• admissions,  human resources,  management,  UTSC

    is the human relations program in the room with us?

    Hello, I hope you’re doing well!!
    I am currently a 3rd year student at University of Toronto, Scarborough and wanted to start applying to uoft for my younger sister who is currently in 12th grade.
    She has not taken mathematics but wanted to Human Relations or Marketing and as far as I know getting directly into the program for the same is not possible since maths is a requirement. Is there a way she can get in undeclared and finish pre requisites in first year and then apply for her selected program by 2nd year?
    Also are there any programs that do not require maths as a prerequisite? If yes would you be able to guide me to the list of the same.
    Thanks

    hey there,

    ok, i have a couple questions. first: what campus is your sister hoping to apply to? and, second… are you lonely, buddy? i think you had a freudian slip there. did you mean human resources or international relations?? if you wanted human relations, uoft is not the place for you. it’s fine, don’t worry about it, this is not the time to unpack all that. i’m going to assume you meant human resources since a human relations program doesn’t exist.

    Tonight Show Wow GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    anyways, this isn’t about you, it’s about your sister. so here is some info on the st. george campus (UTSG) since that’s where my expertise lies.

    at UTSG, you don’t apply directly into programs of study, but instead into admission categories. all arts and science programs are categorized into these groups as a way to identify your general area of study. each admission category has the same admission requirements for all the programs within it. so for example, the industrial relations and human resources program is under the admission category of social sciences, which only requires high school level english. on the other hand, the marketing program would be under rotman commerce (basically uoft’s business school) where you can take a focus in marketing by enrolling in their management specialist program. but for this, she would still need high school level calculus.

    so basically, if she wanted to enrol into the human resources major at UTSG, she wouldn’t need high school level calculus! and even if she did, at UTSG, students apply directly into their specific program of study after first year. and after she’s in a program, it’s pretty simple and common to switch later on if she changes her mind!

    Ryan Phillippe Montana GIF by ABC Network

    but as for uoft scarborough (UTSC), the program application process is a bit more complicated. what i would recommend is having your sister connect with the UTSC recruitment team to see what the options are. unlike at st. george where students are admitted into very broad admission categories, students at UTSC are admitted into narrower fields and have the option to apply to co-op streams, which can complicate things if they want to make a change later into their studies. overall, while at st. george you only have to complete prerequisites or achieve a certain average to apply for a program, at UTSC there might be other restrictions on switching after being admitted.

    i’ve heard that the recruitment team at UTSC is always happy to help, so you can’t lose anything by reaching out to them! they’re experts on this and will be able to tell your sister about her options.

    on another note, there is a UTSC summer mathematics preparedness course that can be used as a prerequisite for MATA29, MATA30, or MATA32. this could be helpful for your sister!

    and finally, let’s get to your last point. there is no existing list of all the programs that don’t require math as a prerequisite, but someone let me know if you want me to actively make one.

    What Do I Do Ok GIF by Britannia

    for now, here is a list of all the programs at UTSC, sorted by admission category. it seems like the only management program that doesn’t require a math prerequisite is global leadership. but you’ll also see that there are plenty of social science/humanities programs that don’t require math! for general arts and sciences, here is a list of admission categories, where you can click further to see lists of programs per admission category. and here is also a complete list of all the programs in arts and sciences.

    good luck to your sister with her application and decision making!!

    over and out,

    aska

  • UTSC,  wait list

    wait(list), is this play about me?

    Hi I got waitlisted for a D-level Bio course that I really need to graduate. I’m number 14, and the class has a size of 40 should I wait until September to get in or should I just pick another course? Also, ACORN won’t let me waitlist an extra course because I have added 2.5 credits for each. So I would have to get off the waitlisted course (that I really want) to get into another. What do I do? Thanks!


    hey there,

    wait, is this, cour — is this about — *sniffles* course enrolment? *nose dives into nearby pillow. lets out a gutteral, earth-shattering scream* *after a few moments of silence, looks up, unbothered* i am not currently absolutely losing my mind over course enrolment waitlists.

    homer simpson falling GIF

    anyways, the general guideline is that about 10% of people will drop the course. in a class of 40, you would want to be 4th in line. so being number 14 means its pretty unlikely that you’ll get in. not impossible, but the waitlist does end on september 13th. it also depends on how high the course’s drop rate is, as this differs.

    what you should do depends entirely on how desperately you need this course. i don’t know what year you’re in or how close you are to graduation, so i’m running on assumptions here.

