• commerce,  courses,  first year

    graduating like a flash

    August 30, 2010

    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 =]

    ———————————————

    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

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  • breadth requirements,  easy,  first year,  math

    not good with numbers…

    August 30, 2010

    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!

    ———————————————

    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

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  • distribution,  first year

    take my breadth away

    August 9, 2010

    Hi,

    I’m a first year student at the St.George campus. I gained entrance into the faculty of Arts & Sciences by taking the Academic Bridging Program. I completed the program May 2009, but earned a B-, so I’m currently restricted to part-time studies. I will most likely not have the 4.0 credits with a 2.5 GPA until Summer 2011. I completed my first credit in 2009, but did not take another credit until now (Summer 2010). My question is, do I need complete distribution requirements (degree requirements when I initially gained acceptance) or breadth requirements (enacted shortly before I completed my first “regular” credit)?

    Thanks!!!

    ———————————————

    Hey there. If you were accepted in September 2008 into the Academic Bridging Program as a U of T student, then you do not need to take breadth requirements. (Thank god, right? Those things scare the hell out of me and I’m on my last credit!) You will stick to the old distribution requirement system, but are still eligible for first year classes (including seminars!) until you pass five courses.

    Hope that helps.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • architecture,  first year

    even frank gehry gets nervous

    August 9, 2010

    hey,

    Aside from being moderately excited about going to u of t, i am very apprehensive. im afraid that i wont be able to keep my marks up; but i guess everyone feels that way going into university. i was wondering about the types of courses? that i should be taking first year that would help me in the design major (aside from the arch courses). or does it really not matter. i was also wondering about what types of courses you take in a design major and what you learn. thank you so much for your help!

    ———————————————

    You’re only “moderately excited” to start U of T? Hell that’s no way to start a year. I understand your worries perfectly, but feel the need to assure you. U of T is tough, but fair. And the university provides plenty of resources to help newcomers such as yourself.

    The calendar recommends upper courses courses for a major with a concentration in architectural design in fine art, geography and near middle eastern civilizations. And so, a first year art course is not out of the question. Luckily there are also a few first year seminars that might be a good way to go, which are smaller and more discussion orientated. You will have to take ARC 131H1 and ARC132H1, which you have already selected. But after that, the design stream forwards you to take ARC 313 and ARC 314 (architectural design 2 and 3) which details the framework of design.

    A very very good place to ask more questions is the Faculty of Architecture. Andy Payne is the program’s coordinator and a super nice guy, who I think could field some more detailed questions about the program. But right now you’re just testing the waters. Take ARC 131/132 and see how you like it. Feel it out. Sketch the Empire State Building and consider other classes in fine art, urban studies and geography to go along with your program. Don’t forget about the writing centre and your college registrar for additional resources.

    Best of luck to you.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • admissions,  economics,  first year,  keeners,  med school

    askastudent plans your life for you (but not really)

    August 6, 2010

    Hi Askastudent,

    I’ll be applying to UTSG as a freshman for fall 2011 and have several questions. My first question: is it possible (and realistically doable) to finish your degree in 3 years instead of 4 with an excellent GPA (3.8 to 4)? I am turning 20 next year and naturally, I am just hard-pressed for time!

    The following questions are, well, a little complicated, but I really can’t think of anybody else but you to ask this! My long-term goal is to go in business (with the backup plan, which I will get to later). I want to study either Economics at UTSG or Finance and Economics as a joint specialist program at Roman. Is there a big difference between the two programs? I hear the Rotman one is purely academic (and fiendishly difficult) with no real-life applications! Here’s the twist. I am not exactly a math genius, and I know I won’t get accepted into either program straight away as a freshman. But, I’ve been getting tutored and studying my butt off to get myself on the right track. Is it possible to get accepted into either program (Economics or Finance and Economics) in the second year? The bigger twist: my backup plan is medical school.

    So, would I be better off as a no-major Bachelor of Science while taking all the necessary electives (and ace them because I need a really good GPA) to make myself a perfect candidate for both medical AND business school? For example, taking the right economics/fianance and science classes and getting internship and other work for experience to build up my resume, that sort of thing. Or should I stick with the first plan being studying either Economics or Finance and Economics while taking the right courses for medical school?

    Thanks heaps in advance, askastudent!!!

    The Hopeful Country Bumpkin

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

    Hello there. I saw your other email today hassling me about answering your question, I guess I decided to get my big butt off the couch and help you plan your life and all your courses for the rest of your academic career for you. How do you like that?

