At a recent University of Waterloo counsellor’s event in Burnaby, Edwin Liew from Options met with the Waterloo undergraduate recruitment team to learn more about how their programs live up to their motto of “ideas start here” and why its co-operative education is one of the most popular in Canada.
Waterloo has the reputation for being an “idea town” and with innovations that brought us the BlackBerry and new Google enhancements, it is easy to see why they are in the forefront of technological developments. One of the more prominent programs at Waterloo, the Faculty of Engineering offers direct-entry studies in a range of disciplines from Chemical, Civil, Electrical to Mechatronics, Software, System Design and Nanotechnology Engineering. Admission is competitive and Grade 12 students with at least an average GPA of mid-80s, who look to develop their innovative ideas through a hands-on approach, are encouraged to apply. Waterloo admits based on four grade 12 subjects and for Engineering, English 12, Pre-calculus or Principles of Math 12, Calculus 12, Physics 12 and/or Chemistry 12 are required depending on the specialization.
Waterloo is the only university in the country that has its own Faculty of Mathematics, where students can major in Mathematics or Bioinformatics, or gain a double degree in Math/Business Administration, Math/Chartered Accountancy, and Math/Financial Analysis and Risk Management. With its internationally renowned Institute of Quantum Computing (IQC) and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) as the largest global ‘think tank’ in the field, Math and Physics students can attend public lectures and colloquia on cutting-edge research and hear about projects, some of which are led by Nobel Prize winners.
If Arts and Business are more your interests, Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts offers combined studies in liberal Arts and business courses. Programs such as Social Development Studies, Geography and Environmental Management, and the new Global Business and Digital Arts program allow students to develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity skills, while they apply their communications expertise to exploring society and its diverse communities.
Waterloo’s co-op education in Engineering, Architecture, Kinesiology, and Arts and Business incorporates job application training and build interview skills. With 60% of the full-time undergraduate students participating in one of Canada’s best work experiences that brings the workplace into the classroom, the co-op programs help students develop resume-writing skills and give them interview tips so they can conduct themselves well in front of a prospective employer. Beginning as early as the Winter or Spring term in the First Year, each 4-month employment placements (six in total over 4 years) offer students paid-work experience in Ontario or out-of-province jobs back in their home town.
