Prior coding experience
While prior coding experience is an asset, it is not required for admission into CS at Waterloo. Though, exposure to a variety of coding opportunities may help in determining whether or not computer science is something you want to pursue in university.
A majority of students learned CS through courses in high school and on their own time, with a decent amount having little to no prior programming experience.
How many programming languages do you know?
Most respondents claim to know around 7-10 programming languages. This is to be expected, considering the variety of languages that students are exposed to throughout their courses, side-projects, co-ops, hackathons, and other coding opportunities.
What is your favourite programming language?
There is an evident preference towards Python and C++, likely due to both languages being featured predominantly throughout the CS curriculum and within the industry. Shoutout to the singular Racket enjoyer!
What is your favourite editor/IDE?
Unsurprisingly, VS Code is the predominant code editor among the class of 2025. It is a versatile and lightweight code editor with a plethora of handy open-source extensions and customization features. It was with great disappointment to see the lack of Microsoft Word or Windows Movies Maker users in the survey data.
What operating systems do you use?
There is a fairly even split between Windows and macOS users, with a slight preference towards macOS among respondents. This is likely due to Macbooks–especially the M-series-being well known for their portability and overall strong performance. macOS also comes with the added benefit of being UNIX-based like Linux, which comes with various tools and features that cater to developers.
What is your Leetcode Proficiency?
Leetcode is an online coding platform where you can solve problems relating to data structures and algorithms as preparation for technical interviews. The majority of respondents claim to have around moderate levels of proficiency with Leetcode.
How many side projects do you have?
Side projects are great ways to explore and learn new technologies, build on your interests, and enhance your resume for potential internships.
On average, students have built around 4 side projects throughout their studies in CS. Though, the majority of students have done three or fewer side projects.
How many hackathons have you attended as a hacker?
Hackathons are an amazing way to meet all sorts of people, learn new technologies, win cool swag, and build whatever your heart desires. There are many hackathons held by clubs and committees in Waterloo and around the world throughout the year, where students of all skill levels are welcome to participate.
Roughly 76% of students have had the opportunity of at least one hackathon throughout their undergraduate career, with the majority only attending one.