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Hi everyone, I need to write an essay about why I want to major in computer science for my college applications. I'm having trouble articulating my reasons. Does anyone have advice on how to write a strong essay for this topic? Thanks a ton!

Hi there! Writing a strong essay for the 'Why Computer Science Major' topic is about showcasing your passion for the subject and how it connects to your future goals. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling essay:

1. Start with a personal anecdote: Begin your essay with a personal story or experience that piqued your interest in computer science. This will make your essay engaging and show how your passion has developed over time.

2. Explain your genuine interest in the subject: Discuss specific aspects of computer science that interest you, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or software development. Don't be afraid to dive into the technicalities, as it shows your depth of understanding and engagement with the subject.

3. Highlight relevant experiences: Showcase any experiences you've had that relate to computer science, such as coding projects, internships, or participation in hackathons. This demonstrates that you've taken the initiative to explore the subject beyond schoolwork.

4. Discuss your future goals: Explain how a computer science degree will help you achieve your career goals. This could range from developing new software that has a social impact, to working in the field of cybersecurity or AI research.

5. Show your familiarity with the college's program: Research the college's computer science program and mention specific aspects that appeal to you, such as faculty members, research opportunities, or unique courses offered. This shows that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in attending that particular school.

6. Conclude with a clear, concise statement: Sum up your main reasons for pursuing a computer science major and how the college's program will help you achieve your goals.

Click here to learn more: https://blog.collegevine.com/why-computer-science-essay/

Remember to be genuine and passionate in your essay. If you follow these tips and convey your enthusiasm for computer science, you'll be on your way to crafting a strong essay for your college applications. Good luck!

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Computer Science Essay Topics

Unleash Your Creativity with 160+ Computer Science Essay Topics

12 min read

Published on: May 5, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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One of the biggest challenges students face when it comes to writing an essay is choosing the right topic. 

This is especially true for computer science students, who often struggle to find a topic that is relevant to the subject.

That's where our blog comes in!

We have crafted a list of over 160 computer science essay topics to help students find inspiration. Whether you're looking to write an impressive essay or simply looking for topic suggestions, we have got you covered.

So, let's get started!

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Computer Science Essay - Overview

A computer science essay is a written piece that explores various topics related to computer science. These include technical and complex topics, like software development and artificial intelligence. They can also explore more general topics, like the history and future of technology.

In most cases, computer science essays are written by students as part of their coursework or academic assignments.

Computer science essays can take many forms, such as research papers, argumentative essays, or even creative writing pieces. 

Regardless of the format, a well-written computer science essay should be informative, engaging, and well-supported by evidence and research.

Now that we understand the purpose of it, let's explore some of the most popular and interesting topics within this field. 

In the following sections, we will dive into over 160 computer science essay topics to inspire your next writing project.

Computer Science Essay Topics For High School Students

• How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing the Gaming Industry
• The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles: Who is Responsible for Accidents?
• The Role of Computer Science in Modern Healthcare
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence
• The Future of Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities
• How Virtual Reality is Changing the Way We Learn
• The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Role of Big Data in Modern Business
• The Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing
• The Implications of Blockchain Technology

Computer Science Essay Topics For Middle School Students

• How Computers Work: An Introduction to Hardware and Software
• The Evolution of Video Games: From Pong to Virtual Reality
• Internet Safety: Tips for Staying Safe Online
• How Search Engines Work: Understanding Google and Bing
• Coding Basics: An Introduction to HTML and CSS
• The Future of Technology: What Will We See in the Next 10 Years?
• The Power of Social Media: How it Impacts Our Lives
• The Ethics of Technology: The Pros and Cons of Social Media
• The Science of Cryptography: How Messages are Secured
• Robots and Artificial Intelligence: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Computer Science Essay Topics For College Students

• The Role of Machine Learning in Business
• Cybersecurity and Data Privacy in the Digital Age
• The Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems
• The Future of Cloud Computing and Cloud Storage
• The Use of Blockchain Technology in Financial Services
• The Integration of IoT in Smart Homes and Smart Cities
• The Advancements and Challenges of Quantum Computing
• The Pros and Cons of Open Source Software
• The Impact of Technology on the Job Market: Opportunities and Threats

Computer Science Essay Topics For University Students

• The Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Natural Language Processing
• The Future of Quantum Computing: Challenges and Prospects
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Market: An Empirical Study
• The Ethical Implications of Autonomous Systems and Robotics
• The Role of Data Science in Financial Risk Management
• Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Applications and Limitations
• The Security Challenges of Cloud Computing: A Comparative Analysis
• The Prospects of Cognitive Computing and its Implications for Business Intelligence
• The Integration of IoT and Edge Computing in Smart City Development
• The Relationship between Cybersecurity and National Security: A Theoretical and Empirical Study.

 Research Paper Topics in Computer Science

• Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity: Advancements and Limitations
• Social Media and Mental Health: Implications for Research and Practice
• Blockchain Implementation in Supply Chain Management: A Comparative Study
• Natural Language Processing: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Edge Computing in IoT: Opportunities and Challenges
• Data Analytics in Healthcare Decision Making: An Empirical Study
• Virtual Reality in Education and Training: Opportunities and Challenges
• Cloud Computing in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges
• Security Risks of Smart Homes and IoT Devices: A Comparative Analysis
• Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession: Challenges and Opportunities

Computer Science Essay Topics On Emerging Technologies

• 5G Networks: Trends, Applications, and Challenges
• Augmented Reality in Marketing and Advertising: Opportunities and Challenges
• Quantum Computing in Drug Discovery: A Review of Current Research
• Autonomous Vehicles: Advancements and Challenges in Implementation
• Synthetic Biology: Current Developments and Future Prospects
• Brain-Computer Interfaces: Opportunities and Challenges in Implementation
• Robotics in Healthcare: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Wearable Technology: Applications and Limitations in Healthcare
• Virtual Assistants: Opportunities and Limitations in Daily Life
• Biometric Authentication: Advancements and Challenges in Implementation

Computer Science Essay Topics On Solving Problems

• Using Artificial Intelligence to solve traffic congestion problems
• Implementing Machine Learning to predict and prevent cyber-attacks
• Developing a Computer Vision system to detect early-stage skin cancer
• Using Data Analytics to improve energy efficiency in buildings
• Implementing an IoT-based solution for monitoring and reducing air pollution
• Developing a software system for optimizing supply chain management
• Using Blockchain to secure and manage digital identities
• Implementing a Smart Grid system for energy distribution and management
• Developing a mobile application for emergency response and disaster management
• Using Robotics to automate and optimize warehouse operations.

Computer Science Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should the development of autonomous weapons be banned?
• Is social media addiction a mental health disorder?
• Should governments regulate the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making?
• Is online privacy a fundamental human right?
• Should companies be held liable for data breaches?
• Is net neutrality necessary for a free and open internet?
• Should software piracy be treated as a criminal offense?
• Should online hate speech be regulated by law?
• Is open-source software better than proprietary software?
• Should governments use surveillance technology to prevent crime?

Computer Science Persuasive Essay Topics

• Should coding be a mandatory subject in schools?
• Is artificial intelligence a threat to human jobs?
• Should the use of drones for commercial purposes be regulated?
• Is encryption important for online security?
• Should governments provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces?
• Is cyberbullying a serious problem in schools?
• Should social media platforms regulate hate speech?
• Is online voting a viable option for elections?
• Should algorithms be used in decision-making processes in the criminal justice system?
• Should governments invest in space exploration and colonization?

 Current Hot Topics in Computer Science

• The ethical implications of facial recognition technology
• The role of blockchain in data security and privacy
• The future of quantum computing and its potential applications
• The challenges and opportunities of implementing machine learning in healthcare
• The impact of big data on business operations and decision-making
• The potential of augmented and virtual reality in education and training
• The role of computer science in addressing climate change and sustainability
• The social and cultural implications of social media algorithms
• The intersection of computer science and neuroscience in developing artificial intelligence

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Controversial Topics in Computer Science

• The ethics of Artificial Intelligence
• The dark side of the Internet
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The role of technology in political campaigns
• The ethics of autonomous vehicles
• The responsibility of tech companies in preventing cyberbullying
• The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement
• The impact of automation on employment
• The future of privacy in a digital world
• The dangers of deep face technology

Good Essay Topics on Computer Science and Systems

• The history of computers and computing
• The impact of computers on society
• The evolution of computer hardware and software
• The role of computers in education
• The future of quantum computing
• The impact of computers on the music industry
• The use of computers in medicine and healthcare
• The role of computers in space exploration
• The impact of video games on cognitive development
• The benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing

Simple & Easy Computers Essay Topics

• How to choose the right computer for your needs
• The basics of computer hardware and software
• The importance of computer maintenance and upkeep
• How to troubleshoot common computer problems
• The role of computers in modern business
• The impact of computers on communication
• How to protect your computer from viruses and malware
• The basics of computer programming
• How to improve your computer skills
• The benefits of using a computer for personal finance management.

Computer Science Extended Essay Topics

• The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the job market
• The development of a smart home system using IoT
• The use of Blockchain in supply chain management
• The future of quantum computing in cryptography
• Developing an AI-based chatbot for customer service
• The use of Machine Learning for credit scoring
• The development of an autonomous drone delivery system
• The role of Big Data in predicting and preventing natural disasters
• The potential of Robotics in agriculture
• The impact of 5G on the Internet of Things

Long Essay Topics In Computer Science

• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Exploring the potential of quantum computing and its impact on cryptography.
• The use of big data in healthcare: Opportunities and challenges.
• The future of autonomous vehicles and their impact on transportation and society.
• The role of blockchain technology in securing digital transactions and information.
• The impact of social media and algorithms on the spread of misinformation.
• The ethics of cybersecurity and the role of governments in protecting citizens online.
• The potential of virtual reality and augmented reality in education and training.
• The impact of cloud computing on business and IT infrastructure.
• The challenges and opportunities of developing sustainable computing technologies

Most Interesting Computers Topics

• The rise of artificial intelligence in information technology: opportunities and challenges.
• The evolution of programming languages and their impact on software development.
• The future of pursuing computer science education: online learning vs traditional classroom.
• The impact of virtualization on computer systems and their scalability.
• Cybersecurity threats in information technology: prevention and mitigation strategies.
• An analysis of the most popular programming languages and their advantages and disadvantages.
• The role of cloud computing in the digital transformation of businesses.
• Emerging trends in pursuing computer science education: personalized learning and adaptive assessments.
• Developing secure computer systems for critical infrastructure: challenges and solutions.
• The potential of quantum computing in revolutionizing information technology and programming languages.

How To Choose The Right Computer Science Essay Topic

Choosing the right computer science essay topic can be a challenging task. Here are some tips to help you select the best topic for your essay:

• Consider your Interests

Choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in. This will help you to stay motivated and engaged throughout the writing process.

• Do your Research

Spend some time researching different computer science topics to identify areas that interest you and have plenty of research material available.

• Narrow Down Your Focus

Once you have a list of potential topics, narrow down your focus to a specific aspect or issue within that topic.

• Consider the Audience

Think about who your audience is and choose a topic that is relevant to their interests or needs.

• Evaluate The Scope Of The Topic

Make sure that the topic you choose is not too broad or too narrow. You want to have enough material to write a comprehensive essay, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

Take some time to brainstorm different ideas and write them down. This can help you to identify patterns or themes that you can use to develop your topic.

• Consult With Your Instructor

If you're struggling to come up with a topic, consider consulting with your instructor or a tutor. They can provide you with guidance and feedback to help you choose the right topic.

Tips To Write An Effective Computer Science Essay

Writing an effective computer science essay requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you write a great essay:

• Start with a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be concise and clearly state the purpose of your essay.
• Use evidence to support your arguments: Use credible sources to back up your arguments. Also, make sure to properly cite your sources.
• Write in a clear and concise manner: Use simple and straightforward language to convey your ideas. Avoid using technical jargon that your audience may not understand.
• Use diagrams and visual aids: If appropriate, use diagrams and visual aids to help illustrate your ideas. This will make your essay look more engaging.
• Organize your essay effectively: Use clear and logical headings and subheadings to organize your essay and make it easy to follow.
• Proofread and edit: Before submitting, make sure to carefully proofread your essay to ensure that it is free of errors.
• Seek feedback: Get feedback from others, to help you identify areas where you can improve your writing.

By following these tips, you can write an effective computer science essay that engages your audience and effectively communicates your ideas.

In conclusion, computer science is a vast and exciting field that offers a wide range of essay topics for students. 

Whether you're writing about emerging technologies, or hot topics in computer science, there are plenty of options to choose from.

To choose the right topic for your essay, consider your interests, the assignment requirements, and the audience you are writing for. Once you have a topic in mind, follow the tips we've outlined to write an effective essay that engages your audience.

If you're struggling to write your computer science essay, consider hiring our professional essay writing - CollegeEssay.org. 

We offer a range of services, including essay writing, editing, and proofreading, to help students achieve their academic goals.

With our essay writer AI , you can take your writing to the next level and succeed in your studies. 

So why wait? Visit our computer science essay writing service and see how we can help you!

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Donna has garnered the best reviews and ratings for her work. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics but is particularly interested in social issues, current events, and human interest stories. She is a sought-after voice in the industry, known for her engaging, professional writing style.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Computers — Computer Science

Essays on Computer Science

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Why I Chose Computer Science Essay

Computer science – my choice for future career, the future of computers technology, my motivation to pursue undergraduate studies in computer engineering, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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How Computer Engineering Will Help Shape The Future of Technology

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My Motivation to Pursue Higher Education in Computer Science in Germany

Motivation letter for computer science scholarship, what motivates me to do my masters in computer science at florida state university, the eniac project: its significance in computer science and society, my goal to pursue a career in computer science and engineering, how the movie hackers got me interested in computer science, personal experience in the computer science education, computer science - a stepping stone to your career, why i have decided to apply for the master of computer science program at colorado state university, how mathematics curiosity has brought me to computer science, the role of experimentation in computer science, computer systems and architecture, my fascination for science and technology, my desire to continue learning computer engineering, my goals of becoming a computer scientist for nasa, the role of computers in financial accounting, a research of contemporary issues, opportunities, trends, challenges and innovations within ict industry connected with google company, computing exponentially faster: implementing a non-deterministic universal turing machine using dna, the types of programming languages and the language of a game engine, the possibility of machines to be able to think and feel.

Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to practical disciplines (including the design and implementation of hardware and software).

The four areas of computer science are: theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, programming methodology and languages, and computer elements and architecture. CSAB also identifies fields such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, computer networking and communication, database systems, parallel computation, distributed computation, human-computer interaction, computer graphics, operating systems, and numerical and symbolic computation as being important areas of computer science.

Alan Turing (the “father of modern computing”), Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web), John McCarthy, Grace Hopper, Julian Assange, Steve Wozniak, etc.

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• Artificial Intelligence

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5 Carnegie Mellon Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – computer science, essay example #2 – healthy self-definition, essay example #3 – future business major, essay example #4 – future international relations major.

• Essay Example # 5 – Politics
• Where to Get Your Carnegie Mellon Essay Edited

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a school with both impressive technical programs and outstanding creative programs. Because of the university’s multifaceted academic success and the tremendous opportunities students have after graduation, CMU is highly renowned and boasts a low acceptance rate.

In this post, we will go over essays real students have submitted to Carnegie Mellon. We will also share what each essay did well and where they could be improved to inspire your writing.   Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Carnegie Mellon essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Prompt: Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity, or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieving your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience? (300 words)

7:30 am… As I open my eyes, I look at the pinboard in front of my bed. Written in red block letters are two of the many goals of my life: “Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.”

9:00 am… Keeping these goals afresh in mind, I freshen up and get ready for the first class of the day, 16-385 Computer Vision, with Professor Ioannis Gkioulekas. As he explains the Applications of Neural Networks in Object identification, a light bulb sparks in my mind: I can modify the head contraption of SPECULUR to identify objects in peripheral vision and alert the wearer via an earpiece using Text to Speech (TTS). 

1:00 pm… After class, I find myself at the CI2CV Lab for Computer Vision, where I brainstorm ways to implement my idea successfully. Frustrated after repeatedly getting bugs in my algorithm, I am surrounded by problem-hungry tartans ready to collaborate with me in no time.

3:00 pm… After lunch, I head off to the Gates and Hillman complex to meet up with Gavin Deiss, an executive board member at Teknowledge, as we discuss ways to open teacher positions for high school students. I propose, “We can include students from AiGoLearning India and teach them a global coding curriculum.”

For me, a successful college learning experience at CMU comprises many things like exploring the unparalleled curriculum, innovative labs, and facilities. However, above all is the resource of people, including my fellow tartans and scholarly professors. The diverse experiences and unique backgrounds they bring cannot be found anywhere else; hence I want to assimilate all the insights I can gather from them, during my time at CMU.

What the Essay Did Well

If you are looking for a way to play with the structure of your essay, this is a great way to go! By describing their ideal day at CMU, we get to see this student’s interests, motivations, aspirations, and drive. Not only that, the essay flows nicely and effortlessly transitions to new ideas by jumping ahead in the schedule.

When students try to employ this schedule-style of an essay they often just discuss their class schedule and maybe an extracurricular activity. This is good, but this student goes above by starting the essay in their dorm and clearly showing us what motivates them with their sticky notes: “ Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.”  They also include them working at a lab outside of class, which is a nice bridge between their academic and extracurricular interests.

Although they only highlight three opportunities at CMU, the level of detail and elaboration for each one is infinitely more important than a long list of classes and clubs. When they discuss the class, the student incorporates key topics from the class and explains an original idea they develop as a result of being in class. Notice how that’s a bit different than simply name-dropping the course and professor? We also get told about them finding bugs in the algorithm (a common experience that humanizes the student) and we get snippets of a conversation they have at their meeting.

The structure this student chose serves this essay very well until the final paragraph. Breaking from the established pattern of following a daily schedule abruptly disturbs the flow of the essay and makes the ending more mundane than the preceding paragraphs. To fix this, the student should have kept the same style throughout their response.

They don’t need to tell us “ a successful college learning experience at CMU comprises many things like exploring the unparalleled curriculum, innovative labs, and facilities, ” because we saw that in each paragraph. The important aspect of their conclusion is the “ resource of people ,” as they say. This could have been highlighted in a paragraph like this:

“ 8:00pm… Squished between friends from my Biomedical Engineering class and my badminton club on the couch in the common room, I take in the diverse perspectives all coming together to settle the argument of East Coast versus West Coast once and for all. Where else but here would I be a part of such a colorful community?

11:30pm… I drift off to sleep, excited to do it all again tomorrow. “

Prompt: Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please). (300 words)

I will never forget the feeling I had in Kindergarten when I received a failing grade because I couldn’t answer the question “where do you live?” It was a simple question, one that my classmates answered with ease. I was, however, struck by the recounting of my private home life. The 2009 recession left my family homeless and broke, living in the basement of a close friend. While we were fortunate to have somewhere to sleep, my family, especially me, internalized the negative sentiments from everyone we knew at the time. While my Kindergarten teacher didn’t mean any harm, the question reinforced my feeling of inferiority. No matter what I said, there were serious diminutions to my character: being honest about my homelessness or being dishonest about my own circumstances. I ultimately responded with the latter, saying “I don’t know.”

That day, I accepted the failing grade, and this moment became a stepping stone to a now valuable trait: healthy self-definition. Healthy self-definition relies on improving the objective truths of myself and fixing lacking characteristics into better ones. Lying to my Kindergarten teacher wasn’t healthy nor ethical to do, but the action of choosing who I wanted to be sparked the desire for healthy self-definition throughout high school. For example, I redefined myself from a dispassionate pianist to an authentic music producer. I used track and field to redefine my lack of athleticism growing up and eventually became a top-three sophomore 400-meter hurdler at my school. I had extreme social anxiety, so I used the Tech in Music Club to redefine my social ability and practice leadership and public speaking skills. In all weak aspects of my character and identity, I improved and continue to improve through these healthy redefinitions. Like Kindergarten me, I refuse to be defined by my circumstances.

This essay’s main strength is its content. At its core, this essay tells a beautiful story where a student transformed tragic circumstances into tremendous self-growth. That is exactly the kind of student that a university wants to admit!

The prompt here is very open-ended. From the point of view of admissions, it asks “what else do you want to tell us?” To a student, this can be read as “what additional information will help us get to know you and want you ?” This student identified their ability to see weaknesses as opportunities for improvement—which they label “healthy self-definition”—as something CMU would want, then used a specific anecdote to show that ability.

In addition to the content, this student followed a tried-and-true essay structure that allowed for an engaging, yet reflective essay. Opening with an anecdote, looking back on the experience, explaining the broader implications, and then tying the conclusion back to the anecdote is a simple, but effective, structure to use for your essay.

What Could Be Improved 

While the anecdote/reflection structure can facilitate an engaging essay, this student falls flat with their static writing. Essentially, the story is engaging, but the way the student writes it doesn’t do it justice. It’s repetitive, confusing, and a bit boring at times.

For example, in the first paragraph, the following phrases and sentences are all getting at the same idea and could be condensed into one concise sentence:

• “I was, however, struck by the recounting of my private home life.”
• “…my family, especially me, internalized the negative sentiments from everyone we knew at the time…”
• “…the question reinforced my feeling of inferiority…”

With regards to the second paragraph, the student introduces a value that they call “ healthy self-definition. ” When describing “ healthy self-definition, ” the student is simultaneously repetitive and unclear. The current writing requires too much energy on the part of the reader to parse through what is being said. If the student provided a concise definition of “healthy self-definition” before giving the examples from their life, this paragraph would work better. 

With some simple reorganization and more dynamic writing, the paragraph could be as follows:

“That’s when I established a personal value that I now call “healthy self-definition”—of course, it took about a decade for five-year-old me to figure out the name for my value. Healthy self-definition, at its core, means that I take time to identify my weaknesses, then redefine them as strengths. I acknowledge who I am, then find opportunities for improvement. 

I’m a dispassionate pianist, turned authentic music producer. I’m a struggling athlete, turned “top-three Cedar High hurdler.” I used to nervously linger at the back of club meetings, but now I run the very same meetings. No one could dare call me weak when I’m constantly redefining my weaknesses as strengths. Just like Kindergarten me, I will not be defined by my circumstances.”

Prompt: Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study? (300 words)

In fifth grade, my mother arranged a business for me and some friends. We must support a local business and donate our profits towards a good cause. Three ten-year-old kids, with money borrowed from our parents, purchased handmade crafts and ornaments made by disabled workers to resell. I led the operation. Scheduled for several weekends at a public market square, the commerce commenced. Despite my excitement running my first ever business, as the night arrived and the market awoke from its peaceful slumber, surging stranger anxiety stumped me. With adults swamping the space, my body unconsciously cowered. Embarrassment overwhelmed me, and I stood only able to stare at passing customers with my lips sewn shut. After the first night, three kids on the verge of tears sold two knitted dolls. My mother, sensing a crumbling business as its workers became paralyzed by fear, advised me, “As a leader, your job is to accomplish your goals not by yourself, but with your team.” Though not the typical cheers, my mother’s words roused the leader from within me. Wiping away my tears, I reconvened the team and restrategized. We assigned responsibilities: attracting customers, advertising, and collecting payments. Writing out our sales pitches and practicing with each other, we reunited with the sight of profits. The second weekend started: to every corner of the streets, we asked every possible customer. Our efforts paid off. At the end of that night, we sold out. Next weekend, us businessmen along with our parents went shopping using our profits. Looking at the Barbie dolls, stuffed animals, and model cars neatly wrapped, I proudly dropped the Christmas gifts at the local children’s cancer hospital. My first business endeavor taught me a crucial purpose of entrepreneurship: the ability to strengthen networks of people and make positive social changes.

This essay prompt is the classic “Why This Major?” essay,   which asks you to detail your interest in the field and your professional goals. The writer elaborates on their motivation to pursue entrepreneurship through a fitting anecdote about their first time leading a business.

The author shares genuine reasons that make entrepreneurship exciting to them, such as developing leadership skills and making positive social change. These are authentic reasons for pursuing their major that stay away from the superficial motives for pursuing a major such as money or prestige.

Additionally, throughout this entire essay the writer keeps their audience captivated by employing strong use of imagery. It almost feels as if one is right in the middle of the market with the writer as they struggle to navigate the chaos of the market. The line “Embarrassment overwhelmed me, and I stood only able to stare at passing customers with my lips sewn shut” makes the reader feel just as anxious as the author is in the moment. And it feels even better to the reader when the author sells out the entire stock of crafts and ornaments the following night and donates the money to charity. 

As the essay progresses, it’s hard not to wonder what is going to happen next, and the story strings together very nicely, despite having a limited word count. By the end of the essay, the reader has a better understanding of why this student has chosen to pursue entrepreneurship, because they have shared an exciting lived experience that captures the ups and downs of a fast-paced, turbulent major.

All in all, this essay was well written and the author’s point came across well. However, a few items could be slightly improved, including a few syntax errors, poor transition statements and slight thematic inconsistency. 

The second sentence of this essay “We must support a local business and donate our profits towards a good cause” appears a bit out of place and may be better suited in quotes as the mother appears to be speaking these lines. Alternatively, the writer could have rephrased to something like “We were tasked with supporting a local business…”

Similarly, in the last sentence, the author says their motivation for pursuing entrepreneurship is the “ability to strengthen networks of people,” when it may have been more succinct and less clunky to say something along the lines of “the ability to bring people together.”

Another area of improvement for the essay comes in the middle, when the author’s mother “roused the leader” within them. The author could have expanded on why their mother’s words roused them to overcome the daunting obstacle, but instead missed the opportunity to explain why they felt inspired to continue selling ornaments at the marketplace. The author may have even suggested that by overcoming their challenges at the market, they would accomplish their ultimate goal of donating their profits to charity, highlighting their sense of altruism.

The final sentence even states that the author intends to pursue entrepreneurship to make a positive social impact. However, in a thematic sense, this idea is not consistently present throughout the essay. If the author were to include more details about their desire and motivation to donate their profits to charity throughout the essay, this point would have been much more understandable.

Finally, the essay is hard to follow because it’s only one paragraph. The flow would’ve been improved if the author broke the essay up into a few shorter paragraphs.

At 8 years old, I learned that Democrats were donkeys and Republicans were elephants. By 11, I had decided which one I wanted to be. By 14, I discovered I didn’t have to be an elephant or a donkey—the political world was not black and white, but instead multifaceted with many moving parts. As I explored programming through high school, I learned how politics and computer science could be intertwined to enact change exponentially. For the Congressional App Challenge, I developed the winning app, which allows parents to sustainably trade outgrown children’s clothing. Everything in this process, from surveying real families with this need to perfecting the front end design, showed me how coding could easily be geared toward social progress. 

Beyond programming, interning for a state non-profit encouraging Muslims to participate in politics showed me the real potential of computational politics. Big data analysis was a common skill I utilized when encouraging people to vote in the 2022 general election. What furthered my interest was attending a Kode With Klossy event in New York City: I not only spent the day workshopping with Swift and iOS app development, but also heard the stories of activist Sofia Ongele, a pioneer for young women in STEM. 

Discussing sanctions and China’s Uyghur Muslim crisis with U.S. Representative Jim McGovern was my first look into the workings of international conflict resolution. The power systems behind diplomacy became a point of fascination for me. Whether it was marching miles chanting “No Justice, No Peace” in June 2020 or debating as Elizabeth Warren in my ninth grade mock democratic primary, I have taken every stride to involve myself politically. Majoring in international relations and politics and minoring in science, technology and society at Carnegie Mellon is the next step in furthering my involvement.

