computer science - askastudent

computer science, minor

if you got into cs, you ate (the competition up)

January 22, 2024

hi aska! I am a 1st year in rotman interested in pursuing a cs minor. I read something on reddit about asking the cs department to grant a minor after completing the required courses, and was wondering if it is possible to get a cs minor without being officially enrolled in the stream? (as I know there is an official application process that’s very competitive)

hey there,

i guess it’s that time of the year when everyone rethinks their choice of programs, huh? it seems like that’s all anyone can talk about these days (the time of year is everyday, All Semester Round! it never ends!)

anyways. take a look at the cs page on the artsci calendar. you’ll see that it is possible to get a cs minor without being officially enrolled in the admission stream. however, it’s true that it is very competitive. i personally have no experience in applying for the cs programs, but the general vibe i’ve gotten is that it’s hard to get into, and hard to stay in — in terms of the coursework. but for getting in, it really depends on how the competition is your year. eat or get eaten i guess?

those in the cs admission stream have different enrolment requirements compared to those in different admission streams:

people already in the cs admission stream have guaranteed admission into the minor, as long as they meet minimum grade requirements: they need a 70% in CSC110Y1 and a 70% in CSC111H1.

meanwhile, to my understanding, those not in the cs admission stream (you) have to fill out a 250 word supplemental application where you answer three questions to tell them about your non-academic skills, like leadership and the like. in terms of prerequisites, the minimum grade changes depending on how many people are applying that year, but grades below 70% will not be considered for admission. the course prerequisites are also different, being CSC148H1, and either CSC165H1 or CSC240H1.

just note that the cs minor is available only in the first enrolment request period, so apply between march 1, 2024 and april 26, 2024.

i hope this helps, good luck, dear future cs student! you’ll be brilliant!

over and out,

aska

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bored, computer science, economics

condolences to everyone taking eco101

December 6, 2023
Hey, I’m a first year in the CS stream but I’m also taking ECO101 and ECO102 with the goal of double majoring in computer science and economics. My CS classes are going well and I’m really enjoying them, but I find ECO101 mind-numbingly boring. I enjoyed my macroeconomics class in high school, but this class feels like a dull yet somehow confusing version of basic algebra. Will the econ experience get more interesting after first year, or should I give it up now and find something else?

hey there,

well, i don’t think you’re alone in this. ‘mind-numbingly boring’ definitely fits into the genre of things i’ve heard about eco101. you’re not a uoft student if you haven’t overheard people complaining about econ courses or had to listen to a friend complain all term.

but fr that course is difficult so you have all my sympathy.

i’m sorry that i’m not an econ student (this apology is directed both to you and my mom), so i can’t really tell you anything from my own experience with econ courses. but
1. i’ve heard that eco101 is not representative of the econ you learn in the future, and
2. i can tell you that pretty much every single program gets more interesting after first year!
because in general, courses that are required as a prerequisite for a program are going to be on the more boring and/or difficult side of the spectrum. like those huge courses upwards of a few hundred people that people have to take. these tend to cover really broad material and foundational stuff, which is always going to be boring, especially if a course is a requirement for multiple different competitive programs—like eco101.

and when i say boring/difficult, i mean this in comparison to smaller, more specialized courses that you’ll be able to take farther down the road. a good tip someone once gave me is that the more specific and niche the description of a course is, the more enjoyable and interesting it will be — and the opposite is also true! just to be completely transparent though, there won’t be a huge change from first to second year, since you’ll still have to take required courses. but once you hit third year, you’ll be given room to choose between a list of possible courses to count towards your major, and these tend to be much more interesting!

it’s also hard to tell you whether you’ll find upper year econ courses interesting simply because everyone finds different topics interesting. even if i was an econ student in fourth year with all the econ wisdom i’ve acquired, i’m not sure i would be that helpful. like, there are so many econ students out there who probably did find that the courses got more interesting after first year! but then there are also others who didn’t.

i think the best i can do for now is direct you towards econ students who might be able to give you their own answers! the only way i can think to do this is through econ student groups, so here is what i found:

the uoft economics club can be found at econuoft (at) gmail (dot) com, or @econ_uoft on instagram. i’m sure they’ll answer an email or dm, most student groups are really friendly and responsive on their various social media accounts! i think peer mentorship programs could also be a great resource for getting advice on this. i couldn’t find one at uoft specifically for econ students, but there are college specific mentorship programs in clnx’s mentorship catalogue, which you can look into.

anyways, despite all this, i’m glad you’re enjoying your cs classes, and i hope everything works out for you!

