SRL Archive - General

Hey, the time where I need to apply for universities is coming soon. Any canadians know any good universities for computer science?
I plan to apply to

Waterloo
UofT SG
Carleton
Western

In that order.

Anything else?

Computer Science is pretty good (and hard) at most universities. I've only heard of Waterloo and it's on top of your list so go for it :P

From: J J
Computer Science is pretty good (and hard) at most universities. I've only heard of Waterloo and it's on top of your list so go for it :P

I highly doubt i'll get in :/
I'm only at an 87% average and the cutoff is 90+

From: Sin
I highly doubt i'll get in :/
I'm only at an 87% average and the cutoff is 90+

- Recommendation letters
- Relevant/notable Activities outside the class room

Grades are just a part of getting in, they aren't the only thing that matters.
You don't need to make the cutoff grade to get it, atleast I didn't and yet I got into one of the top schools in the US

Not sure if its that different for canada

Bro…I don't know how keen you are at living far away from home but you should consider SFU. It's where I'm heading (hopefully) in May. They are a little smaller school but I went on a tour and they have such a sick setup with labs n crap (I was on a tour for mechatronic engineering but computer science shares some labs). Plus, they don't have quite as high of average requirements. (For me, I think it's like 80ish for my engineering)(vs like 90ish other places)
EDIT: oh also, they have an entire room in the library with like 15 computers/tvs and a HUGE library of every videogame and PC game from the past 10 years

From: cause
Bro…I don't know how keen you are at living far away from home but you should consider SFU. It's where I'm heading (hopefully) in May. They are a little smaller school but I went on a tour and they have such a sick setup with labs n crap (I was on a tour for mechatronic engineering but computer science shares some labs). Plus, they don't have quite as high of average requirements. (For me, I think it's like 80ish for my engineering)(vs like 90ish other places)
EDIT: oh also, they have an entire room in the library with like 15 computers/tvs and a HUGE library of every videogame and PC game from the past 10 years

I'd actually prefer being away from home, you can only live in one place for so long without getting bored :p
Is SFU in Canada or the States?

There's one in Bergen, Norway that you could apply to :) You'd meet some pretty rad students *cough*me*cough*
And you'd also be able to meet Emaziz, but he isn't nearly as rad as I am (ofc, duh)

From: Zyt3x
There's one in Bergen, Norway that you could apply to :) You'd meet some pretty rad students *cough*me*cough*
And you'd also be able to meet Emaziz, but he isn't nearly as rad as I am (ofc, duh)

Studying abroad would be awesome, but i'd have to go through the process of learning a new language :(

From: Zyt3x
There's one in Bergen, Norway that you could apply to :) You'd meet some pretty rad students *cough*me*cough*
And you'd also be able to meet Emaziz, but he isn't nearly as rad as I am (ofc, duh)

:biggrin: This made me smile.

From: Sin
Studying abroad would be awesome, but i'd have to go through the process of learning a new language :(

It would depend on where you study, most international schools around the world teach in English, even here in my local city in Indonesia.

From: Flight
:biggrin: This made me smile.



It would depend on where you study, most international schools around the world teach in English, even here in my local city in Indonesia.

Agreed, however interacting with the locals… :(

From: Sin
Agreed, however interacting with the locals… :(

English is pretty universal, if you stick around the campus area you'll probably be just fine. But of course it can only benefit you to pick up on some of the more commonly used & basic words in the native language. This will really give you an advantage over any other foreign students also in your same position.

From: Sin
Agreed, however interacting with the locals… :(

@Zyt3x will teach you ;)

From: Sin
I'd actually prefer being away from home, you can only live in one place for so long without getting bored :p
Is SFU in Canada or the States?

Canada brew!

Your 16 right?

From: Four
- Recommendation letters
- Relevant/notable Activities outside the class room

Grades are just a part of getting in, they aren't the only thing that matters.
You don't need to make the cutoff grade to get it, atleast I didn't and yet I got into one of the top schools in the US

Not sure if its that different for canada

Yeah :) When I applied for a job I mentioned that I made scripts for RuneScape and Android apps.. It might be a bit awkward mentioning RuneScape but they actually liked it and one guy even played the game a few years ago. Can't go wrong with mentioning it unless you meet a hardcore legit player :)

From: cause
Canada brew!

Hmm, will definetly consider it, but i cant see if SFU has co-op!

From: Officer Barbrady
Your 16 right?

