Hi everybody
I want to know which is a good university for me if I want to Double major in computer Science and Physics. I have been admitted to these universities.
University of Toronto, Trinity college
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
University of Wisconsin Madison
Penn State University
I want to know if money is factor should I choose Canadian university over a US university. I have heard lot of rumors about How difficult Canadian universities are. I don’t know if that’s true or not But I am bit afraid to make a bad decision that can easily ruin my career and my life. I also want to know whether university of Wisconsin madison worth.
I haven’t heard from University of Minnesota [result will come in end of march because i submitted my application after the deadline] and McGill University. Should wait for these universities’ result.
NOTE: If Canadian universities are as hard {Harder than most top ranked US universities } as people say then will it hurt my chances in getting into a good grad school because I probably won’t getting good grades at such university.
You mention that money is a factor - which of these is less expensive?
Yes, Canadian universities are difficult. They don’t do hand-holding. Computer science is especially competitive at University of Toronto. You are not admitted directly to the major, even if you were admitted to the program. Your first year grades have to meet a certain minimum. Were you admitted to the computer science program at U of T?
U of T and UBC are two of the most highly rated computer science programs in the world. They didn’t get that way by being easy.
I got acceptance letter for physics program but i am planning to apply for computer science there itself.
Wisconsin-Madison is a fine university with a good reputation, and admittedly easier than Toronto or UBC. Toronto and UBC have a higher reputation - though whether that will make a big difference in finding a job or grad school is debatable. Your should go somewhere you feel comfortable with and rather than put yourself under a lot of pressure.
@insanedreamer That’s right of you saying that i should go to a college where I feel comfortable but the problem is that University of Wisconsin is a good school and not that much like a pressure cooker but it cost a lot more than any Canadian universities. I can afford the cost but it will surely throw my family in financial burden. But also the fact that canadian universities are tough scares me a lot. I have anxiety problem and sure I can not perform good in all that pressure. I am really stuck right now. Plz help me to choose a universitiy that is better for my and my family future.
I didn’t realize you were Canadian - in that case it would not be worth putting your family under financial burden to go to Wisconsin especially since Toronto and UBC are such high quality institutions.
The difficult might seem daunting at present, but it doesn’t have to be. In college you’ll have a choice of courses you can take and some will be easier than others. Remember, it’s not like you have to get straight As in order to graduate or find employment. You can also connect with other students and study together, getting help when you need it in areas that you’re weaker in.
If you’re concerned about the pressure, than you should reconsider your decision to double major. Even in Wisconsin a double major will be tough to pull off, especially in physics + compsci. I’d recommend you major in one and minor in the other. Since you’re already admitted to physics you could major in that and minor in compsci, or if you gain admittance to CS, then the other way around.
Penn State University is more of a party type
not ideal for students like u who are doing dual degree
Uoft has a great computer science program, I did my undergrad there and new some people in the comp sci department (i was life sciences). There are excellent equipment and lots of research opportunities for undergraduates in their 3rd and 4th years. That is great for graduate school because a lot of students end up doing their honours project in 4th year in a lab and then just enrolling in that same lab for their graduate degree (at least for the natural sciences, although I assume it is similar for comp sci). With thesis degrees at least, the big hurdle tends to be getting a graduate professor to take you in their lab (because it is their grant that funds you), if you have a professor willing to fund you, you generally have no problems actually getting into the department you are applying for, as long as you have met the bare minimum requirements while a student applying without having a professor willing to take them on will likely not get accepted (because the university would have to find them a professor willing to pay their stipend and oversee them).
As to difficulty, yes UofT has a deserved reputation for being academically challenging (although some of it is hyperbole, for example despite what is said in chat rooms, I have never actually seen a professor curve down test grades, I have seen profs boost grades though when a class average is unusually low), and computer science is generally considered one of the most challenging programs (it is also one of UofTs strongest undergraduate departments), so expect the class averages to range from C+ to B range with the first couple year averages being at the lower end of this range and the upper year course averages being at the higher end of this range. If you want to appear attractive to a graduate supervisor (or a supervisor for a 4th year undergraduate honours project) aim for at least a B+ (3.3cgpa) average.