• OSAP,  residence

    takin’ care of business, everyday…

    December 16, 2014

    Dear askastudent,

    Google and the terrible UofT website have been able to answer the majority of my questions but unfortunately not these ones. That is, however, where you come in.

    – Will my OSAP cover the first payment on my residence or will I have to take care of business myself?

    – Whilst applying for Victoria College I checked off my interest in residence. If I (And I will so this is a non-issue) fail to get into Vic will I have to confirm my interest in residence at all the other colleges I may end up in? I like to deal with things as pre-emptively as possible, to prevent future issues and so if I could deal with this now it would be best.

    Thank you very much for your time wise askastudent. Have an excellent, fun filled evening.

    Sincerely,
    The Muscles Champ

    ???????????????

    hey there Muscles Champ,

    *huffs* how dare you call the uoft website TERRIBLE? terrible, with its circuitous, illogical tangents and constantly moving web pages? nonsense! it’s not terrible, it’s?magical.

    1) it all depends. apply for OSAP, and when they release an estimate of how much aid you’re eligible for (that’s fancy talk for how much money you’re likely to get), they’ll tell you the dates that each instalment will be released.

    then you just have to figure out when your residence fees are due, and do the math. and then you can, as you said,?take?care of business, whatever the case may be.

    2) nahh.

    basically how it works is that, if you’re interested in residence, you do everything through a myres application. you’ll have to indicate your initial interest in residence through myres by march 31st.

    then, once you’ve been accepted to uoft and given your college placement, you’ll log into myres again. at that point, myres will recognize which college you’re a part of, and they’ll only list residence options that are available to you. so if you get into vic, you might?be given vic residence and chestnut (which is not affiliated with any college), for example.

    i hope you also have an excellent, fun filled evening, Muscles Champ. and thanks for the kind wishes.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • residence

    moving in, moving on

    September 3, 2014

    Can I move in to residence the day after the official move in day?

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    well, i realize it is now the second day after most residences’ first move-in days, but yes, you can. you can move in?starting?on move-in day, not?only on move-in day.

    if you’re ever uncertain, it’s always best to contact and?ask the residence you’re moving into. but typically – yes. hope you already figured that out through someone else.

    how’s rez? good? cool.

    best,

    aska

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  • residence

    crash-course: living in residence

    August 22, 2014

    hey there,

    after just finishing a three-part guide to incoming commuter students (parts 1, 2, 3), i thought i’d give some attention to those of you who will get to live on campus this year.

    firstly, a quick rundown of the residences: st. george, UTM, UTSC.

    between these three campuses, there is every kind of living arrangement you could possibly imagine: townhouses, apartment-style residences, single rooms, double rooms, suite-style…etc. however, here are?some tips which make communal living a whole lot?easier no matter where you’ll be this year.

    1. your residence don will likely make you sign a suite/roommate agreement. try to follow that. otherwise, both your roommate(s) and don are totally entitled to speak with you about it and enforce the rules you agreed to.?besides, it’s just easier for everyone involved if there are some rules everyone can be counted on following.

    2. learn where and how to do your laundry, preferably before the first time you have to do your laundry. it’ll make things go a lot more smoothly.

    here are some tips before you get there:?most public washer/dryers?require either change or, in some residences, a card loaded with money, to operate. dryer sheets are worth it. it’s rude not to clean the lint tray after you use it. finally, leach, laundry detergent, and fabric softener are all different things and cannot be indiscriminately interchanged.

    3. school comes first, but investing a bit of time in participating in rez?life?pays off.

    even if you don’t feel comfortable being part of a residence/house council or hosting events, hanging out in rez with your door open on a regular basis is a great way to become more comfortable with the other people in your residence. you might even have fun.

    4. talk to your don about stuff that’s bugging you.

    that’s what they’re there for. and if they can’t help you, they’ll set you up with people who can.

    5.?plan for the weather.

    even if your building has AC/heating, a portable heater and fan is a great idea. they’re inexpensive, and if you prefer unnatural?temperatures that your floor- or roommates aren’t down with, it’s a way to regulate the temperature in your room without affecting anyone else.

    just make sure that your residence is cool with you bringing one first, because?i don’t want to make life more difficult for residence?staff. i’m sure they already have a hard enough time enforcing the no pets policy.

    best of luck with your living arrangements, chums,

    aska

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  • courses,  residence

    uoft’s Most Haunted

    August 22, 2014

    Hi Aska,

    First of all, your website is AMAZING! I’ve learned a lot and I don’t feel as worried anymore about studying at St. George 🙂

    I have a few questions for you though, that I couldn’t find on the site…

    1) I’m going to be living in Annesley Hall, which is apparently near Queen’s Park. I read online/heard from friends that it’s really dangerous there. Is that true? Should I just stay away from the park? What are the places considered dangerous near and around the university?

