• colleges,  innis,  residence

    i’mmmmm moving out!

    July 7, 2010

    As the procrastinator I am, only researched about UofT’s residence buildings this week.
    (I’m already accepted to Innis, but I’m having major doubts now).
    I hear Innis is a really quiet, studious, and self-contained residency, and that is
    definitely not what I’m looking for. I picked it because I assumed that the majority of
    my peers would be taking courses at Innis College, ie Cinema and Rhetoric, thus having
    similar interests.

    Basically, could I have a breakdown of what type of people are at and what the atmosphere
    is of New College, Vic, and Woodsworth, along with Innis, incase what I’ve heard is
    false? I’d like to be in a social atmosphere with other kids who are in the Arts, and
    it’s probably too late to do a switcheroo since the 28th is in a week, but it’s worth a
    shot!

    Also, if I change residency from Innis, does that mean I can no longer take courses at
    Innis College?

    Merci beaucoup!

    ———————————————

    Hi there! I am here to crush your possible dreams.

    I called the Innis Residence coordinator to discuss switching residences. As a student of Innis College, you have to stay at Innis Residence. You can however, take whatever courses you please. The program you’re in and the college (and residence) you’re affiliated with have nothing to do with it. Colleges are for administrative purposes only. More of a way of organizing you, than restricting you from courses of study.

    The only time colleges however matter is when it comes to residences. If you were to pull out of Innis now, you would have to eat the $600 deposit charge. The only other residence that would be available to you is 89 Chestnut.

    Plus I can totally vouch for Innis Residence! As a former Cinema Studies student, I went into Innis Res not knowing what to expect and found a highly social atmosphere. Residences are a crapshoot when it comes to who your roommates are and who you’ll meet, but Innis is a big and artsy residence. I think you’ll find some like-minded souls.

    Also keep in mind that: Most of your best friends in university won’t come from residence (despite what you might think the first few weeks of school), anyway. They’ll come from meeting people in the same classes as you, and from getting involved (U of T has about a bazillion clubs and societies). Innis Residence has its good and great points, too – you won’t have to share a sketchy shower down the hall, survive on a gross meal plan or have to sleep in the same room as your roommate.

    To get more acclimatized, the residence offers tours and meet and greets during the day. Contact them here.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • residence

    RES101 – lecture 1 – the five types of roommates

    February 2, 2010

    How does roommate selection/assigning work at U of T? Not sure if you’ve covered this, but I searched your site and didn’t find anything.

    Thanks!

    ——————————–

    They give you and everyone else in the residence a questionnaire to fill out. And then, because they’re sadistic, they pair you up with the people who they know you’ll hate. Common roommates include:

    1) know-it-alls who will shut themselves away all day when they’re not talking to you about the philosophical and social implications of Dido and Aeneas (just because you mentioned Dido’s new single) or making jokes about integration or Marx or glycerophospholipids

    2) those super-social types that exude an indescribable hold on everyone and end up becoming everybody’s best friend — except for you, because YOU are just the most completely unbiased on Earth, and hence you can see that their REAL agenda is to brainwash everybody else and then take over the world

    3) sloth types that leave banana peels on the kitchen table, leaves flies swarming the garbage, and somehow make the toilet REALLY REALLY dirty and yet never clean it up (oh gosh, the imagery)

    4) vain types that walk like they’re in a never-ending beauty pageant, and will continuously remind you of how good they look, and whose only hobbies are: spending hours putting make-up on, spending hours walking around in their underwear/speedo/towel as if they’re God’s gift to the world (if male), buying 5 pieces of clothing every week (both genders)

    5) baboons.

    You’re welcome!!!!!

    ……..uh…. I somehow ended up publishing an unfinished post when I was trying to save my “draft”. Oh well. I guess I’ll continue it now because my job description says that I have to give you some GOOD information in every post. Hopefully you didn’t read my post and then run home crying because I didn’t give you any GOOD information.