    Explain Premier League GIF by Liverpool FC

    here is some advice if you’re in 4th year and really need this course because it might push back your grad. i’m assuming you’re not, because of the absence of desperation and urgency in your question, but eh, just in case. first, don’t drop the course. go to your registrar for help. i know that st. george students are able to get into mandatory courses they need to graduate, so maybe there’s something similar at utm?

    if you are not in 4th year and still have time left to take the course another year, you could still wait to drop it — while you might not be able to enrol in another course right now, by august 3 you’ll be able to add 3.0 credits on acorn.

    this also depends on if the other course you want is filling up fast. if it’s not filling up fast, i would say wait until august 3, and don’t drop the bio course. but if it is filling up, then decide based on how badly you actually need this bio course. i can’t tell you exactly what to do because i don’t have the full picture here, but i hope this was helpful and you can make a good decision based off this info. sending good luck and good vibes!

    over and out,

    aska

  • current student,  math,  prereqs,  UTSC

    gr 12 math strikes back

    hi aska! so im going into my first year at utsc, there are some courses that sound really interesting but the pre-reqs for most of them are grade 12 math which i completely avoided taking. is there any way (even if its not this year) that i can ever take the courses?


    hi there and welcome!

    don’t worry, you won’t be doomed because of that pesky prereq, at least not forever. i would recommend first emailing the instructor to ask if you can have the prerequisite waived.

    some courses allow this, however you will still be responsible for getting caught up on the material, of course. depending on how comfortable you are with learning the math, and whether or not the instructor is allowing waivers for the course in the first place, this may or may not work for you.

    you can also get credit for grade 12 math through tdsb night school (registration is still open i believe) or summer school, which both have remote and in person options. i’m sure other school boards and even private companies offer similar services to get high school credits, too, which you could look into.

    as a disclaimer, i haven’t personally taken night school/summer school courses so i can’t give much of a review, but i’ve heard that they can be more relaxed than their normal school counterparts, which sounds great unless you’re hoping to take a very math-heavy course. if you end up wanting more of a math background, uoft’s math department has the pump program which is a series non-credit summer courses that reviews high school math to prep for university.

    i hope that answers your questions, and good luck with all that math!

    aska

  • subject POST,  UTSC

    i’ve been a non-degree student and it’s not a bad experience!

    Hi. Is it possible to graduate utsc without enrolling in a subject POSt?

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    if you’re interested in graduating from utsc with a degree, this webpage indicates that you can’t do so without enrolling in the minimum combination of subject POSts. so to my understanding, unfortunately, the answer is no!

    if you’re interested in studying at utsc without enrolling in a subject POSt, you can look into becoming a non-degree student. that means that you’ll be permitted to take courses at utsc, but you’ll commit to those courses on a case-by-case basis and won’t need to complete program requirements. in fact, you won’t be allowed to enroll in programs if you change your mind. you also won’t receive a degree, and therefore won’t graduate in the traditional sense — but for some people, this is the right course of action and exactly what they’re looking for in their education!

    i hope this clarifies things for ya.

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • UTSC

    i don’t even know how to pronounce clique

    Hey I’m looking to be a first yr undergrad in the fall at utsc but I’m seeing a lot of stuff onlinr abt how cliquey utsc is and how’s there’s nothing much to do with clubs or student life. What’s your opinion on this? I’m an out of province stusent so I dont have any friends from high school coming.