    2) What are the professors and classes like? I’m going to be an exchange student from a really small school, so we know all our professors and most of our professors know us. It’s pretty easy to get good grades too, as long as you do your homework… I know UofT is a really competitive school, and
    the classes are large, as well. Do the professors care at all about the students? Also, do people have laptops or do they write notes?

    3) I know this is a stupid question, but is Annesley Hall really haunted? I’m honestly kinda worried because I’m going to be in a single room… lol

    Thank you so much!
    Worrywart 😉

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i’m so glad i’ve been able to make you feel less anxious! that’s askastudent’s highest ambition. though, don’t push it. you don’t want to be so relaxed you sleep right through your first class. that’s too much.

    1) annesley Hall is just north of Queen’s Park, which, yes, can sometimes have not-so-friendly visitors at night. however, i wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s regularly or significantly unsafe.

    if you take some safety precautions, you should be alright. if you can, travel with at least one other person at night. if you’re warned not to cross Queen’s Park one night, then?don’t. and if you have a late class and have to walk alone, make sure you have your cell phone with campus police’s number on it. walksmart is also a great resource.

    2) it depends on the program, but most first-year classes are really big. you probably won’t get to know any profs personally until third year, maybe second year. BUT most huge first-year courses have tutorials, and if you attend them (which you should), you’ll get to know your TA really well. you’ll be in a class of typically under 50 students, and your TA will make a special effort to make themselves available to you should you have questions.

    also, many first years take at least one seminar course, and in some cases it’s even required. those classes are very small and typically include a lot group discussion. they’re a great way to interact directly with a prof.

    3) well, when i Googled “annesley hall haunted” the only results i got were about this place in nottinghamshire (which is possibly the most English name i’ve ever heard). there aren’t even any mischievous redditors spreading information about annesley’s haunted reputation, which is a good sign.

    honestly, if you’re worried about sleeping alone/away from home, residence is the best place to get acclimated. you’ll sleep on a floor full of your peers and a don qualified to deal with all sorts of emergencies. if you ask them to face-off with a poltergeist, they’ll do it.

    or you can turn the tables and get the ghosts on your side. then you can become the MONARCH of an awesome UNDEAD ARMY. WHOO.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • residence

    “you hecked up” – kanye west

    June 13, 2014

    hi
    So i was admitted to UC, and I have applied to UC? my residence already. However, I actually really like the residence in Vic.?

    Am I allowed to do residence in a different college???

    If yes, does a lot of people do that? And since I have already paid the deposit for UC, is it too late to change anything now??
    thanks.

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    kanye shakes his head

    according to the call i just put in to the Super Secret Office of Knowledge,?it’s “not likely” you can?change rez’s?once you’ve made a deposit. you can e-mail housing ( . ) services ( at ) utoronto ( . ) ca and they may be able to do something to help you out, but your odds aren’t great.

    once you express your interest, it’s a done deal. residence is kind of like getting married in that way – you can’t back out after the fact, no matter what the bride is like. see, this is why i was yelling at y’all back in april?to figure this stuff out. you think it’s annoying, and then you realize?I?WAS RIGHT.

    why not give?UC?a try? and be grateful that you’ve got a ROOF?over your HEAD. aska doesn’t?live in residence, y’know – she just?huddles with strangers?in libraries all day long. at night, we sleep?on top of each other in subways. and when it was winter, we just gritted our teeth and yelled into?the wind to deal with the pain. who needs all ten toes? kids these days are soft, i tell you, SOFT.

    seriously, the UC residences are cool. and?if, somehow, you STILL?don’t like it after?you’ve moved in, you can always change residences next year.

    best,

    aska

    P.S. i had to Google “Kanye laughing” for this post and this is what comes up in the image search. i feel like it’s a good reaction image, but for WHAT, i don’t know yet…

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  • residence,  university-college

    i’m just a broken record

    May 28, 2014

    Hello ! I was wondering whether you could tell me some information about which residence is better: Morrison, Sir Dans, or Whitney at UC, UofT?

