Grade 12's applying this year...

[kt11]

Hmm.. I always though there was a pure CA degree, is there not? Because in the guide book, there is a row that says "Chartered Accountancy" (under Math though), never heard of Biotech and Accountancy together.. how does that work?

Yea, I've heard all about the AFMAA, I believe it shouldn't be too difficult to write down what they want to read. Right now I'm just kind of worried whether or not I should apply to CA and whether or not I'll actually make it.

For the past few years I've wanted to go into Computer Engineering, but with the recent surge in the IT field, I'm also slowly picking up accountancy as an alternative, because it's almost a guaranteed job like pharmaceutical (unfortunately I'm not a bio person - I'm more phy/chem). Unfortunately, it seems like CA won't be easy to get into - according to the guide book Waterloo wants at least a 90 average...

Biotech/CA, I really don't understand the philosophy of the whole program...I can't explain it. But the cut-off is mid-90's.

Btw, Waterloo isn't the be-all-end-all in life

[alv077]

AFM = public right?

Could be either. You would be in public if you apply to Public Accounting, if you apply to the Financial Management stream, you will NOT be able to take CA coop jobs though.

Hmm.. I always though there was a pure CA degree, is there not? Because in the guide book, there is a row that says "Chartered Accountancy" (under Math though), never heard of Biotech and Accountancy together.. how does that work?

Yea, I've heard all about the AFMAA, I believe it shouldn't be too difficult to write down what they want to read. Right now I'm just kind of worried whether or not I should apply to CA and whether or not I'll actually make it.

For the past few years I've wanted to go into Computer Engineering, but with the recent surge in the IT field, I'm also slowly picking up accountancy as an alternative, because it's almost a guaranteed job like pharmaceutical (unfortunately I'm not a bio person - I'm more phy/chem). Unfortunately, it seems like CA won't be easy to get into - according to the guide book Waterloo wants at least a 90 average...

If there is a "pure CA" degree, it would probably be AFM. The one listed under math is just Math/CA. Apparently, biotech/CA would be good for someone who wants to run a hospital. (That is what I was told by someone who applied to the program)

If you do not get into Waterloo, you could always try for other schools... For example, UOIT's admission average for accounting is REALLY low and has all 51 credits covered.

Btw, Waterloo isn't the be-all-end-all in life

Speaking as an asian student, yes it is.

[Jon Lai]

If there is a "pure CA" degree, it would probably be AFM. The one listed under math is just Math/CA. Apparently, biotech/CA would be good for someone who wants to run a hospital. (That is what I was told by someone who applied to the program)

Hospital and accounting? Purely for accounting hospitals?

If you do not get into Waterloo, you could always try for other schools... For example, UOIT's admission average for accounting is REALLY low and has all 51 credits covered.

But.. but.. but.. I want to get into Waterloo

[alv077]

Hospital and accounting? Purely for accounting hospitals?

I'm confused too...

He used hospitals as an example but I guess it would be applicable to things like pharmaceutical companies, research labs, and things of that nature.

But.. but.. but.. I want to get into Waterloo

Personally, I would not choose to do math/ca if you want to have a social life. I hear it is rough...

Just go take a bunch of fluff courses that are easy to overachieve in. 90 average shouldn't be too hard with enough of those. Make sure you have at least a high 80 average for 1st semester midterm though - you want to be invited to the AFMAA on the first round. More offers come out then.

[Jon Lai]

Personally, I would not choose to do math/ca if you want to have a social life. I hear it is rough...

Just go take a bunch of fluff courses that are easy to overachieve in. 90 average shouldn't be too hard with enough of those. Make sure you have at least a high 80 average for 1st semester midterm though - you want to be invited to the AFMAA on the first round. More offers come out then.

Well, what courses can you recommend that is NOT rough in university? Engineering, medical.. many tougher courses than CA :P

I do have a couple of those bird courses that you talk about, but I'm in a semestered school so it'll be a trick to see if I can get them to at least distribute them fairly among semesters instead of putting them all in 2nd Actually, I'm not exactly worried about not meeting the cutoff, but more worried about the competition - meeting the cutoff means nothing if you're not accepted.

[alv077]

Well, what courses can you recommend that is NOT rough in university? Engineering, medical.. many tougher courses than CA :P

I do have a couple of those bird courses that you talk about, but I'm in a semestered school so it'll be a trick to see if I can get them to at least distribute them fairly among semesters instead of putting them all in 2nd Actually, I'm not exactly worried about not meeting the cutoff, but more worried about the competition - meeting the cutoff means nothing if you're not accepted.

Competition should be more or less the same. Once you're in the 90s range, it doesn't really get much harder...

