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Advice for new UBC students (CPSC)
Posted by on June 23, 2012
Moved to my new site at www.vcheng.org!
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Vincent's Blog 
Thanks for the tip about the CPSC events! I’ve subscribed to that list now 🙂
Hey, I’m entering my first year at UBC in the fall and I was wondering what you would advise to me about the computer science courses. I’m in the CSP program and so I don’t think I’ll be able to take CPSC 210, only 110 and 121 fit in my schedule. Could my co-op only start after I complete the 210 course?
Congrats on getting accepted to UBC! Anyways, as far as I’m aware, you need to either have completed or be currently taking 210 during the term in which you apply for co-op. So that theoretically means that you’ll have to wait until 2nd year to apply for co-op (which isn’t a bad thing per se; most science majors only have the option of applying for co-op in 2nd/3rd year). Just to be safe though, I’d definitely suggest asking an advisor, and/or meeting with the CS co-op coordinators (you can just drop by the co-op office in ICICS).
Also! Was the workload of 10 courses okay for you? I can’t decide if I should stick to 8 or challenge myself a little bit.
10 courses is pretty standard for the average science student at UBC, although you have the option to take more or less if you so choose. People often suggest that you should consider taking only 4 instead of 5 courses in 1st term to ease yourself into university life, but I’ve found that it wasn’t really necessary for me. 10 courses was, for the most part, manageable for me.
Keep in mind that you can drop any courses without penalty, i.e. without a W (and with a full refund) before a certain date near the beginning of the term (see http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/registering-courses/course-change-withdrawal/ for details), so you can still register 5 courses, and if you so choose, drop one of them if you feel that after the first ~2 weeks the workload may be too much.
Thanks! Also, I was a little confused about the BSC/BCS thing. I’m currently in the Bachelor of Science program with my specialization declared as being in computer science. Does this mean I still have to apply to switch into the BCS program after first year? Or am I automatically put into it? Thank you 🙂
That means you’re currently enrolled in the BSc program. BCS is an entirely different program, i.e. it’s a 2nd degree program for those who already have a Bachelor’s degree in some other field not related to computer science. AFAIK it’s also shorter (2 years, or 3 if participating in the co-op program). You can find out more about BCS here: https://www.cs.ubc.ca/students/undergrad/programs/second-degree/what-bcs-ics
Hey Vincent, whats your take on the combined major in Comp Sci and Business at Sauder?
I don’t personally know anyone who’s taking the combined major in CS+Business offered by Sauder, so I can’t really comment on it, sorry!
Hi Vincent, it’s so nice of you answering peoples questions. I just got in, do you know where should I go for advising, my old degree is math, and art, so I got a lot questions.
is it easy to get a job after this program?
Thanks.
Hey Vincent. I am going to be a first year Science student this fall. What kind of physics courses should I take, if my goal is medschool and I did extremely well in high school physics ( 98% and 95%). Thank you!