(if any econ students happen to read this post, it would be great if you could drop some tidbits of your advice)

over and out,

aska
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computer science, subject POST, Transferring

chasin the cs dream

January 26, 2023

I am a first year international student who bombed in-stream cs class so I’ll be kicked out of stream. I have anxiety disorder and this term has been too rough for me, especially due to not being able to make good connection with my classmates. I feel so sad I literally cry every time I think about it. Should I transfer to another university. Cuz I can not stay sane due to my workload. I was convinced myself that I’ll be super happy not being a cs major but now I see that cs is what I want to do

hey there,

really sorry to hear that things have been rough. the first thing that i’d urge you to do (if you haven’t already) is to visit your registrar or book an appointment with them – transferring is a big decision to make so it’d be best to get some personalized advice, and if you decide to stay at uoft, your registrar can help make sure you get the supports and accomodations you need.

the second thing is – rather specific, actually – if by chance you go to utsc, there might actually be a workaround for your case, because utsc cs stream students get a chance to redo first year cs courses for better grades to stay in the program (lucky you) – except for MATA31 (if that’s the course you did poorly on, well… unlucky you).

at utsg and utm, you’d have to reapply for cs programs from out-of-stream. in fact, if you’re at utm you’d only be eligible for the cs minor – the major and specialist are for cs stream students only.

if you decide to give this a shot, it’ll be really important to get on top of your game academically and sort out the kinds of things that went wrong last semester, for example by getting accomodations from accessibility services, mental health support, or taking fewer courses if you can.

honestly, considering the competitiveness of out-of-stream cs post, it’s going to be tough and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get in. if you decide to give it a try, i’d say that you should be prepared for the possibility of ending up in a non-cs program. for example, you could do a cs minor, which is typically less competitive, along with other majors/minors in different subjects. or you could look into cs-related programs like cognitive science at utsg, which does include a few csc courses and is also relatively less competitive.

The Situation Jershey Shore GIFfrom The Situation GIFs

if you’re sure that you’re really only interested in cs, you can definitely look into transferring. for example, there are plenty of other canadian university/colleges with cs programs that may accept transfer students. if you find a program that you meet the requirements for and also seems like a good fit, then i’d say go for it! i mean, sure, uoft’s got the ~clout and prestige~ but there are plenty of other unis with great cs programs that can also prepare you with the knowledge/experience you need.

i will say, even though uoft gets the reputation of being so hard compared other canadian unis, that’s not necessarily true. transferring gives you a second chance, but it won’t be a magic button to fix everything because chances are, cs is gonna be challenging at any school. so, regardless of where you end up, what’s really important is to reflect on your experiences and make sure to get all the skills, strategies and support systems you need.

all the best,

aska

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computer science, programs, prospective student

where do all the cs rejects go

December 14, 2022

What happens if you don’t get accepted into the computer science program after first year. I’m asking this question for all three branches of uoft.

hello,

you get banished. forever. or what i’ve heard is that you go into math/cogsci/*insert cs-adjacent program*.

i’m just kidding. (don’t come for me, math/cogsci majors.) the reality is kind of like a mix of these i suppose, and it depends on the campus you’re at.

at utsg, if you don’t meet the requirements for first year cs stream students (cmp1), you can re-apply from the regular artsci stream, but it’s a lot more competitive. if you just haven’t had the chance to take certain required first year courses, you’ll get until the end of your first summer term to complete them. otherwise, they don’t really give you much leeway for the requirements.

at utsc, you’re allowed to retake all of the first year required cs courses once, except for MATA31, if you need to get a higher mark to pass the cs stream requirements. after that, if you still don’t meet the cutoffs, you’ll have to apply for a non-cs backup program to enter in second year. you may be able to apply for the cs post as a non-cs stream student but again, spots will be limited and it’ll be a lot more competitive.

with utm, you’d pretty much be banished, actually. utm only accepts cs majors and specialists that entered the stream straight out of high school and passed the first year cs requirements. if you don’t make it, you could still go for a cs minor, which seems to be open to any student regardless of stream. utm may rule with an iron fist, but they’re also kinda considerate in a way — they’ve put together a list of backup programs that are similar to cs or other competitive programs, which might be helpful. you can check them out on page 4 of this document.

anyway, hope that helps, and best of luck on your future cs endeavours.