    ——————————————

    hi there,

    unfortunately, i’ve never been a utsc student myself, so i can’t answer this question from personal experience. what i’ve heard is that utsc tends to have more local students, so i guess that could lead to cliqueyness if students are coming from the same high schools and already know each other. however, i don’t know how true this is because i can’t really verify it with anyone.

    also, to be fair, i’ve found certain clubs and spaces at utsg to be quite cliquey as well. i think cliqueyness depends on the crowd you surround yourself with — and if you don’t like a crowd, you can always find another. in general, i’ve found that most u of t students mind their own business and won’t be found chatting with random strangers — but that’s not always true, and i’ve made friends from people randomly hitting me up in class as well.

    there are certainly clubs at utsc, which you can find out more about here. i’m not really sure what’s on offer in terms of other student life, but that’s probably because i’ve never even been to utsc’s campus. with that said, i do think it’s possible to carve out a niche for yourself on campus.

    if you take advantage of the opportunities you can find, make a sincere effort to approach new people, i think you can build a meaningful sense of community at utsc. it is a small campus, after all, so i think you’ll have a better shot at getting to know your classmates, professors, and administrators.

    sorry i can’t be more helpful! wishing you all the best of luck with making your decision.

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • admissions,  UTSC

    keeping my fingers crossed for you

    Hi! I’m going to grade 12 in September and I really want to get into the Psychology program at UofT in Scarborough. My grades aren’t the best but, they aren’t too bad either. My average for grade 11 was an 87 and I was wondering if an 87 average is good enough to be accepted.

    ——————————————

    hi friendo,

    sorry your message got so buried!

    i’m not sure if you’ve already applied, but this is what little wisdom i can offer you.

    unfortunately, i’m not aware of any publicly-available admissions averages for UTSC i remember that, at least for st. george, minimum admissions averages used to be available, but i haven’t see any updated ones in a hot minute. so it’s really hard for me to assess whether an 87 average would be able to get you in.

    something you should be aware of, though, is that if you’re admitted to UTSC and decide to attend, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be admitted into the psych program. u of t does this thing called subject POSt (program of study) selection, in which most programs need to be applied to after first year. if you’ve taken a look at utsc’s psych major page, you’ll have seen that there are admissions requirements with specific percentage grades listed. that’s really the only concrete admissions info i can offer you, and i do think it is important stuff to keep in mind if you’re set on attending UTSC for psych.

    sorry i couldn’t be more helpful! wishing you all the best with your uni applications, and thanks again for your patience with my slow response.

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • admissions,  UTSC

    i could be so powerful if i just had access

    Hi! I’m a grade 12 student right now and I’d like to apply to UTSC’s Neuroscience program. However, I’m retaking Calculus and Vectors and Advanced Functions (2 prerequisites) because I took them both in IB in grade 11 and got poor marks (60s). Would they consider my repeated grades? And what percent of people get accepted into this program? Thank you 🙂

    ——————————————

    hey,

    unfortunately, utsc’s repeated courses policy is super vague, and doesn’t really provide a clear sense of how they treat second-time high school grades. you can read it here— i think you’ll see what i mean. i don’t have the access necessary to give you information beyond what they’re willing to release officially, so that’s the policy we have to work with. if you’re really anxious to find out more, you can try contacting the admissions office directly. 

    i also have no idea what percent of people are generally accepted to the program that you’re interested in— programs don’t tend to release this information. if you’re really curious, you can reach out to the department and ask. in general, it’s probably more important to keep in mind what the admissions requirements are, and you can find those here.

    sorry i couldn’t be more helpful! i’m just a student lol they don’t let me into all that confidential stuff.

    best of luck with the rest of your grade 12 year and your uni applications, though! i’m rooting for you.

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • computer science,  UTSC

    here’s some unsolicited advice for you instead of an actual answer to your question

    Hello. I wanted to know about pros and cons of CS program in UTSC. I’m deciding b/w CS program in UTSC and Engineering I in McMaster. I want to know about professors, and some other pros and cons. Also I want to know if someone who’s getting 94-97 in math gr12 courses can get into actual CS program after 1st year. I haven’t taken any cs course. I used to compare myself with other students with high grades so I put in a lot of effort to become first or achieve higher and higher grades.