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i’m at a bit of a disadvantage here because i’ve never lived at any of these residences, so i can’t give you any SECRET, INSIDE INFORMATION about, like, which building has leaky pipes, or which one has the comfiest couches. they do look pretty from the outside, though i hope the plumbing isn’t as old as the stonework.

    what i would urge you to do is go on a residence tour if at all possible. if you have the time, tour each building you’re considering. honestly, i can’t stress enough how helpful it is to see the place for yourself. i know this sounds hokey and new-agey, but i really think that you just get a vibe from certain places. once you’ve visited a residence, you’ll be a lot more confident in making a decision about it.

    other than that, it really depends on what you want out of rez. all of the buildings are mostly single rooms, Whitney and Sir Dan have one quiet floor each, Morrison has a dining hall while Sir Dan is farthest away (200m) from that dining hall, Morrison is the only one with A/C…you can compare and contrast more here.

    in terms of logistics, the residences are pretty similar to one another: they’re single-occupant, dorm-style rooms that all use the same dining hall. they’re also all in the same area of campus. that’s why it’s kind of hard to choose between them based on just what the university tells you online or in pamphlets.

    which brings us back full circle: go on a rez tour.

    cheers,

    aska

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  • first year,  residence

    concerns about being alone: well, what else is new?

    May 21, 2014

    Hey there!I’m starting to get anxious about something really stupid concerning the residences but I can’t help it. So I’m going to be a first year student this fall and when I had to rank what building I wanted to stay in for residence, I didn’t really do much research and ranked Lower Burwash Hall first. Now that I’m reading more into residences I realize that for a first year student it would’ve been better to rank Margaret Addison Hall first because it is the most social and that where you can expect to make more friends as a first year. And stupid me ranked it 5th!! I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for me to get put there now. Do you have any idea if you can change your ranking after you are assigned to a dorm? Or if not, could I still hang out in the common room of Margaret Addison Hall at least? I’m really scared to be placed in a building where there is no social scene and it’s very quiet and won’t be able to meet anyone.
    Thank you

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    oh, man. i read this question first thing this morning and i am so glad?i did. i’m not gonna call your question cute because i think that word is really gross and condescending, and i’d like for all of us to be on equal footing here on askastudent. we’re all just chilling together, you know?

    instead, lemme just put it this way: your question is very reflective of your status as an incoming first year. that’s not a bad thing. it just means that your concern is so minor that literally everyone knows it is except you. again, i don’t mean that offensively. what i’m saying is that you’ve got nothing to worry about!

    the nature of residences is that they are social. i spent my first year in a residence (not at uoft) that was considered one of the “quieter” ones. guess what? people still threw parties the weekend their don was away. people still visited their neighbours in their pjs. i remember watching the U.S. elections (back when it was between obama and romney, oh man, remember that?) until 2am with like eight other people, all crowded around one TV in my friend’s room.

    also, it was all very mobile. people still went to visit with friends in other residences. people ate in the cafeterias of other residences.

    just because you live in a certain place, doesn’t mean you’re tied to it. university as a whole (and especially the university of toronto) allows for the kind of mobility that’s pretty hard to conceptualize?when you’re in high school. so if you really don’t like your rez, you don’t have to spend time there.

    but?no matter where you end up, it’s very unlikely that you won’t make any friends in residence.?it looks like it’s too late?to change residence preferences once you’ve been made an offer, and while you could try contacting?housing services if you’re really adamant about?changing places, honestly, i’d recommend against it. i think you’ll find everything you’re looking for in burwash. and if not, hey, you’ve always got a friend in aska.

    also, i hear netflix is really great for a night in alone or whatever.

    best of luck next year!

    aska

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  • residence,  summer abroad

    canadians aren’t built for the heat.

    May 12, 2014

    Hello,

    I will be coming to Toronto this summer for a global summer program exchange. I will be following courses at Innis but after doing some research I chose to apply for residence at University College – Whitney Hall.

    One of the reasons for my exchange is to experience the real ‘college life’ since we do not have any campuses over here The reason I chose Whitney is mainly because I read that it has one of the more social scenes, the building is really pretty and the location is great.

    However, it is one of the few buildings with no A/C. And since I will be staying in July/August, I was wondering how big of a problem this is. I heard that it can get really hot in the summer, but I am not sure if this means that I would struggle getting any sleep or whether its just not as comfortable as other buildings. I could easily apply for another building like Morrison hall, which is only a little bit cheaper, newer and with A/C but kinda emotionless.

    Would you have any advice about this / know anything about Whitney Hall during the summer? Or any recommendations??Thank you for your help.

    Kind regards.

