• GPA,  non degree

    so you wanna increase your GPA

    Hi, I have graduated from Syria and moved to Canada, I would like to so an MBA and I match all the criteria but my GPA is low due to the war situation in Syria, I’m wondering if you know how can I increase my GPA with some programs at UFT so I can get an acceptance for MPA?


    hey there,

    so you wanna increase your gpa! ok, so the main way that people increase their gpa for grad school is to take courses as a non-degree student.

    Spongebob Squarepants Yes GIF by nounish ??-?

    to do this, you can apply to u of t as a non-degree student through ouac. in terms of admissions, they consider you based on your entire post-secondary academic record and your most recent annual gpa. and once you get in, you would be able to take arts, science, or commerce/management degree credit courses, either in-person or online!

    in terms of getting an MBA (master of business administration), i’m not sure if you want to apply to u of t or another school? but i can give you a link for a page about the requirements at u of t.

    here, it outlines several requirements about grades, work experience, english proficiency, and the like. for example, you need a final year average of at least mid-B from a recognized university, and a minimum gpa of 3.0 in the final year of your bachelor’s degree.

    it also might be useful for you to look into this page about international degree equivalencies, as well as this transcript guide for the MBA at u of t.

    Season 1 Stuff GIF by The Roku Channel

    that might be a lot of stuff, but it is also stuff for later!

    so i would first focus on getting your gpa up. idk why i’m looking so far ahead, someone stop me.

    Swan Princess Oops GIF by The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music

    but anyways, if you had more specific questions about getting in as a non-degree student, you can get in touch with enrolment services. and if you want more resources, here is a page about applying in general, and here is woodsworth college’s really great guide to being a non-degree student.

    i hope this helps, good luck with everything. and happy valentine’s day! i might have no plans, but i do have a sweet date with a midterm pretty soon! life is so fun.

    over and out,

    aska

  • GPA,  graduation,  probation

    the e in student stands for expensive and exhausting, change my mind.

    Hello, I’ve been at UTM since 2013, been suspended twice, currently still on probation but hoping to be done with my credits by august 2024.

    Because of all my F’s on my transcript, it’s really hard to get my gpa up to a 1.5 in order to graduate on time. I have 5 credits left and that would mean getting almost an 80 in most of them by next summer so I can finally be done.
    I don’t want to spend any more time at UTM than is absolutely necessary – I’ve got bills to pay and a life to start so I will work my hardest to get the grades. BUT just in case it doesn’t work out like I am hoping so – has anyone ever heard of someone graduating if they had a gpa lower than 1.50? Through a petition or anything ?
    Thank you for any help anyone can give me

    hi there,

    geez, i’m sorry, that sounds really tough. i wish i could reach across the screen and shower you with good luck, kind professors in your future, and chocolate ice cream.

    after consulting a wise little bird, i can say that graduating with a GPA lower than 1.5  is not possible, and nobody has ever been able to do it. so i hope you’re successful in your plans! i can totally understand wanting to get this done as soon as possible, being a student is expensive and exhausting.

    just a little side note that i thought would be worth mentioning: anyone who graduates with a GPA between 1.5 and 1.84 would graduate without honours, so, for example, it wouldn’t be a “Honours Bachelor of Science” but a “Bachelor of Science”, and same with Arts.

    anyways, dear internet stranger, you can do this!! i believe in you! reference image below of how i look right now cheering you on:

    Anime gif. Bojji of Ranking of Kings pumps his fists in front of him and yells, “You can do it!”

    over and out,

    aska

  • GPA,  Transferring

    gpa is forever (mostly)

    Hi,

    I was wondering if gpa resets when you transfer within campuses at uoft? let’s say i transferred from utsc to utsg, will my gpa reset or remain the same?


    hey there,

    so first of all i know this is really late….. i’m sorry!! but i’m BACK and i am here to stay.

    now onto your actual question: it depends. you actually can get a gpa “reset” if you transfer into utsg artsci from some other faculties at uoft. your transfer credits would not have any marks associated with them, and they can still count towards part of your degree or program requirements.

