UW Physics Program: Comparing to Top Schools in Canada

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the University of Waterloo's physics program and its standing relative to other top Canadian universities. Participants explore various aspects of the program, including its reputation, admission criteria, co-op opportunities, and specific areas of physics such as quantum computing.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that UW has a strong physics program, potentially the best in Canada, citing the presence of the Perimeter Institute.
  • Others express skepticism about the program's quality, noting low admission averages for physical sciences and considering a switch to more established programs like Electrical Engineering.
  • Concerns are raised about the reliability of rankings and the potential bias in promotional materials from the university.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of co-op programs at UW, suggesting it enhances undergraduate experience and graduate school applications.
  • There is mention of UBC as a strong alternative, particularly in condensed matter physics, with references to notable faculty members and research groups.
  • One participant argues that the quality of undergraduate physics education is relatively uniform across Canada, emphasizing the importance of the student environment over institutional prestige.
  • Discussions also touch on the relevance of specific physics interests, such as quantum computing, and how that might influence the choice of university.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the quality of UW's physics program compared to other institutions. Multiple competing views are presented regarding the program's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the importance of co-op opportunities and faculty reputation.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that admission averages may not accurately reflect program quality, as they can be influenced by factors such as faculty size and program popularity. There is also a suggestion that the educational experience may vary significantly based on individual preferences and institutional culture.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective students considering physics programs in Canada, particularly those weighing options between the University of Waterloo and other institutions like UBC or the University of Toronto.

  • #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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