Hacker Pupper Dog GIFfrom Hacker Pupper GIFs

aska

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computer science, UTSC

here’s some unsolicited advice for you instead of an actual answer to your question

June 14, 2020

Hello. I wanted to know about pros and cons of CS program in UTSC. I’m deciding b/w CS program in UTSC and Engineering I in McMaster. I want to know about professors, and some other pros and cons. Also I want to know if someone who’s getting 94-97 in math gr12 courses can get into actual CS program after 1st year. I haven’t taken any cs course. I used to compare myself with other students with high grades so I put in a lot of effort to become first or achieve higher and higher grades.

——————————————

hey there,

as someone who’s not really super familiar with compsci or utsc, i’m not sure that i’m a good person to be advising you on this. i’ve never met any of the compsci profs at utsc, and have heard next to nothing about the compsci program there. i hate recommending reddit as a resource because it can often be super unreliable, but for something like this, it’s probably your best bet. it’s likely that there, you’ll be able to find someone in the UTSC compsci program who will be able to shed a little light on what it’s like for you. apart from pointing you in that direction, i feel kind of (read: absolutely) useless when it comes to your question.

as well, i can’t really tell you what your grade 12 math marks mean in terms of your likelihood of getting into the CS POSt, since grading can vary super widely between high schools.

here’s a word of advice i do want to leave you with, though: from what i’ve seen, heard, and experienced as a u of t student, i worry that your mindset of comparing yourself to other students is going to hurt you at university. regardless of what institution you end up choosing (and maybe you’ve made your choice already, by the time you see this), you’re only going to burn yourself out and discourage yourself by comparing yourself with the other people in your class.

don’t get me wrong– it’s certainly possible for you to achieve quite a lot and succeed in your coursework, but it’s more sustainable for you to measure that achievement in other things– like how familiar you are with your course material, or how well your learning can propel you towards your goals.

i would just hate for you to be one of those bright-eyed, ambitious students used to doing super well in high school, only to have their self-esteem crushed by first year or develop GPA-related anxiety. i’ve seen it happen way too many times. however, you did say “used to,” so maybe that means you’ve put that mindset in the past?

anyway. if you’d like to talk your decision through with someone at the university, you could reach out to your registrar! wishing you the most wisdom and the best of luck as you make your decision and tackle first year wherever you decide to go!

be Boundless,

aska

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computer science, internal transfer, UTM, UTSC

ThEy WiLL nOt Be AcCePtEd As EquiVALeNts

June 2, 2020

Hello there,I was wondering if I could transfer from UTSC CS to UTM. However, the POSt requirements for CS at UTM it says “Note that only CSC148H5, taken at the UTM campus, will be accepted. Please do not take CSC148H1(UTSG) or CSCA48H3(UTSC); they will not be accepted as equivalent for the purposes of program enrolment. “According to that, Can I still transfer?TNX

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hey there,

it sounds like you’d be able to transfer to the UTM campus, but possibly not directly into UTM’s compsci program. if you’re determined to be a UTM kiddo, you could probably try doing your internal transfer first, taking CSC148H5, and then applying to the compsci POSt at UTM. that’s what the situation seems like to me, anyway.

to be 100% sure, i’d check this over with your registrar, or with someone at the UTM compsci department. maybe both. i’m sure they’ve seen this situation before. good luck!

be Boundless,

aska

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admissions, computer science, international students, scholarships/bursaries

it is i, u of t student, a president of 80 whole clubs

January 31, 2020

Hey! I am a international student who is in her 11th year in hell- ahem I mean school of course. I dont want to sound like STucK-uP student but I have pretty good grades and I am above the average. I want to attend Major in Computer Science in University of Toronto. Yes I have some good EC’s. But I do not have any national awards nor not a president of 80 clubs. I know acceptance rate is pretty low on computer science especially for international students. Is there any chance for me to get in U of T with a good amount of scholarships? Thank you in advance! ( I know it is stupid to ask you something like that. Since you are not a admissioner or something like that. But I am just desperate:(. So is there anyone you know in U of T who was in the same situation like me? )

——————————————

hey there,

hahahaha bold of you to assume i know people at this school.

just kidding, i have really mixed feelings about having made that joke because it perpetuates the stereotype that u of t is hella lonely and antisocial. it can be for some, but i don’t think that’s true across the board.

anyway. not what you were asking. no, i don’t know anyone at u of t who was in your exact situation — i’m guessing in part because no one really talks about how they got in? nor do people regularly talk about how many admissions scholarships they got– if they do, that’s a lil red flaggy and they’re probably the kind of person i steer clear of anyway.

your instincts were right that i can’t give you any definitive answers, seeing as i don’t work in admissions and don’t have any concrete info about you anyway. if you’re an international student, the school doesn’t seem to post any minimum grade range requirements, which actually really sucks why are things like this we don’t know??? @ u of t what’s up guys :/

i don’t know what extracurriculars would make you competitive, either– i would say quality over quantity is usually the way to go, and i don’t think you need that much quantity at all. your extracurriculars are only relevant insofar as they apply to the computer science supplemental application, which (since it’s new) i know next to nothing about. my guess is that they’ll ask you to answer a few very focused questions, so try to play up your strengths and highlight the advantages of the extracurriculars you mentioned that you have. if you have questions about the supplemental, you can contact the department (maybe their academic advisors, since they don’t provide an admissions contact) and ask.

in terms of scholarships, you will be automatically considered for some (mostly on the basis of academic merit/financial need, i believe) and can apply to others. i’ve filtered through the scholarship website to show the international undergraduate admissions scholarships you might be eligible for– linked here. while i can’t say what your chances are, as that’ll depend on the pool of applicants (look at me, picking up that bureaucratic u of t lingo like a true cog in the machine), i’d encourage you to go for whatever you think you’re eligible for. sure, you might not ever hear back (like me and every scholarship i’ve applied for (haha cry pls fund my education) but if you do, it could take thousands of dollars off your back. kinda worth, tbh.

best of luck with the applications process! aska is cheering for you. also, if you haven’t heard, the computer science program is kinda changing the way they do admissions this year. this varsity article will give you the low-down, and might be worth the read.

be Boundless,

aska

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admissions, computer science

u of t anagrammed is tofu just thought u should know

October 22, 2019

Hi aska! I hope you’re doing well. I am currently a grade 12 student hoping to get admission into UoFT for either the engineering or comsci programs. I read online the supplementary application for the engineering program was 2 video’s and one written but it did not specify anything about the comsci supplelementary. I was wondering if you knew what that application process entailed and if there were any ways we could prepare for the supplementary (like some typical questions). Thank you!

——————————————

welcome welcome to my small but spicy (lol i wish) internet domain!

hope you’re doing well too, and that uni application season is being kind to you. or as kind as it really can be.

unfortunately, nothing’s been officially released yet regarding the compsci supplementary. this website promises more info will be released in winter 2020, which sounds kinda late to me, but hey.

sorry i can’t be of more help, but until the department itself releases details it’s kinda hard to get wind of those.i’ve heard that this compsci supplementary is a new thing, so info from past years isn’t all that available for me to reach back for and hand to you.

i have heard some very ambiguous things about it, though. as in, i really know! nothing! but have reason to believe there should be information released soon. so sit tight.

be Boundless,

aska

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computer science, grad school, non degree

compSIGH

May 28, 2019

Hello! I’m a mechancial engineering graduate from Queen’s university. I realized my passion for computer science and want to pursue a career in computer science. The masters of computer science at UofT requires CSC343H: Introduction to Databases CSC369H: Operating Systems; and CSC373H: Algorithm Design, Analysis & Complexity or their equivalents. Would it be possible/feasible for me to apply and get into these courses as a non-degree student?

