• grad school

    it’s all in the timing

    May 3, 2013

    Hi Aska,

    I’m wondering when is the best time to ask for reference letters, and the best way to approach my professors. My programs were psychology and criminology, but I want to apply for a sociology degree. I want to apply for fall 2014, and the deadline is January 1 or around then. However, I’m about to graduate so I’m wondering when I should ask for the reference letters!

    thanks,
    Teneisha

    ?????????

    Hey Teneisha,

    That’s a great question.

    Honestly, there’s no one true answer for this, but I suppose letting your prof know of your grad school intention while you’re in their class isn’t a bad idea — especially if they seem to take a liking to you. It’d help, for example, in letting them know how to comment on your papers and tell you what to improve on.

    Now I suppose it would be best to ask the professor not too long after their class. So for example, if you’re going into third year right now and want a letter from your F-term prof to use in the next year, maybe ask him after your course is over just so he/she still remembers you and your work, but let him know that he/she can take his time.

    But the LATEST to ask would be probably September 2014. Profs are used to writing reference letters — most have a template, actually! — but it’s always nice to give them ample time and let them know about your research intentions/take a look at your CV/yada yada yada. 🙂

    Bottom line though, the best time to ask would be when they’re familiar with you.

    Also, GO IN PERSON! No one wants to give a letter to an email.

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • grad school,  grades

    summer course confusion

    May 2, 2013

    Hey,

    Just a question regarding summer courses – which year does a summer school credit go towards? For example, if a student took a summer course immediately after second year, does that credit affect his/her second year GPA or third year? I am wondering because grad schools tend to focus on one’s last two years of undergrad and I was trying to calculate my GPA.

    Thanks 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hey!

    That’s a really good question actually. I’ve always wondered that… but then I killed the grad school dream and stopped wondering. Ahem.

    Essentially, your summer grade is its own session, meaning it’ll get its own GPA and won’t contribute to your second or third year’s average. So if you end up rocking that course and getting an 84, your sessional GPA would be amazing.

    Now there’s no concrete answer on if a summer course between second and third year is something grad schools might look, but here’s what I can tell you: The best way to see just what a potential grad school is looking at exactly is to go to your Academic History on ROSI and view the complete version, which lists absolutely everything and what specific session you took x class in.

    So since they look at your last two years, I would say that logically, they’re looking at the last half of your credits. Make sense? They’ll definitely see you took a summer course on its own which may explain why it’s incredibly good, but it won’t exactly “count towards year two/three.”

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grad school

    i just love school sooo much

    April 18, 2013

    Hi there,

    So I’m currently a student wrapping up my third year and basically my GPA sucks. I would need a 3.2 in my last two years or higher and a cGPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered for the vast majority of the grad schools I’m looking at. I was wondering if I have any chance of being accepted to a good school for example, Mcgill ( the above mentioned requirements were for this school). My current GPA is about 2.4 and I really need it to be higher. If you don’t make the GPA is that the end for you? How much do grad schools take extra curriculars and reference letters into consideration? Hopefully all hope is not lost but I could really use some direction.

    Thanks!

    ?????????

    Hey there,

    Most grad schools take their minimum CGPAs seriously, but they often fluctuate depending on the applicant pool of that year. So say the standard is 3.0 but there aren’t many people applying. If that’s the case, they’ll lower the average a bit. However, that can work the other way too.

    Although there are some schools that are quite rigid and won’t even consider students if they don’t meet their 3.3 requirement, even if you’re literally at a 3.28. Trust me.

    But if you don’t make the necessary GPA, that’s not NECESSARILY the end for you. It just means you can’t be picky and that you may have to expand your search and apply to a lot of different grad schools. I mean some can be really hard to get into — e.g. University of Toronto, McGill, UBC — but some can be incredibly easy.

    Now extra curriculars and reference letters come in to play depending on the program. The latter, yes, is always a factor, but to be honest I don’t think the former matters all that much unless your extra curriculars are actually relevant…

    Also be careful with your letters! Don’t just ask a prof to write you one — ask if they can write you a POSITIVE one.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grad school

    what do you mean i have to read a lot at master’s level?!

    January 16, 2013

    Hello,

    I am doing a one year Master’s program in Anthropology with no intension of carrying on to a PhD. I admit I hate reading! I have some flexability in my course selection so basically I am looking for any grad level social sciences course (@ St.George) light on the reading factor. Any ideas?