    First of all, doing your degree in three years instead of four with an amazing GPA while simultaneously applying for business and medical school will probably kill you and land you in an early grave. I know that you’re pre gaming right now for an inevitable quarter life crisis, but it’s important to recognize what your limitations are and how much time you will realistically spend studying, doing readings, writing papers, fulfilling breadth requirements and all the additional stuff needed to make sure you pass. Hell, applying for grad school and writing the MCATs is a full time job in and of itself. DO NOT OVERDO IT.

    Rotman’s finance stream (according to the Innis registrar here) is much more rigorous and finance orientated, with heavy math applications and lots of complicated courses designated towards real world financial experience. It is totally possible to get accepted into the Commerce stream in second year, especially with high marks in first year. There are many 100 level economics classes you can take (which I’m sure you’ve already registered in), that will guide you towards the program in future years.

    You’ll also be happy to note that you can get into Medical School in future years without even doing a life sciences stream! All you need is an amazing GPA and high scores on (GMAT? MCAT?) test. Contact your registrar for future details.

    Basically if you ace everything in first year and take classes towards your initial plan of Business School, you will be in a pretty position for your future years of Commerce. These courses might even lead you to a career as a rich business dentist – a.k.a. a dentist for rich people! You’ll be rolling in only the priciest plaque.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • art,  choosing,  first year

    you’re out of luck, picasso

    July 26, 2010

    Okay, so first thank you for being so awesome. Second, I have a (slight) problem. I’m going into first year. I want to double major in fine art and a science (biology?), but my admission category is Life Sciences. They told me to apply to life sciences (when I applied in november) to show that I have the pre-reqs. BUT the problem is that now I will potentially get wait-listed for my art courses and not be able to get in. This will not fly as I really only want to major in art. Is there any way I can plead my case and get into the art courses (VIS120 and VIS130) or will I be out of luck? Thanks, Melissa. (I hope this email makes sense.)

    ———————————————

    Hey there, Melissa. Did you already speak to a first year counselor at the Innis Registrar’s Office? I’m afraid I will have to tell you the same sad news. 🙁

    Basically because you don’t have priority for the VIS classes (which fill up like crazy), you will have to register for your life science classes first, and you will be waitlisted. The only way around this (other than applying for the courses in your second year, which is probably the most likely reality) is to contact the Visual Arts Department with a portfolio, and maybe, just maybe, they will see your Jackson Pollock-like brilliance and let you in. This is a major long shot.

    Their contact info as is such:

    Enquiries:

    Undergraduate Program Director
    undergrad.visualstudies@utoronto.ca
    416 946-8153

    What I’d seriously recommend is waiting it out and taking the courses in your second year. Good luck!

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • first year,  new kids,  tcard

    get the party started!

    July 16, 2010

    Hey Aska,
    I signed up for an event called, ‘ Get Started ‘.
    I know that its an even for first years who require help picking courses
    but, what else do we soon-to-be-first-years learn about? And how long is the
    event? Andd, I heard that we get our UofT ID pictures taken as well, is it
    true?

    Thanks a bunch !? 🙂

    ———————————————

    Boy those smiley emoticons get me right in the chest.

    Is this the Innis academic orientation? Or another, obviously bargain basement imitation? (Just kidding.) Basically these events are all about teaching first year students how to read the timetable, explaining what courses are suggested for Commerce, Science, and Humanities Streams, explaining the breadth requirements and stuff like financial planning for school and OSAP…all culminating in a wicked barbecue with other students and a chance to tour the college and the residence.

    Sound like a blast? Well, somewhat. What’s good about these events is that it does give you a chance to meet other students going into your year and older, wiser, current ones. You can meet some of the faculty of your college and hear war stories about course selection and get all psyched for frosh week – if you want. So it’s an incredibly handy session to prepare you for choosing classes and meeting some people who can ease your addled minds.

    If you have proof of enrollment (i.e. the letter U of T sent you when they accepted you into the institution), then you can visit the T Card office and get your T Card! You can also get your T Card during the first week of classes.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • choosing,  colleges,  courses,  first year

    interesting ways to fill the breadth requirements

    July 13, 2010

    Hello,
    I was wondering what some interesting breadth 2 courses are? I am picking my
    courses and I wanted to take something fun.