This essay is another great example of the “Why This Major?” archetype. The author shares why the intersection of technology and politics is the perfect fit for her, through her unique experiences and background.

The introduction is a captivating one, which follows her evolving understanding of politics. Starting with a simplistic view of “Democrats as donkeys and Republicans as elephants” at a young age, the writer matures and recognizes the complexity of the political landscape as she enters high school. This progression implicitly showcases her thoughtfulness and willingness to challenge existing beliefs which are critical to any career in politics and international relations.

Additionally, the essay adeptly integrates the realms of computer science and politics. The author provides a unique combination of academic interests that most applicants would otherwise shy away from. The writer’s successful development of an app for the Congressional App Challenge exemplifies her ability to utilize coding for social progress. By mentioning the process of surveying real families and refining the front-end design, the writer illustrates her comprehensive approach and shows how coding can be harnessed as a tool for enacting positive social change.

Finally, the author provides more unique experiences that reveal her true passions for politics and technology. She references her experiences during the 2022 election and Kode With Klossy events which each relied on bringing together both her academic interests. In the final paragraph, the author provides even more evidence to her experience in the political realm which drive home the point about her interest in her major as well as show accomplishments in a specific area which are hard to come by for most students.

From initial impressions, this essay is great at providing sufficient evidence as to why this author is pursuing international relations and politics with a minor in technology. However, one suggestion for this author, and general advice for any applicant, is not to fall into the trap of simply recapitulating all of one’s resume in an essay. This author has unfortunately used most of the 300 word count to list out her experiences and qualifications, but misses out on key opportunities to expand upon how these experiences have shaped her perspective and developed her interests over time.

In general, there is a lack of reflection on the lessons learned from the various experiences mentioned. While the writer describes her involvement in protests, debates, and internships, there is limited discussion of the personal growth and insights gained from these activities. The author has experiences including “ winning the Congressional App Challenge, to marching miles chanting ‘No Justice, No Peace’ in June 2020 or debating as Elizabeth Warren in [her] ninth grade mock democratic primary,” which could all be powerful standalone experiences for a 300-word essay. Adding a reflective element to the essay would provide a deeper understanding of the writer’s development and demonstrate their ability to learn from their experiences.

For example, the author could remove a few activities from her essay and  expand upon the experience of winning the Congressional App Challenge, discussing her thought process and emotions during the development of the app, or the impact it had based on feedback from families.  Here’s an example of an excerpt that would’ve made this section stronger:

“I decided to use the app for myself to clear out the bags of my younger brother’s baby clothes in the basement. A young immigrant mother responded to my post, saying that she hadn’t been able to afford properly-fitting baby clothes for her toddler son. A week after she picked up the bags, the mother returned with her giggly son in his ‘new’ clothing. The mother was full of gratitude, and I was just as grateful for this experience as it showed me the direct impact coding could have on improving real lives and making social progress.”

By incorporating specific examples and adding reflective elements, the essay would become more compelling, allowing the reader to better understand the writer’s experiences and their personal growth. These adjustments would enhance the overall quality of the essay and provide a vivid and engaging narrative.

Essay Example #5 – Politics

At Carnegie Mellon, I see myself defining a college experience in which I can widen my career goals in politics and learn from real-world experiences. D.C. is where I hope to work following college, as there is no place better than our capitol to explore the inner workings of decision-making in government. Through CMU’s Washington Semester Program (WSP), I aim to intern with a member of Congress to expand my understanding of the legislative process and gain experience in the nation’s center of politics. This orientation into Washington and chance to meet leaders and alumni at top think tanks would allow me to connect with all the working parts of public policy, encapsulating everything I wish to take from college. 

Immersing myself in the relevant and multifaceted courses at the Institute of Politics and Strategy is how I plan to take my learning to the next step at CMU. Electives like “Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea to Reality” and “In the News” intrigue me; they tie in law and journalism with politics, contextualizing it in a realistic and applicable sphere. 

I hope to conduct research to delve deeper into what I’m passionate about and ripen my goal of effecting change. Under esteemed criminologist and public policy expert Professor Daniel Nagin, I see an opportunity to conduct actionable research on race and incarceration. I want to discuss the disparities in Pennsylvania’s fast growing prison populations itself and develop my paper “Slavery is Flourishing Under the U.S. Prison System.”

Expanding my learning doesn’t end with academics, however. I am eager to explore the diverse community at CMU, and start a cultural literary magazine for all students to share their lived experiences about their heritage through art, writing, and overall self-expression.

This prompt is basically the “ Why This College? ” essay presented in a different way. The goals of the prompt are the same, however: it’s asking you what makes CMU the perfect school for you, and how you will make the most of its resources to have a successful education.

This student clearly has an interest in politics, detailing specifics such as their hopes to pursue an internship, undertake course work, and do research to further their education. They show that they’ve done their research on why CMU is a fit for them, by mentioning unique resources at the college.

Furthermore, the author does a great job of providing additional information as to why they would like to pursue the activities they’ve researched. They explain how CMU’s WSP will teach them about the legislative process, how their classes will tie in law and journalism, and how their research will deepen their understanding of race and incarceration. Providing this level of detail helps admissions officers understand what this student values and is hoping to learn through their education at CMU.

Writing-wise, the student also makes sure to use varied sentence structure and smooth transitions, making the essay easy to read.

The objective of this essay is two-fold: 1) what do you hope to accomplish in your undergraduate degree program, and 2) how CMU is uniquely equipped to help you realize your goals.

The essay does a great job in answering question #1, but could do more to address the latter. We know why the student is interested in the resources they mention, but we don’t know how those things will help them reach their overarching academic and career goals. 

In fact, we don’t even know what those overarching goals are: does this student want to become a political journalist, politician, or something else? It’s okay if you’re undecided, but you should at least share some potential options, rather than simply saying that you’re interested in a broad field (like “politics”), which feels unfocused.

The student should also move the section about CMU’s program in D.C. to later in the essay, as having it right at the beginning makes it seem like they’re more interested in spending time in D.C. than on CMU’s campus in Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the final paragraph, about the student’s hope to start a cultural literary magazine,  feels unrelated to the rest of the essay, which is focused on their political interests. If they wanted to include this detail, they should’ve introduced it earlier, to give themselves time to connect it to their other ideas.

Where to Get Your Carnegie Mellon Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Carnegie Mellon essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

IB CompSci Hub

Extended Essay

Extended Essays in Computer Science are not easy to do. Computer Science is counted as an experimental science by the IB and thus requires you to do some kind of experiment in the realm of computer science and then report your findings.

As so few students attempt a CS EE every year, coming up with a ‘good’ CS EE topic will be half your struggle.

IB guidance on EEs

General IB Extended Essay

Specific IB EE Guidance on Computer Science

Topic guidance for Computer Science

EE mark scheme (new)

EE mark scheme guidance

EE mark scheme guidance (specifically for Computer Science)

RPPF form (must be included in final submission)

Examples of Topics 

Below are some examples of what topics our students have been doing recently (including the grade they received from the IB). Obviously, you cannot take any of these topics as it would flag as cheating; they are posted to give you an idea of the TYPE of topic that gets a good grade.

Past essays  

Because of plagiarism concerns, we cannot share any essays from past students on this site, but you are welcome to visit LD Anderson’s CS EE world site:  CS EE World

The Admissions Strategist

How to write the georgia tech supplemental essays 2021-2022 (with examples).

Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Tech is a school well-known for its engineering and computer science programs.

Its admissions rate has decreased over the years, hitting 21% in 2020 as it becomes more selective.

As such, you need a great application to be considered for admission to Georgia Tech.

While your academic success and extracurricular activities are all important aspects of the application process, Georgia Tech takes your essay responses seriously and treats them as “an important way to get to know you, and what you have to bring to Georgia Tech.”

Luckily, you don’t need to be a future English major to create a personal, powerful essay.  

Georgia Tech takes both the Common Application and the Coalition Application.

• On top of the Common or Coalition App general essay , you are expected to write one short answer response.  

In this article, we will guide you through Georgia Tech’s short answer question to give you an idea of how to approach it .

Click above to watch a video on Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays.

General Guidelines: Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay

The essay response is 300 words long, translating to about 2-3 paragraphs in length. However, you need to be economical with your words and make every single one count. That means there is no room for generalities.

• You need to be specific and get straight to the point.
• Every word should contribute to showing your personality, your motivations, your ambitions, or your successes. 

You should also focus on topics that you haven’t covered elsewhere in your application.

Georgia Tech wants the essay to bring out what they can’t already figure out from your transcripts and club participation.

• Georgia Tech wants the essays to bring out what they can’t already figure out from your transcripts and club participation.

Above all else, be authentic. Don’t write what you think the admissions officers want to read. Be honest in your interests and your accomplishments, and show Georgia Tech what you have to offer them.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay – Why This Major at Georgia Tech?

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (Max. 300 words)”

The wording of this question is a little tricky. At first, it seems like it’s asking why you’ve chosen your desired major. While this is a point you’ll want to make in your essay, you’ll want to keep it brief. The real answer Georgia Tech wants here is why you want to study your major at Georgia Tech.

• It’s more of a “ Why This College ” essay than a “Why This Major” prompt.

However, it’s not just about why you love Georgia Tech. They want to know specifically why you love Georgia Tech’s version of your major program.

If you’re planning to major in Chemistry, did you choose Georgia Tech for their outstanding research opportunities?

• If you’re going for engineering, is the school’s “best of the best” reputation your main selling point?

Think about why your field of study will be special at Georgia Tech, and craft an essay from that.

• Tip: It’s always a good idea to show Georgia Tech that what you’re doing now will carry over to your major program (if you can squeeze it into the 300 word limit).

For example:

• Share a sentence or two about your research project that won the state science fair last spring, and explain how you’re wanting to continue to challenge yourself through similar opportunities.
• Write a little bit about the club you founded in your high school, and share that you want to take that same entrepreneurial spirit and begin your own business someday. Point out how Georgia Tech’s hands-on business program will prepare you for your goals.

You can approach this question in a few different ways:

The first way is to approach this from an academic perspective. Remember, they don’t want you to tell them they’re highly ranked in engineering and computer science – they already know that. They want you to be specific in your desire to earn a certain major from Georgia Tech.

• What pieces of your major program are unique to Georgia Tech?
• How will these qualities benefit you directly?

Look at some of the research happening at Georgia Tech.

For instance, Georgia Tech is currently researching ways to improve worldwide sanitation by reinventing something that is used by every person multiple times per day– the toilet. They are aiming to create a toilet that turns human waste into clean water, specifically for the parts of the world that do not have access to adequate amounts of clean water or sanitation,

• If you’re interested in new technology and how it can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues around the world, this type of research may be why you’re interested in attending Georgia Tech.

Second, consider looking into faculty members and their research interests.

If their research interests fall in line with what you plan to do, mention them in your essay. You may even want to reach out to the professor, forming a connection that could lead to future opportunities.

• Doing so shows Georgia Tech that you have both initiative and interest in the research that is happening at Georgia Tech, and that you’re committed to learning from GT faculty.

Third, study your major’s plan at Georgia Tech and how it compares to programs at other colleges and universities.

• Are there any classes that are unique to Georgia Tech?
• Will your program have internships or other hands-on experiences?

Figure out what makes your specific program unique at Georgia Tech, and make a list of all the ways these differences will support you throughout your college journey and in your future career.

• After you show why Georgia’s Tech has standout opportunities in your major , make sure to demonstrate your ambitions or post-undergraduate plans.

It’s important to note that you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do with your life after college – you might not know quite yet, and that’s just fine. Even if you do have a solid plan, it’s possible it will change as time goes by.

With that said, you should have a general idea of the field you want to enter.

With that said, you should have a general idea of the field you want to enter and it should be closely related to the major you choose.

• Overall, you must demonstrate that you know about Georgia Tech’s offerings (within your major) and have a vision for taking advantage of them.

Colleges want students who will utilize as many campus resources as possible to build a personalized education, and to become successful professionals.

Thus, be specific about Georgia Tech’s offerings that you want to become a part of.

A few more tips:

• If possible, try scheduling a campus tour and asking questions about the various aspects you’re interested in.
• Look at Georgia Tech’s website and its various faculty directories for current research and campus events.
• For even more inspiration, check college forums, such as College Confidential, to get perspective from current and former students.

Once you’ve got all of your information and inspiration gathered, you’re ready to write.

Why This Major at Georgia Tech Example Essay 1

We’ve provided you GT essay examples throughout this guide. They will help you visualize your essay outline.

Remember, never plagiarize. Colleges, naturally, frown upon this. You should always create your own work.

After my three-hour commute to Rutgers University, my advisors and I would huddle over a whiteboard, brainstorming mathematical models of pricing strategies. I spent the remainder of the day poring over my laptop, coding and debugging Python programs, translating these models into computational simulations. At the end of my two-year research project, I will determine the optimal pricing strategies for wireless service providers and publish a paper in the Gaugers Conference. I intend to continue my passion for research by participating in ongoing projects at Georgia Tech’s Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines. My primary interest is advancing robotically assisted surgery technologies, giving patients access to the best medical minds. By working in the “Medical Robots and Human Augmentation” strategic research area and collaborating with professors like Dr. Jaydev Desai, I aim to provide struggling communities with the resources to utilize sophisticated robotics developments. I wish to further my passion for robotics by leading design teams on the Georgia Tech RoboJackets robotics team. Whether it’s coding an autonomous robot to play soccer or creating powerful mechanisms to break robots, I believe the RoboJackets have a niche for me. My desire to join Georgia Tech was reinforced after speaking with Tomas Osses about the endless possibilities on the RoboJackets. Diving deeper into robotics, I hope to enroll in the intelligence thread of the School of Computing to further my knowledge of autonomous machines and AI. I am eager to enhance my computer science skills as a Yellow Jacket.

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Why this major at georgia tech example essay 2.

