UW Physics Program: Comparing to Top Schools in Canada

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SUMMARY

The University of Waterloo (UW) is recognized for its strong physics program, particularly in theoretical physics, bolstered by the presence of the Perimeter Institute. UW has been rated the top university in Canada by Maclean's for two consecutive years, reflecting its overall academic excellence. The university recently invested $3.5 million in expanding its physics facilities, enhancing its research capabilities with advanced computing resources. While admission averages for physical sciences are in the mid-70s, this metric does not necessarily reflect program quality, as it often correlates with faculty size and program popularity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of theoretical physics concepts
  • Familiarity with co-operative education programs
  • Knowledge of Canadian university rankings and their implications
  • Awareness of research institutions like the Perimeter Institute
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Perimeter Institute's contributions to theoretical physics
  • Explore co-op programs at the University of Waterloo
  • Investigate the physics departments at UBC and the University of Toronto
  • Examine the impact of faculty size on program admission averages
USEFUL FOR

Prospective physics students, academic advisors, and individuals evaluating physics programs in Canada will benefit from this discussion.

  • #31
Sisyphus said:
uwaterloo math is something like 3:7 :confused:

are they all at sir wilfred laurier then or what?
 
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  • #32
k3232x said:
The class median was 38%. I got 75% which isn't that bad, but still could be better. It was my first university midterm, I didn't really know what to expect. In HS all what we did was compute questions, but most of the midterm was explaining concepts, theorems and ideas which was different then what I am use too.

Yeah, that's brutal.

I couldn't believe it.

Who's your prof.?
 
  • #33
Prof. Ralph. I was talking to him today, he said that the most asked asked question during the exam was what is the equation for area of a circle. I couldn't believe it. He said "The high school system is ****ed". Those where his EXACT words.
 
  • #34
k3232x said:
Prof. Ralph. I was talking to him today, he said that the most asked asked question during the exam was what is the equation for area of a circle. I couldn't believe it. He said "The high school system is ****ed". Those where his EXACT words.

I know!

Ralph is an awesome professor! I have no idea how this can happen.

He's a great teacher. He's euthiastic and passionate about mathematics. He cares about his students.

It's unfortunate that his students let him down like that. I should start working harder myself, so I can better represent my professors.
 
  • #35
k3232x said:
he said that the most asked asked question during the exam was what is the equation for area of a circle.

I think I've had students ask me that, too, but from what I've read about Waterloo, I'm surprised that many students who can get in there in the first place, need to ask a question like that.

The one who really sticks in my mind is the one who asked "what's the surface area of a cube?" This was on a question that asked the student to calculate the electric flux through the surface of a cube of a certain size, due to a charge of a certain magnitude inside it. I can understand not recognizing it as a Gauss's Law problem, but...
 
  • #36
jtbell said:
I think I've had students ask me that, too, but from what I've read about Waterloo, I'm surprised that many students who can get in there in the first place, need to ask a question like that.

That's Brock, not Waterloo.

You wouldn't get into Waterloo like that.
 
  • #37
Also, it's not like the students are stupid, their very smart people, it's just that the high school system is so screwed up. They are smart enough to understand it, its just they were never taught it.
 

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