    BUT the catch is, utm, utsc, and daniels faculty don’t count. if you transfer from a different campus or daniels and go into utsg artsci, your previous courses will be “retained credits” and they will be part of your cgpa. and no, you cannot refuse these retained credits. 🙁 … or maybe 🙂 if you’re really happy about your marks so far i guess.

    all the best,

    aska

  • CR/NCR,  current student,  GPA

    sounds familiar… hello cr/ncr my old friend

    I’m ready to graduate this June, but took a couple of extra classes this sem to boost my gpa and get more writing experience. I kinda want to graduate with high distinction, but I think one class might weigh me down from that. Should I cr/ncr it or just accept missing the high distinction cut off? It’s a class within my program but doesn’t count toward any reqs as those are done. Also I’m considering grad school so idk if cr/ncr would affect that. Would high gpa look better or visible grades?


    hello there,

    so sorry for the late response — i’m just getting to these long-overdue cr/ncr courses, but hopefully you were able to work something out. here are my two cents, anyhow, in case it helps.

    i think it depends on how much this course lowers your gpa, and whether it’s related to your undergrad or potential grad programs. i haven’t heard much about how high distinction and other titles are considered by grad schools, but gpa would definitely be a factor that is considered. i would recommend calculating your gpa with potential marks for this course to see if it is still competitive for grad programs and other opportunities you may be interested in, e.g. jobs, scholarships. if this course doesn’t lower your gpa too much, you might be better off just keeping the grade. but also, beware of grad programs that focus on only your upper years or final year, which might cause this course to hold more weight.

    a CR might give the impression of a very low mark and could be a red flag, especially if it’s in a course related to your desired grad program. at the same time, just one CR/NCR in your final year (the main focus of many grad school admissions, e.g. uoft) may not be so much of an issue, especially if it saves your gpa! however, it’s best to contact your potential grad programs to ask how they consider CR/NCR in their admissions process.

    in any case, i hope the rest of your semester has gone smoothly, and wish you all the best for graduation!

    aska

  • GPA,  grades,  non degree

    back to school you go?

    Hey Aska, so I am thinking about the possibility of upgrading my GPA as a non-degree student. Since I didn’t think my GPA for my last two years was competitive (mid B range), I decided to take a year off to work, but now that I’ve lost that job opportunity due to Covid-19, I considered doing 2 or 3 courses at UTM. The problem is even with getting a 4.0 in those 2-3 courses, the most my GPA for the last two years will increase too is a high B+. I’ve been debating if the money & time is worth it.

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    hope you’re holding up all right and sorry about your job! i know these are tough times all around.

    bad day i give up GIF by America's Funniest Home Videos

    even under normal circumstances, it sucks to have plans upended. i hope that other, even better opportunities are in your future and that you have enough to stay on your feet right now.

    anyhow, if you’re asking me whether or not think it’s worth it for you to go back to school to raise your gpa, well… that depends, doesn’t it? if you’re not going to use your GPA for anything (ie. grad school or something else??) then i’d say the answer is probably no.

    sometimes people go back to school to work on their GPA just cause it bothers them so much, or because they’re worried about how their GPA will look on a resume. which, if it’s the latter, i wouldn’t worry… i’ve been told by a peer career advisor that it doesn’t even really matter whether or not your GPA is on a resume, in terms of employment. and if it’s the former reason… i dunno. i just don’t think it’s worth the resources, yknow?

    anyway, you didn’t specify what your motivation was, but my guess is that it’s neither of those (included them to cover my bases in case i’m wrong lol). i think you were intending on going to grad school, given that you mentioned you took “a year off” to work. a year off from education, i’m presuming?

    if i am indeed the ultimate detective slash genius that i think i am, and you are indeed thinking of doing this for grad school purposes, here are a few things i think you should note as you weigh your decision:

    • grad schools will be able to see that you raised your GPA by completing courses as a non-degree student, and will take this into account
    • like you mentioned, doing well in two or three courses won’t work miracles for a GPA that took several years to take shape.
    • it would be best if you check in with the grad school programs you’re considering and see how they feel about this avenue of GPA-raising, as well as whether they think it would be a good idea / give you an edge / detract from the way they consider your GPA. it’s hard for me to speak for them, given i have literally zero experience in grad school admissions.
    • it might be useful to contact your registrar and see what they think, as well. if you graduated recently, they should still have your info on file and may be able to provide guidance as to whether or not taking more courses is worth it.