    Sincerly,

    Ms. Get-me-outa-here-without-damaging-my-vision-and-overloading-my-brain.

    ?????????

    Ms. What-are-you-doing-in-a-Master’s-program-if-this-is-your-mindset,

    Unfortunately, I don’t have a real calendar for graduate courses to read, much less direct you to, so this post is going to be basically useless to you. But most department websites will have pretty detailed descriptions of their courses, so you can browse through those and pitch taking them to your department.

    Also, do make sure taking courses from other departments is allowed. It’d suck if you took something and Anthro said it wouldn’t count toward your degree.

    But to be completely honest, I really don’t think you’ll find anything with “light” reading. I mean really, these are graduate level courses. 400-level courses are packed with reading as it is, so I really don’t think courses for Master’s students will be any lighter or be able to deemed “light.” Granted, take a look at other course descriptions and see what you consider to be light.

    Anyhow, don’t get your hopes too high on this search. Again, these are grad courses, so if they were “easy,” something wouldn’t be right with that program…

    Best,

    aska

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  • grad school

    requesting letters of recommendation: the askastudent edition

    October 29, 2012

    Hello Aska,

    I’m really having trouble trying to get reference letters from professors. I am a painfully shy person and I tend to do this stupid stutter when I get nervous especially to person with higher authority like professors. I need a good reference letter to get into grad school, but I’m not sure how to approach my prof about it. I should probably talk to him more so that he actually knows me before asking for a reference, but I’m not really entirely sure how to make a good impression especially when there’s 200 students in my class. And how exactly, should I approach him when I ask him to be my reference? Should I bring in a package of resumes, personal statements of experience, and transcript? Please help, deadline is in the beginning of December, and I should probably ask him soon.

    – Shy reference needing student

    ?????????

    Hey there Wallflower!

    For starters, I can?t seem to find any documented guide by UofT on requesting letters of recommendation, so I?m going to make one just for you! 🙂

    I?m going to tell you the key thing an old T.A. of mine taught me about grad school hopefuls. Word your request like so: ?Would you be able to write a positive letter of recommendation for me?? Okay, it doesn?t have to be exactly like that, but make sure you specify the ?positive? part of it!

    Now onto your matter: the best way to make an impression is to go to office hours. You don?t necessarily need to be that person who always has something to say in class (although there?s nothing wrong with that), but it would really help your cause if you were at least be someone he can identify. I don?t think you can get a particularly strong letter if he remembers you as ?the girl who got an A- in his seminar last term according to this excel spreadsheet? or something equally as generic.

    If you?re really, really shy about meeting in office hours though, consider his email policy. Is he okay with you spamming his inbox? If so, send some things from your lectures or readings that really stood out to you. Naturally, make sure you have something remotely monumental to mention, but if you linger in his inbox, he?s sure to at least recall your name. Then you can move onto a title of ?the girl who emailed me every other day with intelligent things to say.? But again, I stress the great opportunity that office hours provide. Not only do you forge a relationship with your professor, but it can really help to deepen your understanding of his course and your passion for it!

    As for the in-person approach, I really do not recommend bringing all that stuff in ? not at your first visit, at least. At your first visit, you request. Also ask his opinion: what schools do you recommend? How do you think I should go about this? What was your experience like? Oh, by the way, can you please be my reference?

    I don?t think showing him your resume or transcript will matter, but your personal statement should be something you mention and show off. I don?t know if he?s obligated to read it, but it wouldn?t hurt to ask him to do so. At least then, the two of you will be on the same page as to where your area(s) of interest lie.

    I know the deadlines are approaching, but don?t freak out! Also, double check the dates for the referees. For example, I know that while an application for an M.A. in English is due in early the December, the referees have until January to send their letters. Why? To give him or her the chance to get to know the student. This means you have time, so no need to stress!

    Best of luck!

    also looking for letters,

    aska

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  • grad school

    just a minor issue

    October 24, 2012

    Heya Aska,

    I’m in a bit of a spot choosing my POST combination. I’ve settled on a major in biotechnology, but have several other areas of interest as well. I intend to continue studying after undergrad, and would definitely like to keep the option of a grad program in biotechnology an option. I guess my question is, will the other half of my post affect my chances of getting into a grad school program? Would taking a complimentary major be a better option than two unrelated minors?

