The Road to Engineering

I thought I would give you a quick update from my new admissions office in my basement.  My computer desk can be seen in the photograph below.  The curious diagram behind my monitor was a 4th year project in VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) design that my team built when I was a student of Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.  The schematic implements a 4 bit ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit) in CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) technology.

Our early round of admission is nearly completed.  Despite some very challenging circumstances, we managed to successfully select many outstanding applicants to receive admission offers to Waterloo Engineering for Fall 2020.

Offers are first communicated on Quest.  Official offer letters with conditions will be communicated as soon as possible.  Applicants may also be contacted by individual departments.  Please be patient.  I know all applicants are anxious to find out more.  We are doing the best that we can.  It has been incredibly difficult for our team to focus on their work given all of the extraordinary events that have been occurring throughout the world.  I really wish to thank everyone involved in assessing applicants and communicating offers to applicants.  In particular, I must thank Mirjana and Leigh for their hard work.  I know they worked long hours through the weekends to meet our deadlines.

If you have not yet received an offer of admission, do not give up hope.  There are still some early round offers that I expect to be processed this week.  Also, we still have many admission offers to give out to ALL of our Waterloo Engineering programs.  We still have room for many great students in our programs.  Quite a few applicants will receive good news in early May when we complete our final round of admissions.

One other thing to keep in mind is that we finalize all of our scholarship decisions in May when we complete our final round of admissions.  If you have received an offer of admission in the early round, you will only know the grid scholarship (Merit Scholarship, President’s Scholarship, or President’s Scholarship of Distinction) that you have been selected to receive at this time.  If your grades improve between now and May, your grid scholarship may be upgraded.  In addition to a grid scholarship, students may also be selected for a named scholarship in early May.

Finally, for those who like to ask theoretical questions, your grid scholarship will not be downgraded if your grades decrease for any reason.  Once you have been offered a grid scholarship, it is never downgraded.  However, if your grades fall too much, you may run the risk of having your admission offer revoked.  You still have to meet the conditions on your offer letter.

For those students who have applied to one of our engineering programs, remember to submit all required documentation by midnight (EST) on February 28th.  Applicants who do not submit their Admission Information Forms will be ineligible for admission.  Every year, we have a few applicants who miss the deadline and they are very surprised to find out that we enforce the deadline.  Extensions to deadlines at the university level are very rare.  We need as much time as possible to assess our applicants thoroughly.  We simply cannot afford to delay our admission decisions.  Our first full round of admission offers will be sent out on March 31st.

At our latest count, we had 11,066 applications to Waterloo Engineering programs this year.  This is fewer applications than we have had in previous years.

As noted previously, we have seen a decline in the number of international applications.  At first glance, the decline in international applications does not seem to be attributable to a single factor.  Determining why prospective international applicants do not apply to a program can be difficult.  We have no easy way of contacting people who considered our programs but did not apply.  We could run a survey on our website but this requires people to visit our website and to answer honestly.

If you are still reading my blog and you decided to apply elsewhere instead of Waterloo Engineering, please let me know what factors played a role in your decision by commenting on my blog.  If there is something we can do better, it would be useful for us to know.  Anecdotal evidence is often better than nothing at all.

Every year we do a survey of applicants that turn down offers of acceptance.  For the 2018 / 2019 admission cycle, the most common reasons cited for turning down a Waterloo Engineering offer were the following:

1. Campus Life (33.2% of respondents)
2. Program Offered (32.9% of respondents)
3. Program Cost (30.3% of respondents)
4. Campus Location (25.2% of respondents)
5. Distance from Home (23.6% of respondents)

We did receive some good news in this admission cycle.  Domestic applications to engineering programs remain strong in a highly competitive environment.  Some programs did better than others.  To answer the question that my readers will no doubt ask, I do not anticipate the probabilities of acceptance to differ significantly from the graphs I posted last September.

If you missed out on applying for a Waterloo Engineering program for Fall 2020, applications for Fall 2021 will open next October.  Due to our cohort system where students are part of a class of students that progress through terms of study, we are only able to offer admission to our undergraduate programs starting in Fall terms.  Our 1A term courses are not usually offered in the Winter or the Spring terms.

Now that the holiday season is drawing to a close and the Winter term has started, I thought it might be worthwhile to give everyone a brief update on our application process.  The application deadline for Waterloo Engineering is fast approaching.

As indicated in our engineering brochure, interested applicants should apply to Waterloo Engineering on the OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Centre) site by Friday, January 31st.  Applicants have an additional four weeks to submit all supporting documentation for their application.  Supporting documentation includes the AIF (Admission Information Form) and the optional Online Interview.  All supporting documentation must be completed by Friday, February 28th.

The AIF (Admission Information Form) is a required component of the application process.  If it is not completed and submitted by the deadline, you will not receive an offer of admission.  Last year, there were a few applicants who missed the deadline due to a combination of procrastination and computer problems.  My suggestion is that applicants complete the AIF (Admission Information Form) well in advance of the deadline to ensure that they do not miss out on their applications being fully considered.

