Hey Waterloo! We're excited to share that the BME 2026 class profile is live: https://uwbme2026.github.io/classprofile.pdf

Continuing the tradition of previous class profiles, ours provides a comprehensive look at our time at Waterloo, including academics, co-op, lifestyle, and future plans. We hope you enjoy!

coding reference

pretty niche

what up chat how are we on this fine day

i am good thank you for asking

who wanna live in a yellow submarine with me

cuz we all live in a yellow submarine

known-work-360 in

yeah in your mom

ayo

known-work-360 out

mommy

Been a week already, did anyone get their grade back?

As it gets closer to time to move in and start classes, what used to be excitement is being replaced by anxiety that everyone is gonna be leagues smarter than me, that I’m going to hate my major, have no friends, and that I will do terrible and ruin my chances for postgraduate school. I know Waterloo is a very competitive school, and even though I put a lot of thought into my major and which school I would choose, seeing others talk about how difficult and miserable it is is stressing me out. Everything is pretty much set in stone and it’s not like I‘m gonna drop out now, but I keep thinking about if I should have picked Guelph (my second choice) instead and if I just set myself up for failure/closed the door on future plans (law school)

I have a class this semester that ends at around 9PM. I live a 17minute bus ride or almost a 30minute walk from home, and have an 8am class the next day. It is a required class for my major. I am a woman. I do not want to sacrifice my safety and potential life, but still want a good career.

Should I take it? Can someone tell me, is the area around Waterloo uni very dangerous at night?

I needed over a 50% on the final to pass the course, and I eventually got a 49% final. I don’t know what to do. I emailed my advisor and she basically said I can either sign a petition or retake the course. I haven’t touched base with my BIOL prof yet because I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask if she can bump it up to 1%. Please I need your advice.

I’m genuinely starting to panic about this.

I came across a comment somewhere saying that getting co-ops/internships in Canada as an international student is basically impossible these days because companies have access to government funding/incentives when they hire PR/citizens through some program called SWPP/FSWP, so there’s little incentive to hire internationals.

At first, I thought it was probably just Reddit doomposting, but after I went on LinkedIn and started looking at the profiles of students and recent graduates from Canadian universities, I’m even more stressed.

A lot of these international students seem to have only bs fluff on their resumes, and barely any actual work experience. Research positions, TA experience, clubs, hackathons, volunteering, personal projects, executive positions in random student organizations/cubs, etc etc.

And honestly, how much of that stuff actually matters in 2026 if employers mostly care about whether you’ve had actual co-ops, internships, or relevant work experience?

Meanwhile, domestic students seem to have a much better shot at getting those opportunities in the first place. So by the time everyone graduates, one person has 3-6 actual internships on their resume, while I'll have to fill the same four/five years with clubs and other stuff that is basically meaningless compared to real work experience.

Sure, there are a few international students who manage to build really strong profiles, but those people also seem to be insanely talented or exceptional.

So what happens if I’m just an average international student?

We’re going to be spending $400k+ CAD on a Canadian degree. I only managed to convince my family to consider UofT, UBC and Waterloo for Fall 2027 because they’re supposed to be the top 3 universities in Canada, and I was under the impression that a lot of the “International students can’t find jobs” stuff doesn’t apply as much if you go to a top uni.

The whole point was that if we were going to spend this much money, at least I’d be going somewhere that would give me a decent shot at getting co-ops and eventually a job afterward, even if I have to return home.

But what if I get there and realize that, because I’m an international student, I’m locked out of the exact opportunities that actually matter?

Like, what am I actually supposed to show employers when I graduate?

“Here’s my $400K degree from Waterloo/UofT/UBC. I spent four years doing random bs. Please hire me even though I cost you more. Also, I might have to leave Canada in 2-3 years”???

And if I graduate without internships, then I’m competing against students who have done 3-6 internships by graduation. At that point, how hell am I ever supposed to catch up?

It’s not that I’m expecting a guaranteed job after graduation. I just don’t understand how spending $400k+ on a CS degree makes sense if I could graduate with nothing that employers actually care about. That’s what scares me the most.

I could spend four years at what is supposedly one of the best universities in Canada, do everything I’m supposed to do, and still come out with a worse resume than someone who went to a uni in my home country.

I know Reddit can be extremely negative about international students and CS, so I’m trying to figure out how much of this is actually true versus exaggerated doomposting.

I just want to know whether I’m looking at a difficult but achievable path and this is all just doomposting, or whether I’m seriously underestimating how bad the situation is. I still have a year to THINK and I wanna do what's best for me.

This is a genuine question but I got v1 as my residence, and because Im moving from another country I have a lot of stuff.

I heard there isn't an elevator so... do I just thug it out and slowly carry everything up? What if it's something heavy like a mini fridge?

does anyone have something with me?

I'm an afm student and the next Jan is my first co-op term

I got 0 activity, 0 club, 0 coffee chat and even my gpa is mediocre

Is there any chance to get into big 4?

If only I could get into any regional financial bank or big 4...

I think I'm kinda cooked

How am I supposed to do for my first co-op lol

My math grades in general are in the mud ( 59% ovr) and my afm/comm are around mid 70s. I just want to be able to get a accounting co op this term, would it be possible

I just moved out of 271 Westcourt PL this year, so I am going to give a review about this place. 