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    as someone who’s not really super familiar with compsci or utsc, i’m not sure that i’m a good person to be advising you on this. i’ve never met any of the compsci profs at utsc, and have heard next to nothing about the compsci program there. i hate recommending reddit as a resource because it can often be super unreliable, but for something like this, it’s probably your best bet. it’s likely that there, you’ll be able to find someone in the UTSC compsci program who will be able to shed a little light on what it’s like for you. apart from pointing you in that direction, i feel kind of (read: absolutely) useless when it comes to your question.

    as well, i can’t really tell you what your grade 12 math marks mean in terms of your likelihood of getting into the CS POSt, since grading can vary super widely between high schools.

    here’s a word of advice i do want to leave you with, though: from what i’ve seen, heard, and experienced as a u of t student, i worry that your mindset of comparing yourself to other students is going to hurt you at university. regardless of what institution you end up choosing (and maybe you’ve made your choice already, by the time you see this), you’re only going to burn yourself out and discourage yourself by comparing yourself with the other people in your class.

    don’t get me wrong– it’s certainly possible for you to achieve quite a lot and succeed in your coursework, but it’s more sustainable for you to measure that achievement in other things– like how familiar you are with your course material, or how well your learning can propel you towards your goals.

    i would just hate for you to be one of those bright-eyed, ambitious students used to doing super well in high school, only to have their self-esteem crushed by first year or develop GPA-related anxiety. i’ve seen it happen way too many times. however, you did say “used to,” so maybe that means you’ve put that mindset in the past?

    anyway. if you’d like to talk your decision through with someone at the university, you could reach out to your registrar! wishing you the most wisdom and the best of luck as you make your decision and tackle first year wherever you decide to go!

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • computer science,  internal transfer,  UTM,  UTSC

    ThEy WiLL nOt Be AcCePtEd As EquiVALeNts

    Hello there,I was wondering if I could transfer from UTSC CS to UTM. However, the POSt requirements for CS at UTM it says “Note that only CSC148H5, taken at the UTM campus, will be accepted. Please do not take CSC148H1(UTSG) or CSCA48H3(UTSC); they will not be accepted as equivalent for the purposes of program enrolment. “According to that, Can I still transfer?TNX

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    it sounds like you’d be able to transfer to the UTM campus, but possibly not directly into UTM’s compsci program. if you’re determined to be a UTM kiddo, you could probably try doing your internal transfer first, taking CSC148H5, and then applying to the compsci POSt at UTM. that’s what the situation seems like to me, anyway.

    to be 100% sure, i’d check this over with your registrar, or with someone at the UTM compsci department. maybe both. i’m sure they’ve seen this situation before. good luck!

    be Boundless,

    aska

     

  • choosing,  co-op,  co-op management,  UTM,  UTSC

    i’m the goat

    Hi there! Sorry for bothering you but I am really struggling between UTSC and UTM right now. Little bit of background info: I was accepted to the Co-op Management program at UTSC and the Management program at UTM (did not apply to UTSG). I am also an international student who has received a 65% scholarship for my studies in UToronto, and an additional 19000CAD scholarship from UTM.

    Pros for UTSC:
    -Can do Co-op which I believe is really good for a student’s future career
    -Better sports facilities (especially for my sport) which are really ideal for me

    Cons for UTSC:
    -Don’t really like the campus, looks pretty sketchy and people don’t seem to like it on Reddit
    -More expensive as I will be losing my 19000cad from UTM and Co-op costs more I believe
    -The campus just really doesn’t look as nice as UTM but I am not sure because I have really only looked at pictures online
    -No free shuttle bus to downtown:(

    Pros for UTM:
    -nicer campus, more green area which I will feel more comfortable being around
    -Lower tuition fee (which is kind of a big deal for me)
    -Free shuttle bus!!
    -The community just look nicer and suit me better, idk…

    Cons for UTM:
    -no co-op which I’m not sure if its really that big of a deal (Coz I really need job experience but can I even get any at UTM…)
    -might have to travel to downtown/UTSC 3-4 times a week to practice
    -isolated area? So hard to find jobs/internships around campus? I am really not sure because I am just so lost:(

    I guess UTSC can prepare me for a better career which is truly ideal, but UTM is what I prefer for my 4 years of college life. Would be great if I can get the same amount of work experience at UTSC by attending UTM (is there a way to secure that the school can help me find jobs if I don’t do co-op or am I really going to be on my own:( )

    I might even do UTM Commerce in my second year if I study at UTM, but I will probably stick with Co-op management if I study at UTSC. Which one do you think I should choose? Is Co-op really that big of a deal? Is it worth sacrificing part of my college experience/preference for it?