    also, just so you know, online school (so far) has actually really sucked. that might be useful to take into account if you’re planning to complete those two or three courses this summer. it’s hard to focus on your schoolwork when you’re staring at a screen for so long, many profs have no frickin’ clue what they’re doing, some online exams are truly designed to screw you over… man. if i could dodge online school without interfering so much with these glorious (read: so terribly mundane) plans i have for my life, i would.

    cant GIF

    anyway, ball’s in your court. good luck making the decision.

    be Boundless,
    aska
  • GPA,  grad school,  grades,  graduation,  health

    this post has been brought to you by my last half brain cell

    So basically I really really messed up last year I filed petition for not writing exam due to health issues.. I was diagnosed with spinal cancer and things were just really hard… and I read the petition form has to be
    signed within the day of the exam or the next day but because I was unwell it ended up getting it after a couple days and I got scared and changed the date by 3 days I did this for 1.5 credits …. I was super honest about my mistake and they said from May 2019-December 2019 I’ll be suspended and the 1.5 credits will be a 0..

    I don’t mind I was suspended at the time cuz I had to have emergency surgery to remove the tumor because the dr said if I don’t I’ll become paralyzed and wheelchair bound sooo in April 24 I did the surgery hoping I would be able to walk again and by May 15 I left rehab walking!!! And now this winter I’ll be doing some tests just to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned so things were crazy…

    But now I realize that I’m suspended cuz u tried going into my email or acorn and it isn’t working and I’m freaking out!! Cuz before I didn’t think I could even walk to school and would rather quit if that’s what happened, but thankfully I am fully recovered and now It is hitting me that I’m suspended and when I was in high school i was never the type and I’m just really sad and disappointed in myself…

    I’m worried I won’t be able to enroll for Jan-April 2020 did they kick me out of uni? How do I know I can start to log in and enroll just in time for classes in January? Should I go to uni to see in December or just wait till the start of January??

    And I’m actually a 4th year and barely completed any classes due to extreme fatigue and pain… but now I feel so much healthier and think I can graduate either as a 6th or 7th year… but if I were to apply for grad
    schools like masters for microbiology or immunology would they see that I stayed at school for too long and not want me??

    ——————————————

    I basically got enrolled!! so scratch that question… But since 1.5 credits are a zero i was wondering if i were to take a total of 29 credits.. would those extra 9 be added in the final gpa?? I feel if i were to do that many extra credits i would be happy with my gpa.. But is that allowed??

    ——————————————

    hey there,

    sorry for the wait in getting this question answered– glad you managed to get fully recovered and enrolled again! it sounds like the last few years have been a wild ride for you and it’s good that you’re doing better now. we love feeling healthy.

    even though you said you resolved the issues in the first question you sent in, i do kinda wanna address them. you should have been able to access your email and ACORN while suspended– the only thing you don’t have access to while on suspension is course enrolment. that section of your ACORN would probably have been blocked, but everything else should have been available for you. i’m not too sure what happened, but from what you said i guess you managed to resolve it. if you ever run into similarly confusing circumstances, i wouldn’t advise waiting– always contact your registrar if something seems to be wrong. if it’s too inconvenient for you to go in person, feel free to email them or give them a call. that’s what they’re there for, after all!

    as for your questions about grad school– yes, they would be able to see from your transcript how long you’ve been in school, but what you may not know is that grad school apps usually give you an opportunity to explain any academic anomalies you might have. you’d be able to let them know about your health issues (which are 100% valid) and they’d take that into account when considering you for admissions. hopefully that eases your mind a bit. you shouldn’t be expected to finish in four years if students not dealing with your level of health concerns have trouble finishing in four years, too.

    as for your question about GPA — technically, yes, you can boost your GPA by taking an extra 9 credits after you complete your 20. according to the rules and regulations, the courses you take beyond 20 credits don’t qualify for exception from your CGPA. i found out today that actually, you can even graduate and continue to take courses and have them count towards your CGPA. hope that helps you out– keep in mind that the more credits you take, the less each one affects your CGPA. so it can be kind of hard to go beyond 20 and pull your GPA up significantly. but hey, if it’s the loophole you need it’s the loophole you have.

    the more times i use this gif the funnier it gets. instead of one dude lifting the roof, you get several doing it in sync. here’s one more just because.

    be Boundless,

    aska

     

     

  • GPA

    don’t b confused!