    Anyway, it really depends on what residence you are living in. I’m not about to go search up the policies every residence on campus just for you, so I’ll just list a few. I know that at Innis, you complete a form on which you specify how clean you are, how loud you are, how late you usually sleep, the types of music that you listen to, whether you’d mind your roommates having guests over… etc. etc. After that, they match you up with people who they think will be compatible with you. If you have friends (like aska), and they intend to stay at the residence that you’re staying at, you can also specify that on your form and they will do their best to put you in the same room. I EXPECT (but do not guarantee) that other residences have similar policies. For instance, UC states that they match you up based on your housing application form.

    I don’t know what college you’re in/going to be in, so I can’t really help much in this regard. Just search up the residence rules if and when you get accepted.

    Annnddddddddd it looks like our 50 minutes are up. See you next class.

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  • residence,  victoria

    joy in solitude? not at Vic

    January 22, 2010

    Dear Ask A. Student,

    I am a prospective student who is currently debating between Vic and Trin, and I was wondering what you knew about the possibilities of a first-year student getting a single room at vic. That seems to be the main tipping point for me, as I prefer the arts orientation to the law/ethics one of Trinity, but I don’t want to go there if I can’t get a single room.

    Thanks!

    ——————————-

    Hi. I just looked at Vic residence site, and they say that ?Most first year students are assigned to shared double rooms.? I?ve also had a couple of friends who lived at Victoria and all of them had double rooms, so this seems pretty truthful. (You may want to email or call Vic College if you want more concrete stats). Guess all the lone wolves go to other colleges.

    Then I checked Trinity?s site, and they said that around 50% of their students get single rooms.

    It sounds like to me that you?d have a higher chance of getting into a single room at Trinity. However, even if you go to Trinity, you?re not guaranteed a single room by any means.

    Still, don?t be dismayed if you don?t get a single room. Some people who I?ve talked to who have lived in single rooms actually wish they?d lived in a double room, just to get the ?traditional dorm experience?. It?s always possible that you?ll get a terrible roommate, but on the other hand you might also meet a lifelong friend ? so don?t feel too sad if you don?t end up getting that single room.

    Oh, and one other good point was brought up by a commenter. ?Trinity doesn’t really have a law/ethics bias; rather, the Ethics, Law, and Society program is just one program that Trinity hosts. However, students don’t even have to be from Trinity to be enrolled in that program. Similarly, Innis College hosts the Cinema Studies program, but a lot of people who major in Cinema Studies are not part of Innis College, and the majority of Innis College students are not Cinema Studies majors. In fact, you can probably expect a pretty diverse mix of majors at any college – they’ll probably be lots of life scis and commerce students, but then you might also meet an occasional archaeology, astronomy, zoology, equity studies, or Portuguese student here and there.

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  • residence

    your tummy will thank me

    January 6, 2010

    Hello,

    I am working on my application to Toronto and have a question concerning
    Innis College. I notice that it is not mandatory to have a meal plan at any
    one of the Innis residences. Can I still get a meal plan if I go to Innis?

    ——————————————————

    As a matter of fact, you can, but not through Innis College or Innis Residence itself. As a matter of fact, I lived at Innis residence last year and I got a meal plan from CampusDish. Check out the meal plan brochure. There are two kinds of meal plans available: declining balance meal plans and all-you-can-eat meal plans.

    You know what though? I didn?t actually use up all my money from last year?s meal plan (I bought a $500 meal plan.) In fact there?s not a lot of places at which you can use the declining meal plan?the only major ones that come to my mind are MegaBytes at the Bahen Centre, Sid?s Caf?, and the Subway up at Robarts. The variety isn?t great, to say the least, and you’ll getting Subway two days. Personally, I don’t think their meal plans are worth buying. If I were you I’d buy food on the campus caf??s with cash. That way, you’d have the option of going to Chinatown during your 4-hour breaks for Sushi or Thai food or Vietnamese food, instead of dry sandwiches/pizza. The restaurants on Bloor Street are also good choices.

    Also, since you’re going to be living at Innis, it would be a perfect time for you to start to learn how to cook.

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  • partying,  residence

    Life Changing Experiences

    November 4, 2009

    Hi,

    I am a high school senior thinking of enrolling in the Rotman Commerce program at U of T next year. I plan to live on campus because I want that whole “university experience” that includes partying hard, making new friends, school spirit and etc.. One big concern I have is that since U of T is a commuter school that does not exist there, is it true?