We have currently received over 9,100 applications to Waterloo Engineering programs, excluding Architecture.  This is approximately 1.8% lower than last year.  Some programs have more applicants and others have fewer applicants.  To answer the inevitable question, I cannot disclose more specific application numbers at this time.  The application numbers change rapidly and without context, they are largely meaningless.

However, I can say that we have seen a few general trends.  There has been a slight increase in domestic applications for many engineering programs and a slight decrease in visa applications for almost all engineering programs.  These trends have been consistent for the past month as I have been tracking the application numbers periodically.  In approximately 4 weeks, I should have the final application numbers for the 2019/2020 admission cycle.  I expect our total number of applications to approach 11,000 by the application deadline.

I wish to thank those applicants who have already submitted their AIFs and Online Interviews.  We have already begun assessing interviews that have been completed by applicants.  We expect to complete our assessments of all AIFs and Online Interviews by the end of March in preparation for our first round of admission offers.  It greatly helps our Admissions Office to receive supporting documentation early.

As you can probably imagine, we are very busy at this time of the year.  While our Admissions Office will do our best to answer your questions in a timely manner, please keep in mind that we are very busy at this time of the year.  We are experiencing a high volume of inquiries.

 

 

 

30 years ago, a senseless act of violence occurred at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal that took the lives of 14 young women.

There is no place in society for gender-based violence.

The above image is one of many that the Government of Canada has prepared for individuals to start a conversation on gender-based violence.  Additional images can be found here for those wishing to start a conversation.  Remember to include the hashtag #OurActionsMatter to have your voice heard.

Today at 10:30 am, the University of Waterloo will commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with a ceremony in the 2nd Floor Atrium of Engineering 7.  You can officially register for the event here but there will be space set aside for people to attend, even if they have not officially registered.

In addition to the ceremony, the University of Waterloo will be participating in a nationwide memorial by shining a beam of light into the sky to honour and remember the 14 young women.  The beam of light will be turned on at 5:00 pm just outside of Engineering 5.  As visitors pass by the light, we ask that all reflect upon this tragedy and pay tribute with a moment of silence.

Should you wish to take positive action, one thing you can do is donate to the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation.  This foundation aims to attract women to the engineering profession to honour the memory of the 14 women whose lives tragically ended on December 6, 1989.  Many highly successful engineers have benefited from the work of this important foundation.

One of our University of Waterloo students was the recipient of the Nellie Giffen Ambassador Award for 2019 offered by the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation.  I would encourage interested female applicants and female students to consider applying for an Undergraduate Ambassador Award on the foundation’s website.  The deadline to apply for an award is January 13, 2020.

With the Ontario Universities’ Fair starting in less than 24 hours, I thought I would attempt to answer the most frequent question asked of any admission officer:

What are my chances of receiving an offer of admission?

This is not an easy question to answer since every applicant is different.  Good grades are one consideration for admission but we also look at many other factors including previous employment, volunteer work, extra-curricular activities, skills, and notable achievements.  We can use good grades as a starting point for the discussion but we obviously look beyond grades to select applicants who will be highly successful in our programs.  This is why Waterloo Engineering does not simply accept applicants with the top grades and why students with lower admission averages still have a reasonable chance of receiving an offer of admission to some of our top engineering programs.

Since 2014, Bill Anderson has posted on his blog an easy-to-read graphical version of the information that appears on the Waterloo Engineering website and in our promotional brochures.  I continued this transition with my blog post last Fall on the Chances of Admission for Fall 2019.  In our brochures, we estimate the probability of an applicant receiving acceptance based on several years of application trends.  We try to make the projections as realistic as possible but the projections often tend to be a bit conservative.  Not all programs grouped together have exactly the same probabilities.  The projections tend to be most accurate for the top program in a grouping.  The most recent admission average probabilities can be found in my blog post on Competitiveness.

Using the applicant data for the Fall 2019 admission cycle, I have produced graphs that show the probability of receiving an offer of admission to Waterloo Engineering programs.  All of our engineering programs have been put into three groups as follows:

• Group 1: Biomedical and Software
• Group 2: Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Systems Design
• Group 3: Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Geological, Management, and Nanotechnology

The first graph summarizes the probability of an admission offer for Canadians and permanent residents applying from the Ontario Secondary School system.  This graph is shown below:

The second graph summarizes the probability of an admission offer for visa students applying from the Ontario Secondary School system.  The probabilities tend to be much lower for visa students due to the high number of applicants per available space.  However, high average students still have a very reasonable chance of receiving an offer of admission, even to our most competitive programs.  This graph is shown below:

These graphs include a small number of applicants who receive offers to their second choice program instead of their first choice program.  I debated whether these applicants should be included in the graphs but I felt it would be inappropriate to remove them.

I used a slightly different mathematical approach than the one used in previous years.  I used a free software add-on to Excel from SRS1 Software to interpolate data points throughout the admission average range of 80% to 100% using a one-way spline function.  This approach allowed me to produce relatively smooth curves that are monotonically increasing as the admission average increases.

