• economics,  english,  hard

    just give me a stRAIGHT ANSWER, MAN

    July 17, 2015

    Hello!! I’m somewhat seeking advice on what I should take this upcoming first year at UTSG with many worries… First question: Is MAT133 extremely difficult? I’m having a hard time choosing a second major (Stuck between English or Economics) and it seems that MAT133 is a requirement for an eco major. Second question: which one seems to be a better major, Economics or English? I did very well in HS english and have req for any math programs but im afraid i wont do too well? pls halp pls

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i always tell people not to ask me how difficult stuff is, but then i answer the question anyway, so maybe i’m bringing these questions upon myself.

    listen, there’s not much i can tell you that can be truly helpful. trust me: i GET that you’re afraid, and you just want someone to tell you how it is so you don’t have to go in blind. unfortunately, i really don’t think i can do that.

    i could tell you that i found first-year calc pretty difficult. i could tell you that i finished with a 96% in grade 12 calculus and got a 77% average in MAT135+136. however, those things reflect one person’s experience. i couldn’t tell you if it’s a typical or atypical one, and there’s no guarantee that you will have the same experience. you may be smarter than i am (probably), or less smart (less likely).

    besides, there were all sorts of factors that affected that mark – by December, i realized i didn’t want to continue in a life science program, so i did worse in 136 than i had done in 135 because i wasn’t invested anymore. also, the class was really early in the morning, which is never easy for me, meaning i missed more than a few classes.

    also, MAT135/6 is not exactly the same course as MAT133, so it’s not a perfect comparison.

    what might be more helpful is to look over some materials from the actual course and decide for yourself how hard it looks. fortunately, MAT133Y1 is well-documented online. here’s some great information including average text marks in 2014-15. here is the syllabus.

    look those over. reflect on how difficult you found calculus in grade 12, and on how well you did. finally, think about whether you enjoyed it.

    at the end of the day, if you really enjoy the material, you WILL be motivated to succeed. it’s that simple. so if you don’t really like math but you feel like you have to do it, don’t. if you sign up for MAT133 and sit through the first couple of classes and find you’re not liking it, just drop it (the last day you can drop Y courses from your academic record in the Fall/Winter is February 12th).

    loving it won’t make it easy, but it will make it doable.

    and from one esoteric question to another: what qualifies as a “better” major in your eyes? easier? more enjoyable? more interesting? more employable? because that all depends on you, and your interests, and how well you do, and luck, to a large extent.

    not to beat a dead horse, but if you like something, you will do well in it. and if you do well in it, opportunities will come your way.

    ALSO, if you REALLY can’t decide, you can always do a double major. actually, you’re not allowed to do just one major. you could do an english specialist or an econ specialist, but one major isn’t enough to get you a degree. so if you can’t decide between the two, that may be the way to go.

    oh, and by the way – you have all of first year to make these decisions. so if you just wanna take some first-year econ and english courses just to see which you prefer, that’s okay. you have until next summer to figure it all out. you can do it.

    aska

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  • admissions,  english,  scholarships/bursaries

    i just want money for my academic achievements is that too much to ask

    August 7, 2014

    Hi! I received 95 and above in grade 12 english this summer is there any scholarships available at u of t for english? Also I’ve been told they don’t count it when its done in the summer…

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    you can take a look at all the awards offered by the department of english here, though i don’t think the fact that you got a 95% in english will be relevant for any of them (kudos, though). looks like they’re all based on achievements in english courses at uoft.

    if you’d like to apply for any scholarships based on your high school achievements, you may want to look into entrance scholarships offered by the university. or you can go searching out in the wild west of external scholarships. prepare yourself, though. they can get pretty wacky.

    finally, if you take high school courses in summer school, they will be counted towards admission.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • english,  keeners

    so you think you’re all that and a bag of chips huh

    July 24, 2014

    Hello! Are 300-level English courses considerably more difficult than 200-level English courses? I just finished my first year and I’d really like to take ENG353Y if some of the 200-level courses I’m interested are full. Thanks!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    the thing about first and second year is that the classes usually have tutorials where the lecture material is broken down in small groups. with tutorials, you get two passes at every lesson – one with the prof, one with the TA.