Yeah

From: J J
Yeah :) When I applied for a job I mentioned that I made scripts for RuneScape and Android apps.. It might be a bit awkward mentioning RuneScape but they actually liked it and one guy even played the game a few years ago. Can't go wrong with mentioning it unless you meet a hardcore legit player :)

Did you get the job?!

From: Sin
Did you get the job?!

Well they wanted me to know more about web based programming languages. They were impressed with my knowledge so far etc. so I got access to online learning courses. Coincidently I did a few courses and I had the same subjects in the first semester of this year.. right now it's on hold because I'm developing an app for the city where I study in. I joined a competition and was one of the winners. Really interesting stuff and an even better pay.

Well if you need one more you could go for Queens as well. I would say Waterloo is your best bet though if you can get that average up. They do not accept if you don't meet the minimum requirements though, as I didn't meet the chemical engineering requirement by 1% (got 84 in advanced functions and they wanted an 85 despite my average being higher then what they wanted), so unfortunately you have to meet the 90 req as well as all course reqs.
Western is the same way and I find they think they are better then everyone else which I don't like. Queens is reasonable about that stuff (as I applied there and got in even with the 1% off the adv. fun. req). I am at UOIT and I am sure our computer sci. class is decent enough, the school just isn't old enough to be compared to the likes of Waterloo. I am in nuclear engineering though so I am not sure how computer science is here and I don't know anyone I could ask to find out more.

Your top 2 I would say are your best bet though if you want to stay local. I don't know much about schools abroad so I can't be of much help there.

From: Sin
Hmm, will definetly consider it, but i cant see if SFU has co-op!

Yes they have co-op:
http://www.cs.sfu.ca/undergraduate.html (click on co-op)

University of Alberta has a decent computer science program, and I'm pretty sure admission average for it usually only about 83-84%. (Plus I'm the bees knees and I'm here)

Looks like you might be moving close to me. :) I'm about a 40 min drive from Waterloo, and like and hour and a half from Toronto. @Nava2; went to Western, and he's now an intern at IBM. I'm sure he'll be able to tell you more about it. Likewise, @'Toxin; went to (or still attends) U of T. I've only really been to the Western campus, and it's really, really nice. If I didn't get a scholarship to the States I would have seriously considered it.

I've also been to the University of Guelph as that's where my girlfriend goes. Also a really nice campus, but I'm not sure how good their Comp. Sci. program is, or if they have one. I'm pretty sure they have Software Engineering, but not sure about strictly Computer Science.

UBC (University of British Columbia) is a really good school as well, and you can't ask to live in a more beautiful part of the world. If location is a factor at all in your choice, I highly recommend UBC. I spent two years in BC and the scenery is nothing like you'll find anywhere else in Canada. Plus, it's a great school. :)

From: Coh3n
Looks like you might be moving close to me. :) I'm about a 40 min drive from Waterloo, and like and hour and a half from Toronto. @Nava2; went to Western, and he's now an intern at IBM. I'm sure he'll be able to tell you more about it. Likewise, @'Toxin; went to (or still attends) U of T. I've only really been to the Western campus, and it's really, really nice. If I didn't get a scholarship to the States I would have seriously considered it.

I've also been to the University of Guelph as that's where my girlfriend goes. Also a really nice campus, but I'm not sure how good their Comp. Sci. program is, or if they have one. I'm pretty sure they have Software Engineering, but not sure about strictly Computer Science.

UBC (University of British Columbia) is a really good school as well, and you can't ask to live in a more beautiful part of the world. If location is a factor at all in your choice, I highly recommend UBC. I spent two years in BC and the scenery is nothing like you'll find anywhere else in Canada. Plus, it's a great school. :)

Western has an amazing campus for sure, it seriously looks like a castle. UGuelph does have Computer Science and Software Engineering, however I've heard that the SE program isn't that good, since it moves really slowly and the languages are a bit outdated. I've considered UBC, but I haven't been able to look at the requirements to go there since their website is quite confusing.


@cause SFU looks pretty amazing. What did you say their cutoff was?

From: Sin
Western has an amazing campus for sure, it seriously looks like a castle. UGuelph does have Computer Science and Software Engineering, however I've heard that the SE program isn't that good, since it moves really slowly and the languages are a bit outdated. I've considered UBC, but I haven't been able to look at the requirements to go there since their website is quite confusing.