    Second, there are so many residences and colleges at U of T, I think it would be impossible to visit them all and I was wondering if you can suggest some for me. The criteria is as follows:

    1. Lots of partying, always something to do

    2. Dormitory style with double rooms

    3. Good location, close to subway St. George station

    4. Cafeteria preferably connected to the residence hall

    I visited the Victoria College, and did not really like any of the residences, the one that was nice was an all female one, and I don’t want to be stuck in an all girls environment. Also, how far of a walk is it from 89 Chestnut to the Rotman Commerce building.

    Thanks in advance.

    —————————-

    Hiiii. I?m glad to hear that you have school spirit and are excited to meet new people, BUT your insistence on ?partying hard? is making alarm bells go off in my head! ?The university experience? also includes:

    • getting accustomed to walking to 9 am midterms in the snow
    • getting owned by two midterms on the same day (with no break in between)
    • going onto the course website and repeatedly refreshing until your marks come out, and
    • either breathing out a sigh of relief when you realized you?ve passed, or crying your eyes out while resolving to do better on your next midterm

    No, no, no. You would NOT want to miss out on these wonderful, life-changing events. Seriously. You won?t even remember partying after you wake up (after having passed out from all that alcohol, if it?s your thing), but you will keep these midterm memories for a very long time indeed. In UofT we have a saying: work hard, party hard. Partying is good and fun and all, but remember that you are also here for academics (besides, I hope your parents aren?t paying your tuition.)

    What?s that? I should actually give you some actual information about the residences so your eyes would stop rolling themselves around in their sockets?

    Geez. I was just getting to that. I don?t HAVE to help you, you know, but since I?m such a nice guy/girl, I will. For starters, you should check out this site, which gives you some basic information about the residences. Innis and Woodsworth have suite-style rooms, so I would not recommend them to you. All the other colleges? residences are dorm-styled. As for proximity to the transit stations, Victoria College is pretty close to Museum station, Innis and Woodsworth are pretty close to St. George, and New is close to the Spadina streetcar (which you can take North to Spadina station). I believe UC and New have residences that are connected to their cafeterias. Friend of aska says that Chestnut is the party rez. Whether or not to take her advice is up to you – though the walk from Chestnut to Rotman is pretty darn far. According to google maps, it?s around 30 minutes. (Keep in mind that in the winter, you?ll have to walk in the snow too.) Also, another-friend-of-aska says that Chestnut doesn’t give you the “rez experience” because it’s more like a hotel than a dormitory.

    ?great. I?ve just spent around an hour browsing downtown Toronto using Streetview. Thanks a lot.

    Oh, and don?t forget to consider the price of the residences. Here’s a link to the electronic copy of the viewbook too, if you need it.

    You know what though? Like all good things in life, you can?t have everything. As far as I know, no rez at UofT really satisfies all of your criteria. Prioritize what you want from your rez life, maybe visit a couple more of the residences and colleges, and then pick the one that seems to suit you best ? that?s all there is to it.

    Lastly, remember that, as you’re in commerce, you’re also be exposed to a myriad of social events, internships, and other opportunities. Make sure to take advantage of those too.

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  • awkwardness,  first year,  friends,  new kids,  residence

    All the ladies who truly feel me (throw your hands up at me).

    August 21, 2009

    hard to admit, but being a mama’s girl my mom is coming with me to toronto for few weeks during frosh week to settle me into my residence etc (teaching me how to use the laundry machine to avoid ‘everything is pink because of one red sock’ situation, etc etc)
    but through sept 3rd and 18th there seems to be no hotel rooms available for booking
    would it be possible for her to stay with me in my residence during her stay? I have a single room so maybe?

     

    Listen, I am a proud Mama’s boy who couldn’t even recognize a washer/dryer upon entrance to residence – so I can understand where you are coming from. It is BECAUSE I can relate to you that I’m about to serve up some tough love.

     

    Are you honestly considering having your Mom stay with you for the first 15 days of university?! Really? I think this is a bad idea for reasons three.