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hey friend,

yes, from what i know it should be possible to do that! u of t easily allows recently graduated students to enrol as a non-degree student for the purpose of getting those grad school prereqs down. this is true even if you completed your studies elsewhere– you’ll just need to apply. compsci as a program is considered to be under the faculty of arts and science, which makes it much easier to get into those courses as a non-degree student (with faculties like music and engineering, you’d have to contact them).

the only thing i can think of that might be a barrier to you is if those three courses are particularly in-demand. i looked them up on the timetable and they’ve all got priority enrolment controls, which essentially means only compsci degree students can get seats until a certain date. then, artsci students and utm/utsc students have second and third priority respectively. i’m not sure where non-degree students would fall in this priority order– possibly with utm/utsc, or after?

if you’d like to know for certain what the likelihood is that you can get in, i’d suggest you contact the department directly. even though i can see the class sizes and enrolment controls, it’s pretty hard for me to give you a concrete answer as a fellow student myself.

hope this was helpful though! all the best with your possible future at u of t.

over n out,

aska

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computer science, internal transfer, physics, UTM

the ol’ switcheroo

March 21, 2018

Dear Aska,
I’m going to be going to UTM for computer science, as that was my backup choice and I got deferred from St. George.

However, I still feel very strongly towards physics and I was wondering if it would be possible to take physics related courses at UTM and transfer/switch my major to physics at St. George after my first year or so.

If so, when would I apply for an internal transfer and would I be able to switch my courses from a computer science major to a physics major if I were to take courses similar to someone majoring in physics as a first year?

Thank You!

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hi!

you really should direct this question to someone at the registrar’s office at UTM. since you aren’t even in first year yet, meaning that you haven’t enrolled in any courses yet, you should meet with an academic adviser at the registrar’s office, tell them about your situation and that you’re thinking of transferring, and they’ll be able to give you advise on which courses that you SHOULD take in your first year.

that being said, here is some more general info that i, a humble student blogger, dug up.

taking physics courses as a “computer science” student is totally possible. and internal transfers are also possible.

check out this page for all the info needed to transfer to the faculty of arts and sciences (scroll down to “transferring from another u of t faculty or campus).

it is also possible for you to take physics courses at UTM and then transfer to physics at st. george. one thing that you should be aware of is the program requirements and whether or not they’re different between the two campuses. i suggest that you take a look at the first year physics courses offered at UTM, see what their st. george equivalents are using the transfer explorer, and then see how many of the st. george program requirements you will have fulfilled with your UTM transfer credits.

if there are courses that you need for physics at st. george that you can’t take at UTM in your first year, you can always try to transfer after your first year and then take those courses when you get to st. george.

i really hope that helps! good luck, my young friend.

xoxo,

aska

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computer science

a fine balance

July 26, 2017

Hi aska. Sorry for my bad English.
As I’m starting to work full time soon, I was wondering whether there are
online or evening courses available for the following majors : Computer
Science, German language and Geographical Information Systems.
I’m still interested with CS, though the first year I struggled with my
studies (I got my education backhome and it was different). If I retake the
courses, can I get into CS POS? Or shall I consider non-degree studies in
CS ?
Best,
O.

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hi!

travelling to a completely new country for school and balancing work/ finances on top of a busy academic life cannot be easy. i feel for you, o, i really do. i’m really proud of you for putting in the time and effort to continue your education (and in something you’re passionate about!) and i hope others in your life recognize that too. student life can be very isolating and we don’t hear “i’m proud of you” enough.

to find courses that would fit into your busy schedule, you could use the faculty of arts and science’s timetable. you just need to plug in what you need in a course (like which day you want, what time of day, etc) and it’ll spit out options for you.

so, i put in the majors that you’re interested in and the following online courses popped up: CSC108H1F/S and GGR272HS.

i also searched for evening courses but way more popped up and as much as i wanna help you, i don’t really feel like typing out 68 different course codes. take a look at the timetable yourself to see if any of those courses interest you.