    ENG353Y1, as you can see, doesn’t have any tutorials. in a class like that, you’ll be expected to be much more independent than in a 100- or 200-level course. your essays will be longer and more intensive, and there’ll be a higher level of quality expected as well.

    that said, if you meet the prerequisites and you feel like you did really well in the first-year English courses you took, then who am i to say that you can’t do it? if you’re just thinking about taking one 300-level class, and you did very well in first year, it could be manageable.

    contact the english department if you’d like to discuss this further with an expert, but that’s aska’s humble opinion. ((if you fail the class you can’t sue me.))

    best of luck with your ambitions,

    aska

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  • courses,  english

    okay but like i can’t pick your courses for you, guys

    July 21, 2014

    Hello The Epitome of Awesomeness, I’m planning out my schedule and I have a conflict between two courses I really want to take: ENG200H and ENG240Y. The professors for both courses seem great, so instead of closing my eyes and choosing one at random, I’m hoping you could give me some advice. Have you ever taken either? What are your opinions on both? Thanks!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i haven’t taken either course, but like i said, you’ll probably find that circumstance will make the choice for you. either you won’t be able to get into one of them on ROSI, or one will conflict with another course you want to take, or you won’t like the prof, blah blah blah…

    if by some miracle there’s space in both courses when your start time rolls around, here are a few things to help you decide:

    1. do either of them meet program requirements?

    2. are either of them prerequisites for upper-year courses you might be interested in taking?

    3. are either of them beneficial for an application to any graduate/professional programs you may be interested in?

    4. when the lists go up for both courses, you may want to compare the reading list for both courses on the uoft bookstore website. if you don’t wanna read the stuff, you shouldn’t take the course.

    5. one of them is a half-level course and one is a full-year, so if you pick the H course, i hope you have some equally as awesome S-course in mind to fill the gap. or, on the flip side, if you take the Y course, make sure it doesn’t go over the course limit (either set by the university, or by your own academic limitations).

    hope that’s helpful, my friend.

    aska

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  • book and media studies,  courses,  english

    i’ve taken at least 2.5 courses i should know

    July 15, 2014

    I’m going to be a first year Humanities student at U of T starting in the Fall. I’m thinking about double majoring in English and Book & Media Studies once second year comes around. The problem is that I have no idea what courses I should take because there are really any specific course requirements for either program. I got accepted to Innis One, so I know I’ll be taking two half credit courses. I have no idea what to do though. Any suggestions for courses? Thanks!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    well congrats on having your interests so coherent and figured out already. aska also happens to be in an english POSt, and that’s about all the assurance you need that a subject POSt is going to absolutely blow your mind.*

    as for courses, you’ve got quite a bit of flexibility, especially in your first year. however, to make sure that the POSts are right for you, it’s a good idea to take one or more of the first year courses offered by the department.

    ENG140Y1 and ENG150Y1 are the first-year courses offered by the English department. aside from being really great classes, a lot of people who will end up in an English POSt take them, and it’s nice to be have the same knowledge foundation as everyone else in your major.

    there are no first-year Book & Media Studies courses. i’d recommend that you take SMC188Y1, which can go towards fulfilling admission requirements for the POSt, but it looks like you can’t take the course if you’re in innis one. you might consider taking Book & Media’s introductory course, which is SMC219Y1. think about it carefully, though, because it is a second-year course, which some first-years can find a bit overwhelming. but you know – you could be a child prodigy. who knows. anyway, it’s your call.

    generally speaking, there are a myriad different courses that can nicely complement English and Book & Media Studies. i found that taking a couple of Classics courses is nice for an English major, because a lot of the old-as-sand literature you’ll be reading will reference ancient Greek and Roman myths and stuff. Latin, Celtic Studies and French are pretty good supplements to an English POSt as well. finally, a couple History courses could nicely contextualize what you learn about in your Book & Media courses.

    also, it’s a good idea to take a couple breadth requirement courses while you’re in first year, if you can. the quicker they’re out of the way, the easier it is for you, though they only need to be done by the time you graduate.

    cheers,

    aska

    *no, i don’t think my rampant narcissism is a problem. why?

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  • admissions,  architecture,  english,  extracurricular,  UTM

    wherein i solve all of youth’s problems.

