• asia,  choosing,  grades,  partying

    several questions from a new student

    Hey there,

    So I’m having a really tough time choosing between McGill (Arts & Sci, Business) and U of T (Arts & Sci). I’m actually leaning towards U of T right now, but I’m so frightened of the grading system! Is it really as bad as every says? And other questions:

    -What percentage of St George students maintain an A average in arts?
    -Do people who did IB/AP/had 90% averages blah blah blah have an easier time getting good marks once they come to Toronto for uni?
    -How are the parties at Trinity? (That’s my college! :D)
    -What percentage of U of T is asian? lulz

    Thanks a lot! Have a good one 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hi there. Congrats on getting into two of the bestest schools in Canada. It’s hard to argue with four years in Montreal (bagels, smoked meat, bicycling) over U of T (uh…pad thai?), but I’ll try to make a case for it. Here goes:

    a) I have no idea what the percentages are for St. George students in Arts. But really, grading and marks are not as bad as people might be telling you as long as you GO TO CLASS AND DO THE WORK. I guarantee, especially in the Arts, as an uber slacker, that I did not always pull my weight, and I still got 70s. If you go to class, hand in your assignments and do your readings, you will be an academic success, I swear to god. Bell curving is mostly a factor in the Life Sciences and Economics. There is no need for a bell curve in English and Philosophy classes. Just GO TO CLASS AND DO THE WORK.

    b) Some of the IB/90% kids had an easier go of it. Some got back one essay marked “68%”, had a panic attack, started binge drinking and never graduated. University is an adjustment period so there are lot more factors at play than just academics. If you can stay on top of your schoolwork while still making time to make new friends, attend events and get to know your city (also: take care of yourself), then you will probably find it easy to get A’s. There are a TON of resources at U of T to help you academically, like the Writing Centre, your college registrar and smaller tutorial groups. Use ’em all.

    c) I’ve never been to a Trinity party but I”m sure they’re epic? $$$ plus history plus mandatory robes makes for a particularly dope party atmosphere I”m sure. Are you living on campus for your first year? That will make a big difference campus party-wise.

    d) I don’t like answering questions about race so I would prefer not to answer this one. U of T is a very diverse, multi cultural campus with lots of ethnic groups represented and it is wonderful that way.

    xoxo, Askastudent

  • admissions,  asia,  important dates

    is u of t racist? huh.

    Hi.

    I’ve just been offered admission in the UTSC Co-op Social Sciences program.
    The thing is, I (motivated by a little less than a billion reasons), kind of changed my mind.
    Uh-oh.
    Anyways, by the time I decided that I really wanted to apply to UTSG, it was past the application deadline.

    I called UT and was told that I should send them a nice letter telling them WHHYYYYY I failed to send in the application on time.
    So I did. Also, I included the fact that people in downtown offered me a place to stay AFTER I applied to UTSC, potentially reducing my financial burden by a couple thousand dollars.

    Here’s what worries me: does the university only accept late applications from really top Asian students? Because I’m an average Asian student.

    Or do they mostly look at the reason for the late application and the content of the appeal itself?

    Thanks.

    From,

    Average Asian Student.

    ———————————————

    Dear ASS,

    Let’s make one thing clear first – the fact that you are Asian has NOTHING to do with whether your late application will be accepted. By missing your deadline and not having that compelling a reason for changing your mind (you are not even an international student!), U of T might brush you aside for reasons as simple as you simply NOT COMPLETING A FORM ON TIME. Coupled with your average marks and average Asian ability, I have no idea whether or not the university will admit you. Have you made a more convincing case by meeting your possible college registar in person? Are there any last-minute strings you can pull? Try your hardest. It will just come down to whether you’ve made a convincing enough argument.

    Basically U of T is like a choosy girl. If a guy isn’t bending over backwards after he loses interest in being with her, it’s not really worth it to be give him a second chance. Please don’t use your race as a point of contention again. And welcome hopefully, ASS?

    Welcome.

    xoxo, Askastudent

  • asia,  meal plans,  residence

    i want to live in a toilet bowl

    Okay,i’ve been browsing the sites, but still need to know about
    something very important: BATHROOMS!
    As a first year student, would there be any residences where i wouldn’t have to share a bathroom with a whole floor? i don’t care how many roomates i have, i
    just don’t want to walk far to take a pee…..It doesn’t have to be a suite, just semi-private bathrooms… Also, what residence have the best light meal plans? (not a gazillion meals a
    week for a gazillion dollars….)
    Last note: what’s with U of T barely accepting AP credits? Huh?
    Thanks for allllll your help!

  • asia,  residence

    bring your own toilet seat

    Okay, which residence does NOT have communial bathrooms?!! I can’t decide which college and residence to pick and I want a single room and a bathroom that isn’t shared with 40 people dammit!!!! (besides Innis…)
    BTW, how hard is it to get back into Innis residence in your second year? (A question from another person)
    THANK YOU KINDLY!