Hi Aska,

It’s been a while. Hope things are going swell. Anyways I am frustrated with UTM, and I’m in need of your advice (because no one is answering my calls or e-mails).

So I finished my second year at another University 4 weeks ago. A week later I received a provisional transcript assessment and got almost all my credits assessed. I was previously told (multiple times) that I would be?able to enter my subject POSt after my final assessment.

So everything seemed to be going well, UNTIL I got floored this week by the Office of the Registrar. They told me that I had to apply for my POSt on ROSI, and because they would need to see my final assessment done. So apparently I have to apply on June 17, and I would not hear back until September 9. Basically I would have to wait until July 26 to apply for 8/10 of my courses, and since the other 2 are restricted at all times, I would have to wait until September 9, and the class sizes of these two courses are small, and I’m scared I might not even get in.

I spoke to someone else, who told me that I might not even be able to get in until I have a CGPA (since my marks won’t transfer), So right now I’m furious and scared because I had a beautiful timetable planned out, and if I have to take these two classes in the following year it will really complicate my life.

Sorry for the long e-mail I’m a mess right now. But I have a few questions:

1) How screwed am I? :/
2) If I go to the right department and cry, can I get out of this mess?
3) If I am screwed, can I still request special consideration (UTSG was my second choice, but enrolment services said I could send a letter. Although I’m unaware of the available space for Social Science Students.)

Thank You in Advance Aska,

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Yo.

Firstly, congratulations on your acceptance.

Now:

1) You’re not screwed at all. You’re not in a mess. You’re just a student at the University of Toronto.

Congratulations. This is where people go to cry. You’ll be fine.

You’re not going to get some of the courses you want some times and that’s just how things are because of the volume of students. This is why students should always have backup plans. Don’t just stick to your one perfect schedule with absolutely no leeway. That’s how you set yourself up for disappointment.

Now your situation is classic so don’t expect too much sympathy from, well, anyone at the university. Lots of the time students will apply for a program, be rejected in the first round, and then apply again in the second round and like you, have to wait for an answer until September.

It sucks but it happens all. the. time.

2) If you get pulled over, do you cry? No.

Do not go to the department and cry. That would be the most obnoxious thing you could do. And okay, you’re in university. You’re an adult. You want to go somewhere and CRY to get your way? No. Don’t do that. No one likes that.

You won’t get your way, you’ll get a tissue.

3) I’m not really sure what you mean by “special consideration,” but I really don’t think you’ll get that anywhere.

Like I said, everyone deals with not getting their ideal schedule, so no one is going to be moved by tears or some sort of appeal. The most you can really do is beg the professor of whatever course you’re losing your shit over, but past that… yeah. You’re going to be treated equally.

But seriously, you need to relax and just… well, “get over it” is harsh, but there’s no point in dwelling. What you SHOULD be doing is looking at other options, not looking for ways to make sure you can get your way.

(Seriously. CRYING?)

Take some electives, take some courses at other campuses, take some random ones in the same field — just remember to be practical. You’re always going to need contingency plans, you’re always going to need to behave like someone your own age, and you’re always going to have to move forward.

So no more whining.

keeping it real,
aska

Hi,

I’m a first year student in the management program! After my grades for the required courses plunged to the bottom of the ocean, I’ve come to the conclusion to switch into the Digital enterprise management [DEM] program. My intentions are to take the requirements in the summer, in this case CCT110 [july-august] is the only requirement that I need to enter the program! How do I go about proceeding with this process in terms of notifying ROSI? Do I simply delete my previous subject post and add the DEM specialist program? Also, after completing CCT110 in the summer, I’m sure there will be a lag in the timing that i’ll be notified in whether i’ve been accepted into the program or not – within this situation [assuming that registration for 2nd year courses will start during this interval], do I still proceed in? enrolling in the required courses for 2nd year DEM?

THANK YOU !

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Yo.

When it comes to playing with Subject POSts, everything is done on ROSI. So since you’re in first-year, I don’t think you have a Subject POSt, but just add the DEM one that you want once you get the requirement(s).

Since CCT110 is in the second half of the summer session, you’re going to have to enroll in the program during the second round, lasting June 17 to August 30. Invites into the program will come September 9, and you’ll have until September 22 to accept.

But because you’ll be in the program AFTER course enrollment for the 2013-2014 session, you might have trouble with restrictions since a lot of 200-level courses give priority to people already in x program, so keep some kind of contingency plan!

xoxo,

aska

Hi,

I’m a first year business student at UTM. I was hoping to get into the Finance Specialist Program for second year, but I didn’t end up getting over 63 in MGT120. 🙁 I can’t do summer school here at UTM this summer since I have already booked my flights back home which was over $1000. I’m planning on doing Economics Major for one year and then trying to get into the Finance subject post next year. However, MGT120 is a Restricted Course, do you know if there’s any way I can get around this problem and try to take it during the school session? If I do it during the school year, then I’ll be able to catch up on other courses during the summer.

Thanks!

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Hey!

Unfortunately, there isn’t really anything that can be done to get around a restricted course, and if there is anything that CAN be done, it would be up to the discretion of the department, so work on that perfectly pitiful pout and a nice, convincing statement to pass on to them for now.

xoxo,

aska

Hey, I’m a first year student at UTM, I haven’t been doing too good this year, my GPA will be hopefully be either 2.0 or it could be below it. The two majors I want to apply to require a GPA of at least 2.0. I am taking a summer course to hopefully bring up my mark. But.. what happens if I don’t have the required GPA even after summer school? What should I do?

Please help me, thanks so much.

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Hey there!

If you don’t get the given GPA even after summer school, unfortunately, you’re just going to have to wait until you do. You can try appealing to the program head and seeing if they can do a little something-something to make some magic happen for you, but your best bet is to power through that summer course to ground you at, at least, a 2.0.

However, if that doesn’t work, then you’ll have to find yourself a random Type 1 program to get by with while you enroll in courses that’ll boost your CGPA so that you can enroll after second year.

Just be wary of the program requirements for after that! Sometimes they can get harsher. For example, after first year, to get into the English specialist program in first year requires a 2.0, whereas in second year you’ll need a 2.3.

Cheers!

aska