    Sorry that I am all over the place, there’s just too much going on in my head and I’m just so worried that I’m going to regret it. Thank you so much for your precious time and help!

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    congrats on making it into both programs, and with scholarships, too!

    quick psa: it would be v cool if people stop sending questions to every single ask box i advertise! this seems to be an international student thing, so you’re not alone in it, but rest assured that i will see your question even if you only send it once. 

    but you never need to apologize for bothering me, this is what i do. let’s get to it. for anyone who hasn’t been following this epic saga, this post is a part two, it seems, to this one. thank you for taking my suggestion to shorten your question! that’s cool. we love readability.

    so you did the epic pros and cons list, i can see. a few notes on that list:

    • don’t believe everything you see on u of t’s reddit! from my experience, it’s where the angry people go to congregate.
    • finances are definitely something to consider! you’ve been offered a huge scholarship to UTM, and imo that’s hard to turn down.
    • it can often be quite difficult to make a judgement about a campus based solely on pictures. here is a webpage offering virtual tours of utsc, and here are some virtual tours of utm residence buildings. you can also try looking video tours up on youtube, which is something i did when i was making my admissions decision!
    •  utsc has a lot of green space too! 
    • it’s hard to tell what a school’s community is like until you’re there. i’m curious as to why you think the utm community will suit you better. rest assured you will be able to make friends, find mentors, and study under great profs regardless of whether you choose utm or utsc!

    it’s still really hard for me to give you a definitive answer re: which school you should choose, because even if i know what factors you’re considering, i don’t know the weight of each one. for example: if you give up the utm scholarship, will you be taking on that same amount in student loans? or do you have sufficient parental support to not need those loans in the first place? i feel like depending on your situation, the importance of certain things you’re considering can change.

    keep in mind that you will (presumably) be spending four entire years of your life as a student at whatever campus you choose. so if you feel like you’d be happier at UTM, that’s not insignificant. four years is a solid chunk of your life. university isn’t just a stepping stone to a future career– it’s an experience, and one that has so far been really precious to me.

    that being said, i’m not sure that there’s a way to ensure that u of t helps you get a job without a guaranteed co-op. that isn’t to say there aren’t any student supports to help you find jobs at utm– utm has a fantastic career centre, and like i told you in the last post, the utm management program has programming that will help you get work placements and hands-on experience. ie. MGT480H5 and the certificate in effective business practices and leadership skills. if you end up choosing utm commerce, you’ll have access to the Personal Experience Year (PEY), which is a 12 to 16 month internship also done by students at utsg.

    basically, i wouldn’t say you’ll ever be fully on your own. there’s programming at both schools to help ensure that you get hands-on work experience while pursuing your degree. at the very least, your registrar’s office (both at utm and utsc) will be able to provide you with guidance and refer you to career resources.

    ultimately, you’re gonna need to take ownership for your decision. there’s no easy formula to success in life. co-ops are important, yes, but you can do great even without one. students at st. george don’t have access to the co-op program that utsc runs, but they tend to be fine. i have full faith in you to make the best decision for yourself. you got this.

    i actually think it’s pretty clear which school you want to go to, so…

    be Boundless,

    aska

  • admissions,  UTSC

    is it gonna be (rev)ok(ed)

    Hi! I was accepted to UTSC’s Psychological and Health Sciences program (so excited!). I was told I need to maintain at least a 75% average and at least a 70% in my prerequisite subjects. If my final average is a couple of marks under 75%, but I maintain above a 70% in my prerequisite subjects, will my offer of admission be revoked? This totally wasn’t the best year for me sigh 🙁

    Thanks 🙂

    ——————————————

    hello,

    congrats on your acceptance!

    for specific cases like this, i would encourage you to give the utsc office of admissions a call. as they’ll have access to your actual academic record, they’ll be able to better advise you on your circumstances. this is too consequential of a guesstimate for me to comfortably make, as someone who’s not particularly involved in the actual process of admissions.

