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Hi, I'm currently wondering which school would be better for Electrical Engineering..
I'm really lost as I hear that both of the schools are good. Is waterloo better at EE or just comp sci?
Thanks
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xtg wrote:Hi, I'm currently wondering which school would be better for Electrical Engineering..
I'm really lost as I hear that both of the schools are good. Is waterloo better at EE or just comp sci?
Thanks They're mostly known as a comp sci / soft eng school I "personally" believe UofT has a lot more to offer EE's. Our power systems and electronics group do much more advanced research that you will be exposed to (a grad student is currently designing a chip that will be used to transmit wireless HD from your blu-ray player straight to your TV for instance) Again the two programs are too close to judge, as with ECE especially the co-op between waterloo and uoft is the exact same (same jobs). So I think the difference becomes if you like the new system at UofT where you get to choose all of your courses and your streams and also just which campus you like more!
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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xtg wrote:Hi, I'm currently wondering which school would be better for Electrical Engineering..
I'm really lost as I hear that both of the schools are good. Is waterloo better at EE or just comp sci?
Thanks pretty much any type of engineering is top-notch at UW. I've also heard good stuff about UT's as well though, but if your worry is that UW's focus is only at compsci then rest assured it isn't. frankly, i think if you go to either school you'd do well. waterloo's co op program is much bigger and more extensive though
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so at UT I would have to select my own courses and etc?? Can you elaborate on that please?
Thanks
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xtg wrote:so at UT I would have to select my own courses and etc?? Can you elaborate on that please?
Thanks Here's a quick summary: The way UofT's new curriculum works is that basically the first two years you're forced to take courses that they feel are absolutely crucial for any electrical or computer engineer and in the final two years you can choose any course that you want. You basically specialize in two areas and the way you choose your courses will determine which degree you will get after fourth year (I right now am in both Electrical and Computer, they will call me a month or two before graduation and ask me which degree I want). The way you have to choose your courses is that you have to specialize in 2 fields and get some breadth in another 2 and then there are some other electives you can take in others if you want to. The fields are: Area 1: Photonics (also includes Semiconductor/Electrical Physics) Area 2: Energy Systems Area 3: Electronics Area 4: Communications (I believe and systems control) Area 5: Computer Hardware Area 6: Computer Software And with this program you can go for a Bio-engineering minor, or an Eco minor or any other art-sci minor that you want!
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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That sounds really cool. Thank for the insight..
How many years does it normally take to graduate? 4 years in UT and Waterloo?
Would the years increase if I take the bio minor like you said?
Now, you got my interest.. hehee.. Thanks
Also, what are the classes sizes when compared to UW?
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xtg wrote:That sounds really cool. Thank for the insight..
How many years does it normally take to graduate? 4 years in UT and Waterloo?
Would the years increase if I take the bio minor like you said?
Now, you got my interest.. hehee.. Thanks
Also, what are the classes sizes when compared to UW? Class sizes I'm pretty sure are the same. It takes 4 years to graduate from UT (if you don't do PEY, 5 years if you do) and 5 years from Waterloo If you take the minor, you don't have to increase the years, you might just have to take one course in the summer because it won't fit into your schedule.
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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okay, thanks... Now I think I'm more for UT..
What is the difference for Honours at waterloo and UT? I don't know what is it because I was offered it for waterloo (and they told me they only have honours).. what about UT?
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UofT doesn't offer any "honours" because it doesn't mean anything.. just a name that Waterloo likes to give it's programs. It's supposed to identify the more intensive programs I think but someone can clarify if I'm wrong
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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UT is nice, but so is Waterloo. I'd say the difference goes with personal experience. Do you like having a more personal experience? I believe Waterloo would be better suited for you, but if you want intense competition and can careless about that personal relationship with a prof than UT is perfect. Get used to being treated like a number though, competition is rough.
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Hmm.. I don't know... I do enjoy personal relationships with schools as it makes studying a lot of enjoyable. But if the trade-off is a more recognized degree then I don't know.
I was told that UT is better (but I have no idea or way to proof that), and honestly, all I want is go to an awesome school (study hard in it) and graduate hoping to continue my education (perhaps to masters and PhD in the states - at a really good university) and then be able to come back to Canada and find a good paying job and just enjoy my life..
I know it sounds all like a fairy-tale.
*So yes, I still am not so sure about whether I should pick UT or Waterloo
Wouldn't 4 years at UT be quicker than 5 years at Waterloo??
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First off, I don't agree with Gunz13 on his statement, 4 of my 5 professors know my first name and say hi to me anytime I see them on campus and I've built a good bond with them. Example: I had an interview with RIM for an embedded systems position on monday, asked my professor after class if I could ask him some questions to help me prepare for the interview, he cancelled his appointments to sit down with me for half an hour and help me understand some material!
But about the 4 years or 5 years, I'd still recommend you do PEY anyways even though its option, it really really helps a lot. And by the way if you're in EE and go to the states, there's absolutely no way you'd come back to Canada unless you've started a successful company here. I mean you can't compare Silicon valley to Canada.. the weather, the pay, amount of jobs, the quality of life... Canada is CRAP for CE's and EE's compared to california! (This of course is only if you're thinking of going into the high tech industry or renewable energy)
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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Silicon valley is really cool. I'd love to be there (If I will ever be good enough for it).
So approx. how many people are in a class in UT? (EE courses). Is it easy to seek for help if I need it? (yeah, I'm nervous about university)
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xtg wrote:Silicon valley is really cool. I'd love to be there (If I will ever be good enough for it).
