askastudent

Salutations,
I’m first year new meat at UofT, and I have a couple courses that are back to back, ie: one ends at 2pm, the next starts at 2pm. Do professors mind if we dip about ten minutes early, or I guess arrive ten minutes late to their classes? I tried with all the power invested in me to not end up with these situations, but alas, there was no way around it to fit my schedule. I swear I’ll sprint/bike as fast as I can, but I won’t be on time for some classes – especially when graced with ten feet of snow.
A thousand in-advance thanks!

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Ooh, fresh meat! Love it.

Everyone worries about the same problem you do. That’s why all classes actually start at the 10 minute mark at every hour to allot for travel time. Therefore if you have a lecture at 2, it won’t actually start until 2:10 PM. Definitely get a bike anyways, they’re a travel necessity in the city and way cheaper than getting a metro pass. In the winter it’s a little bit harder to not only get motivated to GO to class, but go between them. Get the warmest, coolest boots you can find – I recommend these.

Good luck getting around.

xoxo, Askastudent

Dear Ask,
I am going to be attending my first year at U of T. I have already paid the minimum payment for tuition, and I was wondering when I must pay the remainder by.
Thanks !

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As long as you pay the remainder of your fees by the end of the school year (that’s mid April), you won’t accrue any additional evil U of T interest. Since you’ve paid the minimum payment for tuition, you are also registered in your classes! Yay!

xoxo, Askastudent

hello,
i’m a first year student, and have a quick question on what to bring to UNIVERSITY on my first day?(i know, lame right?)
BOOKS!(duh) and paper? or LAPTOP? pens? or LAPTOP? I’m in politcal science. I’ve asked my friends, they say a laptop is a MUST, however, some say they dont bother because its a distraction, but i don’t want to look stupid with a notebook and a pen when everyone else is using a laptop, or when i have a laptop and everyone else is using a notebook and pen. I need to know because, my laptop is heavy too, hehe. Thanks!

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First of all don’t worry about looking stupid – you didn’t come to this big fancy university for nothing, right?

On the issue of laptop vs. pen and paper – that is a personal and political choice. More students have laptops than pen and paper nowadays, but the pen and paper is still a very popular choice. I guess it depends on how much materials you want to lug around with you. If you have to bring multiple textbooks and course readers, plus a laptop, you might be very tired and sore at the end of a long day of lectures. But if you’re in the midst of writing a paper at the library, a laptop might be a good thing.

The downside of a laptop is that the power might run out before the lecture is over and then you’ll be stuck. The upside of a pen and paper is that they’re pretty light and handy, but you might have terrible handwriting like me.

I’d say if you can, invest in a quality backpack and bring both. Then you’ve got the best of both worlds, Hannah Montana style, and you can use one if the other craps out on you.

Other good things to bring for the first day of school are a bottle of water, an organizer, a bike and some kind of light snack between lectures.

Also remember to stop worrying what other people think of you. You’re in university now!

xoxo, Askastudent

Helloo,
I’m just wondering, is it a common practice at the UofT to not let students take courses that they despirately need to continue with their programs due to “limited space”? And also, how much should I be outraged about not being able to take “the structure of modern French”, which is a core course in my program, despite getting an 83% in French during my first year, becoming successfully enrolled in the French linguistics program and paying the $6000 or so to register for this year?
Do you think It would make sense to go and beg the French department to let me take that course (i’m 5th on the waitlist for a total of 100 spaces, but I don’t think anyone will be dropping out of such an important course). Or am i just going to make an idiot of myself? Also, do you know if they will make me pay yet more money to take this course in the summer eventhough I was already screwed over because they couldn’t accommodate me this year? Thanks for reading, i’m just a little freaked out that I will have to do an extra year because UofT says so.
Thanks.

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Don’t you mean, “bonjour”?

I’m sorry that being on the waitlist has screwed your plan up. If you are in your final year of graduating, you can use U of T’s guarantee clause that you need the course to graduate. But if you are in an earlier year, you will have to stick out the waitlist and wait to see what happens. After the first week of classes, the waitlists will dissolve and it may be easier to get into the course if someone drops it. You could totally try and contact the program, but I doubt it will make a difference unless you are in your graduating year.

Sorry about everything. It’s just like a Godard movie!

xoxo, Askastudent

Hi yo, I will be becoming a U of T frosh 3 weeks later and studying at Rotman Commerce, and I got couple questions want to ask @@
I know that during the summer term we can maximumly to take 2 credits, so I am curious about can I take 5.5 credits in my first and second year and then take all 4 credits in 2 summer terms,
eventually if everything is fine I can graduate within 3 years instead of original 4 years……Is it Possible?
I know it is pretty hard but I want to try try =]

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Hey there. Your ambitious plan can totally work, but it doesn’t really sound like fun, does it? You can totally take up to six credits a year and up to two in your summer session, which would keep you at a steady clip of eight credits a year, fulfilling your 20 credit degree in two and half a years if you really wanted to…but you would cry forever trying to maintain that pace, especially with the intense Commerce course load.

