• prereqs

    transparency is the thing to be

    April 1, 2014

    Hey aska,

    I was wondering, if i were to be granted to a course by the faculty without taking its prerequisite, will the course still count towards my degree and fulfill any subject post requirements?

    Thanks

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i mean, yeah, as long as the department/professor gives you permission, i think it should be fine. just make sure you go about getting permission the right way, i.e. get it in writing yadda yadda so you have definite proof. when the people who check over all students for prereqs get to you, you’ll need to present proof that you are allowed to stay in the course.

    if you do that correctly and pass the course, i think it should count. but you should definitely ask the department you’re dealing with about it. after all, they’re the ones who decide what counts towards their programs, and in situations like this, it’s always best to be completely transparent and have open communication with the people who are bending the rules for you.

    stay groovy,

    aska

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  • prereqs,  profs

    Ah, ah, ah, ah, staying alive, staying alive (and enrolled in a course)

    October 3, 2013

    Hi aska,

    I recently enrolled in a course that was fully capped off after the professor talked to the faculty on my behalf. But now I am worried that I might be dropped from the course as I don’t have the necessary prerequisite. Who checks the prerequisite and who decides to drop students from courses? the Faculty? I asked the administrator and she said as the professor got me in it probably not a problem but that I should ask the professor. I just need information.

    ———————————————

    Hey there,

    First off, I want to congratulate you on actually doing a lot of good work to try and figure this problem out. Speaking with the professor is always a good starting point if you’re having a problem with the course.

    Unfortunately, the profs aren’t the ones who decide who stays in a course. That’s the job of the administrative overlords who pull the strings of the university. They are like a cloud that always hovers above us, demanding obedience. All hail it; all hail the glow cloud.

    Anyway.

    Basically, if you don?t have a prerequisite for a course, the department that administers the course typically drops you.

    To avoid that, I would go to your prof and get permission to stay in the course in writing. Then go back to the department that offers the course and speak to someone about your situation, with your note. That way, you have concrete proof that you can stay in the course and when the time comes to chop away all those ne?er-do-wells who are trying to sneak into it, you won?t be one of them.

    Good luck, friend.

    aska

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  • courses,  graduation,  prereqs,  ROSI

    je suis confus

    September 20, 2012

    Hey Aska,

    Two years ago I took FSL121Y1 and then last year I continued with french and took FSL221Y1. Now When I look at degree navigator, it for some reason does not count FSL221Y1 as part of my 20 courses because it says that it is an exclusion to FSL121. If the course does not count I won’t be able to graduate this year since I will be short one course. It however, makes no sense because you need to take FSL121 in order to be able to enrol in FSL221.

    Thanks for your help,

    Sooo confused.

    ———————————————

    Hey confused!

    That’s super wack! And rightfully unnerving. But don’t worry, it ain’t you, it ain’t me, it’s the degree navigator. FSL121Y1 is only an exclusion if you’ve taken FSL221Y1 first, but not the other way around (logically). Unfortunately, one of the degree navigator’s most prominent glitches is that it can’t always recognize chronology, and so it’s giving you a false alarm because it doesn’t know the order in which you took those courses.

    When time comes to request graduation, you should be fine. But if you’re worried, shoot an email to the French Department just to confirm.

    Bonne chance!

    aska

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  • prereqs

    waiver my waiver … waiverly

    June 14, 2012

    Hi there!

    I am a first year student who took a few years off due to personal reasonsthat started when I was actually in Grade 11. I’m returning after a 3 year hiatus to continue my studies. However, when I was in school, I didn’t do too well. Average was in the 60’s and that was after I dropped a credit receiving an LWD (MAT135Y5), and failed another half credit (MAT102H5) due to these said personal reasons. I’m really excited to finally be back in school and I want to make the best of this opportunity. I’m actually a very
    good student, my strengths lying in math. I’ve decided to continue with an Economics & Math major as originally planned. I think I can do a MUCH better this time around since Math has always been my passion, and my personal reasons are out of the way now. There really isn’t much stopping me from being at my full potential. Oh, I should also mention I’m a student at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

    Unfortunately, while looking into what courses I should be taking for my majors, I noticed that there have been some significant changes. When I was a first year (3 years ago), the prerequisite for MAT102Y5 and MAT135Y5 was only Advanced Functions. Now there is also a grad requirement — 70% in Advanced Functions in high school. Now, I don’t quite remember how I did in Advanced Functions as it was quite some time ago, but I have a growing suspicion that I did not get that 70% — mainly because I took this course during my personal battle years.

    So let’s say I did only get somewhere in the 60’s for Advanced Functions; what are my options? I know I can get a waiver, but what is the likelihood they would reject this waiver since I have already taken both those credits and dropped the first and failed the second? Also, how strongly do they look at high school marks? Can I get away without a waiver, as long as I do well in these credits? Also, if they do withdraw me from the course due to a lack of a waiver or prerequisite, would they notify me before they
    actually do so, so I can get a waiver or petition my case? And lastly, do they really pay close attention to what you write in this waiver, or as long as you have gotten one, then they leave it at that without investigating your transcripts further? Basically, what are my options if I NEED these courses for both my majors and I have already messed up in both and don’t meet the grade requirements for the high school prerequisite? I really don’t want to change my program — this is really what I want to do.

    ———————————————
    Switch to UTSG? They don’t have the grade prerequisites.

    A more practical approach might just be to go to the Math department and explain your situation! From what I hear the Math department is very lenient with their prereqs.

    I’ve actually heard at UTSG that they don’t really check the prereqs anyways. Saying that though, the fact that they have highschool requirements as a new prereq might mean that UTM is diligent on checking that students actually have what they ask.

    I feel like I’m going in a circle with this answer … best option is to go to the math department and explain your situation (that you have been away for 3 years for personal reasons and how the prereqs have changed)

    The only saving grace that you might have is if you enrolled in your subject POSts before you went on your school break. If you are enrolled in the Math and Economy majors, you follow the requirements of the year that you enrolled in the POSts. Graduation requirements can be followed from the year you enrolled in school, not Subject POSts.

    May the luck be with you!

    forever old and young,

    aska

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