    Hi there,

    I just had a question about cGPA, if my Cgpa is currently at a 2.61 does that mean it’s in the B- range? I’m a bit confused because the scale jumps from a 2.3 which is a C+, to a 2.7 which is a B-, and mine is in between the two.

    ——————————————

    hello!

    the thing with gpa is it’s just… complicated and kind of stupid sometimes. i brought this up with my registrar, and they told me that all it means is that you’re in the middle. which tells you nothing new, i know.

    you are closer to a C+, but apparently you’re not definitively one or the other. it’s frustrating. even i’m a lil frustrated on your behalf– my gut says that if you’ve got to put your GPA down somewhere, for a job app or something (???) it would be more honest to go with the lower range of things, and just say you’re at a C+. even though i feel like it should round up.

    you could always try plugging your info into the GPA calculator (not sure why it’s struck thru lol internet things big sorry) and see what it says. maybe that’ll be more helpful!

    hope this eased your confusion, even though it doesn’t feel like much of an answer.

    cheers,

    aska

  • fees,  GPA,  grades,  health and wellness,  mental health,  OSAP

    mario kart ghost mode is the only mode that matters

    Hi there,

    I am currently in my third year  at UTSG and sitting at a 2.61 GPA and I am feeling pretty shitty about myself, I had a pretty rough last semester, but am trying to get myself back on track for my last year and a half. Is messing up a semester going to set me back significantly? do you think that taking summer courses and trying to get good grades in my 4th year would be enough time for me to pull my GPA back up? I feel really bad because I went from a 2.9 in my first year to a 2.61 in my first semester of third year, because of personal reasons and I also changed programs. How do I stop comparing myself to the accomplishment of others? I know my GPA is not the worst, still a B, but it is so hard being surrounded by others who are doing so well, and is so toxic and damaging to my mental health.

    ALSO OSAP QUESTION

    I was advised by my registrar to drop the courses that I was not doing well in this year to save my GPA, which brought me to 3 courses per term, which is still a full time status, and was told that i would not get in trouble with OSAP for dropping these courses. Is this correct? I am afraid to drop the courses I want to this semester because of this and I do not want to get into any type of trouble with osap.

    thanks..

    ——————————————

    hello!

    coupla questions here, so i guess i’ll break it up like i usually do.

    can i pull my gpa up?

    i thought about this one for a while. looked at the numbers and all, and tried to figure out if there was some mathy way i could give you reassurance. unfortunately, my brain doesn’t really work like that, but i can link you to the u of t gpa calculator that will be able to give you a more definitive answer anyway. basically, it’ll let you input your grades so far, as well as hypothetical grades for future semesters. then, it’ll calculate your SGPA and CGPA with all that considered.

    the thing with summer courses is that they are accelerated, so they can sometimes be harder to do well in. so just be cautious before rushing into it, i would say.

    osap!!!

    ah, money issues. so for your OSAP to be secure as an undergrad, you need to have at least 1.5 credits per term– that translates to three courses. as long as you make sure you keep these three courses, your osap should be safe! keep in mind this doesn’t mean an average of three per semester– you can’t take two now and four later, and hope you’ll be okay. osap looks at each term separately. and if you do have a permanent disability of any sort, that requirement drops down to 1.0 credits or two courses.

    what about my mental health?

    i feel like i should start by linking you to mental health resources. i’m only really aware of the ones @uoftears_ on instagram uses: where to get free mental health help in toronto, as well as the university health and wellness centre and mental health resources. if you check these out, they’ll likely to be able to give you better support than i can, and if you’re struggling with your own mental health i want you to get the best help possible.

    with that said, this is definitely something i’m sensitive to.  every time i get a question along these lines i’m at once saddened that another person feels this way, but glad that we have the opportunity to talk about it a little. we go to a competitive school, and based on your program/community maybe you’ll feel it more than others might.