Obviously it’s up to you to decide how to pursue your degree and at what rate. Many students end up taking a maximum of five full year credits a year because it’s enough to handle, especially if they also have to work to support themselves. Basically feel free to do what you want – but consider what classes are available, the workload involved and how to plan your degree accordingly so you can also pursue experiences that are worthwhile (such as internships, after school activities and fruitful relationships). Talk to your college registrar to plan a course schedule that works with what you want to pursue. Rotman also offers very valuable resources like peer tutors and study groups that are fun and social.

And have fun! Don’t spend your entire life in Robarts. Think of your skin!

xoxo, Askastudent

Hi !

This website was a genius idea !  I have dropped two courses all by July 13 2010 for summer session. However they are charging me $437 . 00 Bucks for full Incidental Fees! This is way too much money because I am a part-time student and not a full-time student for summer session. My incidental fees should be refunded 50% since the fee schedule states that July – Aug. from
july 12- aug 2 its Incidental fees 50 % refund. its really not fair.  I only have one 0.5 credit course right now. How am I suppose to pay for this when it is so wrong…my total balance is around $800.00 because I have to pay $437.00 incidental fees. Does anyone know someone who can solve this problem with me. How should I solve this problem… Please help me. Thank you in advance.

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Hey there. Sorry to hear about your financial issue. U of T’s ROSI system is notoriously late with showing payments and tracking changes, so this may be an issue you will have to take up with your college registrar and Financial Accounts.

Your observations are correct. According to the financial schedule of Innis College (where we might have to pretend you are going, for example’s sake), 50 percent of incidental fees were refunded between July 12th and August 2nd for all “S” code courses. I guess your dropped courses didn’t go through, or there was a ROSI screw up. These things happen.

I’d recommend talking to your college registrar about it, who will then tell you to go to Student Accounts. Eventually this will get sorted out but you might have to eat the balance for now. ROSI is an evil she devil who can destroy lives. She is not meant to be loved, but feared.

xoxo, Askastudent

Hello -

I’m coming to U of T this autumn & I was wondering if you knew if the first year seminar *PMU199H1 F *”mathematical explorations” is difficult? Or anything about the course? The “not for calculus students” could be deceptive, and I’m really, really bad at math. I’m taking it to fulfill my BR=5 requirement but I’m a little apprehensive.

Help is much appreciated!

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Hi there and welcome to the amazing and fantastic University of Toronto! While your class doesn’t seem like it was offered last year (and therefore wasn’t reviewed in the anti-calendar), many classes that seem similar to it were reviewed favourably. Essentially by taking a first year seminar to fulfill your BR=5 requirement, you are going for the easiest and best way possible to obtain that credit. First year seminars are notoriously easier, with more attention paid to students. The course description definitely makes it sound like it will be easy for you, and the small class size will make it easier to ask questions. If you take a look at the anti calendar, you’ll find favourable descriptions for all the 199y classes in terms of easiness and engagement with the subject matter. Math is super boring and hard to do (FYI: I am an arts student), but if you’ve gotta do it, a first year seminar is the best way to go.

Best of luck!

xoxo, Askastudent

Dear Ask,

I am a new graduate student at UofT and I am wondering if there is anyway to find out classroom locations for Ger100Y1 L0701 and FSL221Y1 L0401 without being actually registered in the course?

Best,
Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth!

The codes for all your classes should be on ROSI. If you click on “view personal Timetable”, a map will show up via Google with the exact address.

Addresses used to be printed in the timetable but maybe they stopped doing that to detract auditors. I’m kind of stuck. The best bet is to contact the German Department and French Department to find out where the classes are.
Sorry I can’t be of help!

xoxo, Askastudent

Hey aska,
Am I missing something?? If I’m majoring in criminology and philosophy (second year), and then become a specialist in criminology (which apparently can only happen in third year?), what happens to my philosophy major? Am I wasting my time taking all these philosophy courses this year? Please let me know if theres some huge obvious solution that I’m totally missing. Thanks!

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Hi there!

Basically what happens in a nutshell is that your specialist will cancel your other degrees out. To graduate you need a specialist, two majors, or a major and two minors. So if you apply for (and complete) your specialist in Criminology, your philosophy major, even if completed won’t count as the degree you finish with. By all means, complete your major (that’s seven full courses in philosophy), but you will graduate with a criminology specialist.

You dig?

xoxo, Askastudent

Hi Askastudent,

Do you know what’s going on with the Cognitive Science program? Their webpage hasn’t been updated since January 2008 and when I look up their courses at University College, it seems they’re not University College any more… or something? “The Cognitive Science program formerly administered by the University College has been redesigned under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts & Science. Please refer to the Cognitive Science program: see Cognitive Science.” See Cognitive Science…. where? In the Arts & Science calendar there is no Cognitive Science category that I could find.

