Getting into University Tips

[Leo Crimson]

So I'm hoping to get into Waterloo for either Computer Engineering or Computer Science. My marks aren't too great right now; still have Grade 12 to boost them up a bit. Some of the extracurricular activities I'm doing right now are piano and math contests (just wrote the Fermat today, coincidentally).



Anything else that might look good on my application?

[crossley7]

You will want to write the CCC if you take any programming courses at all in highschool (This year's CCC is on Feb 28th so if you haven't registered already, it is too late) for sure next year, as well as Euclid and Canadian Senior Mathematics Competition in the fall.

If you have that as well as some extra curriculars or volunteer type things as well as decent marks it should help you.

Waterloo has a form called the AIF that basically requires you to tell them what you do, what some of your interests are, etc as well as anything that might have caused marks to be low or something such as being forced to miss a bunch of school 1 semester because of health issues. It basically gives them an idea of what you do and it plays a factor into your admission along with marks.

So generally, if you have more that you do outside of school and have good marks still, then they will likely accept you since they want those students that will have a better chance of sticking through that have good work habits or indicate that they should be able to manage their workload well and possibly participate all over the school as many people end up doing

[Leo Crimson]

Alright, thanks. I'll make sure to sign up for both contests next year and look into the AIF.

[crossley7]

Well, you will get the AIF once you apply to Waterloo. It isn't available for you until they have acknowledged your application. But generally it is just an in depth about me type of thing that you will get used to in grade 12 from doing them for everything you apply for