International applicant applying to the University of Toronto in Canada for the Computer Science Major. I am currently doing the full IB diploma program in an international school. Here are my IB subjects with anticipated score in each
Maths HL - 6
Physics HL - 6
Computer Science HL - 6
English Lang and Lit SL - 6
Business Management SL - 6
Language AB Initio SL - 7
+2 points for EE so my total IB anticipated score is around 39 points. I heard Canadian unis mostly look at IB scores. My weighted GPA is 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. I did the new SAT with 1400/1600.
U of T does not admit to the major. It admits to the program, but then you have to apply for the major after your first year. Acceptance to the major is based on grades in csc148 and csc165. The cutoff for acceptance to the major was a B last year. The median grade in the two courses was a C+/B-. This means that less than half the students who took the first year courses were admitted to the major, if they had been admitted to the program. Students who were not admitted to the program could also apply to the major. They only take about the top 10% of those applicants.
If you apply this month, you should get into the program, assuming that they’re not already deluged with international applications. Last year they stopped admitting to the program because of the number of applications.
So if I apply to U of T, I’m applying for the CS program? and then I can only major in CS if I achieve the minimum grade in the intro program? What happens if you don’t achieve the minimum?
Also, how difficult are the CSC148 and CSC165 courses? What do you learn in them and what is the work like?
Yes. 2. Yes. 3. If you don't achieve the minimum in the first year courses, you have to choose a different major (Actually to graduate from U of T, you need one specialist or two majors or one major and two minors).
My son is taking csc148 this semester. He's finding it pretty easy, but he seems to be an outlier. If you go to https://www.reddit.com/r/UofT/ you'll find current students who can give you more detail on the specific courses.
I am currently a CS major here at UofT. I have taken CSC165 and 148 and managed to get into the major with my marks. I can tell you, if you are intelligent and have somewhat of a knack for CS, you will get in. 50% of the people in first year didn’t get into the major, but quite frankly, those are the people who would most likely not even make it in the software industry even if they were in the major.
Last year, the minimum requirement for the major was 74% in both courses, i hear this year it is in the 80%s, and I assume it will only get higher. CS, engineering, and commerce are the most selective in the school.