    Thanks.
    Vish

    ———————————————

    Look no further than the list of First Year Seminars offered this year, guaranteed to fit your breadth requirements, with topics ranging from vampires to Chinese gastronomy. (Though truthfully, those classes probably have more in common than you think.)

    These courses go towards your degree, but not a subject PoST, and are labelled in accordance with filling those damned breadth requirements. However, you can only be in your first year of study to take them.

    For first years, revel in the awesomeness of courses like…

    Raiders, Traders, and Invaders: the Vikings and Their Descendents

    Using Computers to Fight Climate Change

    How We Use Time in Everyday Life

    Dude!

    If you are not in first year, you’ll have to slog through other courses like everybody else. Look at the smaller programs in the colleges, New College, Trinity, Innis, Victoria and Innis (for instance), all of interesting and intriguing ways to fulfill your breadth requirements. But remember, only first and second year courses right now go towards your breadth requirements – you’ll have to contact the program office or registrar to see if higher level courses could work.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • drama,  first year

    u of t on tour!

    July 13, 2010

    How do I go about setting up a visit/campus tour in October? Looking for student run tour of UTSG Drama when I visit the city this fall from Massachusetts. I have been all over UT site to set up but no luck. I will be entering college fall 2011 and would like Chicago or Toronto area school. I have set up tours in Chicago already but no luck at all with UT. I don’t get the chance to travel that way often so I’m trying to make the most of this trip. Thanks for any help you can give.

    ———————————————

    This sounds so glamorous to me, almost like the plot of a coming of age musical about a young whippersnapper from Massachussetts trying to make it in the big city. Okay I will stop making fun of you now.

    U of T offers all kinds of tours – tours of residences, tours of the grounds, tours of the colleges. But if you want a program-specific tour, it’s best to make an appointment with someone at the University College Drama Program. Hopefully Colleen Osborn (who is the undergraduate coordinator) will be able to hook you up with something hospitable. Otherwise, I’ll get you contact with my unemployed pals, all UCDP graduates, who would be happy to give you a tour of the faculty in exchange for a hot lunch. The contact info is here.

    For more of your touring needs, check out this link.

    Fall Discovery Day sounds like it might be up your alley – as well. It’s October 23rd on the St. George Campus and will show off all of U of T’s magical assets.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • choosing,  courses,  first year,  sociology

    need help double major in soc and psych

    July 5, 2010

    i recently have been accepted to UofT st.George and i am preeety confused with the course selections could you please help me and tell me what courses are mandatory for me to take for this to happen

    ———————————————

    According to the 2010 Calendar (my super BFF), to enroll in the Psychology major, students must have a senior year high school Calc course or equivalent, 4 university classes in whatever, and received at least 70% in PSY 100H1. (Plus a GPA of 2.5 or higher.)

    To enroll in the Sociology major, there are two sexy options which I shall detail.

    Option 1! (the one that applies to you!)

    1. Minimum grade of 65% in SOC 101y, or average of 65% in SOC102/103H1.

    2. 3 full course in whatever (not only SOC.)

    Option 2! (ignore this option as it doesn’t apply to you)

    1. Mark of 72% in two 300 level SOC classes.

    2. GPA of 3.0 (73-76%)

    3. 3 additional credits in whatever.

    Therefore young first year, you should take PSY 100H1 and either SOC101Y or SOC 102/103H in your first year of study. If you’re going full time, you have one to three classes more of your choice.

    Additional helpful sites:

    Psychology For First Years

    Sociology For First Years

    Justin Bieber’s Twitter Account

    Hope that helps.

    xoxo, askastudent

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  • courses,  first year

    how many classes should i take?

    July 5, 2010

    This is my second email, I have sent you an exact some one last month. I assumed you were too busy with something else then maybe you forgot to read this one. And there’s my question.

    Hi, I am now looking through the 2010-2011 Faculty of Arts and Science Calendar and am trying to figure out what courses I am going to take in my first year. However, I don’t know how many courses I should take and wonder if I can handle all of them. So, my question is, what’s the average amount of classes taken per year of a regular U of T student?

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

    Hi, pal. An apology to all aska-readers, due to the end of the school year and a changeover in position, I am officially the sexy new kid in town in the form of a grizzled old alum. So feel free to ask away, and your questions shall be returned promptly from now on.