I’m sooooo confused! I managed to find one course on the timetable (under University College, not Cognitive Science), and the course code has changed from UNI to COG. One course does not a program make, so I’m not sure what’s happened. Is the program no longer offered? If it is, where have the third and fourth year courses gone? How does a program go from having TWO specialist degrees and one major to not existing so quickly?

Thanks for your help. I’m totally baffled.

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Hello there. I’ve talked to a couple of peeps at University College and the short answer (after long explanations) is that no one exactly knows what is going on with the Cognitive Science program. It’s no longer under University College’s jurisdiction, and the only Cognitive Science course in the entire program is not being offered this year in the timetable (COG 250Y1). This year it seems that they are “taking a break” from Cognitive Science before determining where it is going. Which is totally weird, right?

If you look at page 134 of the calendar, you’ll see listings of what classes are offered to make up the major pogram of Cognitive Science – all courses in computer science, linguistics and psychology. For now, all COG courses no longer exist, and it’s dammed difficult to find who exactly is representing the program. (Someone at the UC programs office actually laughed when I said that the website hadn’t been updated since January 2008!)

If you are interested in the program, you will have to follow the course listings outlined on page 134, and wait until next year (perhaps?) where COG courses will be offered again. There isn’t even a faculty listing in the calendar, so there is no one you can even scream at for their negligence!

Your best bets (for screaming) are the Faculty of Arts and Science registrar, or Hilary Browning at University College.

Good luck to you! Let me know what happens.

xoxo, Askastudent

Hey there, Askastudent,

I’m wondering if there are any power outlets available for laptop users during a lecture. Unfortunately, my laptop is incapable of enduring more than an hour without being plugged in.

Thanks a bunch!
Demi

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Hi Demi (Moore?)

In answer to your pressing technological question, I’m afraid I can only speak in vague terms. Depending on the lecture hall, you may be plug-less. Some courses might be held in large rooms where it’s possible to be hooked up to a plug, but depending where you sit, you might be screwed. I would recommend charging your laptop as much as possible, and bringing a notebook to take notes, just in case. Many people find a tape recorder handy to record important lectures for exam prep.

Try and sit off to the side during the first day of class, before people get particular about where they sit. Best of luck and stop Twittering during lecture!

xoxo, Askastudent

Hi

I was just curious about HPS390 and MAT390.

One has 100 available spots, the other has 50.  Both are exclusions to one another, but are offered by the same teacher and exactly the same time in the winter.  This implies to me that they are exactly the same course.

I am from the distant school of Scarborough Campus and can’t see which one is full, but if they are exactly the same and lets say MAT390 was full (the one with only 50 spots)…could I not just take HPS390 if it has open space and have it count as MAT390?  How many spots are left for MAT390 anyways?

Course selection is always the most stressful thing for me haha… I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Thanks,
Franklin

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Hi Franklin!

This question took me a long time to answer, thanks to fighting through the interminable U of T bureaucracy. Here is an example of what happens when you call the Math department:

Aska: “Hey I’m calling from the Innis College registrar about HPS 390 and MAT 390…according to their course descriptions and the timetable, these classes sound exactly the same and are offered at the same time. Could this be true?”

Math lady: “I dunno, you will probably have to call (this person who will never return your phone call) and (wait forever and ever).”

Anyways, finally someone did call me back from the Math department, a representative in charge in fact, and it’s true – these courses are exactly the same! They are offered by the same prof, at the same time, in the same place and for some unknown reason are labeled under two separate course titles in two different departments. U of T is so crazy!

So if you register for HPS 390, you will be taking MAT 390 and it should be good for the same. Currently HPS 390 has 16 spots available, while MAT 390 has 7 spaces available.

Another mystery solved. Aska is like Agatha Christie, no?

xoxo, Askastduent

i’m in 3rd year and i am specializing in vcc and minoring in psych. i’ve changed my mind on wanting to now major in psych. What i wanted to know is if i graduate with a HBA from vcc, can i come back the following year and just upgrade my minor in psych to a major so i can also get a HBSc ? or would i have to then do a double major/1 major, 2 minors & do another 4 years again to get the HBSc ?

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I’m sorry to ask this, but what exactly is VCC? Could you spell it out for me?

I can only guess that technically your question is if whether you graduate with one degree, can you return and upgrade your prior minor to a major? I asked the registrar and yes, you can. Lots of people come back to upgrade their transcript and bump up their programs of study (sometimes getting an extra major or minor out of the way). You should contact your registrar after you eventually graduate from your mystery program to return as “non degree student”, making sure that you fit the new requirements of the updated subject PoST you will have to enroll in. You can take classes the year after you graduate then.

Askastudent