I heard my name spoken into the microphone, and my teammates jumped from their seats. We had just taken first place in the New York State Science Fair with our Insulin Resistance research project. Our project had not only won, but it lead to wide open pathways that could someday make a difference in the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. I want to attend Georgia Tech because I know that the Biomedical Engineering program will provide me with access to similar experiences. Professors like Dr. Hee Cheol Chol (with his scholar status in Pediatric Bioengineering) would give me the tools and knowledge necessary to make a true impact throughout my future career in the medical field. Georgia Tech will give me the specific courses, research opportunities, internships, and expert faculty members that I need to become one of the best in the field. With my passion for science and difference-making, I know that Georgia Tech is the only place that will allow me to reach my full potential.”

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay #2: From Previous Years

In this section, we’ve added essays from previous years. This should give you context into the quality of essays Georgia Tech is looking for.

Each prompt provides you with an opportunity to showcase an accomplishment or passion outside of an academic context. Because of this, it’s important that you choose the essay that shares your best qualities or achievements.

For both of these essays, you should focus on what makes you a unique asset for the Georgia Tech community. It’s not so much about why you want Georgia Tech, but why Georgia Tech wants you .

• Keep in mind that your accomplishments don’t have to be extraordinary. You don’t have to cure cancer or end world hunger to be considered.
• Small differences you’ve made in a person’s life or steps you’re taking to change the world around you can create just as much of an impact.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Prompt A

Georgia Tech is committed to creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tell us how you have improved or hope to improve the human condition in your community.

This prompt asks what you have done (or what you want to do) to make a difference in your community.

As shown in the question, you can take one of two paths when writing this essay:

• Explain something you’ve already done to make a difference in the lives of the people around you. This can be a large or small task; maybe you’re bilingual and you started an after-school tutoring club to provide direct support to younger kids who are learning English for the first time. Maybe you’ve gotten a group of friends together to make meals for the homeless population in your town.
• If you haven’t had the chance to make a difference directly (or if you’ve got a bursting idea that you dream of bringing to life), pour it out on the page. Write about a problem you’ve witnessed firsthand in your community, and how you want to solve it.

Remember to reflect on the impact this action had (or will have) on the community you live in.

Don’t write about improving life in another country if you don’t live there. This is about fixing the problems that occur on the same streets you grew up on.

• Be sure to share a concrete plan if you’re writing a problem you hope to solve in the future. Be specific and really show how your skills can make a positive impact in your community.
• Keep the description of the issue brief; Georgia Tech wants to know about how you can solve this more than they want to hear about the problem at hand.

When showcasing the skills you used to make a difference, also share what the experience has taught you:

• You learned how much back-end work goes into solving a humanitarian issue.
• You gained leadership skills while providing guidance to a large group of students.
• You found independence and realized your actions can lead to significant change with an intense focus and the correct use of your personal skill set.

While there are a lot of different ways to take this essay, it may not be the ideal essay for every applicant. Make sure your action or plan shows off both your skill and desire to change the world around you.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Prompt B

“If you feel that your personal or community background can provide additional insight to your application that we have not already seen elsewhere, please take this opportunity to share that information with us.”

This is a fairly vague prompt, but it provides you with an excellent opportunity.

It eliminates the problem that arises when applications only show your academic successes, and lets you showcase anything you want the admission team to see.

Maybe you have a health condition that has motivated you to succeed in academics, so you can someday work toward finding a cure. Maybe you’re a LEGO expert and want to turn your design skills into a future engineering career.

• Take the first part of your essay to explain an important piece of who you are that is not shown on your application.
• Make sure this characteristic or experience shows off why Georgia Tech is the perfect school for you (and why you’d be a perfect addition to the GT student body).

Now, how can Georgia Tech benefit from the characteristic or experience that makes you stand out?

• Does Georgia Tech offer study abroad programs in a third-world country you’ve always wanted to make a difference in?
• Are they currently conducting a long term research study in an area that personally relates to your or someone close to you?
• Is there a club or organization that you’d be a perfect fit for? Or one that would give you the tools you need to make an impact in the world around you?

Be specific, and show Georgia Tech something unique about yourself. Show them why you need their school, and why they need you as a student.

Make sure to look through Georgia Tech’s website to see if any of their core values, programs, or opportunities line up with a piece of your life that is not already shown on your application.

Georgia Tech Personal Background Essay Example From Previous Year

I moved to the United States when I was just six years old. I started first grade the following week, without knowing a word of English. I had an ESL teacher to meet with once a day and a computer program to teach me a whole new language. I couldn’t make new friends because I didn’t know how to speak to them. I couldn’t participate in class because I did not understand my teacher. Fast-forward to my Freshman year of High School. I’m now fluent in Spanish and English, and I wake up one morning with an idea that I absolutely need to bring to life. I’ll start a club for students in my local elementary school who are learning English as a second language. Fast-forward to today. For the past three years, my club has met three times per week during lunch and recess. My students have had a safe space to share their challenges (with translator apps, so they do not need to feel alone like I did). They have learned English quickly, they have made friends with each other, and they have triple the amount of English language learning time as was previously available. I know my club has made a difference in their lives, and also in my own. I’ve gained independence and leadership skills, and I now know that I am capable of making a significant impact in the world around me.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Example From Previous Year

It’s 5:50 a.m. on a Wednesday as I wake up to the shocking blast of the Mission Impossible theme song. It feels like I was up only a few hours ago, slogging through the assignments and projects that are due soon. I hop on the hour-long bus ride and try to get sleep to refresh myself for school. At school, I participate in classes, group projects, and labs, all of which have developed my critical thinking, communication, and collaborative skills. On the ride back home, I socialize with friends about the latest sports news and listen to music. After I arrive home, I play piano and get some physical activity to calm my nerves and collect myself. After an hour of playing piano and exercising, it is off to volunteering at the the Iverness Hospital and then Iverness Orchards. Volunteering has taught me that not everything is about my life. I want to help those who cannot help themselves. After returning home and eating dinner, I clean the dishes and kitchen to alleviate my parents’ stress. Now comes the storm. I embark to complete math, physics, and biology projects and read up on literature and history. It’s 11:00 p.m., and while my parents and sister have gone to sleep, I still have so much to do. After working until 1:15 a.m., I finish my assignments and hit my bed. Today was a short Groundhog Day.

Conclusion: Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay

Georgia Tech’s supplemental essay allows you to demonstrate why Georgia Tech is the perfect school for you and why you’re a student that Georgia Tech needs.

Remember, this short answer essay gives you a chance to communicate with Georgia Tech’s admissions officers in a way that your test scores and transcripts can’t. Use this opportunity to your advantage.

Overall, you will write one, 300-word maximum, supplemental essay to show your interest in a specific major at Georgia Tech.

When you show Georgia Tech who you are and what you have to offer, you’ve got a much greater chance of getting in.

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U of T Computer Science: The Definitive Guide for Applicants (2024)

If you’re applying to the Computer Science program (HBSc) at the University of Toronto (St. George, Scarborough, or Mississauga campus) , this guide is for you.

As a potential applicant, you’re probably overwhelmed by the amount of information out there. 

That’s why we created this guide. 

Here, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the U of T Computer Science program, including the application, deadlines, acceptance rate, program info, and much more for all three U of T campuses —all in one place. 

By the way, if you’re serious about getting into U of T Computer Science, our 1-on-1 Youth Coaching services will help you become a stronger applicant, student, and leader. We work on things like improving real-world skills, building self-awareness, and achieving big goals, so you can maximize your post-secondary potential.

Table of Contents:

• Requirements & Admission Process : Admission average and requirements; Acceptance rate; Deadlines; Acceptance Dates; and More.
• Supplemental Application : Breakdown; Questions; Tips and Examples; and More.
• About the Program : Campus comparisons; POSt enrolment after first year; Specialists, Majors, and Minors; Co-op placements; Tuition; and More.
• Common Questions from Students : Which campus is best for CS?; Is the CS program hard to get into?; What’s the workload like?; and More.

U of T Comp Sci: Requirements & Admission Process

The Computer Science program at the University of Toronto is ranked first in Canada as well as 9th in the world (according to the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities ) — that’s pretty impressive! 

With award-winning faculty and a focus on experiential, hands-on learning , the Computer Science program helps students develop their scientific knowledge and ignite their creativity so that they can advance the technology of tomorrow. 

Sounds pretty great, right?

Before applying to the CS program at U of T, you must first decide which University of Toronto campus you want to study at. 

There are three choices : 

• University of Toronto, St. George Campus (UTSG)
• University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC) 
• University of Toronto Mississauga Campus (UTM)

Each program is unique and the application, prerequisites, and program offerings are slightly different for each campus (don’t worry, we’ve got a complete breakdown of these differences so you can choose which one is the best for you). 

University of Toronto Computer Science – Application Criteria & How to Apply

All applicants must submit an application to the Faculty of Arts & Sciences via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website. The OUAC application opens in October 2022 and the final date to submit the OUAC application is January 12, 2023 . 

Here are the different OUAC applications, so you can make sure you choose the right one: 

• 101 Application : For Ontario high school students. 
• 105 Application : For Canadian or international students who are not currently enrolled at an Ontario high school, and want to apply to more than one university in Ontario.  
• International Application : For applicants who live outside of Canada, are not currently studying in Canada (or haven’t studied in Canada before), and are not applying to any other Ontario university. 

REMEMBER : On your OUAC application, you MUST indicate which U of T campus you want to apply to and add the campus-specific code: St. George (TAD) ; Mississauga (TMZ) ; or Scarborough (TXC) . If you are not accepted to your top choice campus, you will also be considered for another campus and/or program. 

Along with your application, you must have the following information on your application:

• Admission Category : This is a general area of study to tell the university what you intend to study at U of T. There are 6 choices, but you must select ‘Computer Science’ for this program.
• College Preference : If you are applying to the St. George Campus , you must submit your college membership preferences. You can choose between Innis College, New College, St. Michael’s College, Trinity College, University College, Victoria College, and Woodsworth College. If you are applying to UTSC or UTM, you don’t need to do this . 

IMPORTANT : Submitting your application to U of T for early consideration as an OUAC 101 applicant will NOT impact the admission decision or give you a better chance of getting accepted. The only difference is that if you are accepted, you might receive an admission decision earlier than someone who applied for regular consideration. Click here to learn more information, and if you have questions, connect with a coach any time for support.

Around 1-2 weeks after you’ve submitted your OUAC application, you’ll receive an email from U of T confirming that they received your application and telling you if there are any other steps you need to complete. 

Once you’ve done this, you must set up your JOIN U of T portal ID to submit your supporting docs.

REMEMBER : If you are applying to the St. George campus , you MUST submit a Supplemental Application . If you are applying to Scarborough or Mississauga, you do not need to submit one. Your Supplemental Application is due on February 1, 2023 (December 15, 2023 for early consideration).

For more information on completing your OUAC application, visit this page (St. George Campus); this page (Scarborough Campus); and this page (Mississauga Campus).

COACH’S TIP : We highly recommend that you apply to other programs, just in case you aren’t successful this time around. If you don’t make it into the top program you apply to, U of T will consider you for other campuses and other programs (but only if you apply). You are allowed to apply to up to 3 programs per application . 

Need help with your application? Connect with a coach now.

University of Toronto Requirements – Computer Science

If you are applying as an Ontario student, here are the academic/course requirements for the U of T Computer Science program for each campus:

UTSG CS : If you are applying as a student outside of Ontario in Canada, find the school qualifications and course equivalents here . If you are applying from the US, visit this page to ensure you meet the requirements. 

UTM CS : If you are applying as a student outside of Ontario in Canada, find the school qualifications and course equivalents here . If you are applying from the US, visit this page to ensure you meet the requirements.  UTSC CS : If you are applying as a student outside of Ontario in Canada, find the school qualifications and course equivalents here . If you are applying from the US, visit this page to ensure you meet the requirements.

You might also be wondering how the University of Toronto uses these academic requirements in their evaluation of applicants . 

When you apply to the University of Toronto, your application is considered with these steps:

• Step 1 : U of T will verify that every applicant meets the University’s general admissions requirements .
• Step 2 : The university will assess whether applicants meet the requirements to the specific program they’re applying to (listed above). Students must have all the necessary prerequisites, grade cutoffs, and Supplemental Applications (if applicable).  
• Step 3 : For those students who meet the requirements outlined in Step 1 and Step 2, U of T will assess students based on academic performance, potential, and competitive strength. 
• Step 4 : U of T will do a final assessment of the top applicants, using their two most recent years of study (marks, prerequisites, information on the Supp App, etc.) to make the final decisions. 
• Step 5 : Conditional offers are sent out to the top applicants. An acceptance/rejection will be sent to each applicant for every U of T faculty they applied to. If a student isn’t accepted to their top choice program, they can still be considered for other programs/campuses they’ve applied to.

For more information on admission requirements and process, visit this page .

U of T Computer Science Admission Average

A lot of students ask us about the University of Toronto Computer Science admission average so that they can see how they compare to other applicants. 

Here are the U of T Computer Science admission averages for the 3 campuses:

• UTSG Computer Science Admission Average : Low 90s
• UTSC Computer Science Admission Average : Low 90s (Non Co-op); Low 90s (Co-op)
• UTM Computer Science Admission Average : Low to Mid-80s

REMEMBER : For the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses, applicants only need to submit an OUAC application, meaning that you are considered solely on academic performance . This means that grades are the difference maker . The higher your average, the higher your chance of getting in. 

For the St. George Campus, you will have the opportunity to submit a Supplemental Application , giving the admissions committee a chance to learn more about you beyond your grades.

U of T Acceptance Rate & Number of Applicants 

We get a lot of questions about the University of Toronto Computer Science acceptance rate because this program is a top ranked program and attracts applicants from all around the world. 

As a result, the number of applicants continues to increase year over year. For example, in 2014 there were approximately 537 applicants , and then in 2019 there were 981 (and this number continues to rise year over year). 

For the entire university, the U of T acceptance rate in 2015 was 52% , and in 2018 the acceptance rate was 45.2% (according to the Institutional Data Hub), showing a slight decline. 