     

    One. These are two of the most socially decisive weeks of your uni experience. You will seriously limit your ability to make friends and engage in (planned or impromptu) activities. Unless you have one of those vicarious mothers who’ll wear tubes tops while serving up strawberry daiquiris to your girlfriends – you cannot argue that you will be undermining your?social life before it has the chance to develop.

     

    You’ve signed up for Frosh week right? If not go sign up now! Seriously. Go.

     

    Okay, you’re back. Now, that you’re doing Frosh, what is your poor mother going to do with herself while you are pre-occupied with all of these exciting events? Water fights and face paint? No.

     

    Two. You have a single room? Is it part of a suite? Do you share common spaces like a living room or bathroom? Think about the situation that you will be putting your neighbours in? The presence of a parental figure would certainly be a damper on the local scene. In fact it would just be awkward for everyone involved. ????

     

    Does your residence have a limit on the number of consecutive nights a guest can stay? Find out.

     

    Three. I GET that your Mom loves you, and wants to ease your transition. I really do.

    I GET that you want your Mom around to teach you the in and outs of domesticity, and to be a familiar face when you are entering a new environment. BUT you should know that there is something to be said for learning independence… independently from your parents.

     

    University is so much more than memorizing crap in class. It is about stepping out from under the protective parental umbrella, and tackling the challenges and nuances of daily living – face on. And you won’t be alone. Everyone shares these uncertainties.

     

    I had a friend who poured bowls of cookies for breakfast, and put liquid detergent in the dryer. Did we judge her? No, we helped her and became better friends because of it.

     

    Why don’t you be proactive and help your Mom with laundry and cooking now, before you leave? She’ll love it for more than one reason, and you’ll have a head start when you get to school.

     

    Perhaps your Mom could visit for a couple days in the second or third week of class (when you’ve actually accumulated enough laundry to do a load). I would plan it tentatively, as you may very well find that you aren’t as incompetent as you once thought.

     

     

    Sound reasonable? I really hope so, because I am not kidding around.

     

     

    Hmmm… this one felt a little heavy for a Friday afternoon. How about we lighten the mood with a little spice a la 1997?

     

    Oooh, that actually just made things even heavier, didn’t it? My bad.

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  • commerce,  innis,  residence,  switching,  woodsworth

    see ya there

    April 24, 2009

    Hi,

    I have just received acceptance from UT Commerce Innis College, but I wasn’t guarenteed in the Innis Residence…I looked at some of the posts and I saw some guy last year had same situation as me. Anyways, I did contact the Innis Residence by email by the way even though I didn’t get a response yet. Oh yeah, Do you know why they send response so late? I have been waiting 2 days now with no response.

    Also, Is changing college (like right now) possible even though I am already accepted? because I would like to change it to Woodsworth college since Woodsworth residence also has single rooms for every students.

    Other than that, Is UT Commerce a difficult major to deal with? I had head from others, the class average is somewhere from 50% to 65% which seems very low.

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  • residence,  victoria

    Annesley HELL!

    April 17, 2009

    Hello. I am applying for res at Vic next year, and I was just wondering what exactly the “Music Room” in Annesley Hall is? Is there a piano or something? And if there is… can I use it? Thanks!

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  • residence,  victoria

    lonely, but clean

    August 5, 2008
     Hi. I was wondering what the policy is on TV’s in rez (i. e. whether there’s availability for cable connection). If I can avoid fighting with other people over the remote in the common room, I will be a happy camper. Plus, I fear Gossip Girl will monopolize Tuesday nights. If it helps, I’m in Lower Burwash.

    Thanks.

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  • residence,  UTM

    Where’s the “Maybe” Box?

    June 27, 2008

    Hiya once again askastudent,I will be studying in UTM soon, and I will be staying on campus. Now the problem is, I would love to stay in the lovely townhouses, but unfortunately I am unable to choose. ): From the rezportal, they have asked us to answer 4 questions with yes,no or no preference :

    1.Do you maintain a clean & tidy environment?
    2.Do you prefer to live in a quiet environment?
    3.Do you wake up early?
    4.Do you prefer to study late at night?

    How should I answer these questions in order to have a higher chance of staying in a townhouse?? ?

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