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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 4/11/2011
Posts: 2
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Hey guys,
I'm in a delimma in choosing between Math/CA at Waterloo and Bio Med/Life Sci at Mcgill.
Lol. yeah. They are two completely different programs.
The thing is I do not particularly prefer math over biology or the other way around. I like both just as much. So I cannot answer the question "What do you think you'll enjoy learning more?" I like both and I know I will enjoy taking either one. But which one will lead to a "better" career?
As for Math/CA, ofc I will go for the CA designation, and work my way up corporations to officer positions. As for life sci, I would want to go Med school. I know both path are equally risky and have really high chance of failure, but both will lead to high income and respected careers.
Could you offer your opinion? To help me lean towards one program over the other?
I really appreciate your time and help. Thanks!
I compiled myself a list of pros and cons for the two programs and universities.
Math/CA at loo
Pro:
- one of the best math programs
- guaranteed COOP, enough to pay off tuition and more
- possibly work 16 months ICAO-approved work experiences
Cons:
- not the best res
- almost all Asians, no diversity (I'm Chinese)
Biomed at Mcgill
Pros:
- Students from all over the world
- Easy to go to major/minor, double major, or change stream completely
- Great biomed program
- international recognition
Cons:
- Expensive compared to Waterloo(I'm an Ontario student)
Add more to the list to help me decide? Thanks a bunch for your help!
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Rank: Student Body President  Joined: 12/19/2010 Posts: 1,593
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Few Things: 1. I didn't even have to read the second half of your post to know that you're Chinese. This is such an Asian thread. "Not sure which field I like better". (I'm Chinese myself so this is not race-bashing in anyway). This problem comes up not because you guys can't pick what you're passionate towards, but that you're not truly passionate or interested in any of the fields, just the destination they bring - such an Asian way of thinking (Not a good thing). Edit: To explain what I meant - If you're trying to choose whether you want to be a doctor or a CA in 30 years is the way you're thinking (Whether you agree with me or not) - from my experience this is how a lot of Asians think. Of course it's going to be difficult to choose which you like better since life will be (Very) good in both scenarios. You guys lack a real dream and hence, are caught up in this. This is totally wrong - life is about the process, not where you'll end up. 2. Math/CA is not one of the best math programs. In fact, it is barely a Math program. Edit: It is a good accounting program though. 3. Math/CA is not guaranteed co-op - if you do not find a job, you fail co-op - although this is rare, just pointing it out. 4. Math/CA is significantly safer path in terms of career security and whatnot compared to medschool 5. Math/CA is the most expensive undergraduate program in Canada (Along with AFM, Biotech, and CFM) and no, your co-op salary will not cover all your tuition most likely. If it does, it will just barely. 6. UW is not almost all Asian (Although Math/CA is - In fact Math/CA is 95% Mainland Chinese). 7. I don't know how much McGill costs, but Math/CA is probably more Expensive (17K a year starting in year 2, totalling around 60K for total tuition + 15K for Macc) 8. Your problem is too fundamentally wrong. You have to decide what kind of academic subjects and career paths you see yourself doing to choose - you can't just do pros/cons - that will never work.
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Rank: Senior Student
Joined: 12/24/2010
Posts: 64
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immaculatedx wrote:Few Things:
1. I didn't even have to read the second half of your post to know that you're Chinese. This is such an Asian thread. "Not sure which field I like better". (I'm Chinese myself so this is not race-bashing in anyway). This problem comes up not because you guys can't pick what you're passionate towards, but that you're not truly passionate or interested in any of the fields, just the destination they bring - such an Asian way of thinking (Not a good thing).
2. Math/CA is not one of the best math programs. In fact, it is barely a Math program
3. Math/CA is not guaranteed co-op - if you do not find a job, you fail co-op - although this is rare, just pointing it out.
4. Math/CA is significantly safer path in terms of career security and whatnot compared to medschool
5. Math/CA is the most expensive undergraduate program in Canada (Along with AFM, Biotech, and CFM) and no, your co-op salary will not cover all your tuition most likely. If it does, it will just barely.