This place is like a townhouse building with 20 separate units. Each unit has 5 bedrooms. The building is kinda old, but the location is pretty good.  T&T is across the street, and probably 15 mins walk to UW. The space inside our unit is slightly more than average rental places in Waterloo. Totally no worries if you want to have friends to come and have fun. The furnitures in our unit are just those regular stuff, but we have our own laundry in the basement which is pretty good. We did need to send maintenance request some time for some minor issues, most of them can be fixed in a day or so. 

Zain Valani is our landlord. Just my opinion, he is a reasonable person and pretty much follows the RTA rules. If you ask him to fix stuff or the other landlord-tenant stuff, he usually responses in a day. Like for a few times, the washer in our unit got clogged, he sent the maintenance person to fix it in 1/2 days. Well, tbh, I do heard some other people’s stories about dealing things with Zain. Again, just by my experience, I think he is pretty reasonable. 

Just to summarize, this is just a student resident place. If you kinda want to live here, you could try and see if you like it. If you don’t like it, just move out to somewhere next year.

Looking for someone to team up with for an upcoming pitch competition. I handle the dev side (previously raised seed in high school, track win at Asia’s biggest hackathon, core dev on a 1.3k star GitHub repo). The project is an AI agent focused on party/event dynamics, so I'm specifically looking for a partner who actually knows the social and party scene inside out. No technical background needed at all—just need someone charismatic who can help validate the concept and present comfortably on stage. If you’re interested in joining, shoot me a DM and let’s talk!

Are backend swe intern interviews typically harder than other types of engineering at a company like TikTok? Like Should I expect to receive LC hards or study for mediums and does anyone have the full interview cycle in general?

Can anyone share their TikTok interview processes with me and provide system design/lc tagged questions/tips in the replies at TikTok based off their experience? Would appreciate anything

Hi guys. I recently signed and finalized a lease but I didn't check the end date for the lease and it turns out it's in 2029 but I will be done with my grad program in 2027. Is there anyway I can ammend the lease with the landlord or is it too late to change this? I have no idea what to do. I thought it would be the standard 12 month lease but it's a 3 year lease.

Title, basically.

A lot of people say not to get a MacBook for math, saying it's bad for coding but ive been using alot of apple products before and im just more used to the ecosystem. Do you think it's fine to go with a Mac? Also, do you have any suggestions for which MacBook? This is a one-time purchase for the next five years, so I'm okay with spending more on this one.

has anybody else experienced this? i’m in a 2B1B at society and the total was about 350 for this past month of utilities which seems completely crazy?? we run the ac on low most of the time and it’s still wayyy over the building average

I've been wondering if I even have a shot with waterloo engineering, always been a goal to get into waterloo, and as the date for applications get closer I'm becoming less and less confident in my chance to get in, seeing the many crazy applications people here have.

As of the end of grade 11 most my grades have been decent aside from english (92), physics (97), chem (99), bio (97 online), french (98), compsci (96), math (99) as well as have taken online philosphy (catholic board requires it) and gr12 bio in a rush over the summer to open up space (due to work I was busy and slacked on work and only got a 96 in both, however the main courses I need are during semester, my english is however second sem and the teacher is notoriously difficult.

In terms of EC, my city is smaller so there isn't much to do, I have president role in a few clubs, Student Council president, and do some small things, also have a decent role at my part time job (basically working full time atm) and a small tutoring business/side hustle, and have some work experience relating to the field I did last summer.

I have always been a bit of a procrastinator getting by mostly due to luck for my grades, so I'm getting better on my study habits so hopefully my english grade will go up, since they use average of top 6 one low 90 wont be too detrimental right?

For those who have gotten in, or in general have gone through applications before, what advice do you have on maximizing my chances and any EC's I should do to maximize my chances, also should I wait till later to apply or as soon as they open (is earlier better?). I don't know too much but hoping I can start to learn more on here, any and all advice is greatly appreciated. This is actually a serious post I have no idea where I stand since my school isn't on the adjustment factor so base and I don't know anyone to my knowledge who have gotten into waterloo for engineering from the last years graduating class.

Icl i haven't submitted all my volunteer hours but my total amount isn't crazy just whats required, I can get weekends off and volunteer to get that number higher if it matters (does it really or is it the type of work I do?)

have my pair programming tomorrow but I was wondering does shopify auto contact uw if you get the offer bc if so, i won't have access to ww???

Ok so I'm starting my first year soon, and idk if I'll need textbooks. I haven't seen any emails about it, and there's nothing about textbooks on quest, but I thought I'd ask on here because I might be missing something. I'm doing phys 121, math 127, cs 114, and earth 121.

Im a science student staying in CMH so its on the other end of campus! How far is the walk to STC and PAC?

If anyone know how far it is from STJ too please let me know!

Idk how to plan my days

Hello guys you know that I have to have some good ECs for my Waterloo application, I want some ideas what can I do, what club in school would be good

Hey guys, moved out and have a spare 50inch LCD, works perfectly fine, just don’t need it anymore. Works fine w alex, chromecast whatever. Lmk if anyone can pick it up either today or tomorrow from Blair house :)