@cause SFU looks pretty amazing. What did you say their cutoff was?

http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science.html

http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science/cmpt-sc-maj.html

Computing science course entry requires a grade of C- or better in each prerequisite course.
A minimum 2.40 CGPA is required for 200, 300 and 400 division CMPT courses. For complete information, contact an Applied Sciences Advisor.

2.40 CGPA is like 60%? Not sure how that works. Looks like you would get in with your grades. You could study abroad and save a lot of money though. @Zyt3x; isn't it free to study at a university in Norway? It's 1700/year here. That's a hell of a lot less than Canada or the US :P But we pay it back with 59% tax..

From: Sin
Western has an amazing campus for sure, it seriously looks like a castle. UGuelph does have Computer Science and Software Engineering, however I've heard that the SE program isn't that good, since it moves really slowly and the languages are a bit outdated. I've considered UBC, but I haven't been able to look at the requirements to go there since their website is quite confusing.

I can't imagine it would teach outdated languages, but I suppose it's possible. Seems kind of pointless if you ask me. :p

From: J J
http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science.html

http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science/cmpt-sc-maj.html

Computing science course entry requires a grade of C- or better in each prerequisite course.
A minimum 2.40 CGPA is required for 200, 300 and 400 division CMPT courses. For complete information, contact an Applied Sciences Advisor.

2.40 CGPA is like 60%? Not sure how that works. Looks like you would get in with your grades. You could study abroad and save a lot of money though. @Zyt3x; isn't it free to study at a university in Norway? It's 1700/year here. That's a hell of a lot less than Canada or the US :P But we pay it back with 59% tax..

I would be amazed if studying abroad is cheaper. In the US and Canada, out of state/province tuition is insane compared to local. I would be shocked if it isn't similar is other countries as well.

From: J J
http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science.html

http://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2013/summer/computing-science/cmpt-sc-maj.html

Computing science course entry requires a grade of C- or better in each prerequisite course.
A minimum 2.40 CGPA is required for 200, 300 and 400 division CMPT courses. For complete information, contact an Applied Sciences Advisor.

2.40 CGPA is like 60%? Not sure how that works. Looks like you would get in with your grades. You could study abroad and save a lot of money though. @Zyt3x; isn't it free to study at a university in Norway? It's 1700/year here. That's a hell of a lot less than Canada or the US :P But we pay it back with 59% tax..

I'm not sure that applies to me, since I don't live in B.C! I live in Ontario, apparently SFU only looks at your Top 4, whereas Ontario universities look for your Top 6.

From: Coh3n
I can't imagine it would teach outdated languages, but I suppose it's possible. Seems kind of pointless if you ask me. :p

I would be amazed if studying abroad is cheaper. In the US and Canada, out of state/province tuition is insane compared to local. I would be shocked if it isn't similar is other countries as well.

Agreed.


Edit: @cause; I didn't take any sciences in Grade 12 so I can't apply for SFU .-.

You could always check out bcit or ubc, if you ever want to come to bc. :p

From: Hadley
You could always check out bcit or ubc, if you ever want to come to bc. :p

He didn't take any sciences so I doubt he could get into either of those :S
@Sin well best of luck!

From: cause
He didn't take any sciences so I doubt he could get into either of those :S
@Sin well best of luck!

I'm gonna do English and Calculus online so my average will be a high 80, do Waterloo might not be far away :D

From: J J
Yeah :) When I applied for a job I mentioned that I made scripts for RuneScape and Android apps.. It might be a bit awkward mentioning RuneScape but they actually liked it and one guy even played the game a few years ago. Can't go wrong with mentioning it unless you meet a hardcore legit player :)

I don't think its awkward, it counts as experience.

I knew someone who scripted at Nexus, he was only 18 years old at that time?

Fast forward about a year now, hes works at a silicon valley Start-up that successfully ended up funding for their Kickstarter projects.

I mean, he dropped out of college, because he figured he didn't need to go.

He did use Scripting for Nexus on his resume, he had a network, and landed a job in a wealthy area like SV. He was brilliant at coding, but sucked at regular gen ed requirements in the US.

Midterm marks:
90 Data Management
86 Accounting
80 Advanced Functions
90 English

This'll be tough :(

Come to marquette and drink with me :p

Update on my Mark situation:

Data Management 88
Accounting 84
Advanced Functions/Pre Calc 85

I should be set for all my universities other than Waterloo, but if I can pull off a 95+ in Calc I should be able to get in (I'm good at calc :3)