    December 2, 2013

    Hello there,
    I’m currently in Grade 12, and am thinking of applying to U of T’s Architecture Studies program, and also to the English program (for teachers’ college) in U of T Mississauga. I understand that they’re discontinuing (or working out the kinks at least) the Concurrent Teacher’s Education Program for the 2014-2015 school year. OK. Hereee goess…1. Realistically, what is the likelihood of me getting into the Architecture program with [information redacted] and probably a low to mid 80 average overall? 2. I do a lot of leadership stuff in my extracurricular activities in and outside of school. I am currently in 5-8 clubs and is a leader in at least half of them. Is there any way I can show them the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve put into managing all this in my student life? Does it even matter? 3. What would I need (grade wise) in order to get into the English program at UTM? 4. From my understanding, you can apply to the CTEP in your second year. Is that true? If so, is there a glimmer of hope that I may be able to be in the CTEP in my second year? 5. Realistically, if I get accepted into both programs, would I be able to attend to both UTM and U of T? I have transportation to both.
    Thanks so much

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    you people who number your questions are my favourite people. i bet you’re also the people who colour-code your notes and have daily to-do lists, aren’t you? it’s ok, don’t worry. this is an accepting environment. you can be honest with me.

    anyway, i’m just gonna go ahead and follow your numbering system along, since you’ve gone to the trouble of making it:

    1. yo, guys. i’m not an admissions committee. i don’t KNOW if your precise averages will be enough to get you in. and neither does the school – it all depends on the competition of everyone else applying with you. what you can do to ease your mind is take a look at last year’s incoming averages for a rough idea. that table says that incoming students had an average mark in the mid-80s for architecture, so make of that what you will.

    2. now, this is the one that stings. they tell you for four years that extra-curriculars are really helpful for getting into university – they drill it into you. well, guess what? they LIED. the university only looks at marks, and that’s just the unfortunate truth of the matter. HOWEVER some colleges (*cough* vic *cough*) do require a supplemental form in which you can brag about all your extracurricular achievements, and obviously scholarships and grants (which I would highly recommend applying to) are heavily based on extracurricular achievement, so hopefully it didn’t ALL go to waste.

    3. if we once more look at this glorious page and scroll down to utm – humanities, we’ll see that previous incoming averages came out to the mid-70s.

    4. you absolutely can apply to CTEP in second year! not only can you do it, but it seems like that’s when the majority of people apply, so i think that if you meet their admission requirements, you should be fine. they’re very reasonable requirements too – gpa of at least 2.5, full course-load, enrolled at utm, and complete certain first-year courses. if you stay focused and complete those, i’d say you have a good chance of getting in.

    5. utm and uoft are separate universities. it is possible to take some classes downtown if you’re from utm, but you can’t be enrolled in both institutions, even if you can drive back and forth between them five times in a day. soz.

    hoping you have a smashin’ first year,

    aska

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  • admissions,  americans,  being canadian,  comp lit,  english,  grad school,  international students,  masters

    corn pops and comp lit: being american at u of t

    September 11, 2012

    Dear askastudent,

    So I just recently developed an interest in UofT for grad school. Canada seems pretty great, and I want to explore some other places in the world. I would go to school for Literature, which falls in the Arts and Sciences program if my research is correct. Anyway, I was just wondering if you could give some advice about what would be expected from life in Canada that differs from the states. Is there any way to go about making the tuition cheaper? What is the english/comp lit department like?

    Any words of wisdom will suffice, like I said: simply curious! Thanks

    ———————–

    Hi there oh curious American,

    You asked the right guy! The handsome and mysterious genius behind askastudent may just be an American student, and may also just be doing the undergraduate program in Comparative Literature.

    The Centre for Comparative Literature is a fantastic and well respected program. Literary theorist Northrop Frye is just one of the great academics who made their careers at the University’s Victoria College, and your colleagues and professors in the program are of the highest caliber. What that also means is that it’s pretty tough to get in! For starters, the masters program requires you to be highly proficient in at least one language other than English, and for the doctorate, at least two (some students have an arsenal of a half dozen).