    apparently if you’re really worried about it, you can take summer school and try to boost your marks to avoid getting your offer revoked. at least, that’s what this 3-year-old reddit thread suggests. i try not to use reddit too much as a source, because it can be wildly inaccurate, but the comment i’m referencing was apparently made by a utsc admissions staff member. i’d give the thread a look and check its info over with the office of admissions.

    good luck and be Boundless,

    aska

  • UTSC

    too many horror stories or whatever

    I want to come to utsc for math, and I’m really scared I won’t be able to make it through, I currently have an average of 92.5 in high school (senior year). Are there any tips for me

    ——————————————

    hello prospective fellow student!

    feels like this question tends to hover over the heads of everyone considering u of t. it sure hovered over mine, before i decided to just take the plunge and deal with whatever consequences might come. and so far… the school hasn’t been nearly as bad as i expected. i figure you’ve probably heard/read a lot of horror stories, just like i did before i got here.

    i don’t know anything firsthand about utsc or math, to be honest. all i know is what my experience at utsg has been like– and it hasn’t been as terrible as i heard it would. i actually really like it here. with that said, i really want to stress that everyone’s experience at the university is different. i have the advantage (and it does matter) of loving my programs a lot, having a solid support network, and living on res. it also helped me to drop down to 4 courses my first semester, which– if you’re able to do it– is something i’d recommend. it helps with adjustment, yknow?

    previous askas have written some pretty solid posts on this i can link you to, on getting work done, buttering up your profs,  and using the resources at your disposal.  these are probably the three biggest recommendations i’d make to you: develop a strong work ethic, engage with your instructors/classes, and know what’s there at the university to help you make it through. as i said, i’m not too familiar with utsc but there are definitely supports there in place. just know that it’s not impossible to do well at u of t, no matter what reddit declares.

    bottom line– scared you won’t make it through? chances are you’ll probably be all right, especially with that entering average. but i make no concrete promises or predictions. like a previous aska has put it, the experience will be what you make of it.

    i’m planning to put up a comprehensive askastudent guide to surviving this uni, hopefully sometime soon (lord knows we need one). will link it in the comments below once it’s up.

    cheers,

    aska

     

  • eeb,  exclusions,  UTSC

    the strange world of exclusions

    Hi!!

    I took off the winter semester due to personal reasons however now I’m interested in coming back in the fall so I’m also trying to catch up on classes that I missed out on during the winter semester. I’m interested in taking an EEB major or specialist (not sure yet) but that means that I need bio130 which isn’t offered in the fall(only the winter). I know UTM and UTSC both offer the same course under different course codes (BIO152 and BIOA01H3) in the fall and I’ve decided to go to UTSC for that course since it makes more sense distance wise and also scheduling, but bio130 and bio120 both come up as ordered exclusions for BIOA01H3 and I don’t know what that means or if I can even take that course now, since it’s not under exclusions either.

    Also if I’m taking a course at UTSC do I need to notify my registrar/program coordinator because I’ll want the BIOA01H3 to count as bio130 for a requirement for the program I want or can I just take it and it’ll just transfer automatically.

    I know this is a lot all at once, sorry!! I’m just super confused and any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    hi!

    welcome back!

    as you said, BIO120 and 130 are exclusions for BIOA01H3. basically, if a course is listed as an exclusion, you can’t take the course if you’re taking (or have taken) the excluded course(s). you can check out the faculty calendar for more information on exclusions.

    hypothetically, BIOA01H3 is equivalent to BIO130. however, i don’t know whether or not the EEB department will accept BIOA01H3 as a part of their program requirements. i would definitely get in contact with them directly to see if they would accept BIOA01H3.

    since you’ve also taken some time off, i suggest making an appointment with an academic adviser at your college registrar’s office. i personally find it really helpful to talk to someone about my academic plans and to have a capital-A Adult tell me that i’m on the right track. they’ll also be able to give you more detailed information on taking courses at another campus, if that’s the route you decide to go down.

    hope this helps! sorry that i couldn’t really give you a concrete answer either, but equivalent courses at other campuses and figuring them out always throws me for a loop. and i don’t wanna lead you astray or give you bad advice.

    episode 18 ghost GIF

    good luck!

    xoxo,

    aska