    Thanks!

    ?????????

    Hey hey!

    Naturally, if you want to get into the Masters program for Biotechnology, majoring in a related field does make sense. Technically, as long as your undergraduate degree is in a relevant area, you do fulfill their requirement, but I would recommend minors (or a second major) that really compliment your Biotechnology major.

    While a gradschool won?t have anything against, say, minors in Spanish and Linguistics, having majors in Chemistry and Biomedical Physics for example will probably make your application more appealing. Taking minors in areas that interest you will certainly help your GPA since people tend to work better in the classes they like and they won?t hinder your chances of getting in per se, but minors in more relevant fields will certainly look better to the committee reviewing your application, so keep that part in mind.

    Really though, it all depends on the school you want to get into. Check out their requirements and talk to their program directors or advisors to see how they feel about unrelated minors.

    As long as you have the major, technically, you should be fine though!

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • dropping courses,  grad school,  jobs,  law school

    loving law

    October 22, 2012

    Hi aska,

    I have a couple questions if you don’t mind:

    1. I really screwed up my first year finishing with a horrible gpa of 2.4. I was looking into going to law school or grad school after my undergrad, but now I’m terrified that I’ve ruined my chances of getting in. Have I completely screwed up my gpa? Even if I get a 4.0 for the rest of my undergrad years (which is highly unlikely), my cgpa still won’t be very high. I heard the minimum for most law schools is 3.7 :\

    2. If I drop an F course before Nov 4th, there will be no record that I even took the course in the first place right? If so, is it possible for me to drop the course and start fresh by taking it next semester? Or will they know that I enrolled and dropped out of it first semester?

    3. Do you have any info or know where I can find more info about internships? Or volunteering? And do you have any tips on applying? If law/grad school is still an option, I’m worried that my resume is not up to par.

    Thanks so much and please reply asap if possible!

    ———————————————

    Hey there,

    So I’m just going to number off my answers if you don’t mind:

    1. You didn’t screw up your first year, so you better take back those pity party invitations hun. While most post-grad programs want at least a 3.5 GPA, you have three whole years to raise your CGPA. How? By working hard. You sound like you realize you slacked off a little last year. Are you ready to change that? If you don’t know how or if you need some tips, try consulting the Academic Success Centre. They’re always really helpful. 🙂
    2. You are correct. November 4, 2012 is the last day to drop an F course without any academic penalty. Likewise, you can definitely drop the course right now (before November 4) and take it again next semester without any problems.
    3. As for info on internships and volunteering, head over to the Career Centre website. They always have listings for part-time work or volunteer opportunities. Moreover, they have loads of pages on writing proper cover letters, prepping for interviews, and general application tidbits. They also hold a number of workshops and info sessions over the year about applications or the ins and outs of resume writing.

    Enjoy!

    aska

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  • grad school,  grades

    post-grad problems

    October 17, 2012

    Hi,

    I’m a final year Law Student currently in Nigeria, Africa. I’ll be leaving the country soon to Canada, to be reunited with family. Therefore I’m seeking career advancement options to get me started.

    I’m interested in enrolling for a Master’s Program in International Relations, Business Administration or Intellectual Property Law. But Unfortunately I have not met the B+ requirement *SOB*

    So, I was advised to try a ‘Post Graduate Diploma’, unfortunately, I have been browsing through schools and can’t seem to come up with anything related to my field. Closest I saw was a ‘Post Diploma’ with a duration of TWO YEARS! Can anyone pls pls pls help explain the benefits of a Post Grad Diploma & where it could lead me to in Canada?

    Also, if you can recommend schools or courses to me via links, I’d be grateful. Thanks.

    ?????????

    Hey there!

    Okay so for starters, U of T doesn?t seem to offer a Master?s program in Intellectual Property Law, and to get into the M.B.A. program would require a business degree in your undergraduate years and a lot of experience and references.

    This narrows things down to the International Relations program, but even then, I?m going to have to tell you that whoever told you to try a post-graduate diploma? yeah, they were wrong ? that is at least according to the little birdies that help me out over here. Basically, from what my sources tell me, pursuing a post-graduate diploma would be pointless as graduate programs mostly look at your success in the last few years of your undergraduate work. So really, the most you can do is work really hard this year, and if that isn?t enough, take some more courses afterwards to boost your GPA.