It’s also helpful to remember that the St. George Campus typically receives the most applications overall, so it will be tougher to get into out of the 3 campuses.

In 2021, admission to top programs like Computer Science at U of T is about 43% . 

U of T Application Deadline for Computer Science 

The final date to submit your OUAC application is January 12, 2023 .

The U of T Computer Science OUAC Application opens in October 2022 for all campuses— and we highly recommend that you complete it as soon as it is. 

This goes for the St. George Supplemental Application as well. Even though it’s due on February 1, 2023 , the earliest rounds of consideration happen before this deadline, so try to get it done as early as you can. 

The recommended deadline to submit all supporting documents for early consideration is December 15, 2022.

REMEMBER : As mentioned above, submitting your application to U of T for early consideration will NOT impact the admission decision or give you a better chance of getting accepted. The only difference is that if you are accepted, you might receive an admission decision earlier than someone who applied for regular consideration. Click here to learn more and if you have questions, connect with a coach any time for support.

U of T reviews applications on a continual basis (even before the deadline), typically in February , March , and May , so it’s best not to leave things to the last minute. 

With thousands of students applying to U of T every year, admission categories, including Computer Science, fill up quickly. 

U of T Computer Science – Acceptance Dates

Acceptance letters are sent between late-January and late May , with most offers being sent between March and May . 

If you are not selected for your top program, you’ll still be considered for other campuses and other programs (you can apply to a maximum of 3 programs at U of T). 

We know that this is A LOT of information all at once. But we don’t want you to stress — we’re always here for you. Our Youth Coaches™ are experts in all things U of T Computer Science and we’re ready to give you all the support and mentorship you need. Reach out to a Youth Coach™ now.

Need support with this process? We got you.

UTSC CS Grad Youth Coach™

U of T Computer Science: Supplemental Application

The Supplemental Application for the U of T Computer Science program is required for applicants to the UTSG Computer Science program ONLY (i.e. not UTSC or UTM).

To access your University of Toronto Computer Science Supplemental Application, log in to your JOIN U of T account after applying through OUAC. 

If you’re a UTSG CS applicant, the Supplemental Application can be the difference maker for your application and help improve your chances of getting accepted.

Why? It gives you an opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are beyond your grades and computer science , and showcase your skills, experiences, qualities, interests, goals, and more.   

The deadline for the Supplemental Application is February 1, 2023 (but applicants are encouraged to submit it as soon as possible, since applications are constantly being reviewed). Check on all the important dates and deadlines for your application here .

U of T Comp Sci Supp App – Questions

There are 4 short answer questions that ask you to discuss your personal experiences, skills, interests, and qualities. 

Here are the questions: 

• Describe a situation you witnessed, or were involved in, where someone was treated unfairly or discriminated against. How did you respond, and would you do anything differently if that situation occurred again?
• Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself, and how long you have been working to achieve this goal. Who did you turn to for advice or help, and what was their role? What did you learn about yourself?
• Describe an example of a situation where you took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what were your responsibilities, and what contribution did you make?
• Describe a group, organization, or community with which you have been involved. How long have you been involved? Describe the impact of your involvement in this community, and what you learned from being a member.

U of T Comp Sci Supp App – Writing Tips & Examples 

These questions ask you to comment on experiences, goals, skills (like leadership) and community involvement. 

These questions are common for university applications (and they also come up a lot in interviews, check some examples in our Interview Skills Guide here ). 

COACH’S TIP : Each question has a limit of 120 words (including spaces and punctuation). Your application will stand out if you can be clear and concise , creating a memorable answer that gives some personal insight into who you really are. 

We’ve developed 2 communication approaches to help you stand out. 

The 4 questions for the U of T CS Supplemental Application are personal questions and suitable for our Narrative Communication Approach™ , which uses storytelling to create an emotional connection with the reader. However, we realize that as a Computer Science applicant, you (and the Supp App reviewers) are probably more comfortable with the  Deductive Communication Approach™ , which is a top-down structure that states the answer right up front, followed by the main reason and supporting evidence and data. This is a common approach for STEM fields.

You can choose whichever approach you are most comfortable with (or you can use a mix of both depending on the question). The key is whatever you’re most comfortable with and whichever style is more aligned with your strengths and style.

Here are the 5 components that an essay following the Narrative Approach should have: 

• Hook : The story starts with a curiosity-inducing event or captivating experience that makes the audience want to keep watching/reading.
• Context : The setting is established and we get the basic information: Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
• Catalyst : A specific event or problem arises, causing challenges for the main characters. The climax of the story is usually within the Catalyst.
• Outcome: This section showcases the result of the character’s actions and the impact on themselves and others.
• Reflection : This is the moral of the story, where the protagonist reveals what they have learned and how it has impacted their life going forward. 

It looks like this:

Learn more about these 5 components here .

Here are the 4 components that an essay following the Deductive Approach should have: 

• Hypothesis/Answer : State your answer concisely and right at the beginning of your essay.
• Main Reason(s) : Provide 2-3 reasons about why you think your answer is true. 
• Supporting Arguments : Each paragraph should use data, evidence, experiences, etc. to support the Main Reasons. This is where you should be more personal, providing personal insight whenever possible. 
• So What? : Summarize why this all matters, including learning outcomes and lessons, how you evolved as a person, etc.

Learn more about these 4 components here .

If you need some support working on your essay questions and using the Narrative/Deductive Approaches, connect with a coach for support and to find out how to submit a U of T Computer Science Supp App that gets noticed.

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U of T Computer Science: About the Program

U of t comp sci at st george vs. mississauga vs. scarborough.

The University of Toronto has over 75,000 undergraduate students enrolled across its 3 campuses. 

With so much information out there, it can be tough to decide which campus is best for your interests, goals, and skills. Besides physical location, each campus has something unique to offer . 

Wondering what makes the St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga Computer Sciences programs different/similar? 

Here are the top similarities and differences between the 3 campuses to help make your decision easier:

• Curriculum : Much of the core courses required for you to take as a CS Specialist or Major is shared across campuses, so you’ll learn the same course content no matter which campus you decide to attend. For example, the second year course Software Design is offered at UTSG as CSC207H1 , UTSC as CSCB07H3 , and UTM as CSC207H5 . These shared courses are often exclusions of each other, meaning that if you take more than one of them, you will only get the credit for one course. However, this rule also means that you can decide to take the course at another campus if you wish.
• Degree : At the end of your time at U of T, no matter which campus you attended, if you graduated from the Computer Science program you will receive an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) from the University of Toronto.
• Internship Opportunities : Although you will work with a different department in helping you land internships whether you’re in the Co-op program (UTSC), the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) at UTSG, or the PEY program (UTM), no one campus gets better opportunities than others. You are always welcome to apply to positions directly from a company’s job board rather than the job board offered by the school.
• Work Experiences : UTSC is the only campus that offers a Co-op program, while UTSG offers the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) and UTM offers Professional Experience Year Co-op (PEY Co-op; read more about both below ). At UTSC, you can enrol in their Co-op program to work Co-op placements throughout your undergrad starting as soon as in your second year. UTSC Co-op placements usually last 4 months each with a total of three placements. UTSG’s ASIP and UTM’s PEY start after your third year and allows you to engage in a 12-16 month work-term. Due to the scheduling, by enrolling in PEY Co-op, you would be extending your undergrad by at least a year. It’s possible for you to finish your degree in 4 years at UTSC even with Co-op, but it’s not uncommon for students to take an extra semester or two to complete their degree
• Specializations : Depending on which campus you decide to enrol in, you will have different fields within the industry to specialize or major in. UTSG has the greatest selection of programs . You can find UTSC’s selection here and UTM’s here .
• POSt Requirements : You can read more about the POSt requirements in detail below . Each campus has its own requirements for POSt acceptance. At the time of writing this guide, UTSG and UTSC both offer guaranteed acceptance if you meet their requirements. Meanwhile, UTM will assess you based on your grades for certain courses.
• Courses : While the three campuses share many courses within the curriculum, there are courses that are offered exclusively at each campus. For example, given that UTSG CS Specialists can focus their studies in Artificial Intelligence, you can take CSC301H1: Algorithmic Game Theory and Mechanism Design there. UTSC offers a focus in Software Engineering, so you can take courses like CSCD70H3: Compiler Optimization as part of your time there. UTM has a Specialist program in Information Security, so you can take more specific courses like CSC422: Cryptography and Computational Complexity at UTM. And although you may have some professors teaching cross-campuses, most professors teach exclusively at one campus.

U of T Computer Science POSt After First Year

Once you’re accepted into the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science, you AREN’T actually admitted into the Computer Science program (aka POSt, or ‘Program of Study ’) officially.

Instead, you are part of the Computer Science admission category in your first year, and then you enrol in the Computer Science POSt (‘program’) at the end of your first year .  

This is one of the biggest surprises to students after they’ve received their acceptance letter from the University of Toronto. 

To make things easier to understand, here’s a handy checklist you can use to make sure you cover all the steps for enroling in the CS POSt :

U of T Computer Science POSt Requirements

Here are the requirements to successfully be admitted into the Computer Science Program of Study (POSt) at the University of Toronto. 

These requirements apply specifically to students admitted to the Computer Science admission category (and if you apply from a different admission category you will have different requirements).

Each campus has different requirements, so we’ve split them up into individual sections below. 

REMEMBER: At the time of writing this guide, these POSt requirements are for the 2021-2022 school year. Students enrolling to start the program in Fall 2023 adhere to the 2023-2024 POSt requirements, which will be made available by the respective departments for each campus. The changes in the requirements may include, but are not limited to, CGPA requirements, minimum grade requirements, assessed courses, and limited vs guaranteed admission. 

UTSG COMPUTER SCIENCE

You will be guaranteed admission to the Computer Science POSt after your first year, as long as you meet these requirements:

• Complete at least 4.0 full course equivalents (FCE).
• Complete CSC110Y1 with a mark of 70%.
• Complete CSC111H1 with a mark of 77% for the Specialist or Major or 70% for the Minor.
• Complete MAT137Y1 or MAT157Y1 (Specialist or Major only).
• Request the program on ACORN during the first program request period.

Once you have done this, you must indicate whether you want to pursue a Specialist, Major and/or Minor (keep reading for a complete breakdown about this below). 

For more information on UTSG POSt requirements, visit this page .

St. George Campus, Bahen Centre For Information Technology, U of T (photo by Diana Tyszko) 

UTSC COMP SCI

In first year, you must complete these requirements to be admitted into the CS POSt (Specialist, Major, and/or Minor): 

• Completed the following CSC and MAT courses: CSCA08H3 , CSCA48H3 , [ CSCA67H3 or MATA67H3 ], MATA22H3 , MATA31H3 , and MATA37H3 .
• b. A final grade of at least B in CSCA48H3 ; and
• c. A final grade of at least C- in two of the following: CSC/ MATA67H3 , MATA22H3 , and MATA37H3 . 

Completion of these requirements will guarantee you a spot into UTSC’s CS POSt.

For more information on UTSC Computer Science POSt requirements, visit this page .

U of T Scarborough, Instructional Centre, ( image credit ).

UTM COMP SCI

If you are accepted into the Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics admission category at UTM and you want to pursue a Specialist Program or Major Program in CS, you must have completed the following after your first year:

• CSC148H5 minimum grade determined annually, but never below 65%
• MAT102H5 minimum grade determined annually, but never below 65%
• MAT134H5 or MAT136H5 or MAT134Y5 or MAT135Y5 or MAT137Y5 or MAT157Y5 or MAT233H5
• And a CGPA requirement determined annually, but never below 2.5

REMEMBER : For UTM, upon completion of these requirements, you will be assessed for POSt and not guaranteed entry like UTSG or UTSC.

For more information on UTM Computer Science POSt requirements, visit this page .

U of T Mississauga, Department of Mathematics and Computational Sciences ( image credit )

U of T Computer Science  – Specialist vs. Major vs. Minor & Streams 

Once accepted into the U of T Computer Science program, you must choose the area of Computer Science you want to focus on , as well as how broad or general you want your learning to be. 

How? By choosing a Specialist , Major , and/or Minor . 

By the end of their first year , all students at the University of Toronto must indicate their area of study by choosing:

• 1 Specialist OR
• 2 Majors OR
• 1 Major and 2 Minors 

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between these 3 options:

• Specialist: Think of this as you being an expert in one subject area . A Specialist in Computer Science provides an in-depth and focused understanding of Computer Science and exposes you to a broad range of upper-year CS topics. 
• Major : This program will give you a concentrated understanding of an academic field of study. A Major in CS builds on the content of a CS Minor, and allows students to study a few topics more deeply. By taking a Major, students can integrate their studies with another discipline. 

COACH’S TIP : If you are planning on taking a Co-op at UTSC (more on these below), then you must indicate this when choosing a Specialist or Major on ACORN. For example, if you choose Computer Science, you would select “Computer Science: Comprehensive Stream – Specialist” if you don’t want to do a Co-op OR “Computer Science: Comprehensive Stream – Specialist Co-op” if you want to do a Co-op.

• Minor : This allows students an opportunity to study many different areas , giving you the knowledge and understanding to use what you’ve learned in other fields. A Minor in CS provides an intro to theoretical and applied CS as a complement to the study of other areas. The Minor program is open to any student (while  the Specialist and Majors in CS have specific enrolment requirements).

REMEMBER : No matter what program you’re studying, you need 20 credits to graduate . At the University of Toronto, 1 credit is one FULL year (i.e. 2 semester) courses, and a 0.5 credit is a HALF year (i.e. 1 semester) course.

Having trouble deciding whether you should choose a Specialist, Major, and/or Minor? Ask yourself these questions:

• If yes, choose a Specialist (see the Specialist options in the next section of this guide).
• If yes, choose a Major in CS.
• If yes, then a Minor is a good choice. 

If you need some help deciding whether a Specialist, Major, or Minor is right for you, connect with a coach now for support.

To learn more about Specialists, Majors, and Minors at U of T, visit this page .

