 10, 2011 3:39 pm wrote:

Didn't get a math AIF

That could have been the problem, as AIF is equivalent to up to a few % on admission grade.

[Fasih]

Okay I emailed Waterloo, should get a reply within a week. Well the conditional offer mentioned "Future Co-Op Information" in the conditions. No point in going to Waterloo if I don't get into Co-Op.

[Fasih]

If I haven't gotten my engineering offer yet, does that mean I didn't get it? A couple of my friends got their engineering acceptances such as Mechatronics, software, and chemical. Mine still says "Application" on quest. Does that mean they haven't reviewed mine yet?

[Tony]

The only thing you can be certain of is that they haven't declined it yet. Maybe you are in their "B" pile and will get a second look as the first batch of offers get accepted/declined early? Maybe they've just lost your application? (non-zero chance of that happening)

I'm not an admissions officer; I don't know how exactly the process works. We can spend an entire day guessing as to what might be happening...

[Fasih]

Hm.. I guess so. Best thing now is to wait. This is extremely hard though

If I get an alternate Computer Engineering offer, could I still specialize in software so that I can still apply for software engineering jobs and such...