    one way i’ve been taught to look at it– and you can decide for yourself whether this perspective makes you feel better or pisses you off– is that you never know what’s going on under the surface. it may seem like some people have it all– are doing super well, have that golden 4.0, whatever. the thing is, people with all sorts of GPAs are self-conscious about their grades, and those at the higher end of the scale often feel an insane amount of pressure that begins to impede on their mental health as well. seems like they should be happy with what they’ve got, yeah, but the happiness isn’t intrinsic to the number– it’s more about how you look at it.

    basically, it can be rough no matter what your GPA is, unless you’re able to work towards the place where your grades and self-worth aren’t intertwined. obviously, this is just my take. it’s something i struggle quite a lot with myself, if that helps. i myself was raised in an environment where my self-esteem was contingent on my academic achievement, and that’s something i’d like to leave behind but haven’t yet. bad grades still feel hella personal, especially when i know people are doing a lot better than me. so i definitely sympathize there.

    something i’m trying to learn is that it’s definitely healthier to focus on yourself. think about it like playing mario kart ghost mode, if you will. sure, you can try to out-race everyone else, but because i SUCK at racing games i’ve learned to be okay with beating my own record. hopefully someday that’ll transfer over to the rest of my life. but for now, it’s a start. wow, a metaphor! hope my high school english teacher would be proud.

    suffice it to say that i really hope you’ll be able to pull your GPA up, but if you can’t? just work on what you can control– improving your study habits, learning the material, and reaching out when you need help. and throw some time in to take care of yourself too, man. put on a face mask. spend a lil time outside, now that it’s warming up. watch an episode of a show you like. idk, whatever works for you. best of luck, my friend.

    x aska

  • arts & sciences,  courses,  CR/NCR,  credits,  enrollment,  enrolment,  GPA,  prereqs,  repeating course

    we love a good second chance

    Hey, so I wanted to know if you can retake a course you “no credited”? I want to major in sociology but I took only SOC102, LWD SOC103, and NCR SOC150 ( first 2 yrs were tough) There’s only certain combinations allowed and my only hope really is if I’m allowed to try SOC150 again.  Any advice?!

    Thanks!

    ——————————————

    hi there,

    did some digging for ya, and i’m not gonna lie– initially, it looked like it was gonna be bad news. as far as the artsci website says, you shouldn’t ever cr/ncr a course if there’s even a remote chance you’ll need it for program enrolment. the implication being, you don’t have many options if you’ve already done so.

    HOWEVER. i read through half of the faculty of arts and sciences rules and regulations to see if i could find you a loophole, and it looks like there might actually be one.

    chelsea peretti television GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine

    apparently if you’ve already passed a course, you’re not allowed to retake it; that includes courses you’ve passed with ‘CR’. but under the ‘repeating passed courses’ section, the rules allow for a single repeat of a course to achieve the minimum entry mark for a program like soc. this retake won’t count towards your gpa or graduation requirements, but it will be on your academic record.

    either way, what’s important in your case is that yes, you are able to give SOC150 another shot!

    in order to make it happen, you’ll need to get in contact with your college registrar. they’ll be able to give you further advice as well as enrol you in the course (from what i’ve read, i don’t think you can enrol in it yourself). i believe you’ll have lower priority to get in than students taking the course for the first time, but don’t let that stop you from going after this.

    best of luck,
    aska
  • GPA,  probation,  subject POST

    it’s not you, it’s me

    This might seem like a weird question, but I just spent an additional year
    trying to get into a type 3 specialist POSt. I’m sitting at a healthy 3.15
    CGPA right now, but economics scares me and it will probably drop. At what
    gpa/cgpa does the university kick me out of a program? Don’t get me wrong,
    I’m still going to work my ass off, haha, but I really would appreciate the
    piece of mind of knowing the very edge of my acceptable limit.

