A guide regarding the application process, visa logistics (from Singapore), and things to bear in mind!

Why Waterloo

I applied to college thrice. National Service (NS) allows you to do so: once after we're done with our A-Levels, once during our first year of NS and once in our final year.

I didn't get offers in the first round, got into a small Ivy (you can guess) in the second, and finally settled on Waterloo in the last.

NS gave me a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do for college, so here's my reasoning (and what I've tried explaining to my friends over time):

Value Creation

I've spent some time dabbling with software and machine learning now, and I do think that there's worth in value creation, specifically through making things work for people. I didn't quite see myself going down other career paths (at least right now), but who knows where I'll end up in a couple of years.

To that end, I felt that engineering was probably the broadest term to define what I wanted to get good at in college. CS in my opinion fell under that category (purists, please don't kill me!) because I believed it'll provide a foundational understanding of computer systems and a good base for me to work out of (ability to choose between hardware / software, having never touched the former).

Scoping down

I tell friends that prestige in tech doesn't matter as much. Folks were able to land prestigious, high-paying jobs simply because they bothered to put in the work, rather than caring about the lengthy list of pre-requisites that other people said that it mattered. So it was perfectly okay, in my opinion, to exclude that criteria in my search for a school.

Another factor to consider was the resources that a school offered. In particular, things that couldn't be found online (engineering labs for instance). Loosely speaking, you could culture as a school's resource. Visiting Waterloo for the first time in March confirmed both: students staying in their labs (voluntarily, if I'm not wrong) to crank out some robotics / eng projects. Of course, the Socratica Symposium was held there.

It definitely took time to shake the ingrained assumption that Ivys were automatically the best choice; their prestige and low acceptance rates creates a certain mystique. But for tech specifically, the talent pipeline runs strongest from schools like Waterloo, Stanford, and Berkeley to the Bay Area (the last two of which I evidently got rejected from). In an era where CS education increasingly needs to be applied and hands-on, it essentially boiled down to a fundamental question: if you're going to study engineering or CS at all, where should you actually do it?

So that's how I ended up with choosing Waterloo over said American school and UofT Comp Eng.

The Application Process

There are tons of guides for this and the process is almost universal (OUAC, AIF, Engineering Video Interview) and I wouldn't go into details of how it actually works out because other information can be found to which I'd link them here.

Required Components:

  • OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre) - The centralized application system for all Ontario universities. You can apply to multiple programs at Waterloo or other Ontario universities through a single application.
  • AIF (Admission Information Form) - An online form with a series of questions that explore your interests, experiences, and abilities. Required for Engineering and Mathematics programs. The AIF questions for 2024/25 are in the footnotes. 2
  • Engineering Video Interview - Required for Software Engineering applicants and those who wish to be considered for a Faculty of Engineering entrance scholarship. Highly recommended for all other Engineering applicants.

Critical Priority:

Sending official grades over is a top priority (took A-Levels in high school, need to get the school to send over / mail grades for them to be considered as official!)

Visa

I couldn't find a comprehensive guide online about study permit applications to Canada from Singapore. A lot of time was spent researching the best (and quickest) route, so here's my attempt at documenting the process for future applicants.

If you're looking to expedite your document submission and get a head start on the visa application process, read on!

Step 1: Secure Your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Upon confirming your offer at UWaterloo (or any other university), you'll need to pay a deposit (amount varies by school) to secure your Provincial Attestation Letter. You'll need this PAL to start your study permit application process.

For Waterloo, there are two payment methods: Convera or CIBC. Note that there's processing time required by the university to issue your PAL, so pay your deposit as early as possible.

Step 2: Get Your Medical Exam (Do This in Parallel to Step 1!)

While waiting for your PAL, start your medical examination process. There's processing time here too, so running these steps in parallel saves weeks.

The main (and as far as I know, only) clinic in Singapore that does medical screenings for Canadian visas is Fullerton Health. Book your appointment early.

Step 3: Complete and Submit Your Application

Once you have your PAL and medical results, you'll need to complete these forms:

  • Family Information Form (IMM5707) - required
  • Schedule 1 - Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside Canada (IMM 5257) - required
  • Client Information - required == Study Plan
  • Letter of Acceptance/Enrollment from your university == Offer of Acceptance (for Waterloo)
  • e-copy of passport
  • Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL)
  • Proof of financial support == financial assets, proof of tuition payment, etc.
  • Digital photo
  • Proof of upfront medical exam

Important: Your study plan is crucial here - take time to write a compelling one that clearly outlines your academic goals and post-graduation intentions.

Step 4: Biometrics

After submitting your documents, book your biometrics appointment immediately. Don't be late for this appointment! 1

Step 5: Wait

After biometrics, the waiting game begins. You can check current processing times on the IRCC website.

Things to bear in mind

Again, this is particularly for UWaterloo International Students.

Housing

  • Housing deposit: $500 non-refundable deposit required if you want to secure your [first-year residence guarantee] (https://uwaterloo.ca/campus-housing/important-dates-calendar)
  • Critical: Don't miss housing deadline emails - they contain your move-in appointment booking information and will be sent to your @uwaterloo.ca email address

Official links:

Finances

  • Payment timing: Your exact fees will be posted to your student account approximately a month before the start of each term
  • Payment method: Fees are due prior [to the start of term] (https://uwaterloo.ca/finance/student-financial-services/due-dates) - you pay term by term, not the full year upfront
  • "Fees Arranged" status: You must achieve this status by the course add deadline to avoid holds on your account that restrict scholarships, OSAP, and health insurance enrollment
  • International payment options: Two approved methods for payments from banks outside Canada, allowing payment in your local currency with conversion to CAD
  • Early payment option: If your study permit requires proof of tuition payment, you can pay early using the student fee estimator

Official links:

Notes

1.I was nearly 15 minutes late for this appointment and almost missed my slot. The stress was quite unbearable.
2.The AIF questions for 2024/25 are: (1) Tell us about a passion or strong interest of yours and how you'll apply this knowledge at UWaterloo (900 char limit); (2) Describe a group/organization you've contributed to and your impact (900 char limit); (3) Describe a situation involving unfair treatment and your response (900 char limit); (4) What is your primary goal for attending UWaterloo and your experience in your intended field (900 char limit); (5) Share what you were involved in outside of studies; (6) List any academic or non-academic awards or distinctions you've received.