These graphs represent the best projections we can make regarding the Fall 2020 admission cycle.  Until we receive our final application data in February 2020, we won’t know if the application pool is similar to last year’s application pool.  If it is, then these projections are likely to be accurate.  If applications increase (or decrease), the probabilities of receiving an admission offer to a program will change accordingly.

It has been quite some time since I last posted to my blog.  The Fall 2019 admission cycle came to a close at the end of August and we have now started the Fall 2020 admission cycle.  I thought I should start off the Fall 2020 admission cycle with a post specifically for students studying south of the border since the application process has already opened for out-of-province students.

For U.S. high school students potentially interested in applying to Waterloo Engineering, here are a few important things to remember:

Why Should I Consider Waterloo Engineering?

Waterloo Engineering has a strong international reputation.  We are known for our innovative co-op program which requires engineering students to complete paid internships at companies around the world.  Our students obtain 2 years of practical work experience while completing their academic studies.  Many of our co-op students and alumni are employed in the U.S..  Our campus is modern and our facilities are state-of-the-art.  Our university ranks as one of the top undergraduate engineering schools in Canada.

 

Does Waterloo Engineering Attend U.S. College Fairs?

Waterloo Engineering does participate in a limited number of U.S. College Fairs.  This year, we plan on attending four U.S. college fairs in the following cities:

• Santa Clara, California (October 6th),
• Lawrenceville, New Jersey (October 12th),
• New York, New York (October 13th), and
• Seattle, Washington (November 1st and November 2nd).

How Do Students Educated in the U.S. Apply?

The University of Waterloo is not listed on the Common Application used by many U.S. colleges and universities and a few Canadian universities.  Our applications are processed by a province-wide application centre known as the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).  Students with Canadian citizenship (including Canadians who have lived in the U.S. their entire lives) apply using Form 105 Domestic (105D).  Such students compete directly with Canadian students educated in Canada for spaces reserved for Canadian students.  Students with non-Canadian citizenship apply using Form 105 International (105F).  Such students compete directly with international students for spaces reserved for international students.

When Can U.S. Students Apply?

The application process is now open.  U.S. students may complete their application anytime between now and January, 31, 2020.  All supporting documents must be received no later than February 28, 2020.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

How Will I Be Assessed?

All applicants are requested to provide transcripts and SAT / ACT scores.  In addition, applicants are required to complete an Admission Information Form (AIF) and applicants are invited to complete an online video interview.  Our Engineering Admissions Team examines all information provided to make an informed assessment about each applicant.  We individually select applicants to ensure fit within our engineering programs.

When Are Acceptance Letters Sent Out?

Waterloo Engineering typically sends out its final round of acceptance letters in the middle of May, shortly after 2nd semester midterm grades have been processed.  This year, it is our goal to ensure that students applying from the U.S. receive an admission decision by the end of March, if possible.  We recognize that students applying to U.S. colleges and universities often have much earlier deadlines for acceptance.  We will attempt to provide U.S. students with an admission decision so that they make an informed decision about their future.

Will I Pay International Tuition Fees or Domestic Tuition Fees?

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you pay domestic tuition fees.  International students are eligible to pay domestic tuition fees if they are dependent upon a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.  In other words, if your parents hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency in Canada, you pay domestic tuition fees even if you are a U.S. citizen or an international student.  All other students are required to pay international tuition fees.

Can 529 Plans Be Used By Students?

The University of Waterloo is a FAFSA eligible school.  However, some restrictions apply to the use of U.S. federal student aid.  Students may use 529 plans to pay tuition and other eligible expenses incurred at the University of Waterloo.  For those with 529 plans, our OPE ID is 00852600.

When I started at the University of Waterloo, like many students, I struggled at first to figure out how to study effectively.  I realized after my midterm exams that a few things needed to change if I was going to be successful in Waterloo Engineering.  I setup a study schedule and I started working in the Davis Centre (DC) library a bit more often.  However, the thing that probably helped me the most was a series of study books that provided me with the practice problems I needed.  This series of books, known as the Schaum’s Outlines, helped me survive difficult courses such as Calculus, Physics, and Circuits.  Apparently, I was not alone.  A few years ago during a discussion with Pearl Sullivan, the Dean of Engineering, she mentioned that she also used these books to study for difficult courses.

Today, as I was visiting the campus for Engineering 101, I noticed that the W Store has a sale on these books.  All of them appear to be 25% off.  If you are an incoming student or the parent of an incoming student reading this blog, I suggest you take a brief look at these books in our bookstore in South Campus Hall (SCH).  They are not expensive.  Most of the books sell for approximately $25.  This is a small price to pay if it helps you get through a difficult course.  Below is a photo of the bookstore with these books on display:

Also, I should point out that it was great to see so many enthusiastic incoming students.  When I last heard, 691 incoming students were in attendance for Engineering 101 and I am sure a few more showed up after I checked the official count.  I will be participating in the panel discussion for ECE students at the afternoon tutorial session in E7 4053.  Feel free to drop by and ask me your questions.

For those who want to know what it was like at Engineering 101, here is a photo taken from off-stage of the crowd listening to Pearl Sullivan giving her introduction:

There wasn’t an empty seat in the venue.  Thank you and welcome to Waterloo Engineering!