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Program advising for CSC148 and CSC165 students

Are you planning to apply to CS programs? Here is some information to help you plan:  

Where can I find an overview of the program application process and requirements?  

  • For information about the program selection and application process in Arts & Science, visit the Sidney Smith Commons Program Toolkit. This will help you answer questions like: When and how do I apply to programs? What programs are available? How many programs should I apply to? 

  • For information about applying to Computer Science programs specifically (including Data Science) visit How to Apply to a Computer Science Program.

  • On February 7, 2023, attend the Computer Science Program Exploration Day, organized through Sidney Smith Commons. We’ll share more details closer to that date! 

  • If you have questions that aren’t answered through those resources, contact the CS Undergrad Office at cs.undergrad@utoronto.ca, or stop by during drop-in hours.  

Which CS programs can I apply to?  

  • Computer Science offers 4 programs: the CS Specialist, the CS Major, the CS Minor, and the Data Science Specialist (offered jointly with the Department of Statistical Sciences) 

  • If you are applying from an admission stream other than CMP1, you will fall into one of two groups:  

    • If you started your studies at UofT this year (Fall 2022), you can apply to the CS Major, CS Minor, or Data Science Specialist

    • If you started your studies at UofT in Fall 2021 or earlier, you can apply to the CS Specialist (this year only), CS Major, CS Minor, or Data Science Specialist. Spring 2023 will be the final opportunity for students in this group to apply to the CS Specialist program.  

If you have questions about which programs you’re eligible to apply for, contact cs.undergrad@utoroto.ca  

I’d like to know more about my chances of being admitted to a CS program. What marks will make me a competitive applicant? How many students will be admitted to each program?  

  • This information changes every year depending on the number of applicants, so it’s hard for us to provide a specific answer. Generally speaking, admission to CS programs is very competitive, so you should have a plan in place to complete your degree that does not involve enrolment in a CS program (see some of our suggestions for this below). 

  • To put it another way, about 50% of students who meet the requirements to apply to a CS program have been admitted to a CS program (including the CS Minor) in the past few years.

  • Admission to the program is determined by your supplemental application as well as your marks in required courses, so there is no marks cutoff above which all students are admitted. However, in recent years, marks in CSC148H and CSC165H/CSC240H for students admitted to the Specialist or Major program have been in the A to A+ range (85%+), although students with marks in that range are not guaranteed to be admitted.

  • A total of 550 students from all streams are admitted to CS Specialist, Data Science Specialist, and CS Major programs, with additional students admitted to the CS Minor. The proportion of students admitted from CMP1 and other streams is not known until program admissions are complete.  

How is the supplemental application used in program admissions?

  • Each supplemental application is anonymized and scored by at least two readers.

  • Your score is used in combination with your marks in CSC148H and CSC165H/CSC240H to sort program applicants.

  • Generally speaking, successful applicants to the program have both excellent marks and strong supplemental applications.

  • For tips on preparing your supplemental application, see Strategies for preparing your supplemental application

Can I still apply if I defer my exam or term work in CSC148H or CSC165H/CSC240H, or have an ongoing academic integrity case?

  • Yes, apply at the normal time, and you will be considered for program admission once your petition or academic integrity case is resolved, provided space is available in the program at that time. Please reach out to us when your case is resolved to ask us to review your application.

  • In unusual circumstances (e.g. if you petition for a re-deferral of an exam, or for exceptional academic integrity cases) your petition or academic integrity case may still be unresolved when the next program application cycle begins. In that case, your original application will NOT be considered; please reapply during the NEW program admission cycle.  

What if I’m not admitted?  

  • It is possible to reapply to a Computer Science program, by retaking CSC148H and/or CSC165H/CSC240H and/or submitting a new supplemental application.  

  • However, this can delay your graduation, so we recommend exploring all your options before you decide to reapply. This could include: