I took Physical Science Co Op for Mcmaster and Waterloo.

I heard that Waterloo has a better co-op program. Is that true?

Can you please give me a comparison between both of these universities co-op programs?

Originally Posted by nikhil38

I took Physical Science Co Op for Mcmaster and Waterloo.

I heard that Waterloo has a better co-op program. Is that true?

Can you please give me a comparison between both of these universities co-op programs?

You'll obviously get a biased opinion here on a Mac forum...

Edit: The following is in relation to our engineering department... hope it's still somewhat useful!

Mac has a far more social engineering faculty, less in competition and more "all in this together" attitude, which is far less stressful.

From what I hear Waterloo is far more isolated and competitive.

Waterloo's co-op program IS far better than Mac's. I believe you are required to work all summers there (or something really high like that). I have never used Mac's system because you pay them 150$/year and do nothing for you: you have to find all the jobs yourself (I never could).

So, up to you what kind of experience you want from your university... I think the co-op issue isn't too big a deal compared to the overall social experience I thoroughly enjoyed.

For science co-op, you don't apply to the co-op program until after second year. You'll spend your first two years just doing classes as if you were in a regular program. In second year you complete a once-a-week pass/fail course, Science 2C00, that will teach you proper resume writing and interviewing skills.

As for after that... I haven't gotten there yet, I just got accepted to my co-op program :p

mac has a better physics department.

You're posing this question to Mac students... of course we're going to say Mac is better! lol Just saying.

Jackie's right, you're going to get biased opinion.

In short, if you want a guaranteed co-op job, go to Waterloo. Otherwise, if you're a big fan of scenery, definitely go to Mac.

On and congratulations on becoming an Alumni, Jackie!

I think Waterloo's a better school overall. I'm only here because I didn't get into CS at Waterloo, and I just hated Toronto too much to apply to UofT...

If you want to do physics i would say head towards waterloo...if you are leaning towards chem I would say come to the hammer

Waterloo without a doubt.

Waterloo.

Don't come to mac. Its gone down the drain. If you want me to elaborate let me know.

my friend is in co-op Eng at Waterloo... i think its structural or something like that.... but basically in Waterloo you get started in co-op from year 1 and they help you out a lot in terms of actually finding and getting a job...

like i said my friend is in structural engineering and the job he has ( well i dont know what its called) but basically its for the city of Toronto, and he goes along with the people who inspect the roads and see what needs fixing. so far hes been on the job for 3 weeks, he hasn't done anything but just lounge around, and is making 17$ an hour..

- of course this isn't typical, i guess if your lucky ull get a job like this but the main thing is that Waterloo helped him a lot in getting the job and he enjoys the program quite a lot...

in terms of competitiveness i would think Waterloo would be quite competitive, but at the same time it depends on how you are, my friend is very sociable and as such doesn't see it as being a competition, he's made lots of friends in his program and they work together on lots of assignments and projects.

anyways that's the other side of the story from someone who goes to Waterloo ( though im sure he has got a bias towards Waterloo too so yea..)



......

also post #300

Here's my opinion: The co-op programs are neither better or worse, objectively.

Mac's co-op is not mandatory, and does not follow mandatory work patterns. You can do 3 x 4month terms in your summers, or you can do 1x 4 month and 1x 8 mnth term, or you can do 1x 12 or 1x 16 month internship... Up to you. Key point is, for the vast majority of McMaster's co-op program, you are not separated from our engineering peers in two different streams, which really does create two very different social circles (if you're in Waterloo Stream A, or B, you may never get to know people in the other stream).

Mac students get jobs in the same places that waterloo students get jobs, so it's hard to justify saying that Waterloo co-op is better... It is very easy to justify that the social side of McMaster's Engineering program is larger and more involved... Up to you to decide whether you're in school to focus on school only, or if you're life has any sort of balance to it...

Originally Posted by mike_302

Here's my opinion: The co-op programs are neither better or worse, objectively.

Mac's co-op is not mandatory, and does not follow mandatory work patterns. You can do 3 x 4month terms in your summers, or you can do 1x 4 month and 1x 8 mnth term, or you can do 1x 12 or 1x 16 month internship... Up to you. Key point is, for the vast majority of McMaster's co-op program, you are not separated from our engineering peers in two different streams, which really does create two very different social circles (if you're in Waterloo Stream A, or B, you may never get to know people in the other stream).

Mac students get jobs in the same places that waterloo students get jobs, so it's hard to justify saying that Waterloo co-op is better... It is very easy to justify that the social side of McMaster's Engineering program is larger and more involved... Up to you to decide whether you're in school to focus on school only, or if you're life has any sort of balance to it...

That seems to be really true for Engineering, but not necessarily for the program the poster is asking about. I have a few friends at Waterloo in Physics programs who say their program is pretty small and therefore close-knit. They also have really awesome co-op jobs. I'm jealous.

I don't know much about their Chemistry program though, because I don't know anyone in it.

Originally Posted by Scuderia

Waterloo.

Don't come to mac. Its gone down the drain. If you want me to elaborate let me know.

Elaborate please.

Good luck finding a WatInsiders. And if you do I hope it has a better name... xD