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    well, firstly, that’s so exciting that you’re coming on an exchange! i hope you have a magnificent time in toronto. and just remember, Niagara Falls and the CN Tower aren’t the only interesting things in the area.

    try and get time to explore the city if you can. i promise you it’s worth it. i’d recommend the harbourfront; there are always cool shows (and boat rides!!!) going on there. also the subway restaurant on Bloor Street close to campus has a really cute waiter, so…*

    secondly, you won’t perish (probably) from the heat if you have no A/C, but it will be really, really uncomfortable. if you still can, i’d try and apply for a building that does have it. the temperatures can climb to the mid-30s Celsius, and it’s not awesome trying to study when you can feel your brain boiling inside your skull.

    if changing buildings is no longer an option, i’d highly recommend bringing a portable fan with you.

    hope you have a chill summer,

    aska

    *Quality Life Tips from Aska registered trademark

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  • residence

    choosing a residence building

    April 10, 2014

    Hi 🙂 I received residency offers from SMC for the coming year, I was wondering out of the 4 buildings at SMC, which one is recommended? I really just want a room that has good natural light, but I can’t really find any photos of inside of the buildings.

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    unfortunately i don’t know off the top of my head because i am much too lame to live downtown, but the thing that would be most helpful for you, i think, rather than trying to find pictures, is to go on a residence tour. especially now that it’s going to be nice and sunny for a while, it’ll be the perfect way to figure out exactly how you feel about each residence building.

    best,

    aska

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  • residence,  UTSC

    bein’ school-ist to UTSC

    February 28, 2014

    Hello,

    I’m currently a student at UTSC but was looking to do a semester at utsg while also living on res there. When I applied, I didn’t get into utsg so the option of the res isn’t even available on myres. Would I have to transfer and be a utsg student to stay on res there during my semester? Please help me out.

    Thanks

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    i’ve done a lot of searching around for this question, just ’cause I’ve never had one like it before (you can congratulate yourself on being so unique). unfortunately, despite the awesome uniqueness of the ask, i have to give a kinda disappointing answer.

    i wasn’t able to find any reference to UTSG accommodations for non-UTSG students. even the independent residences seem to only provide residence to students on the downtown campus. i’d suggest trying to get onto the waitlist, but if UTSG residences aren’t appearing on your myres at all, then i don’t know how you might do that.

    if you’re up to spending upwards of $5000 for one semester, you can take a look at these B&Bs available through Uoft’s temporary housing page. although i’ve gotta say, that’s hella expensive, and it makes a whole lot more sense to me to spend, like $1000 or so commuting for the semester, than $5500 living in the city. but hey, it’s totally up to you.

    as for transferring, most undergrad programs can only be transferred into for september, since a lot of our courses are a year long, rather than a semester. i doubt you could pull it off, if i’m being honest.

    so yeah, i couldn’t find much, but i am just a peon in the goliath that is the uoft machine. if you want to make sure there are no other options available, i’d suggest calling housing services at 416-978-8045. that way you can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.

    sorry, i know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but commuting’s not so bad! this morning, i was twenty minutes late to class because my train was delayed, then a crazy person started talking to me while I was trying to buy subway tokens, then my token didn’t work and i had to wait in line for five minutes to buy another one!!!! so you see, it’s not all bad.*

    best,

    aska

    *no, seriously, i’s not always that bad. i just try to be funny on here. am I funny? please love me.

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  • residence

    rez life pez life

    February 14, 2014

    Hey Aska!

    I?ll be moving back to Toronto this summer and my house is about?30 minutes away from downtown so getting around isn’t really that much of a?problem. My question is simple but it?s eating my brain away ? should I apply?for residence? A friend of mine who?s studying at?*ahem*?another university,?said very strictly that I wouldn’t make any friends. To be honest, I’m not a ?social?butterfly? and I?m not very good at introductions, so will living at residence?sort of, kind of make this whole friendship process easier? Or does it really?not matter? My parents find it ridiculous that I’m even blabbing on about?residence all the time and they?re saying that I?ll be running home every other?day because it?ll be so darn close. I really want to go but at the same time I?really don?t; I want to try living on my own, learn to be independent and stuff?but I don?t think I?ll be able to?share?bathrooms (I?m sorry, this is really obnoxious but I have this horrible reflex?problem), or clean them, frankly speaking. That?s not all of course, I?m just?afraid that my parents will pay all that money just for me to be lounging back?at home every weekend. Oh and if it makes a difference, I got admitted to Innis?college so (I guess) will be applying for residence there. Do you think you can?help me out a bit? How important is staying at residence in first year?