    A full-time courseload is no more than 5 full-year credits. I think that is enough. Any less than three and you are considered “part-time”, which affects your fees and your student union. Seriously though – no matter how keen you feel you are, five credits is more than enough to take on in first year. You can always drop and add courses as you like (look at the registration dates in the timetable!), so think about your workload, additional commitments and the stress involving all the first year changes you’ll experience (moving to Toronto, making new friends, hair in places you’ve never had before). All the college registrars will have a point of contact for first years. But you know yourself better than anyone else. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Or you know, you’ll have to try and swallow it.

    xoxo, askastudent

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  • admissions,  campus,  first year,  TTC

    Calling Scarborough’s Bluff

    July 5, 2010

    So I applied to both UTSC and UTSG through OUAC for the same program (in arts & science faculty). UTSG was # 1 on the school order, with Woodsworth ranked as 1st choice college. I was refused at UTSG but admitted to UTSC. I’ve known all along I DID NOT want to go to UTSC!!! however, I accepted their offer intent on transferring to UTSG. How can I speed up the transferring as I do not like UTSC and do not want to stick out even my first year there? I already anticipate the regular long TTC commutes there; all in all this is not the campus for me. UTSG provides the utmost in convenience as well as my happiness and so much more – I JUST KNOW IT (although I have yet to embark on life at either UofT campus).

    I am in summer school this month to obtain my last credit towards my OSSD, and I will! I’m sure this makes a big difference to them in terms of the failing status I retained when they denied me. (I was admitted to UTSC first, when I wasn’t failing)

    Sorry for all my whining, but please tell me what to do! Who do I call/pay/beg? Is there any way I can be reconsidered for UTSG or internally transferred there asap before I start at you know where in the fall? Where are the next step resources for the St. George refused? WHERE IS THE WAITING LIST for extra space in a program?!

    ———————————————

    Dude, I am feeling for you. You wanted St. George, you got Scarborough, and now you have to shlep all the way to that Bladerunner-esque black hole every day for a year because you spent too much time ogling Jordan Catalano in high school instead of studying.

    There are a few questions I have for you, though. What are your marks like now? How will your upgraded summer school marks affect your GPA? What kind of program are you vying for (as life sciences and commerce tends to be more competitive)? What sort of university experience do you want?

    I have been instructed “not to get your hopes up.” (U of T is so mean!) The place to beg for a re-consideration is the Department of Admissions and Awards, which can be contacted here. Unfortunately though, it’s probably impossible that your upgraded GPA might make a difference at this late point in the game, and they may defer you to Scarborough’s admin office instead.

    The worst scenario is that you’ll have to stick it out in Scarborough for a year, and do an internal transfer to St. George in your second year – unless you like, donate a wing to the school or something. (Again, Admissions and Awards is your point of contact, as well as Woodsworth College’s registrar’s office.)

    However, UTSC really isn’t that bad. (Really!) There are tons of unique, practical programs with smaller classes and a more intimate study experience that you might find ideal. They also tend to beef up marks, which is great for all those terrifying bell-curved first year classes. Plus think of the studying you’ll get done on the bus, thus making you an attractive candidate for your further years of study. Plus, Scarborough is so ghetto fabulous, you might have fun.

    More info about internal transfers can be found here. Let me know what happens.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • accessories,  awkwardness,  first year,  frosh

    what’s in your frosh kit?

    July 5, 2010

    Dear Aska,
    I heard tons of different things about ‘Frosh Week’ and I understand what it is. But, I read up on the UofT site, that we must purchase a ‘Frosh Kit’. What are the contents in this kit, and how much do we pay for it?

    ———————————————

    Believe me, it’s not as exciting as you think it is.

    After paying your orientation fees to your college when you sign up for frosh week? (though I think it might be like a weekend) before the first day of classes, you’ll receive your own handy-dandy frosh kit. Inside the kit will be staples like a bottle of water and condoms (in case you feel like making water balloons, of course), The Varsity’s Student Handbook, a student organizer, maybe some sponsored coupons (Vic students one year got passes to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) and the all-important Frosh Week t-shirt, to denote which member of the tribe you really are. Expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $10-$15 for this mandatory kit.

    For more frosh week questions, check out this Q&A at UTSC.

    Having never attended frosh myself, I can’t really vouch for it – though friends in residence did say it totally offered the opportunity to hook up with all the hot second years a week early. Personally, Askastudent is basically as old as the hills now – and not those fake-tanned celebrities from Los Angeles.

    Happy Frosh! Aska

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