    Something else to consider: Despite the program’s high profile and prestige, humanities programs in Canada and at U of T are constantly under attack as academia angles towards more profitable ventures like science and business research. Just recently, the Centre for Comparative Literature was on the chopping block, and only thanks to spirited organizing and activism on the part of the students is it still intact.

    There is also a larger Department of English, which I know less about except that my English TAs have always been big sweethearts! Poke around the sites and maybe you can see which program suits you.

    As for being American in Canada, I can sincerely say it totally rules. The differences are minor, and can therefore sometimes be all the more surreal. Let me prepare you for a few:
    – It’s more than likely that you will develop the subtle Canadian pronunciation of ‘out’ and ‘about.’ You might even pick up the dreaded ‘eh’ You won’t notice it until your American friends from home tease you for it, so it can be an ugly surprise, but you’ll learn to embrace it.
    – About half of the words with spelling differences in British English maintain them here. ‘Colour,’ ‘favourite,’ ‘centre’ and ‘theatre’ are the first ones to learn, but you’ll be stretching it a bit if you use ‘globalization.’ Either way, I’ve never had a professor get on my case about it, despite my best efforts at losing sleep over it in my first year.
    – Money is cute and bright here, and there’s lots more change.
    – Hockey is the name of the game here.
    – The corn pops are different– and much, much worse.
    Regarding the tuition, there’s not much to be done- you’ll be paying international fees for at least a few years of your degree. Even if you get engaged your first week on campus, the process towards Canadian residence or citizenship is longer than a Master’s degree.

    Here’s a helpful article about the experience of immigrating to Canada as an American: Immigrant with an Asterisk ()
    Stay sweet, and kiss the land of the free for me!

    aska

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  • english,  individual studies,  seminars

    one is the loneliness class capacity

    March 30, 2012
    Hi there,By any chance do you know of any place students have written about their experiences with ENG390Y1/392H1/393H1? I’m interested in taking an Individual Studies course next year and am curious about what students who have taken it have to say.Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Hi,

    Strangely enough, there are no forums dedicated to English Individual Studies courses. I actually haven’t heard of any students who have taken those courses. I bet they’re awesome though.

    No, I’m not being sarcastic. A course where you propose the material is bound to be a pretty awarding experience. That close-knit experience with a professor will be super beneficial too; both for a reference and to develop your skills one-on-one.

    Sometimes silence is a good thing. Hearing nothing about these courses probably means there are no huge complaints about them,

    ta,

    aska

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  • english

    programs for bookworms

    September 23, 2010

    Hi aska,

    I’m a second-year undergrad at UTSG, and I’ll get straight to the point: what’s the difference between the MAJ English and the MAJ Literary Studies (Comparative Literature)? The thing is, I want to be either a translator or work for a publishing house but I’m not sure which would be more beneficial to my (vague) goals.

    Also, up until recently (literally, 10 minutes ago) I was registered with two subject PoSTs in French (the literature stream) and English, then I decided to change my English major to VicU’s literary studies program. Now, I just dropped two English courses and am 2nd on the waiting list for VIC201Y; I’m /still/ on the waiting list for an FSL course so I can’t even try to join the waiting list for VIC210Y… Both have a meeting section of 60 people and I’d be first on the waiting list for 210. Did I just shoot myself in the foot? Repeatedly? With a 10-gauge shotgun?

    Love,
    A second year who just can’t make up her mind.

    ??????????????

    Hey there. In fitting form, I will answer your two-part question in um, two parts.

    1. While every program is different, doing Graduate Studies in English or Comparative Literature is a very different process. Take a look at the courses available in U of T’s Master’s English Program – the Canterbury Tales, Olde English. You’re doing the basic framework of British (and some American) literature. U of T’s Comperative Literature program on the other hand, offers interdisciplinary programs with the Women & Gender Studies program, for instance, or a class in psychoanalysis.

    Basically you’re looking at the difference between Harold Bloom or Jacques Lacan.

    If you’re intersted in doing more interdisciplinary stuff with your literature, or like reading work in translation, Comp Lit is probably the way to go. (Especially if you like reading work in translation!) If you want to go into publishing, it might make a hell of a lot more sense to look into Ryerson’s Publishing post-doc, where you will get actual applicable experience in publishing that will get you a job – and not just a thesis completed on Middle English phonetics, or whatever.