    ———————————————

    hello,

    holy crap. a 3.15 CGPA is so healthy yo.

    in regards to your question, you’re in luck. once you’re in a program, you’re in it for good.

    the program can’t break up with you, but you can break up with the program.

    even if you go on academic probation, get suspended, or take 10 years off, your program will stay the same unless you change it or remove it yourself.

    even though you aren’t going to get removed from your program, you should still set an “acceptable limit”. i would recommend that you try to stay above a 1.50 CGPA in order to remain in good academic standing. once you go below a 1.50 CGPA, you will be on academic probation which has a lot of not-so-fun consequences attached to it. if you want a good scare, look here.

    you should definitely continue working your ass off! (oh no, i said ass!!! but you said it first!)

    you’re doing great so far, so keep it up!

    peace and love,

    aska

     

     

     

     

  • commerce,  gap year,  GPA,  international students,  rotman

    i want a 9 CGPA

    Hey there,
    I have currently completed my 12th from India. I would like to join
    university of toronto,Mcgill university, York university or university of
    British Columbia for undergraduation in business or finance. But due to
    certain circumstances I have missed this year’s application deadline. So,
    if I take a gap of a year and apply again next year, will the colleges
    consider me or not due to the year off. I am an student with
    With around 86% in 12th and 9 CGPA In 10th.

    Regards from India

    ———————————————

    hello,

    taking a gap year after your last year of high school will not affect your chances of getting into U of T. most of my friends that i’ve met at U of T took gap years before first year!

    with regards to your GPA, i’m not familiar with the GPA scale in India since it is very different than the 4.0 scale we use here, but i would recommend that you look at this link which tells you the minimum requirements for students applying from India. GPA calculations are already quite tricky and since we are only familiar with the U of T scale, i think it’s best that we don’t try to convert/ translate your CGPA and let the pros at admissions do it.

    the link says you will need: “All India Senior School Certificate (awarded by CBSE) or Indian School Certificate (awarded by CISCE).  Year 12 State Board Exams with excellent results will also be considered on an individual basis.”

    … none of that made any sense to me but i hope it made sense to you!

    “excellent results”, of course, is super vague, and since you’re trying to get into rotman commerce, the admission requirements may be slightly different. here’s a link to rotman commerce’s admission requirements- make sure you scroll to the part about apply from high schools outside of canada! hope this helps!

    have a wonderful gap year and make the most out of your time!

    good luck with your application and we hope to see you here soon!

    peace and love,

    aska

     

  • GPA

    give up your social life now

    Is it possible to graduate with a 3.5 in fourth year if I have only a 2.0 in first?

    ———————————————

    hello,

    let me just preface this by saying that i don’t know how to do math. i also hate math. a lot.

    my unofficial, unverified calculations tell me that: (assuming you took 5.0 FCE’s in first year and achieved a 2.0 CGPA) you would need to have a 4.0 average for your next 15.0 FCE’s in order to graduate with a 3.5.

    be prepared to work your butt off. it’s gon’ be hard but i believe in you!

    i think it would be a good idea to track your progress with this handy “unofficial” GPA calculator brought to you by UTSC. at the registrar’s office, we generally direct students to this link if they have questions about their GPA. you can try plunking in your grades to see what you have to get to achieve a 3.5 GPA.

    best of luck!

    peace and love,

    aska

  • GPA,  grad school,  grades,  graduation,  undergrad

    don’t go

    Hello! I’ve tried looking for this answer but I can’t seem to find it. Is there a limit to how many years you can do to complete your undergrad? I’m on my 5th contemplating doing a 6th. I’m also hoping to change 1 of my majors as well. My GPA is terrible and am very slowly reaching the minimum requirement to graduate but I’m really starting to wonder if I should take another year instead. I feel like I would really regret leaving the school with the bare minimum GPA required since it’s so final

    ———————————————

    hello there!

    there is no limit! you can take as long as you want to finish your undergrad. if you want to stay behind and boost your GPA, that’s perfectly fine. unless you’re an international student, then you’ll have to make sure you have the right visa allowances.

    you can definitely change one of your majors if you meet the requirements, you just have to do in within the appropriate program switching period.

    if you leave school with the bare minimum GPA, it might be hard for you to apply to grad schools (if that’s what you’re interested in). if you see more school in your future, it would be a good idea to stay behind to get a better GPA.

    it’s very common to take longer than 4 years to do your undergrad, so don’t worry about it!

    you got this!

    peace and love,

    aska