you can retake courses once if you need it to get into the CS POSt, but it will be designated as “extra” (meaning that it will show up on your transcript but the mark won’t affect your GPA or be counted towards the 20 FCE you need to graduate). i would get in contact with your college registrar’s office or the department of computer science to figure out the next steps you nee to take in order to enroll in an extra course (as ACORN will block you from enrolling in it yourself, if i remember correctly).

if you’re having issues studying or need some extra support, you could also check out the academic success centre. they’ll be able to connect you to a mentor who would work with you to develop study skills and provide you with guidance. they’re a really great resource that is severely underused!

i hope this helps. don’t forget that you can always get support, you just have to ask for it.

good luck! i’m rooting for you.

xoxo,

aska

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admissions, computer science, enrolment

so many details so little answers (sorry!)

June 8, 2017

Hey guys!

I know i am pretty early but i need information as early as i can.

I want to apply to for Computer Science at University of Toronto St George for September 2018. I am an adult student so ill be taking most of my courses online and in summer, night and adult school. So the courses i am planning to take are:

– ENG4U (already did it though when i was in high school)
– MCV4U
– BAT4M > accounting
– CGW4U > world issues
– MDM4U > data management
– SES4U > earth & space science

So apart from the obvious english and calculus, do you think the rest of the courses are acceptable?

Plus for calculus….well so my transcript shows a mark for the course but i never actually completed it. I wanted to drop it because i know it was going to be pretty hard since my dad was going through an operation and i just wasn’t in a good state to focus on such an important course also since i was taking ENG4U and SCH4U. My stupid mistake was that i was late and dropped it right after the dead line so even though i officially dropped the course and never wrote the exam, the mark still showed up on my transcript. Do you guys have any idea how Soft will look at that? And is should explain them my situation right?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

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hi!

i don’t know if i can say that these courses are “acceptable” or not, i can only tell you that the only courses required are english and calculus. if you are worried about your calculus mark (you said you wanted to drop it, but it was past the deadline, so i’m assuming you didn’t get the mark you wanted), i would suggest retaking the course.

as for whether or not the courses are “acceptable”, i would get in contact with enrolment services. they would have the most up-to-date and relevant information that i might not be privy to as a wee student blogger. they have the best info on the mystical enrolment process and admission requirements.

i really hope that helps. best of luck!

xoxo,

aska

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computer science, fees, summer, UTM

math fun with fees

May 19, 2017

Hi there,

I’m a 4th year computer science major student in UTM, and I plan to take more than 2 credits this summer, but the fee schedule only have the tuition amount for at most 2.0 credits(like here http://www.fees.utoronto.ca/Assets/Student+Accounts+Digital+Assets/20165+Summer/20165+UTM+Intnl.pdf), what do I pay if I want to study for, let’s say 3 credits this summer?

Thanks!

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hello,

first of all, i’m assuming you’re an international student, since you linked the international student fees page in your question. if you are, in fact, a domestic student, please look at this link.

the reason why it doesn’t show any fees over 2.0 credits is because anything over 2.0 credits would be considered a course overload…

…meaning that if you wanted to do, lets say 1.5 FCE’s in one semester (3 classes per term to reach a total of 3.0 FCE’s for the whole summer), you would need special permission from your registrar’s office. if you have already been approved for this, you will just need to look at the table you provided me and do a little math.

to break down your academic fees, the PDF you attached indicates on the first page that all summer courses are charged per-course. in the table you’ll see that every 0.5 FCE costs $4,682.00, meaning that if you were to take 3.0 FCE’s, you’d have to multiply this value by 6, giving you $28,092.

since you are a full time student, you would be paying full time incidental fees ($688.96) and then UHIP fees ($204.00) in addition to your academic fees.

the math: $28,092 + $688.96 + $204.00 = $28,984.96.

meaning that your fee totals (not counting any outstanding fees you might owe) will be $28,984.96. damn that’s a whole lotta dough.

make sense?

if you are ever unsure about fees, you can contact your registrar’s office and they will be able to breakdown your fees for you!

hope this helped!

P.S. I HATE MATH, SO IF I MADE A MISTAKE PLS DON’T KILL ME

peace and love,

aska

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