• criminology,  keeners,  law school

    okay, ally mcmajor change

    July 16, 2010

    Dear Aska:
    I’m going into my third year, and I think the time for freaking out about grad school has finally arrived, so I have a question, albeit a rather ridiculous one. I’m currently doing a double major in criminology and psychology, and intend to go to law school, much like half of UofT. However, the international relations programme has always held a lot of interest for me, to the point where I want to switch over. Initially I was going to just demote my psych to a minor. However, I want to keep it as a second option for grad school in case my plan A doesn’t work. Now, to my question. I noticed that the requirements for the Crim major are 7 courses, which when one thinks about it, is much like the requirements for a minor programme in most other disciplines which require 4 credits (meaning around 6-8 classes since most are half classes). However, one can only specialize or major in Crim, not do a minor. Would it be possible, in any way, to convince someone, somewhere with some authority at UofT, that based on this logic, I could do 3 majors, even though one is very much like a minor?
    Also, in case your answer is a no, do you think it’s worth just saying to hell with it and only doing a minor in psych? I’ve come to understand that getting into any decent grad programmes without a research specialist is nearly impossible. I talked to the undergrad advisor but got a bunch of vague, neither yes nor no answers so I don’t want to base my decision on that, but at the same time I’d rather not waste my time if I can’t do anything with a psych major if it ever came to that.
    Thanks for your help, your input is MUCH appreciated as I feel you’re the only source for some straight answers at UofT!

    ———————————————

    Dear askareader,

    You are crazy. Seriously. You want to complete three majors – and you are going into your third year? What are you, a billionaire? Doogie Hauser? Some kind of wealthy forever student with so much time to kill?

    Since I can’t exactly go through the courses you’ve already taken on ROSI without knowing your student number, my recommendation is that you book an appointment with your college registrar, like immediately.

    Doing three majors in three years equals at least 21 mandatory credits. If you’re lucky, some of these classes (like crim and psych) might overlap. But your IR major sounds incredibly difficult to finagle, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU ARE GOING INTO YOUR THIRD YEAR.

    Promise me that you will book an appointment your registrar to discuss course selection this year, tout suite. And remember my rule: there’s no need biting off more than you can chew if the steak’s fine all on its own. (Okay, that makes no sense.)

    The point is, consider ace-ing the programs you’re already in before committing to an entirely new one and trying to fit in all the additional credits you might need in there. Talk to your registrar and work it out. Your plan might not be impossible, just overly ambitious and ill-conceived.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • awkwardness,  friends,  fun & places,  homosexuality,  keeners,  weirdness

    8 questions from a very inquisitive person

    July 5, 2010

    Your website is very interesting , thanks! Now I’m going into gr.12 and I was wondering :

    1) Is it true that UofT is a nerd school that only studies and doesn’t know how to party ?

    2) Does UofT have air conditioning for those hot summer days?

    3) Are there any encounters with ghosts on the st. George campus?

    4) Do you have any gay professors on the campus?

    5) Is it possible to get perfect at UofT in your courses , like in high school ?

    6) Does UofT block any websites in their network?

    7) In the lecture halls, are there power outlets to plug In your laptop if it’s running low ?

    8) Oh and , are you a guy or a girl?

    ———————————————

    You are going into Grade 12 next year, and spending all your time reading a university admissions website?! I hereby order you to smoke pot and lose your virginity, like immediately.

    Because askastudent is nearly as pathetic as you are, here are the answers to your burning questions, dear. Once again, please stop reading this website and participate in normal high school activities, from one former aska-junkie to another.

    1) Depending on the program and its students, I can see how the “nerd school” rep might suffice, but U of T – unlike say Queen’s, or Western – is also in the biggest, most party-centric city in Canada (unless you’re going to McGill). You will meet partiers, and academics and even academic-partiers. Don’t worry. There’s a lot going on campus, as long as you stay out of the stacks.

    2) I believe that most of U of T is in fact, air-conditioned. Which is a godsend. My apartment is like a friggin’ furnace today.

    3) Totally, man.

    4) There are gay profs on campus, absolutely! An amazing one is the incredible, adorable Scott Rayter who teaches Queerly Canadian as part of the Sexual Diversity Studies program at University College. That program is terrific – not only is the course material really fantastic, but the classmates are pretty cute.

    5) Hahahahahaha.

    6) Mmm, not that I know of. Though there is a pretty awesome webnet supergroup that’s funded by the University that actually investigates human rights web blocking in other countries. Read this article and believe.

    7) Probably, though you would have to be in prime optimum plug locales. I’d be charging that sucker, just in case.

    8) Askastudent is an androgynous supermodel.

    Please don’t ask me anything else. This is your summer! This is your youth! Enjoy it while you can.

    xoxo, Askastudent

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  • grades,  keeners

    omg, only an 86?!

    November 17, 2009

    Hey aska,

    im a grade twelve student who’s been going through a rough start to my year. Due to some personal reason, the first half of my math and physics marks are low.
    I’ve recently overcome my personal problems and have started to get my regular marks again.
    Re-encouraged i went to talk to my teachers and see what they had to say about me.
    My physics teacher said that if i continued the way i was going i would probably end up with an 86 by the end of my semester.

    However, my math teacher said that i would only be able to get an 82…
    Now math is my average booster as u usually get 90+ in it, however this year, im actually doing bad at it…
    I planned to redo so that i can get a higher average.