    Thanks!

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    wow, there’s a lot of stuff here. but i’m glad you’ve been thinking about this as seriously as you have, because deciding to live in residence is a big choice. it’s also an expensive one.

    honestly, if you have the ability to live at home and save over 10k a year, that’s what i’d personally recommend. i mean i’m more pragmatic than most people, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but if you can live so close to campus, you’re in a very fortunate position.

    also, residence is not the only place you can make friends. you can meet people in class, through mutual friends, at parties, etc. honestly, i’m a bit of a misanthropic humbug. most of the time i go out of my way to avoid people. and yet i still haven’t managed to avoid picking up some great friends at school along the way. a lot of them i even met – cliche as it is – through student clubs. don’t discount that option.

    bearing in mind that my experience is not reflective of everyone’s (but that i’m also a bit of a social wallflower like you), let’s use me as a guinea pig: in first year, i made about 4 friends in residence, 2 great friends at frosh week, and about 5 friends from various extra-curriculars (one of whom i knew peripherally from high school). so residence isn’t the only place where social bonds can be built.

    obviously, i can’t deny that living in residence is an unforgettable experience. it lets you grow as a person. it teaches you not to mind sharing wash-rooms so much. to relax a little bit. it gives you a taste of living on your own, allowing you to have control over your own space, and it starts teaching you how to manage a home. living in residence is a great stepping-stone between your parents’ house and your first adult place.

    but, you know. graduating debt-free is an unforgettable experience too, ya feel me?

    i hope that gave you a little something more to think about. good luck with your decision,

    aska

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  • residence

    getting to know you, getting to know all about you

    February 13, 2014

    Hi aska,

    I am currently a first year student but not living in the res now. I have regretted for losing this great opportunity to know more people. So I’m wondering if it is hard to apply for the second year. Which res do you recommend by the way? And if I can apply, do you know when is the move-in day in the coming fall ? (Planning to my flight back home during summer already. haha)

    Thanks 🙂

    ???????????????

    hey there,

    i so rarely get to tell people something is?less difficult than they think it is. but in your case, i can! it’s not that hard to apply for second year.

    all you gotta do is use MyRes, which is sort of like the ROSI for housing services, and follow these instructions. most residence spots are reserved for first years, but there definitely are some spaces for upper years. if you’re not too picky about which residence you want, you’re likely to get a spot. that’s not to say that you?will, but the odds aren’t so high against you that it’s not worth a shot.

    i can’t personally recommend residences because i haven’t actually lived on campus at uoft, but it’s kinda like the whole picking a college thing. just know what you want, figure out which residence has that, and go for it. this comparison chart?for residences would definitely be helpful to that end. taking a tour of some residences just to get a feel for them is also a good idea. overall though, if you’re looking for a friendly, social atmosphere where you can meet cool, new people, you’re safe no matter where you go.

    moving-in day is different for all the different residences, and the dates for fall 2014 don’t seem to be up yet. i found this from from last year for woodsworth’s residence which says move-in day was september 1st. most move-in days will likely be around then, but maybe hold off on making exact plans until you know which residence you’re placed in (if any), and that residence has announced its move-in day.

    cool? cool. i hope you get to make some rad new friends.

    aska

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  • innis,  residence

    i’m coming home, coming home, tell the world i’m coming home

    February 12, 2014

    Hello,

    I am a member of innis college and i stay at the chestnut residence this year. i want to stay in a residence other than chestnut or innis, but i am offered space only in those 2 residences. what should i do?

    Thanks in advance!

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    dude, i don’t know why you wouldn’t want to live at innis. that residence is HELLA NICE. and i haven’t been to chestnut, but i hear it’s great. anyway, i’m sure you have your reasons. that’s cool. this is a judgement-free zone.

    unfortunately, if you’ve only been offered space at innis and chestnut and you don’t want to live there, you’re kind of limited in options. what you can do is go onto your MyRes and rank residences in the order you’d prefer. then you might get onto a waiting list for one of them. however, the spots for upper years are pretty limited and the notification you get about whether there’s a space for you will probably be last-minute, since waiting lists are so uncertain. so don’t bank on getting a spot.

    just in case you don’t get into another residence, i’d recommend you also start exploring other housing possibilities. you can search off-campus rentals close to St. George through housing services, do your own search, or apply to become the official school ghost for one of the colleges (you’ll probably have a better chance at that last one if you are already a ghost).

    if all else fails, they have free cardboard boxes at no frills.

    happy house hunting,

    aska

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