So approx. how many people are in a class in UT? (EE courses). Is it easy to seek for help if I need it? (yeah, I'm nervous about university) In classes in second year there's approximately 80 people per section? About 60 show up to lecture and yes there's LOTS of help. The university has a free tutoring service for just ECE's, you have office hours with your TA's, as well as your professors. The problem is most people don't go and ask for help! I have that problem myself but I'm getting better at it. Asking for help also helps you build a good relationship with your professor as well so make sure you do that wherever you go. And don't worry, there is such a LARGE presence of EE and CE's from Toronto and surrounding area that you won't have a problem (lots and lots of UofT grads end up there). If I don't get that job at RIM, I will actually be heading down there to work for a start-up RFID company (and I'm only second year!) Also it will help with your plans right now.. if you end up getting a job in silicon valley, your company will pay for your schooling to get your masters at Stanford or Berkeley (although it will be part-time)
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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if you're aiming for silicon valley there really aren't any canadian schools with more connections or a bigger name there than waterloo. their computer science rep has established it as one of the foremost technological schools and that reputation will be carried with the EE education you get as well.
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Redrose27 wrote:if you're aiming for silicon valley there really aren't any canadian schools with more connections or a bigger name there than waterloo. their computer science rep has established it as one of the foremost technological schools and that reputation will be carried with the EE education you get as well. Redrose27, do you have any information to back this? Silicon Valley companies do NOT hire students for co-op (4 month terms) from universities outside of Canada. They only hire for positions greater than 12 months, (hence the large number of PEY students that go there). If you know ANYONE that actually works there they will confirm this with you (I currently have my brother and my dad's side of the family living and working there). There are very few companies that will go through the trouble of working out a working Visa for you and arranging transportation for your and such for only a 4 months position (the only companies I know of is Cisco, Microsoft, and Real networks that hire from Canadian co-op schools). Companies such as the following: nVidia, Actel, Altera, Xilinx, etc, will very rarely if ever hire a 4 month co-op intern from Canada (they do hire however students on co-op from Stanford, Berkeley, etc)!
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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bijanv wrote:Redrose27 wrote:if you're aiming for silicon valley there really aren't any canadian schools with more connections or a bigger name there than waterloo. their computer science rep has established it as one of the foremost technological schools and that reputation will be carried with the EE education you get as well. Redrose27, do you have any information to back this? Silicon Valley companies do NOT hire students for co-op (4 month terms) from universities outside of Canada. They only hire for positions greater than 12 months, (hence the large number of PEY students that go there). If you know ANYONE that actually works there they will confirm this with you (I currently have my brother and my dad's side of the family living and working there). There are very few companies that will go through the trouble of working out a working Visa for you and arranging transportation for your and such for only a 4 months position (the only companies I know of is Cisco, Microsoft, and Real networks that hire from Canadian co-op schools). Companies such as the following: nVidia, Actel, Altera, Xilinx, etc, will very rarely if ever hire a 4 month co-op intern from Canada (they do hire however students on co-op from Stanford, Berkeley, etc)! i never said they'd be hiring for co op. i meant in terms of job possibilities in the future if they're looking for name recognition waterloo's already established itself within microsoft, google, etc.
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Everything sounds so cool...
Which school has a better reputation for EE so that it's more to my advantage to go to states (university) for my masters and PhD..
(so, waterloo is better if I want to work right after university and UT is better if I want to persue masters???)
Is the classroom life friendly at UT or is it very competitive?? What about UW?
So if by fairly comparing UT and UW (assuming PEY @ UT (5 years) and the 5 year undergrade study at UW)
UT:
- advantage: Longer work terms (which more american companies will hire from)
-have similar class sizes as UW
-big campus (more diversity)
-ability to select programs
UW:
- advantage: Established with many companies because of its comp sci/eng. rep
- have similar class sizes with UT
- smaller campus (more relationships)
- set programs (chosen for you)
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xtg wrote:Everything sounds so cool...
Which school has a better reputation for EE so that it's more to my advantage to go to states (university) for my masters and PhD..
(so, waterloo is better if I want to work right after university and UT is better if I want to persue masters???)
Is the classroom life friendly at UT or is it very competitive?? What about UW?
So if by fairly comparing UT and UW (assuming PEY @ UT (5 years) and the 5 year undergrade study at UW)
UT:
- advantage: Longer work terms (which more american companies will hire from)
-have similar class sizes as UW
-big campus (more diversity)
-ability to select programs
UW:
- advantage: Established with many companies because of its comp sci/eng. rep
- have similar class sizes with UT
- smaller campus (more relationships)
- set programs (chosen for you)
Classroom "life" is something you make of it at any university, so it could be good or bad at either universities and you'll hear both stories from each university. Again a strong word of caution that I've said many times on these forums, takes others peoples advice as a grain of salt. Don't fully base your decisions on what people on these forums say - I could be making all of this stuff up! (even though I'm not) , try and find out the facts for yourself and choose based on your own reasoning, not what other people are telling you. But regardless generally what you hear is that yes Waterloo is geared towards getting you a job right after you graduate and UofT is more geared towards proving you with a more thorough education for you to pursue your masters or PhD or to go off onto any other direction you might want to go. But again this isn't to say that Waterloo students can't go to grad school the same as UofT students and that UofT students won't be able to get the same jobs as Waterloo students.
-University of Toronto Electrical Engineering 1T0!
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the one disadvantage about U of T is that they really don't care about their students. There are so many students there and if you are looking for a university/community feel, you won't get that at U of T. The programs at both universities have good reputations so I'd look more towards what kind of lifestyle you want for your 4 years.
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