    Can you tell I dislike academia? I will probably end up being a tool & die maker after all.

    2. Obviously things have changed in the second week of classes – so maybe you have gotten into your classes after all? If not, you will have to retry taking those courses next year. The good news is that if you’re interested in Comp Lit. and English – Literary Studies is the best program at U of T to be in. There are small classes, great professors and really intriguing subject matter – and you probably won’t have to read any Chaucer! Take Julian Patrick’s Postmodern Film & Literature class when you get the chance and watch this Zizek movie.

    Good luck!

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • english,  hard

    jonesing for jane austen

    July 20, 2010

    hey aska,

    I just finished my first year as a lifesci kid and I’m going into my second
    as an english/global health maj.

    here’s my question:

    is it safe to jump into a 300 level course (ENG307 to be exact) without
    having taken a proper ENG course before?

    This course doesn’t have any pre-reqs, and the anti-calendar gives it a
    pretty awesome review (91% retake) But I’m a little hesitant because the
    only ‘English’ course i took last year was hum199 (first year seminar on
    poetry). I did really well, and English has always been my best subject, but
    I don’t want to get ahead of myself and assume I’ll be alright for a 300
    level.

    any advice? know anyone else i should talk to?

    thanks in advance

    ———————————————

    So you’re into “Victorian Women Writers”, eh? I’m into Soviet Realists, myself.

    Judging by the course description (and that promising anti calendar review!), this course seems like a good one to take for an English newbie such as yourself. Here’s why:

    We will situate these texts in a range of contexts such as debates about nationality, class, race, and gender; generic conventions; and the material contexts of patronage and publishing. This section of ENG307H will also introduce you to basic reference and research sources for the study of eighteenth-century English literature and English literature generally. An online exercise on Blackboard will give you practice using these before you hand in your major research paper.

    Just because it’s a 300 level course, doesn’t always make it difficult. It seems like this is more of a easy breezy survey course vibe, and not a difficult intensive seminar.

    Just to be sure though, I’d contact the English Department and even possibly the English Students Union in the fall about additional help or prep work required for the course (they have probably also have students who’ve taken the course before and can offer some tips). Remember that the Writing Centre is always a totally helpful resource when it comes to writing papers.

    Best of luck to you in your quest to learn more about these strange creatures called “women writers.”

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • courses,  easy,  english

    can’t read good, is hard english?

    July 19, 2010

    how would you rate the difficulty in english at u of t? as well, do you think you can give some advice to me since i’m planning to major in english? thank you :D!

    ———————————————

    English related quandery: do you think the late David Foster Wallace would have eventually added emoticons to his writing style? Hmm…

    Okay, so being the intrepid Aska that I am, I investigated the question by asking English-alum, current Walrus intern and all-around babe Naomi Skwarna for her advice. Here’s what Naomi says about English at U of T:

    It varies from prof-to-prof, subject-to-subject.

    A Few Thingies I Know to be True:

    There will always be a lot of reading

    You will always do better if you take at least one critical theory class

    Pick professors who you like, not subjects

    It’s not hard like science-hard, but it is time-consuming and potentially
    boring

    Compared to other University English programs, the material seems more
    conservative, and grading is considerably harder. This is what I hear from
    people at other schools

    Hope that helps!
    Thanks Naomi! If you’re interested in English and want to read works that are in translation, be sure to peruse the offerings at the Literary Studies program at Victoria College, particularly David Gilmour’s “Love and Sex In The Short Story” class. Sizzling.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • english

    stand by me

    July 16, 2010

    In the calendar it says that the 200 courses are open to students who have obtained standing in 1.0 ENG FCE or in any 4.0 FCE. What exactly does it mean by obtained standing? Does it mean enrolled in?

    ???????????????

    Hey there, I checked out the English specifications in the calendar for what you had mentioned, but couldn’t find the exact sentence. Irregardless,? “Obtained Standing” means “passed the course.”? So if you’ve already passed one ENG credit previously, or four additional credits, you can take 200 level classes.

    U of T English ain’t no Brock guide to Jane Austen. They’ve got like, way high standards.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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