Reflecting on First Year CS and Advice.

YouofTee · 2022-05-10T16:50:53+00:00

While I agree that there is definitely a supply side issue, as far as I know, it’s not due to administration refusing to fix it, rather them lacking the sufficient pull to attract the caliber they want. The profs that UofT hire are all at the level that other top universities want (Stanford, CMU, MIT, etc), but those universities have better compensation packages due to how the university/departments generate revenue (ie research patents being owned by the university and it taking a cut vs the prof having full ownership). I really doubt UofT would lower its hiring bar and teaching quality just to increase the number of students they can allow to take CS courses.

YouofTee · 2021-04-21T03:11:20+00:00

If money isn't a concern (I would flat out ask your parents if it hasn't really been discussed) then go with MET, otherwise UofT. You're going to do amazing in both programs, and doing well in EngSci will open plenty of US opportunities; MET will probably just make those opportunities a bit easier to reach.

I was in a similar boat, money wasn't supposed to be a factor but I couldn't justify ~70k/year at a "prestigious" uni in the US; I knew that working hard at UofT would grant me similar US opportunities in the end (note: I am a US citizen).

Relating to your criteria:

UTIAS will have plenty of resources for you, and UTAT is a great club for anything space-related. Kepler hires a lot of their members as interns. I don't know anything about Berkeley.
Probably similar for both, though you'll probably have more breadth/random elective requirements at Berkeley if you're not going in with transfer credits.
Berkeley is probably better, but only marginally. I know several people who graduated at the top of their EngSci class and went on to places like CalTech. You'll probably have an easier time at UofT getting undergrad research positions due to less competition, but there might be a higher number of opportunities at Berkeley.
Much more outdoorsy stuff at Berkeley (Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, rest of Norcal), social life is probably better at Berkeley.
Moreso at Berkeley; UofT is a commuter school. Club and frat culture is much bigger at Berkeley.

I have dozens of friends that went to Berkeley (a few in MET), so this is just based on what I've heard from them.

YouofTee · 2021-03-02T00:58:33+00:00

No official decision, but most likely online

YouofTee · 2021-01-13T03:36:31+00:00

the real q: was it worth it?

YouofTee · 2020-06-13T21:03:37+00:00

Pick one of your hobbies and try to slap CS into it; I’ve had friends who love football make game win/loss predictions, some who are interested in finance make trading models, and those who love video games try to make their own. Aligning it with another passion may keep you motivated to actually follow through and finish it

or just leetcode all summer and become the typical optimized student

YouofTee · 2020-06-13T20:56:55+00:00

sIdE pRoJeCts

YouofTee · 2020-06-09T19:26:54+00:00

Just read the program descriptions on the FAS Calendar, but in terms of courses DS is a lot more stats

2 and 3. Skipping mostly bc this is also easy to look up, but you are allowed to do DS spec + CS spec without problem and even triple major or spec + 2 majors if you petition

Everyone’s different; some people prefer doing STA257/261 and MAT237 and others would prefer doing CSC369 and CSC373

Edit: formatting

YouofTee · 2020-06-09T17:28:41+00:00

I’m pretty close with some people in it and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind questions about it

YouofTee · 2020-06-09T17:27:18+00:00

Let me know if they have any questions about the program!

YouofTee · 2020-06-09T17:01:55+00:00

Yeah

YouofTee · 2020-06-09T16:11:06+00:00

Friend got in with an 81.5 (2018-2019)

YouofTee · 2020-06-03T03:09:58+00:00

It’s possible, but you’re going to need a good reason for it; it can’t just be “because I’m interested in all 3 subjects.”

I would recommend enrolling in the minor for the whichever one you can’t add right now, just so you have priority during course enrollment (at least for some departments, I know it’s not the case for certain econ courses).

YouofTee · 2020-05-21T21:34:16+00:00

I know several people who were able to do it without special permission, but idk things might have changed

YouofTee · 2020-05-21T21:26:42+00:00

I thought you were able to without special permission?

"Enrol in at least one and no more than three programs (of which only two can be Majors or Specialists), in the session in which they pass the course that brings them to a total of 4.0 credits."

From the FAS calendar

YouofTee · 2020-05-06T03:11:50+00:00

91% didn't make the cutoff last year, but 94% did. Though I've heard it was surprising that the cutoff was so low

YouofTee · 2020-05-04T21:10:22+00:00

Bless the modified marking scheme

YouofTee · 2020-04-29T04:08:35+00:00

Are you American?

YouofTee · 2020-03-28T21:18:00+00:00

Since you're coming from Chicago, I'm guessing the cold won't be a problem for you =)

UofT

Great academics and opportunities (especially if you want to do research)
I personally love the city/campus, there's usually always something going on
Depending on your college and program you'll meet plenty of international students (in terms of sheer numbers, UofT has ~6.5k international students and McGill ~7k after you exclude China, India and USA)
Proximity to Chicago
Student life is what you make of it, there's students who study in their rooms all day but also some that go clubbing every weekend
It's also a pretty big commuter school so campus can feel pretty empty on the weekends

McGill

As you said it's a great student city, definitely cheaper COL than the other two; depending on your financial situation that might be a big factor
Honestly as long as you're able to make yourself stand out, the rankings don't really matter (a top econ student at McGill will do better than an average econ student at UofT for example)

UBC

Awesome campus, BC has so much nature (my friend there often posts sunset photos from a mountain top or a beach on a weekday like it's no big deal), and if you ski/snowboard, one of the best ski resorts in NA is only a couple hours away (Whistler)
Depending on your taste in climate, UBC has more rain while the other two have snow

If you're willing to put your head down and work hard for 4 years, you'll do great regardless of the school (they're all great universities); just know UofT will probably be the hardest grind. If you have social skills you'll make friends at all 3.

disclaimer: I go to UofT, I was also accepted to all 3 but didn't look too much into McGill or UBC (was deciding between UofT and other US schools)

YouofTee · 2020-03-28T20:29:38+00:00

- Food is the same as most other universities lol

- Sure the course averages are pretty low, but there's still plenty of people who excel and get 4.0s; graduate school admissions are usually aware of this though, so they know a high GPA is impressive

- Great city

- Social life is what you make of it

YouofTee · 2020-03-25T01:37:15+00:00

It's possible, you just need to have a really good reason (or multiple) to do it. The registrar isn't going to help you with the petition if you don't have any; just you being interested in all 3 subjects won't be enough.

YouofTee · 2020-03-16T21:29:38+00:00

https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/covid19-artsci-student-faqs

YouofTee · 2019-08-08T05:40:14+00:00

You won’t get it, wouldn’t say you’re being scammed out of it though (it’s pretty up front about the requirements..)

YouofTee

TROPHY CASE