U of T Computer Science  – Specialists & Streams 

When you choose whether you want to do a Specialist, Major, or Minor, you must also choose the research area you want to focus on.

For Computer Science, here there are different Specialist/Major/Minor options depending on which campus you want to attend. These are called Specialists (UTSG and UTM) and Streams (UTSC).

Here is the complete list of Specialists and Streams for UTSG, UTSC, and UTM.

UTSG COMPUTER SCIENCE – SPECIALISTS, MAJORS, AND MINORS 

Utsg cs specialists.

Here’s a list of the Focus areas you can take as a Specialist at UTSG Computer Science: 

• Focus in Artificial Intelligence
• Focus in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing
• Focus in Computer Systems 
• Focus in Computer Vision
• Focus in Game Design 
• Focus in Human-Computer Interaction
• Focus in Scientific Computing
• Focus in Theory of Computation 
• Focus in Web and Internet Technologies 

For a full description of each Specialist Focus area, as well as requirements and courses, see the UTSG Computer Science program website .

UTSG CS MAJORS

Here’s a list of the Focus areas you can while completing a Major at UTSG Computer Science: 

• Computer Science Major 
• Focus in Computer Vision 
• Focus in Game Design
• Focus in Scientific Computing 

For a full description of each Major Focus area, as well as requirements and courses, see the UTSG Computer Science program website .

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UTSC COMP SCI – SPECIALISTS, MAJORS, AND MINORS 

At UTSC Computer Science, you will be able to build a working knowledge of the primary areas of this field. 

UTSC CS Streams

In order to provide students with areas of study that fit their individual interests and academic/professional goals, UTSC CS has 4 Streams (or Specialists ) that students can choose from. 

At UTSC CS, you can choose a stream only if you’re taking a Specialist (i.e. not a Major or Minor).

The Streams are:

• Comprehensive Stream: A broad and balanced exposure to the field of Computer Science. This stream is ideal for students who are thinking about applying to graduate studies (MSc or PHd) in Computer Science.
• Entrepreneurship Stream: This provides a strong foundation of Computer Science and Software Engineering, while exposing students to the framework and the methodologies that underlie the development of innovative technology ideas into viable commercial opportunities. Enrolment into this Stream is limited to highly qualified and motivated students, and preference will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist (Co-op) Program.
• Information Systems Stream: Similar to the Software Engineering Stream (below), but it provides additional exposure to certain aspects of business management. This Stream is ideal for students who are interested in a career in technical management but who have a deep interest in the technology.
• Software Engineering Stream: Emphasizes the engineering side of the discipline, including computer systems and core applications.

REMEMBER : Even though you can pick a Stream to study, all students in the Computer Science program must complete a core of 18 courses (9 credits), regardless of the Stream you’ve chosen.

For more information about these Streams and for course requirements for each Stream, visit this page . 

UTSC CS Majors

The Major program requires a total of 8 credits (i.e. 16 distinct, 1 semester courses).

As mentioned above, students must meet certain requirements before applying to the Computer Science Major after their first year ( listed here ).

In addition to meeting the necessary POSt requirements, students must also complete the following CSC and MAT courses to be eligible to enrol for the Computer Science Major at UTSC:

• CSCA67H3 OR MATA67H3

For more information about the Major in Computer Science at UTSC, visit this page .

UTSC CS Minors

As mentioned above, students must apply to the Computer Science Minor after their first year, and must have completed the necessary requirements ( listed here ).

The Minor program requires a total of 4.0 credits (i.e. 8 distinct, 1 semester courses). Students can take a maximum of 3 CSC elective courses (i.e. 1.5 total credits) at the C and D level.

As a part of the Minor, students will have the chance to take introductory programming courses, basic math courses, intermediate programming, system, and theory courses, and electives. 

For more information about the Minor in Computer Science at UTSC, visit this page .

UTM COMP SCi – SPECIALISTS, MAJORS, AND MINORS

Like St. George and Scarborough, the Mississauga campus has various CS programs that appeal to students with different skills, interests, and goals.

Here are the programs that are offered at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus for Computer Science.

UTM CS Specialists 

Bioinformatics  

According to the U of T Computer Science program website , the Bioinformatics Specialist focuses on the following: “Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that combines Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics and Chemistry. Bioinformatics is the managing of large amounts of biological information generated from research using advanced computational methods/programs.

The Specialist program includes various courses in genetics and molecular biology which will put into context the vast amounts of genomic data and how it is isolated, sequenced and analyzed.  Furthermore, the computer science courses will give you the foundation to write your own computer programs as needed to analyze large amounts of data that would not be able to be done by hand in a timely manner. This program also provides a solid foundation in mathematics and statistics that will also help you to design and analyze experiments.

Bioinformatics is used in research that looks at the genetic make-up of an entire organism.  Some of its many applications are in medicine or biology.

This program is offered through the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.”

Read more about the specific enrolment requirements, courses, and completion requirements here . 

Computer Science 

As mentioned above, students must apply for the Computer Science Specialist at the end of their first year, having completing a minimum of 4.0 credits, including: 

• CSC148H5 (see minimum grade note below)
• MAT102H5 (see minimum grade note below)
• A cumulative grade point average (CGPA), determined annually. It is never lower than 2.5.
• All students must complete 4.0 U of T credits before requesting this program. Courses with a grade of CR/NCR will not count as a part of the 4.0 credits required for program entry.

Read more about the specific enrolment requirements, courses, and completion requirements for the UTM CS Specialist here . 

Information Security

According to the U of T Computer Science program website , the Information Security Specialist focuses on “all the major aspects of information and computer security, while giving an overview of the field, as well as in-depth courses in the systems, number theory and computation complexity aspects of computer security.”

UTM CS Major

As mentioned above, students must apply to the Computer Science Major after their first year, and must have completed the necessary requirements ( listed here ).

The Major program requires a total of 7.5-8 credits (i.e. 15.5-16 distinct, 1 semester courses).

For more information about the Major in Computer Science at UTM, visit this page .

UTM CS Minor 

For more information about the Minor in Computer Science at UTM, visit this page .

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U of T Computer Science – Courses 

Here are some of the courses students are required to take at UTSG, UTSC, and UTM for the Specialist, Major, and Minor, so you can get a better idea of the areas of study and course material for each.

UTSG Computer Science Courses

Utsg specialist .

Students enrolled in a Specialist program at UTSG are required to complete 12.0 credits in total , including at least 1.5 credits at the 400-level . 

Within 12 month s of starting their studies, students are required to complete 2.5 credits of these 100-level courses:  

• Foundation of Computer Science I: CSC110Y1
• Foundation of Computer Science II: CSC111H1
• Calculus with Proofs: MAT137Y1 /​ Analysis I: MAT157Y1

Note that only one of these courses CSC111H1 is a half-year course (denoted by the H in the course code) and the rest of them are full-year courses (denoted by the Y in the course code). Thus, 2 full year courses and 1 half year course makes up 2.5 credits.

Each Specialist has different course requirements, so if you’re considering a specific one, check out the full list here . 

In Years 2-4 , students can choose from a variety of courses and electives to meet the set credit requirements for their chosen Specialist. See the full list of course requirements and descriptions for each Specialist here .

REMEMBER : In addition to the CS Specialist courses, every U of T student must also take Breadth Requirement courses so that they take courses across many different disciplines in the Faculty of Arts & Science. Learn more about U of T’s Breadth Requirement here . 

UTSG MAJOR & MINOR

To complete the UTSG CS Major , students must complete 8 credits , including at least one at the 400-level. 

Here are the required first year courses (which total 2.5 credits): ( CSC108H1 , CSC148H1 , CSC165H1 /​ CSC240H1 )/( CSC110Y1 , CSC111H1 ); MAT137Y1 /​ MAT157Y1 /​( MAT135H1 , MAT136H1 )

After their first year, students can choose from a variety of courses and electives to meet the set credit requirements for their chosen Major. See the full list of course requirements and descriptions for each Major here .

Students in the UTSG CS Minor must have a total for 4.0 credits , including the following required courses: ( CSC108H1 /​ CSC120H1 , CSC148H1 , CSC165H1 /​ CSC240H1 )/( CSC110Y1 , CSC111H1 ). They must also have a total of 1.5 credits from the course list here , with at least 1.0 credit must be at the 300-/400-level.

For a complete list of the course requirements for each of the Specialists, Majors, and Minors at UTSG CS, visit this page . If you need some help navigating the courses and deciding which Specialist/Major/Minor is right for you, connect with a coach for support.

UTSC Comp Sci Courses 

Utsc specialist .

UTSC CS Specialist students must complete a core of 18 courses (9 credits total) , regardless of the Stream and additional requirements of that Stream, by the time they plan on graduating. These core courses are meant to provide a foundational knowledge about the field of Computer Science. 

These courses are taken down over the 4 years of the program, divided into Years 1-4 like this: 

First Year Required Core Courses (3.0 credits)

• CSCA08H3 Introduction to Computer Science I
• CSCA48H3 Introduction to Computer Science II
• CSCA67H3 Discrete Mathematics
• MATA22H3 Linear Algebra I for Mathematical Sciences
• MATA31H3 Calculus I for Mathematical Sciences
• MATA37H3 Calculus II for Mathematical Sciences

REMEMBER : Students in their first year will take these 6 CS/Math courses and 4 electives if they want to enroll with a full course load. Don’t forget that in order to apply for the Computer Science POSt at the end of your first year, you must complete 4.0 credits (or 8, 1 semester courses).

Second Year Required Core Courses (3.5 credits)

• CSCB07H3 Software Design
• CSCB09H3 Software Tools and Systems Programming
• CSCB36H3 Introduction to the Theory of Computation
• CSCB58H3 Computer Organization
• CSCB63H3 Design and Analysis of Data Structures
• MATB24H3 Linear Algebra II
• STAB52H3 Introduction to Probability

C-level Required Core Courses (1.5 credits)

• CSCC43H3 Introduction to Databases
• CSCC69H3 Operating Systems
• CSCC73H3 Algorithm Design and Analysis

D-level Required Core Courses (0.5 credit)

• CSCD03H3 Social Impact of Information Technology

For the last 0.5 credits, Specialist students will also need to complete a writing requirement comprised of 1 course chosen from the following: ANTA01H3 , ANTA02H3 , (CLAA02H3), (CTLA19H3), CTLA01H3 , ENGA10H3 , ENGA11H3 , ENGB06H3 , ENGB07H3 , ENGB08H3 , ENGB09H3 , ENGB17H3 , ENGB19H3 , ENGB50H3 , (ENGB51H3), GGRA02H3 , GGRA03H3 , GGRB05H3 , (GGRB06H3), (HISA01H3), (HLTA01H3), ACMA01H3 , (HUMA01H3), (HUMA11H3), (HUMA17H3), (LGGA99H3), LINA01H3 , PHLA10H3 , PHLA11H3 , WSTA01H3 .

COACH’S TIP : When choosing your electives, take the opportunity to take courses that seem interesting to you and you want to learn more about (they don’t have to be CS). However, remember that you must take a course within one of the “Writing Requirement” courses for CS (mentioned above) as well as the general U of T breadth requirements . 

For more information on these required courses and a full description of each, visit this page . 

UTSC CS MAJOR 

Students who take a CS Major at UTSC must complete 8.0 credits total, including the required courses listed below: 

CS Major Required A-level courses (3.0 credits)

CS Major Required B-level courses (3.0 credits)

and 0.5 credit from the following:

CS Major Required C-level courses in numerical computation and theory of computing (1.0 credit)

• CSCC37H3 Introduction to Numerical Algorithms for Computational Mathematics
• CSCC63H3 Computability and Computational Complexity

CS Major Required CSC electives (1.0 credit)

Students must also take 1.0 credits in any C- or D-level CSC courses, and it’s encouraged that they take the Writing Requirement course by the end of the second year.

For a full list of the CS Major course requirements and descriptions, visit this page . 

UTSC MINOR 

Students taking a Minor must complete 4.0 credits , including the following required courses. For a full list of the CS Minor course requirements and descriptions, visit this page . 

UTM Comp Sci Courses 

Utm specialist.

Students must complete 11.5-14.0 credits , depending on which Specialist you take (Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or Information Security).

Each Specialist also has a different list of required courses. Learn more about the Specialist requirements as well as the individual course descriptions here . 

UTM MAJOR 

The only Major that is offered at UTM is in Computer Science. 7.5-8.0 credits are required to complete this Major, including the follow required courses: 

First Year:

• CSC108H5 and CSC148H5 and ISP100H5
• ( MAT132H5 and MAT134H5 ) or ( MAT135H5 and MAT136H5 ) or MAT134Y5 or MAT135Y5 or MAT137Y5 or MAT157Y5 or MAT233H5

Second Year:

• CSC207H5 and CSC236H5
• 1.0 credit from the following CSC209H5 or CSC258H5 or CSC263H5
• MAT223H5 or MAT240H5
• STA246H5 or STA256H5

Higher Years:

• 2.0 credits from the following: any 300/400 level CSC course (offered at UTM) or GGR335H5 or GGR337H5 or GGR437H5 . At least 0.5 credit must come from 400-level courses, and no more than 0.5 credit of GGR courses may count to this requirement.

For more information on the UTM CS Major and the course requirements and descriptions, visit this page .

The UTM Computer Science Minor requires 4.0 credits, including the following required courses: 

• First Year : CSC108H5 and CSC148H5 and MAT102H5
• Second Year : (1) CSC207H5 and CSC236H5 ; (2) One of CSC209H5 or CSC258H5 or CSC263H5
• Third and Fourth Years : 1.0 credit of UTM CSC at the 300/400-level, except for CSC492H5 and CSC493H5 .

For more information on the UTM CS Minor and the course requirements and descriptions, visit this page .

U of T Comp Sci – Tuition & Entrance Funding 

Students attending the University of Toronto are required to pay tuition , incidental , ancillary fees , and other fees like residence, meal plans, text books, etc. 