The thing with CA at waterloo is that you need to keep a 75% average in your core courses. Not sure if it is hard or not but I've heard people really stress over it.

Now, combine that pressure with university level math classes... and you're screwed :P That's all I am saying

[maebach]

damnit. mY FIRST SEMESTER:

English
Economics
Advanced functions

Economics and math are low 90s/high 80s, but my english blows. I'll be happy with an 80 in english. I'm gonna try to get into math or finances at waterloo. Does someone know if U/C classes are acceptable? or do I have to submit U course grades. BEcause economics is university/college class.

[justinn]

Just wondering can someone please enlighten me on how early acceptance to universitys work? Do you put in your best 6 marks (including english)? Help!?!>!>

[kt11]

Just wondering can someone please enlighten me on how early acceptance to universitys work? Do you put in your best 6 marks (including english)? Help!?!>!>

Early acceptance is generally before the January 10th deadline. They'll tell you what marks you need to keep your offer valid, some scholarships could also be on the table.


English is always in there, but I know some schools like UW can let you take Writers Craft or something, stick with ENG4U. So when people say Top 6, it's actually Top 5.

[kt11]

damnit. mY FIRST SEMESTER:

English
Economics
Advanced functions

Economics and math are low 90s/high 80s, but my english blows. I'll be happy with an 80 in english. I'm gonna try to get into math or finances at waterloo. Does someone know if U/C classes are acceptable? or do I have to submit U course grades. BEcause economics is university/college class.

That's a fairly easy semester...
U/C are always acceptable, but some schools like Schulich will let you submit no more than 2, or is it 1.

[gzajay]

One of my close friends is entering his 4th year of Biotech/CA....

-The single biggest advantage of the program is that you don't pay the AFM tuition! Biotech/Ca is run by the faculty of science, so you get the science tuition of about 2500 a term vs. AFM of about 5000 a term

-The entrance average is mid 90's and cut off to 10 people from the application pool of about 100 I think...

-He takes a bunch of biology, chemistry and accounting courses with very little room for electives (maybe 2 or 3 over his years)

-The biotech/CA students are very close...since there are only 10. They all support each other and meet up for social events too

-Career-wise you have alot of options!! I have other friends wanting to go to medschool who are in the program, others who want their CA and be accountants and others who are just using the CA has a stepping stone to other careers in business

[Jon Lai]

Competition should be more or less the same. Once you're in the 90s range, it doesn't really get much harder...

The thing with CA at waterloo is that you need to keep a 75% average in your core courses. Not sure if it is hard or not but I've heard people really stress over it.

Now, combine that pressure with university level math classes... and you're screwed :P That's all I am saying

Isn't there a CA course where math courses aren't mandatory?
So even the AFM CA course requires math as mandatory? What kinds of math are these, statistics, or calculus?

Sigh.. maybe I'll be better off keeping to the lower job security and lower demanded Computer Engineering field..

[alv077]

-The biotech/CA students are very close...since there are only 10. They all support each other and meet up for social events too

I hear that most of the accounting students are cliquey and don't often associate with non-accounting people anyways.

That's what a random at you@uw told me, anyways

Isn't there a CA course where math courses aren't mandatory?
So even the AFM CA course requires math as mandatory? What kinds of math are these, statistics, or calculus?

Sigh.. maybe I'll be better off keeping to the lower job security and lower demanded Computer Engineering field..

AFM only needs one math class. I believe it is a stats course in 1B.

I am sure you would have more math courses in engineering than AFM...

[sxz]

The AFM program has two math related courses. That is Math for Accounting (in your first year) and Intro to Stats & Sampling for Accounting (in second year). Aside from those, there isn't really anything mathematically intensive. Engineering is another story. Depending on the engineering program you want to get into you may end up with a ton of math courses (i.e. Software, SysDesign, etc.) I think you would want to go with AFM if you don't like math.

[Jon Lai]

The AFM program has two math related courses. That is Math for Accounting (in your first year) and Intro to Stats & Sampling for Accounting (in second year). Aside from those, there isn't really anything mathematically intensive. Engineering is another story. Depending on the engineering program you want to get into you may end up with a ton of math courses (i.e. Software, SysDesign, etc.) I think you would want to go with AFM if you don't like math.

It's not that I don't like math, but I'm not very good at it for some reason - always making careless mistakes. I do better in Physics than I do in Math, which always made me wonder.

Anyways, can anyone tell me more about the AFM CA course? I think I'm still going to choose between that and Computer Engineering at UW. It's the two courses I am most interested to go into - I'm just worried mainly that CA is harder to get into (90+ plus isn't there a test I have to write in order to get in?), or the fact that IT jobs in Canada are decreasing every year and being outsourced.

Comments about UW's coop programs in general would also be greatly appreciated