Can I handle engineering at U of T?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the participant's concerns about their preparedness for studying electrical engineering at the University of Toronto (U of T). It explores academic performance in high school, the transition to university-level coursework, and the perceived difficulty of U of T's engineering program.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about their readiness for U of T, citing their high school grades and understanding of math and physics.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of understanding material over grades, suggesting that comprehension is crucial for success in electrical engineering.
  • Some participants question the relevance of high school performance to university success, arguing that university is a different experience.
  • There are claims about the difficulty of U of T's engineering program, with some stating it is the hardest in Canada, while others suggest that it may not differ significantly from similar programs at other universities.
  • One participant mentions the need for proof and evidence in discussions about the quality of education and job preparedness at different institutions.
  • A personal anecdote highlights the importance of attitude and effort in succeeding at university, suggesting that applying oneself is more critical than past academic performance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of opinions regarding the difficulty of U of T's engineering program and the relevance of high school performance to university success. No consensus is reached on whether the participant is adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the transition to university may involve a significant increase in workload and that individual responses to this challenge can vary widely.

bronalezda
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I really wanted to go to U of T but I started giving it a second thought.
I want to get into electrical engineering.
I got 79% in physcs 86% in english and I am doing my chemistry calculus and adv functions this semester. I am finding the maths very very easy I expect to get an 87% average between the two and hopefully an 80 in chem.

As of physics it took me long to understand the theory and I entered the course with a grade 11's knowledge on math.

Do you think I can do it? Dont say yes to make me feel good, tell me the truth, if you think not then just say so.


Thank you.
 
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I'm not sure how adequate your 11th grade maths course is. As for the courses you are taking now, my opinion is that it doesn't matter what grades you get. What does matter is if you understand the material thoroughly. Anyone can do math, not everyone "understands" it. If you want to do EE, you must understand math.

Only you can decide whether you can make it into U of T.
 
U of T? Toronto? Tennessee? Texas? Timbuktu?
 
Don't base anything off of how well you are doing in high school. Once you get to university, try it out. If i learned anything in high school its that high school was nothing more than a time to grow and develop social skills, and learn about yourself. It is a meaningless achievement academically.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
U of T? Toronto? Tennessee? Texas? Timbuktu?

Probably doesn't matter, a better question would be can I handle an engineering degree. I doubt the engineering education is that much different and Toronto and Timbuktu.
 
Actually Toronto's Engineering Science program is known to be very difficult.
 
Compared to a regular Engineering program at UToronto yes, compared to a similar program at any other university I doubt it. Most schools have a Eng Sci, Eng Phys type program that the best and brightest join, and half drop out after a year into Civil or something else. But when the dust settles and we all end up in grad school together, you notice there are little to no differences between what undergrad program you came out of.
 
Toronto! LOL Sorry I wasnt on for a while.

YEA I love math, I understand everything about it and physics. I understand the theory and how the derivitaves came to be. Only problem I do in my tests are stupid little mistakes.

Chemistry is my hardest subject because I did NOTHING from gr jk to gr 11 now I am trying to pull of an 80 :D

Thanks guys, everyone was scaring the crap out of me tellign me theyre getting 30s on their midterm and to think twice about attending U of T oronto so I started thinking twice, but it seems that its all about understanding not marks.

Ill be sure to redo everything I am not 100% on throughout the summer.

Again, sorry for reply late.

EDIT: U of T has the hardest engineering courses in Canada. Theyre known for just pure engineering, they don't care if you get a job or not they want you to know everything about engineering. Unlike Waterloo (co-op)
 
The biggest question is: can you handle the workload?
 
  • #10
bronalezda said:
U of T has the hardest engineering courses in Canada. Theyre known for just pure engineering, they don't care if you get a job or not they want you to know everything about engineering. Unlike Waterloo (co-op)

I really don't understand where people get these ideas. Point to note, if you want to be successful in science or engineering you need proof of your statements, you can't base you ideas and hearsay and colloquial stories. Saying that Waterloo has a co-op program is in no way proof that U of T profs don't care if you get a job, or that Waterloo courses aren't difficult.
 
  • #11
bronalezda said:
I really wanted to go to U of T but I started giving it a second thought.
I want to get into electrical engineering.
I got 79% in physcs 86% in english and I am doing my chemistry calculus and adv functions this semester. I am finding the maths very very easy I expect to get an 87% average between the two and hopefully an 80 in chem.

As of physics it took me long to understand the theory and I entered the course with a grade 11's knowledge on math.

Do you think I can do it? Dont say yes to make me feel good, tell me the truth, if you think not then just say so.Thank you.

This isn't a question we can answer for you. There is no way we can know how you'll respond to college-level courses and/or workloads.

[Personal anecdote]

One thing I will say, though, is that I'm discovering it's not as much about how I performed in high school (10 years ago), but rather how I apply myself now. It's going to be hard work more than anything else. If you take your classes seriously, manage your time/life well, and make understanding what you learn a priority, then you should do well. Your attitude will play an important role in your success, or failure. Most of the classmates I see struggling are the ones who are just going through the motions, only doing the bare minimum on homework/projects, and aren't taking their education seriously. I don't think they're going to make it.

[/Personal anecdote]
 

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