Fees will vary depending on your course load, year of study, and the campus where you’re studying. 

Students in their first year (having been accepted to the Computer Science admission category) will pay the general arts and science tuition. Then, once accepted into the CS program, students pay a higher tuition fee in upper years . 

Here are the approximate tuition fees for Computer Science students:

• Undergraduate Domestic (Ontario Resident) – Year 1 : $6,100 
• Undergraduate Domestic (Ontario Resident) – Upper Years : $11,420
• Undergraduate Domestic (Non-Ontario Resident) – Year 1 : $6,280
• Undergraduate Domestic (Non-Ontario Resident) – Upper Years : $11,760
• International Students – Year 1 : $59,320
• International Students – Upper Years : $61,350

In addition to the tuition fees, U of T lists various other costs associated with attending university (see the full breakdown here ):

REMEMBER : These additional costs will vary depending on which campus you choose. For example, the St. George campus will likely be the most expensive out of the 3 because the cost of everything is significantly higher in downtown Toronto.

Check out this resource for a full breakdown of the U of T Computer Science tuition and future increases. 

To calculate your approximate tuition and to create a budget, use this handy budgeting tool .

U of T Computer Science – Faculty & Staff

Utsg computer science.

For a full list of the Faculty in the Department of Computer Science at U of T St. George, visit this page .

UTSC Comp Sci

For a full list of the UTSC Computer Science Faculty, visit this page .

UTM Comp Sci

For a full list of Faculty at University of Mississauga’s Mathematical & Computational Sciences, visit this page .

U of T Computer Science – Contacts 

If you have questions about the Computer Science program at UTSG, don’t be afraid to contact the school directly. 

Address : Bahen Building, Room 4207, 40 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2E4

Phone : 416-978-6360

Email : [email protected]

Website : web.cs.toronto.edu 

Address: 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4

If you have questions about the Computer Science program, contact the Academic Program Advisor, Susan Calanza, at 647-601-4645. Website: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/cms/computer-science-1

Address: Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6

Phone : 905-828-5350 Website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/category/computer-science-mathematics-statistics

U of T Computer Science – ASIP, Co-Op, & PEY

One of the main differences between the 3 U of T campuses are the Co-op offerings. 

Many students choose to study at the Scarborough campus because of the opportunity to do a Co-op (vs. St. George and Mississauga which have a Professional Experience Year, aka a PEY). 

Keep reading to learn about each program and campus. 

The St. George Campus also has an Arts & Science Internship Program ( ASIP ) , where students can explore different career options, gain experience, make contacts, and build skills. 

Participation in the ASIP is limited to eligible Arts & Science students enrolled at the U of T St. George campus.

Students enrolled in the Computer Science Specialist and Computer Science Major and the Data Science Specialist are all eligible to apply starting in Year 3.  

With the ASIP, students get professional development training, work placement opportunities, and personalized support, with 12, 16, or 20 month placements . 

Students are typically admitted into the ASIP in the Fall of their second year, but there are also Year 3 entry opportunities as well. 

Students must complete 4 courses to prepare them for the ASIP:

• Maximizing Your Experience
• Essential Skills to ASIP Success
• Professional Skill Development I
• Professional Skill Development II

For more information on the ASIP, including requirements, courses, and enrolment, visit this page .

The Co-op program at U of T Computer Science in Scarborough gives students the chance to attend classes while also doing paid work in private and/or non-private sectors. 

UTSC CS offers a Specialist CS Co-op as well as a Major CS Co-op . 

CO-OP ENROLLMENT 

Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt in their first year of study must request a Co-op Subject POSt on ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits. After the first year, when you declare your POSt, you select the Co-op option for the program you wish to enrol in.  

Prospective students (i.e. those not yet admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt) must meet the enrolment requirements and have a CGPA of at least 2.75 across all attempted courses.

Co-op program requirements for a specific program are essentially the same as the requirements for that program, but with a CGPA (cumulative GPA across all courses) requirement. For example, the requirements for the specialist CS Co-op enrolment requires the student to meet the enrolment requirements for the specialist program as well as achieve a CGPA of 2.5.

REMEMBER : Students not already enrolled in the Co-op first year stream can apply if they meet these requirements as well.

For the Co-op Specialist and Major, students must complete three Co-op work terms , each of four-months duration, one of which can be during the summer.

COACH’S TIP : In our experience with students, this is more of an ideal path and lots of variables can come up during the process. For example, some companies offer 8/12/16 month terms (not 4). The important thing is that you complete the bare minimum of 12 months cumulatively , whether that’s three 4-month terms, one 4-month term and one 8-month term, or one 12-month term is up to the student’s preference.

There are also specific Co-Op Preparation Course Requirements. They are ( visit this site for more information):

• Students entering Co-op from outside of UTSC (high school or other postsecondary) will complete this course in Fall or Winter of their first year at UTSC. Enrolment in each section is based on the admission category: Typically, students in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics enrol in the Fall semester while all other Arts & Science Co-op admission categories enrol in the Winter semester however this may vary year to year.
• Current UTSC students entering Co-op in April/May will complete this course in the Summer semester.
• Current UTSC students entering Co-op in July/August will complete this course in the Fall semester.
• This course will be completed eight months in advance of the first scheduled work term.
• This course will be completed four months in advance of the first work scheduled work term.
• This course will be completed four months in advance of the second scheduled work term.
• This course will be completed four months in advance of the third scheduled work term (for programs that require the completion of 3 work terms and/or four months in advance of any additional work terms that have been approved by the Arts and Science Co-op Office.

All of these courses are either pass or fail (you don’t get a mark).

REMEMBER : These courses will be additional courses on top of a student’s current course load. Therefore, a full-time student’s semester with one of these courses would be a total of 6 courses. 

These courses are more crucial in your first year leading up to your very first placement. Each course helps you develop job search skills and tools you’ll put in practice when actually finding a placement. This includes resume and cover letter prep, how to analyze job descriptions, as well as mock interviews

The first 2 courses listed are taken before you start applying for the Co-op. These courses are heavier in workload (weekly assignments and full lectures in class). Once you start applying for a placement (about 4 months before you’ll start the actual placement), the Co-op prep course for those semesters are much lighter. The goal of these courses is for you to find a placement , so while there may be a few goal setting assignments or check-ins, your priority is to apply to jobs.

Once you’ve done these courses, if you cannot find a placement during the 4 months prior to when you would’ve started your work term, your work term interval simply gets pushed back a semester and you spend another 4 months in school seeking for a job again

CO-OP APPLICATION

UTSC has a Career Services Management System (known as CSM) where students can login to apply for jobs. 

Job placements are curated by the department for your program, so Computer Science students will only see jobs related to their field.

Each posting will have a job description, duration of the term, contact information for the recruiter, etc.

To apply, you simply upload your resume and cover letter and submit it through the portal. 

REMEMBER : You can apply to Co-op placements outside of the portal, but you have to be in communication with the Co-op department to make sure the placements you are applying to meet their requirements for a Co-op position.

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an invitation to proceed to the interview process, which you’ll schedule through the CSM portal as well.

At the end, you’ll receive an email from the Co-op department if you were extended an offer. It’s very rare for companies to have direct contact with applicants instead of going through the department.

Need help with your Co-op application? Our Youth Coaches™ have helped hundreds of students take their co-ops to the next level and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Connect with a coach now to get started.

WORK PLACEMENT 

The Co-op work placement is designed to mimic a real life work experience. 

During the Co-op, you’ll earn an hourly wage (depending on the company’s offer), you will go through an onboarding process and training as a new employee and take on real responsibilities as a member of their team. 

Depending on where your placement is, you’ll have lots of opportunities with a variety of companies ranging from bigger companies like IBM and Canadian banks to smaller tech startups. 

A REAL CO-OP EXPERIENCE 

One of our Youth Coaches™, Anna, graduated the UTSC CS in 2021. While she was there, she went through the Co-op program at UTSC Computer Science. 

Here’s her experience so that you can see what it’s like and you can make an informed decision about where you want to study Computer Science.

Here’s what she said about her Co-op experience:

“For my Co-op, I had the more traditional schedule of doing three 4-month work terms with my first one being in the earliest possible term (immediately after my first semester of my second year).  My three placements were at Public Services Procurement Canada, Toronto District School Board, and Index Exchange, respectively, where I took on primarily web development roles As with any Co-op student, I dedicated a lot of time during the prep period to apply for roles. My ratio of applications to interviews was about 10:1, meaning that for every 10 applications I sent out, I usually received at least one interview invitation. I was very lucky with my first and last placements. I had gotten an offer within my first month of applying to jobs, so I ended up saving a lot of time throughout the semester and I didn’t have to do as many interviews. My second placement, however, took about 10 interviews and about three months of seeking before I got an offer. Although it took a lot more time to get my second placement, I was very thankful to get more interview experience. The more interviews I did, the less nervous I felt going into them. I really value my experience at every single one of my work placements. Not all of them were ideal, but it helped me learn what I look for and what I don’t look for in a job. I met a lot of wonderful people and built connections that will last me a lifetime. I’ve learned skills that I’ve used moving forward both in and outside of an academic setting. Ultimately, it gave me an advantage over graduates who have never had a role in the tech field when applying for my first full-time job. I drew on my experiences in all of these roles and gave concrete examples that took place in a professional work environment during my interviews.” 

U of T’s Mississauga campus offers a Professional Experience Year (PEY). The PEY requires 12-16 months in a professional work environment and students can also go abroad to explore various placements. 

Only MCS students who are currently in their third year can apply for the PEY. 

The PEY allows students to gain valuable experience and potentially secure a position before they graduate from U of T. 

If you have questions about the PEY at UTM CS, email [email protected] or connect with a coach now.

Learn more about the Mississauga Computer Science PEY here .

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University of Toronto Computer Science: Common Questions from Students

What are the main differences between the utsg, utsc, and utm computer science programs which of the three is the better program.

As prestigious as UTSG is, the programs themselves are the same.

No matter which campus you go to, every U of T Computer Science student is taught essentially the same curriculum , but there are a couple of differences between them. While there are courses that are exclusive to a specific campus, this doesn’t mean you have to choose one course over another. If you are really keen on taking a course that isn’t offered at your campus, you can easily enroll in cross-campus courses and take that course at the campus where it is offered.

First, the class sizes at UTSG will be significantly bigger than classes at UTM or UTSC. If you prefer smaller class sizes, then these might be the better options for you.  

In terms of internships, the 3 campuses are a bit different. If you’re interested in internships, then you can weigh your options between UTSG’s ASIP, UTSC’s Co-op program, and the PEY at UTM (see the complete breakdown of each in the About the Program section above).

The takeaway here? As with most things, every student is different . Your preferences for campus location, course offerings, faculty, class sizes, etc. might make a certain campus a better fit for you. 

However, this doesn’t mean that one campus is better than the other. U of T is the top-rated school in Canada for a reason , and no matter where you take Computer Science, you’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and strong foundation for a successful academic and professional career.

For more information on the differences between these programs, check out the section we wrote earlier in this guide . 

Is U of T Comp Sci hard to get into?

The short answer? Yes , because the tech industry is growing more popular and more competitive every year. Therefore, as more people are hoping to get into a career in this field, it’s only natural that the admission average rises with every year. There are also thousands of international students trying to get a spot in Canada’s top university.

The admissions averages are also quite high (UTSG: Low 90s; UTSC: Low 90s for both Co-op and non Co-op; and UTM: Low to Mid 80s), and these averages can be hard for students to achieve. 

It is also a bit easier to apply to UTSC and UTM Computer Science because the admission requirements are purely based on marks and you aren’t required to submit a Supplemental Application (which is a mandatory component of the St. George CS application). For students who don’t have a lot of extracurriculars, UTSC and UTM are probably easier to get into because admission is based solely on grades.

The hardest (and most competitive) to get into is the St. George campus , because more people want the social experience of St. George and downtown Toronto experience, so more applicants means more competition.

UTSC and UTM on the other hand are a little more secluded in terms of their campus location (and definitely smaller than UTSG) so they might be a bit easier to get into (if you have a competitive average coming out of high school). 

There are so many options for the Specialist/Majors. How do I choose which area of CS to focus on after my first year?

When choosing what area to focus on (when choosing a Specialist/Major), reflect on your interests and which fields of technology you would be interested in working in . 

For example, if you’re drawn to learning about network security and cryptography, you might want to consider a Specialist in Information Security at UTM. 

Or, if you’re more interested in how people use computers and how to make these experiences people have with software more enjoyable and usable, then you should consider studying Human-Computer Interaction at UTSG. 

Or, if you’re an incredibly hard working, motivated individual who’s passionate about entrepreneurship, then you might want to consider specializing in the limited enrollment Entrepreneurship Stream at UTSC. 

It’s also totally okay to be unsure about what exactly you want to study and what your exact interests are. A lot of students want to learn a little bit about everything to do with Computer Science, so they take a more general approach, like the Specialist/Major in Computer Science or in Software Engineering. 

No matter what you choose, you can rest assured that at U of T you will get a solid foundation for all the areas of Computer Science. You can also take other courses outside of your focus area, so don’t worry about being stuck once you choose your Specialist/Major.

How can I prepare for POSt during my first year?

Before you enrol in your first year courses, make sure that you’re taking all the required courses and that you meet the 4.0 credit requirement for the CS POSt. 

You won’t need to make a definitive decision about your Specialist/Major but you should also familiarize yourself with the requirements for all the programs you’re interested in. 

As you work on the courses in your first year, keep an eye on your grades to ensure that you meet the minimum grade requirement for each course. 

For detailed information about the POSt requirements, refer back to the U of T Computer Science POSt After First Year section above .

What does the workload look like as a U of T CS student?

If you are taking a full course load, the standard is 2.5 credits (or 5 half-year classes) per semester. This makes the course load pretty heavy because you’re focusing on a bunch of different classes at once .  

Most U of T Computer Science courses are focused heavily on assignments , and this can make the workload feel a bit heavy. 