    I then heard a rumor that none of the UofT campuses look at retaken courses… discouraged i tried googling this rumor for about a week with no avail. However i did stumble upon this site which has relieved alot of other stresses but not the main one.
    I was hoping you could help me and anyone else in my situation by answering these questions:

    a) Do the UofT campuses consider at retaken courses?

    b) Would it be better to retake a course in second semester night school or summer school?

    c) Does UofT even look at anything like UWO’s Special Consideration Profile?? (my reason for doing poorly during the first half of my first semester)

    Eagerly(Desperately) waiting for a reply,
    Me

    —————————

    This post reeks of of ?overachiever?. Who retakes physics when they already have an 86% average?

    Sorry to hear about your personal problems, though. Hopefully, they?re not troubling you anymore.

    Anyway, the answer to your question is? it depends. What program are you applying to at UofT? If you?re applying to a program within the Faculty of Arts and Science on the St. George campus, then yes ? they do accept repeated courses. However, this might not case for some of the other Faculties or campuses at UofT, such as engineering (not sure if you were considering engineering at UofT, but if that was the reason you wanted to retake your math and physics courses, well, there?s your reason not to do it). Commerce will let you repeat courses, but will need you to give a valid reason. UTSC doesn?t seem to like people repeating courses, though (?the University reserves the right to give preference to students whose marks are the result of a single attempt at each course?). I couldn?t find anything about UTM, but you should really stop using Google as your main source of information. Searching on the web will only get you so far – all you?re gonna get is more rumours, and we all know how true those are. Go phone or email them instead. You?ll need to get used to doing a lot of phoning and emailing for information after you get into University anyway.

    Uh, as for whether it?d be better to retake a course in night school or summer school, definitely night school. Universities won’t have time to look at your summer school marks – and by the time you finish your course, decisions will already have been made. Overloading yourself with night school during the semester is a little risky, though.

    There are for student profiles Commerce and Engineering programs, but not for the Faculty of Arts and Science (again, not sure about UTM and UTSC; it probably depends on the program you apply to). However, don?t forget that even if there is no student profile, you can always write a letter to admissions and awards explaining your personal circumstances.

    You should really get used to doing your best on your first try, though. That?s not to say that you won?t be given a second chance, but you probably won?t be retaking that many courses in University and the pace will be a lot faster than what you?re used to in high school.

    Hey aska,

    im a grade twelve student who’s been going through a rough start to my year. Due to some personal reason, the first half of my math and physics marks are low.
    I’ve recently overcome my personal problems and have started to get my regular marks again.
    Re-encouraged i went to talk to my teachers and see what they had to say about me.
    My physics teacher said that if i continued the way i was going i would probably end up with an 86 by the end of my semester.

    However, my math teacher said that i would only be able to get an 82…
    Now math is my average booster as u usually get 90+ in it, however this year, im actually doing bad at it…
    I planned to redo so that i can get a higher average.

    I then heard a rumor that none of the UofT campuses look at retaken courses… discouraged i tried googling this rumor for about a week with no avail. However i did stumble upon this site which has relieved alot of other stresses but not the main one.
    I was hoping you could help me and anyone else in my situation by answering these questions:

    a) Do the UofT campuses consider at retaken courses?

    b) Would it be better to retake a course in second semester night school or summer school?

    c) Does UofT even look at anything like UWO’s Special Consideration Profile?? (my reason for doing poorly during the first half of my first semester)

    Eagerly(Desperately) waiting for a reply,
    Me

    This post reeks of of ?overachiever?? I?m sure there are many people who wished they could get 86 in physics?

    Sorry to hear about your personal problems though. Hopefully they?re not troubling you anymore. Anyway, the answer to your question is? it depends. What program are you applying to at UofT?

    If you?re applying to a program within the Faculty of Arts and Science on the St. George campus, then yes ? we do accept repeated courses. However, this might not case for some of the other Faculties or campuses at UofT, such as engineering (not sure if you were considering engineering at UofT, but if that was the reason you wanted to retake your math and physics courses, well, there?s your reason not to do it). Commerce will let you repeat courses, but will need you to give a valid reason. UTSC doesn?t seem to like people repeating courses, though (?the University reserves the right to give preference to students whose marks are the result of a single attempt at each course?). I couldn?t find anything about UTM, but you should really stop using Google as your main source of information. All you?re gonna get is more rumours, and we all know how true those are (oh wait. You?re still in high school, so I guess you wouldn?t know). Go phone or email them instead. You?ll need to get used to doing a lot of phoning and emailing for information after you get into University anyway.

    Uh, as for whether it?d be better to retake a course in night school or summer school, probably night school. I don?t think Universities even look at the marks you get for the courses you take in summer school after Grade 12.

    There are for student profiles Commerce and Engineering programs, but not for the Faculty of Arts and Science (again, not sure about UTM and UTSC; it probably depends on the program you apply to). However, don?t forget that even if there is no student profile, you can always write a letter to the admissions people explaining your personal circumstances.

    You should really get used to doing your best on your first try, though. That?s not to say that you won?t be given a second chance, but you probably won?t be retaking that many courses in University and the pace will be a lot faster than what you?re used to in high school.

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  • awkwardness,  keeners

    the dean?s toilet paper.

    July 21, 2008

    Yo Aska,

    So I made the Dean’s List this year, but I don’t have a piece of paper to back up this claim when my doubtful frienemies want proof. Where is this grande List for which I have made? Is it like in some hidden tower or glued to the Dean’s bathroom?

    Yours Truley,

    MyGPAisHigherThanYours??

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  • grades,  keeners

    When you just don’t feel good enough…

    May 30, 2008

    Dear Aska,
    ?
    How does UofT feel about summer school classes? I want to go this summer to help bring up my chemistry mark – I didn’t fail, and it’s not even a horrible mark by most people’s standards ( I got an 80). I just want to bring it up and try to understand the subject more before I go to university. Also, I want to bring it up as much as possible to try and get an entrance scholarship (I’m really close!).Thanks!    ?

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