6. UW is not almost all Asian (Although Math/CA is)
7. I don't know how much McGill costs, but Math/CA is probably more Expensive (17K a year starting in year 2, totalling around 60K for total tuition + 15K for Macc)
8. Your problem is too fundamentally wrong. You have to decide what kind of academic subjects and career paths you see yourself doing to choose - you can't just do pros/cons - that will never work. I feel like we've met in real life at loo at some point, but for the life of me I can't figure out when.
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 4/11/2011
Posts: 2
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@immaculatedx. It's true. I lack passion. I think it's more of that I am clueless of what exactly I am doing. I have done research on both programs but that doesn't really help. I think I have to experience it before I can really say whether I'm interested in what I'm learning. And since I can't really experience both programs, I have to make a decision like this.
Thanks for noting that Math/CA's safer path.
Regarding the tuition, 17k is tuition alone for 2nd year? Why is it so much more than 1st year?
Sorry to disappoint. Unfortunately, I have no better way of deciding. If I was passionate towards one field, like you said, then I wouldn't be in this dilemma.
Thanks!
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Rank: Valedictorian  Joined: 12/24/2010 Posts: 624
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I had a similar dilemma last year deciding between the path of business and that of science. I realized that ultimately I was more attracted to that notion of success that both job destinations would provide rather than each actual career path. It's a very superficial perspective (and one that resonates more with the greed you'd find in business). In the end I did pick business. Since it seems like you're more attracted to the intangible idea of "success" as opposed to an actual drive in medicine or business, I'd recommend business. Medicine requires drive, and although if you're bright and strong-willed enough you can manufacture that amount of hard work to get you through med school, it's a much more gruelling path. You're not guaranteed medical school and without an entrance into professional school you're given an essentially useless degree. On top of that, your starting point of McGill biomed doesn't make your chances too favourable. McGill is quite difficult GPA-wise, which makes it difficult to get the marks you need to get into medicine. It might be recognized for its "science" program, but I'd argue that a lot of that comes from the research that its post-graduate programs provide. I know it's a great university, but it's not exactly the easiest path to medicine. In addition to all this, the practice of medicine is quite standardized. For the majority of professions available in medicine, there's a cap on your salary. I can only predict that in the future, Canadian health care will likely reduce the cap as well. Lastly, you should look around for the average salary reports of Ontario doctors and Ontario CAs, they're more similar than you might think. The University of Western Ontario
Class of 2015
BMOS with AEO Status
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Rank: Senior Student
Joined: 12/13/2011
Posts: 136
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i smell asian six pack~ Queen's University Bachelor of Commerce Class of 2016
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Rank: Student Body President Joined: 12/19/2010 Posts: 1,593
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nFlavour wrote:@immaculatedx. It's true. I lack passion. I think it's more of that I am clueless of what exactly I am doing. I have done research on both programs but that doesn't really help. I think I have to experience it before I can really say whether I'm interested in what I'm learning. And since I can't really experience both programs, I have to make a decision like this.
Thanks for noting that Math/CA's safer path.
Regarding the tuition, 17k is tuition alone for 2nd year? Why is it so much more than 1st year?
Sorry to disappoint. Unfortunately, I have no better way of deciding. If I was passionate towards one field, like you said, then I wouldn't be in this dilemma.
Thanks!
Well, I don't blame you - it's just in your culture/the way you've been raised/etc. Math/CA and the other programs in the School of Accounting and Finance all jump to 17K/year in second year and above. They say they have a bunch of reasons, but I can't give you a good explanation. I wish you the best of luck.
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Rank: Senior Student
Joined: 3/11/2012
Posts: 124
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immaculatedx wrote:
They say they have a bunch of reasons, but I can't give you a good explanation.
Of course you can. They want your money.
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Rank: Student Body President Joined: 12/19/2010 Posts: 1,593
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SkylarNoeL wrote:immaculatedx wrote:
They say they have a bunch of reasons, but I can't give you a good explanation.
Of course you can. They want your money. That's not a good explanation. That's just the correct explanation.
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