    But if you do want to take a post-graduate diploma, it?s essentially something you?ll take at a collage to hone a skill more so than work with academics. They may be better for you in that depending on where you go, you?ll be set up for internships or co-op placements.

    Study hard!

    aska

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  • admissions,  GPA,  grad school,  grades

    for fear of a fifth year

    October 1, 2012

    Hello,

    I’m a life science student going to 4th year in September and I’m debating whether I should graduate in April of 2013. I wish to go to Dentistry school, preferably at UofT, but my CGPA is only 3.0, the minimum requirement for dentistry. I went to guidance to ask for advice, but they told me to give up on dentistry altogether; however, I am not willing to give up without a fight, my gpa was terrible in first year which is why my gpa is so low, but through hard work there has been a dramatic increase in my grades each year that follows. Financially, I’m in a tight spot, so I’m not sure if I should take a 5th year and continue to try or to listen to my guidance councilor to switch fields. Switching fields is another problem because I have no idea what I could do with a BSc diploma. Please give me some advice on what I should do, to graduate or not, and if not what options are left for me? =(

    – Very old and worried 4th year.

    ———————————————

    Dearest Old and Worried,

    My apologies for such a delayed answer, but there’s really no need to be so frantic. 🙂

    Firstly, there is no graduation in April 2013, so if you do choose to deem this your fourth and final year of undergrad, starting today, October 1, 2012, you can declare your intention to graduate on ROSI for June 2013 since I highly doubt a fifth year will be necessary, much less a change in fields.

    Now there’s no need for you to give up your dream. Your 3.0 CGPA is the equivalent to a mid-B, which, according to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, is the minimum final year average needed. Right now, you’re in a fairly good place and will at least be considered. The only thing you can do right now is make sure you stay on top of your game this year so that your grades will be enough to beat out the competition.

    But to avoid any crushing of dreams, keep your options open. Don’t apply solely to U of T. That’s probably the best way to get your heart torn to pieces, really. The Faculty of Dentistry even provides you with links to other possible universities to do your post-grad work at. For example, you can go over to Western and study and/or party hard or you can go over to McGill and practice your French while practicing your periodontology. Or maybe you can go to UBC or University of Alberta or University of Manitoba. My point is that the best way to go anywhere in life, whether that be for dinner or for dentistry, is to keep your options open. Naturally, these different universities will obviously come with different requirements, so you may have a harder time getting in (which I doubt because U of T is, well, U of T), or you may find your CGPA is ideal.

    You have plenty of options and plenty of time to raise your CGPA if you feel your 3.0 isn’t enough, so don’t worry so much. But if this response isn’t enough to placate you, here’s a lovely cat gif.

    also a very old but not as worried fourth year,

    aska

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  • admissions,  americans,  being canadian,  comp lit,  english,  grad school,  international students,  masters

    corn pops and comp lit: being american at u of t

    September 11, 2012

    Dear askastudent,

    So I just recently developed an interest in UofT for grad school. Canada seems pretty great, and I want to explore some other places in the world. I would go to school for Literature, which falls in the Arts and Sciences program if my research is correct. Anyway, I was just wondering if you could give some advice about what would be expected from life in Canada that differs from the states. Is there any way to go about making the tuition cheaper? What is the english/comp lit department like?

    Any words of wisdom will suffice, like I said: simply curious! Thanks

    ———————–

    Hi there oh curious American,

    You asked the right guy! The handsome and mysterious genius behind askastudent may just be an American student, and may also just be doing the undergraduate program in Comparative Literature.

    The Centre for Comparative Literature is a fantastic and well respected program. Literary theorist Northrop Frye is just one of the great academics who made their careers at the University’s Victoria College, and your colleagues and professors in the program are of the highest caliber. What that also means is that it’s pretty tough to get in! For starters, the masters program requires you to be highly proficient in at least one language other than English, and for the doctorate, at least two (some students have an arsenal of a half dozen).

    Something else to consider: Despite the program’s high profile and prestige, humanities programs in Canada and at U of T are constantly under attack as academia angles towards more profitable ventures like science and business research. Just recently, the Centre for Comparative Literature was on the chopping block, and only thanks to spirited organizing and activism on the part of the students is it still intact.

    There is also a larger Department of English, which I know less about except that my English TAs have always been big sweethearts! Poke around the sites and maybe you can see which program suits you.

    As for being American in Canada, I can sincerely say it totally rules. The differences are minor, and can therefore sometimes be all the more surreal. Let me prepare you for a few:
    – It’s more than likely that you will develop the subtle Canadian pronunciation of ‘out’ and ‘about.’ You might even pick up the dreaded ‘eh’ You won’t notice it until your American friends from home tease you for it, so it can be an ugly surprise, but you’ll learn to embrace it.
    – About half of the words with spelling differences in British English maintain them here. ‘Colour,’ ‘favourite,’ ‘centre’ and ‘theatre’ are the first ones to learn, but you’ll be stretching it a bit if you use ‘globalization.’ Either way, I’ve never had a professor get on my case about it, despite my best efforts at losing sleep over it in my first year.
    – Money is cute and bright here, and there’s lots more change.
    – Hockey is the name of the game here.
    – The corn pops are different– and much, much worse.
    Regarding the tuition, there’s not much to be done- you’ll be paying international fees for at least a few years of your degree. Even if you get engaged your first week on campus, the process towards Canadian residence or citizenship is longer than a Master’s degree.

    Here’s a helpful article about the experience of immigrating to Canada as an American: Immigrant with an Asterisk ()
    Stay sweet, and kiss the land of the free for me!

    aska

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  • grad school

    when i wish upon a grad star

    January 13, 2012
    Hello Askastudent,
    ?
    I’ve recently applied to the MSW program at U of T.? I feel like I have a strong application *except* for my gpa.? It falls below the minimum requirement.? Do U of T admissions committees routinely discard applications falling below minimum without reviewing it?? I guess this happens in other programs that are more concrete in numbers like the maths and sciences. I am hoping that being a ‘people’ profession that Social Work will consider all aspects of the application even though one part may be weak.?
    ?
    Is this wishful thinking on my part??
    ?
    Thank You! Any insight would be appreciated.

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

    Hey there,

    Yes, it is wishful thinking but not tooootally crazy. They will consider your application as a whole, but generally graduate programs are rather competitive. Admission requirements can vary from year to year depending on the applicant pool. So logically it could be a less competitive year and you may be admitted, but generally it’s the reverse. I like links, so here’s the current admission requirements.

    I would always apply just in case, you never know.

    warmth and waterproof boots,

    aska

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  • grad school

    Waterloo Graduate Schoo

    October 21, 2011
    Hello I am an undergraduate student at University of Waterloo and got some bad marks at Waterloo I am looking to improve all my marks for the last two years (5 year program). I am really hopeful about U of T Graduate Studies in Electrical Engineering as it is a well known university but another reason is that it close to my home.I have read online that U of T looks at the last two years GPA to be above 75% (?). I know this is a minimum requirement but what are my chances if I apply with letters of recommendation and internship experience? Should I also do a GRE?

    Please let me know.

    Please also keep my email id confidential.

    Thanks

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

    Whaddup Waterloo,

    So do you have the minimal grades? You did a little jaunt around that information … are?you at least attempting to get them?

    I would say that in most situations ?they don’t look at the application unless you have the minimal grades required. Saying that though, maybe you are super awesome in all other areas.
    I would give the Electrical and Computer Engineering department a shout Telephone: 416-978-3122 (graduate studies inquiry) and see what their requirement emphasis is on … and while you’re at it ?maybe ask that GRE question. Other graduate programs in the engineering department do not require it, but in the application process they do have a spot for it to be included if you have taken it.

    I hope this answer was remotely helpful,

    aksa

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  • engineering,  grad school

    an engineer in the ivy leagues?!

    May 24, 2011

    Dear Askastudent team,

    I will be studying Engineering Science for my undergraduate studies next year. I know that up to 50% of EngSci students graduate with a Bachelor’s, but I am wondering how many students (what percentage) are able to make it to top universities in the States for grad school, such as Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Berkeley, etc.

    Thank you for your help,

    Deyu

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

    Hey Dude,

    Unfortunately, since those statistics would change every year, I nor the Engineering Faculty would really have access to those kinds of facts. However, I do urge you to contact the Engineering Program who will be able to at least fill you in on where some of the students end up.?My guess is that at least a few end up in the Ivy Leagues for grad school and become kind of?big deals? Blaze your own path and you’ll end up there too!

    xoxo, Askastudent

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