UofT or Waterloo Engineering?

[ChuckleBerry]

So I've been accepted by UofT Track One and Waterloo Civil Engineering but now I'm having a really hard time deciding which one to accept.

I guess the biggest thing I want to know is about the co-op programs there.
How is PEY compared to the Waterloo co-op program?

[mingming]

there are many threads already for this topic, with arguments from both sides. i recommend you do a search.

but i'll say goto UW, perhaps a bit biased (UW elec grad here)

[lagzor]

Just my opinion, but I perfer Waterloo's co-op style of 4 months (or 8) alternating with school. It allows for more variety (not necessarily for trying things you like, but also discovering things you don't like (i.e. QA, programming, etc), but only for 4 months)

[mingming]

Just my opinion, but I perfer Waterloo's co-op style of 4 months (or 8) alternating with school. It allows for more variety (not necessarily for trying things you like, but also discovering things you don't like (i.e. QA, programming, etc), but only for 4 months)

+1

I found co-op made me realize what i DON'T want for a job, which I think was even more important.

[TheFuteballer]

Just my opinion, but I perfer Waterloo's co-op style of 4 months (or 8) alternating with school. It allows for more variety (not necessarily for trying things you like, but also discovering things you don't like (i.e. QA, programming, etc), but only for 4 months)

I'd say go to UofT since you get the best of both worlds.. you get 2 summer co-op positions as well as a long and useful 16 month PEY!

[Sazafraz]

Come to UofT yo

Since you applied for TrackOne it seems that you have doubts on whether you know civil engineering is right for you. That's why it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to do a general first year because many people thought they would go into one discipline go into something else (happened with me with ECE, thank God for TrackOne).

[shannn]

The education you'll recieve at either institution will be awesome.

For income tax purposes, I'd rather go to Waterloo for co-op than PEY. You'll earn more that way. But then again, you'll need to pay for residence at UW (assuming you won't be at UT)

Plus, PEY doens't guarantee you a job for the 12 - 16 month period

[ChuckleBerry]

The thing with Waterloo is that all I hear about is stuff for software/electrical engineering with great job offers at Google and such. But I haven't been able to find anything on the civil engineering side, with stuff concerning structures.

Also for PEY, you are stuck with one job right? So does that really limit the amount of different types of experience you can get compared to Waterloo co-op which allows you to have 6 different jobs?

[wkye]

Also for PEY, you are stuck with one job right? So does that really limit the amount of different types of experience you can get compared to Waterloo co-op which allows you to have 6 different jobs?

There are positives and negatives to both 16-month and 4-month. Like you said, Waterloo co-op lets you try more jobs which is a plus, but four months is not a lot of time to settle into a new job and become truly productive. With U of T's internship you only get one job, but you can acquire more responsibility and you can follow the product cycle from start to finish.

So this is really a breadth vs. depth question. In terms of the quality of jobs available, I think both schools are about equal.

[Singh_21]

Go to Waterloo..4 month coops give you more options.

[adehbone]

Lived with civils in the past. A couple of them worked at top firms think Halcrow/PCL/Golder/Hatch etc. So the top firms do recruit at UW (if you want to major in structuring, which is supposedly the hardest civil major) but I am sure that my friend said every top firm he went to there was always interns from UofT as well. Usually Western people as well. But almost always the top consulting firms had UofT or UW interns. Also those firms pay very well I would say on average 55+ for new grads, while I think average civil salary is 45+.

Based on that I would recruitment is not a major concern here, more about personal preference and environment.

[ChuckleBerry]

At the moment I am leaning towards UofT because of the Skoll program but I think Waterloo would have a better environment for studying. Is there any information about this Skoll program because I'm not so keen on business but it seems like useful knowledge to have in the future. Would it be worth it to attend UofT for the MBA credentials?

[Aznsilvrboy]

At the moment I am leaning towards UofT because of the Skoll program but I think Waterloo would have a better environment for studying. Is there any information about this Skoll program because I'm not so keen on business but it seems like useful knowledge to have in the future. Would it be worth it to attend UofT for the MBA credentials?

You're not getting into the Skolls program unless you're the best of the best in UofT Engineering. Don't use it as the determinant factor when choosing your school.

[Parth]

I have about a dozen friends at each.

The majority of them agree UW engineering is the best choice.

The biggest factor being having the opportunity to try many different types of jobs before graduating. Like I have a bunch of friends that did business co-ops and have now decided to switch into investment banking and similar jobs after graduation. They would never have had the opportunity to try similar positions if they were UofT engineering students.

[TheFuteballer]

You're not getting into the Skolls program unless you're the best of the best in UofT Engineering. Don't use it as the determinant factor when choosing your school.

It's actually really not that hard. All you need is to do relatively well on your GMAT, and have a 77 average in your 2nd and 3rd year. 50-60 people apply and 25-30 people are accepted so the chances are actually pretty good.

[TheFuteballer]

Plus, PEY doens't guarantee you a job for the 12 - 16 month period

Neither does co-op? Plus there's always more PEY jobs than actual applicants every year which is much better than the 30% employement rate for first year UW students this year