Students will usually get weekly assignments, as well as 2-3 larger assignments throughout the semester. Weekly assignments (which don’t take too long to finish) typically only amount to 10% of the final grade whereas larger assignments can be up to 25-30% each (these larger assignments take 10+ hours to finish). 

If you’re taking courses that are focused a lot around theory, they will be more intensive and the workload will be greater. 

Like most other programs, there will be times when the workload is a lot, especially when assignments and midterms/finals come up. These weeks are the busiest in the year. Just make sure you plan ahead and stay on top of your readings and assignments and you’ll be okay. 

COACH’S TIP : When it comes to course work, organizational skills are key . Our coaches worked with students before they start university to help them learn how to adjust to a big workload, prioritize tasks, and take care of their mental and physical wellbeing at the same time. Our proven approach has helped hundreds of students succeed all throughout university. Connect with a coach to learn more about these workload and study strategies now.

What’s the difference between a CS Specialist and a Major?

A Specialist is a program that delivers a more focused curriculum about a specific research area in the Computer Science field. This is the most in-depth study of a specific area. Students enrolled in a Specialist will also have to complete more credits than a Major.

A Major, on the other hand, provides a more general (but still concentrated) understanding of your field of interest, but not to the level of a Specialist. A Major requires less credits than a Specialist. 

For a complete breakdown of the differences between the CS Specialists and Majors, click here .

What’s the difference between Computer Science and Computer Engineering?

Although the two programs are similar, Computer Engineering is more focused on hardware and the layer of technology between the machine itself and the software. Also, for Computer Engineering, students must take science courses . It is a different department at the University of Toronto (Engineering). 

Computer Science , on the other hand, is heavier on math and theory , and there are various sub-fields of study that students can take. CS students do not need to take science courses (while a CS degree usually covers the basics of hardware, it doesn’t require physics courses). 

In terms of career possibilities, Computer Engineering can lead to more hardware focused jobs , such as developing and designing circuits and microprocessors or working in robotics or aerospace technology. Computer Science focuses more on programming , web development , and database architecture . 

Do I need to know how to code before starting school?

Absolutely not! While it would definitely be helpful and ease the transition into first year, the intro to programming courses assume you have no prior experience with coding. 

The required courses will teach you everything you need to know, so don’t stress if you don’t have an in-depth understanding of coding and other areas of Computer Science. 

What programming languages are used in classes?

In the first year, students usually start off with Python . In later years, students will have the chance to take courses to learn how to use Java and C .

You’ve Got a Dedicated Coach in Your Corner

For over a decade, we have worked with thousands of students to help them achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Our coaches have a strong success rate supporting students as they apply to the U of T Computer Science program, among other top university programs.

Our 1-on-1 Youth Coaching fills that gap that most high schools miss. We can help you build self-awareness through probing questions and assessments, set bigger goals to elevate your extracurriculars and future career plans, and improve skills that matter on supplementary applications, such as interviewing, written communication, critical thinking, and creativity.

We use a coaching methodology, called ‘full student’ development, that’s been proven to increase your chances of admission to top-tier universities and obtaining competitive jobs/internships.

So, what are you waiting for? Fulfill your post-secondary potential with the mentorship and coaching you’ve always wanted!

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Admission Process

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UTSG Supp App

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About the Program

• UTSGvs.UTSCvs.UTM
• POSt Enrolment
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• Is UofT CS hard to get into?
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Understanding Interval Notation in Mathematics

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Mathematicians use something called interval notation to convey information about a range of values in a way that's clear and easy to understand. This form of writing is necessary because intervals are common concepts in calculus, algebra and statistics.

By noting an interval according to a method that's universally understood, mathematicians and students are able to accurately describe and analyze these value ranges.

What's an Interval?

3 main types of intervals, specific scenarios in interval notation, special concepts, 5 practical applications of interval notation.

Mathematics defines an interval as a set of real numbers lying between two endpoints on the number line (the endpoints may be included or excluded in the set). Mathematicians commonly express these number sets using interval notation.

The number line is a fundamental tool for visualizing intervals. It helps illustrate how open, closed and half-open intervals differ.

For example, on a number line, a closed interval [ a , b ] would show both a and b with solid dots, indicating their inclusion in the interval. In this case, values within the interval span would be greater than or equal to a and less than or equal to b .

There are three main types of intervals, each one useful in a different mathematical context.

• Open intervals : An open interval, expressed as ( a , b ), includes all real numbers between a and b , excluding the endpoints themselves. Open interval notation uses parentheses to denote that a and b are not part of the interval.
• Closed intervals : Represented by [ a , b ], closed intervals include both endpoints. Closed interval notation implies that every value between and including a and b is part of the interval. Sometimes, closed intervals coincide on the number line, especially when they share common endpoints.
• Half-open intervals : These intervals, also known as half-closed intervals, include one endpoint but not the other. A half-open interval can be either [ a , b ) or ( a , b ], where the corresponding square bracket includes the endpoint and the parenthesis excludes the other.

Beyond the three main types of intervals, there are unique situations that mathematicians need to communicate via interval notation. Here are some examples:

• Bounded intervals : These intervals have both endpoints finite, such as [ a , b ]. A bounded interval is contained entirely within a specific range on the number line. It differs from a closed interval in that a bounded interval uses real numbers , while a closed interval may use complex numbers.
• Unbounded intervals : These can be either open or closed at one end while extending infinitely in one direction. For example, ( a , ∞ ) and [ a , ∞ ) are intervals that start from a and continue indefinitely to the right.
• Degenerate interval : A degenerate or trivial interval is where the lower and upper bounds are the same, such as [ a , a ]. It contains only one element, a , and is both open and closed in nature.
• Empty intervals : An empty interval, represented by the empty set symbol ∅, contains no elements. It represents a set with no values and you can, therefore, consider it to be an interval with no span.
• Interval span : Interval span is an important concept to be familiar with when you're discussing interval notation. It refers to the distance between the lower and upper bounds of an interval. With closed intervals, the smallest closed interval containing all its elements will have the smallest possible span.
• Finite intervals : Finite intervals have finite endpoints, while infinite intervals have at least one endpoint extending to infinity. Both types can be either bounded or unbounded depending on whether they have limits on both ends.
• Disjoint intervals : Mathematicians call two or more intervals disjoint when they have no common points.
• Overlapping intervals : On the other hand, if two or more intervals overlap and share at least one point, then mathematicians call them overlapping intervals .

In some contexts, there might be just one interval that satisfies certain conditions, making this unique interval the only interval a mathematician can consider when working on a specific problem or solution as part of a mathematical analysis.

Modern texts increasingly favor clear mathematical definitions to avoid ambiguity, and interval notation provides a fundamental form of mathematical communication in response to this.

People across multiple fields use this form of notation to denote and analyze the range of functions, sequences or series, from the basics of open and closed intervals to the more intricate concepts. Here are some of the areas in which interval notation has a practical use.

1. Calculus

In calculus, interval notation is crucial for defining the domains and ranges of functions. It helps in specifying intervals where functions are continuous or differentiable.

When discussing integration, you can use interval notation to define the limits of integration, indicating the specific region under the curve you're evaluating.

2. Computer Science

You might use interval notation in algorithm design and analysis to describe the range of inputs for which an algorithm is effective or to specify the bounds within which data can vary.

3. Economics

In economic models, you can use interval notation to define ranges of prices, interest rates or other economic variables within which you're observing or expecting certain behaviors or phenomena.

4. Engineering and Physics

In these fields, interval notation helps you specify the range of permissible values for measurements and variables. For example, you might use it to describe the range of temperatures over which a machine operates efficiently or the span of frequencies in signal processing where a filter is effective.

5. Statistics and Probability

You might use interval notation in statistics to define confidence intervals , which are estimates that likely contain a population parameter within a specified range. It also appears in probability to specify ranges of values for random variables.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

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Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning

Jonathan Lambert

If you're like many digitally savvy Americans, it has likely been a while since you've spent much time writing by hand.

The laborious process of tracing out our thoughts, letter by letter, on the page is becoming a relic of the past in our screen-dominated world, where text messages and thumb-typed grocery lists have replaced handwritten letters and sticky notes. Electronic keyboards offer obvious efficiency benefits that have undoubtedly boosted our productivity — imagine having to write all your emails longhand.

To keep up, many schools are introducing computers as early as preschool, meaning some kids may learn the basics of typing before writing by hand.

But giving up this slower, more tactile way of expressing ourselves may come at a significant cost, according to a growing body of research that's uncovering the surprising cognitive benefits of taking pen to paper, or even stylus to iPad — for both children and adults.

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In kids, studies show that tracing out ABCs, as opposed to typing them, leads to better and longer-lasting recognition and understanding of letters. Writing by hand also improves memory and recall of words, laying down the foundations of literacy and learning. In adults, taking notes by hand during a lecture, instead of typing, can lead to better conceptual understanding of material.

"There's actually some very important things going on during the embodied experience of writing by hand," says Ramesh Balasubramaniam , a neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced. "It has important cognitive benefits."

While those benefits have long been recognized by some (for instance, many authors, including Jennifer Egan and Neil Gaiman , draft their stories by hand to stoke creativity), scientists have only recently started investigating why writing by hand has these effects.

A slew of recent brain imaging research suggests handwriting's power stems from the relative complexity of the process and how it forces different brain systems to work together to reproduce the shapes of letters in our heads onto the page.

Your brain on handwriting

Both handwriting and typing involve moving our hands and fingers to create words on a page. But handwriting, it turns out, requires a lot more fine-tuned coordination between the motor and visual systems. This seems to more deeply engage the brain in ways that support learning.

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"Handwriting is probably among the most complex motor skills that the brain is capable of," says Marieke Longcamp , a cognitive neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université.

Gripping a pen nimbly enough to write is a complicated task, as it requires your brain to continuously monitor the pressure that each finger exerts on the pen. Then, your motor system has to delicately modify that pressure to re-create each letter of the words in your head on the page.

"Your fingers have to each do something different to produce a recognizable letter," says Sophia Vinci-Booher , an educational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. Adding to the complexity, your visual system must continuously process that letter as it's formed. With each stroke, your brain compares the unfolding script with mental models of the letters and words, making adjustments to fingers in real time to create the letters' shapes, says Vinci-Booher.

That's not true for typing.

To type "tap" your fingers don't have to trace out the form of the letters — they just make three relatively simple and uniform movements. In comparison, it takes a lot more brainpower, as well as cross-talk between brain areas, to write than type.

Recent brain imaging studies bolster this idea. A study published in January found that when students write by hand, brain areas involved in motor and visual information processing " sync up " with areas crucial to memory formation, firing at frequencies associated with learning.

"We don't see that [synchronized activity] in typewriting at all," says Audrey van der Meer , a psychologist and study co-author at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She suggests that writing by hand is a neurobiologically richer process and that this richness may confer some cognitive benefits.

Other experts agree. "There seems to be something fundamental about engaging your body to produce these shapes," says Robert Wiley , a cognitive psychologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "It lets you make associations between your body and what you're seeing and hearing," he says, which might give the mind more footholds for accessing a given concept or idea.

Those extra footholds are especially important for learning in kids, but they may give adults a leg up too. Wiley and others worry that ditching handwriting for typing could have serious consequences for how we all learn and think.

What might be lost as handwriting wanes

The clearest consequence of screens and keyboards replacing pen and paper might be on kids' ability to learn the building blocks of literacy — letters.

"Letter recognition in early childhood is actually one of the best predictors of later reading and math attainment," says Vinci-Booher. Her work suggests the process of learning to write letters by hand is crucial for learning to read them.

"When kids write letters, they're just messy," she says. As kids practice writing "A," each iteration is different, and that variability helps solidify their conceptual understanding of the letter.

Research suggests kids learn to recognize letters better when seeing variable handwritten examples, compared with uniform typed examples.

This helps develop areas of the brain used during reading in older children and adults, Vinci-Booher found.

"This could be one of the ways that early experiences actually translate to long-term life outcomes," she says. "These visually demanding, fine motor actions bake in neural communication patterns that are really important for learning later on."

Ditching handwriting instruction could mean that those skills don't get developed as well, which could impair kids' ability to learn down the road.

"If young children are not receiving any handwriting training, which is very good brain stimulation, then their brains simply won't reach their full potential," says van der Meer. "It's scary to think of the potential consequences."

Many states are trying to avoid these risks by mandating cursive instruction. This year, California started requiring elementary school students to learn cursive , and similar bills are moving through state legislatures in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin. (So far, evidence suggests that it's the writing by hand that matters, not whether it's print or cursive.)

Slowing down and processing information

For adults, one of the main benefits of writing by hand is that it simply forces us to slow down.

During a meeting or lecture, it's possible to type what you're hearing verbatim. But often, "you're not actually processing that information — you're just typing in the blind," says van der Meer. "If you take notes by hand, you can't write everything down," she says.

The relative slowness of the medium forces you to process the information, writing key words or phrases and using drawing or arrows to work through ideas, she says. "You make the information your own," she says, which helps it stick in the brain.

Such connections and integration are still possible when typing, but they need to be made more intentionally. And sometimes, efficiency wins out. "When you're writing a long essay, it's obviously much more practical to use a keyboard," says van der Meer.

Still, given our long history of using our hands to mark meaning in the world, some scientists worry about the more diffuse consequences of offloading our thinking to computers.

"We're foisting a lot of our knowledge, extending our cognition, to other devices, so it's only natural that we've started using these other agents to do our writing for us," says Balasubramaniam.

It's possible that this might free up our minds to do other kinds of hard thinking, he says. Or we might be sacrificing a fundamental process that's crucial for the kinds of immersive cognitive experiences that enable us to learn and think at our full potential.

Balasubramaniam stresses, however, that we don't have to ditch digital tools to harness the power of handwriting. So far, research suggests that scribbling with a stylus on a screen activates the same brain pathways as etching ink on paper. It's the movement that counts, he says, not its final form.

Jonathan Lambert is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance journalist who covers science, health and policy.

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