Question about CGPA and faculty transfer.

maim

Hi, so this is my first semester in SFU. From when I pick classes til about a week ago I am not sure what I want to do, so I took 4 really hard courses, and because of the difference between highschool and university, I think my gpa this semester might be 2.00 or lower. Good thing is now I know how university works now. 

So here is the real question, last week I have decided to transfer into Faculty of Computer Science. And the requirement is 1 math and 2 computing courses or 2 math courses and 1 computing course. I am planning on taking these 3 courses next semester and im sure I can do a lot better now that i know what im doing wrong on my first semester. So that aside, the faculty transfer still need to consider the CGPA, does that mean my first semester's poor gpa will affect the result even though i do well on my second semester? And last question, I am taking math 151 which is one of the math requirements, and this semester im not doing the best i can in this class. If i retake it, will they calculate my gpa base on the higher mark or the first attempt?

Thank you.

silent2angel

for the CGPA, I did the same in my first semester and I
ended up with poor CGPA. you do have chances to avoid CGPA issues: do your best
for the final and assignments. Also, try to go to your professor/TA office
hours, ask for help and how you could improve your grades as well as tell them
it's your first semester and you don't want to get a poor mark. they might give
your extra grades so don't give up.



if you are not doing well in a course and you kind of sure you will re-take it
next semester so WD (even if it's will appear in your academic record) at least
it's better than re-taking it and dropping your GPA. I was not doing well in a
course that I was hoping to do well in the final but I got D which dropped my
GPA down and I'm going to re-take it in next semester.



the factuality will looks at CGPA which mean if you did well in the second or
third semester that will raise your CGPA and what matter for the faculty your
CGPA not each semester GPA.

if you re-take a course, they will take the highest mark

112233

Also keep in mind you don't need to transfer in right away. It doesn't matter you will still be able to enroll in cmpt courses. Just apply before you do your upper division courses. I'm 97 credits in and still haven't switched my major haha.

ezc

The nice thing is that you're early on in your university career.  If you get all A's in your second semester, you'll cGPA will jump up.  If you re-take a class, it'll go up even higher.  Also, take one or two classes in the summer and do well enough to get an A-/A/A+.

Most faculty's usually look for a 3.0+ cGPA.  Maybe consider transferring in your second year, it's not a rush.  SFU is one of the most flexible universities in Canada when it comes to transferring faculties. 

EDIT: Also, don't give up on this semester.  Fight for every mark you can and you might even surprise yourself.

112233

I don't think cmpt Sci needs 3.0. Email the advisor as it changes each semester I think it's somewhere between 2.5 and 3.0 for cmpt Sci.

ezc

I just looked at the computing science website.  They only take cGPA into consideration.  Looks like your GPA over the 3 qualifying courses is the only real important thing.

maim

Oh my god guys thanks a bunch!!! You guys just lifted that heavy boulder off of my shoulders.

I got last question, when i click into the actual transfer form over here:

http://www.cs.sfu.ca/CourseCentral/adbooking/admitmajmincalc.html

on the bottom under rule: it says if i retake a course they going to look at the mark for first attempt...Does that mean retaking the course would be useless?

And also it says that Math 154/157 may be substituted for Math 151, so instead of retaking math 151 i should just take math 154 or 157 and get a good mark there so i can use math 154/157 as one of my admission courses out of the 3 required courses?

ezc

Looks like it would be a waste of time if you're hoping for them to recognize a higher GPA because of the repeat.  I'm not in CS though.

Also, Math 151/154/157 are essentially the same class just geared toward certain departments.  They're considered equivalents so I doubt your work around would work.   

e.g. If you take 154, they're saying they will recognize that as being equivalent to 151.  So they would probably look at your 151 mark.  The option for using 154/157 in place of 151 is just there so social science and biological science students transferring into CS don't have to retake the same class.

ryan

It doesn't mean retaking a course would be useless, it just means they will take into account how many of the entrance requirement courses you have retaken when deciding whether or not to admit you.

I would not take 154/157. While they are definitely easier you need at least a B+ in order to use it as a prereq for later math/computing courses. If you are looking to take something other than 151 I would suggest 150, which is the same course but with an extra hour per week so it can move a little slower. It has none of the minimum grade requirements that 154/157 have.