• breadth requirements,  subject POST

    Extra, extra, read all about extra courses!

    November 15, 2013

    Hi there,

    I’ve a question about the “no more than six 100series courses” policy at UofT. I already took 7 of 100level courses, and the last one was PSY100H1. I know that the grade for it won’t be calculated in my GPA and I’m fine with it, but I need this half course for my science distribution requirement(1FCE). I’ll be taking another “science” DR course next term (ast201H, 0.5 FCE), but I was wondering if the PSY100 will be counted towars DR as well.
    That’s what they show in the degree explorer
    Req7) Distribution requirement of 1.0 Credit from “Science Courses”
    Courses used: AST201H1(IPR), PSY100H1(Extra)
    Credits 1.00/1.00 (including 0.50 in progress)
    The requirement is marked as “pending”
    Does it mean it will be counted towards DR? If not, can you kindly let me know my options (for e.g. if I can request to “cancel” one of those six 100-series courses and exchange it for PSY100H)? Thanks a lot!

    ?????????

    hey there!

    alright, the super confusing rules page?was probably the culprit here for confuddling the bejesus out of you. basically, there’s usually no way to fiddle around with which courses are made extra – it’s pretty much always a chronological thing and the registrar’s fairly inflexible about that except in very specific cases.

    HOWEVAH. if a course is extra, it still counts towards your subject post and or/breadth requirements. so both PSY100H1 and AST201H1 will count, they just won’t be included in your overall GPA because they’re considered extra.

    comprende? cool.

    aska

     

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  • life science,  subject POST

    Switching from major to specialist (Question #1 from THE PAST WHOA)

    November 8, 2013

    hey there!

    aska here. whaddup.

    basically, i have achieved the impossible and CAUGHT UP with all the questions in my inbox, so i’ve decided to delve into the unanswered questions from the past that have accumulated in the dusty, forgotten corners of this website. you can think of it as FALL CLEAN-UP. i’ve picked the most interesting questions and decided to answer them retroactively even though the person’s problem was resolved a long time ago whoops. oh well. anyway, i’m hoping the answers will be useful to someone.

    here we go, on our first look into THE PAST OOOOH…

    ———————————————

    Hi,
    I just finished my first year life science at UTSG. I applied to some specialist programs but didn’t get accepted. Let’s say if I enrol in the major programs instead, can I upgrade to specialist after finishing required second-year courses with a good GPA? Some programs I’m interested in are Immunology, Pathobiology, Pharmacology.

    Thank you so much,
    HD

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    well, this is awkward.

    basically, if a subject post ever considers students for admission beyond first year, it’ll indicate it on the course calendar. I’ve taken a look at the course calendar for immunology, pathobiology and pharmacology and it looks like only the pharmacology specialist will take in upper year students? All three programs are really competitive and so it makes sense that they’d be strict, but hey! 1 out of 3 is better than nothing!

    so, if you want to transfer from the major to the specialist, you have to do three things:

    1. complete PCL201H1

    2. complete the prerequisites for any required upper-year courses

    3. NOT take PCL472Y1 (which is ‘project in pharmacology’, so that shouldn’t be hard – just don’t be a super keener who goes for a ‘research experience’ course sheesh)

    keep in mind it is really competitive (only 40 students in the program jeez louise), so the odds are stacked against you, but i say go for it. carpe diem and all that jazz.

    Best of luck!

    aska

    P.S. The course calendar/websites are only so helpful about these things, so I’d always advise actually going to the department and asking them specifically what your chances are with getting into the specialist. this might also be helpful because they might give you a bit of info about the real differences between major and specialist, and whether switching is really the best idea!

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  • masters,  math,  subject POST

    math minor or non-degree???

    November 1, 2013

    Hey guys, troubled mind here.
    So I graduated in 2012 with BBA Management specializing in Finance, and after working for about a year I am interested in taking a Masters program in Mathematical Finance. As my BBA left me pretty much uneducated in math, I need to take about 2 semesters worth of math courses to be deemed competitive. I also realized that the sum of these courses qualify for the completion of a Minor in Math. So my question is this: Is it possible to take these courses and qualify for a Minor in Math? or do I have to take them as Non Degree.
    Thank you for your time

    ———————————————

    hey there,

    it’s actually not possible to do just a minor at uoft – you have to do one specialist, two majors, or a major and two minors in order to get a degree. Meaning you’d have to do your courses as a non-degree student.

    But DON’T PANIC. the good thing is non-degree status doesn’t really change anything for you (except that you get last pick for courses on rosi) (but it’s not like math courses fill up incredibly fast anyways amirite?). You’ll get your courses just fine, and you won’t be at a disadvantage when applying to grad school compared to someone who has a minor in math. All the grad schools care about is the marks you got in the courses they specify.

    For once, the answer is easy-peasy! Good luck and I keep smilin’,

    aska

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  • subject POST

    subject posts posing a problem

    October 17, 2013

    Hiya, I just started 2nd year, and I’ve enrolled into 3 subject posts: major in cell and molec bio, major in bio, and minor in psych. Now I majored in bio just for a course…I actually wanted human bio. They are all type 1. Can I still switch the bio to human bio any time I want on rosi, or do I have to wait until April…or…can I even? I’m a little worried, as the deadline for type 1 posts were september 22!

    ?????????

    hey there,

    You gotta keep an eye on those deadlines! Unfortunately, you can’t switch your major now because September 22 has passed, but you will be able to this coming April. In 2013, the period to choose your subject POSt opened on April 1st, so this year it’ll probably open again around the same time, and, just like this year, stay open until some time in late September. So when this April comes around, you gotta be all set to switch up your subject post on rosi.

    Just make sure you have the prerequisites for human biology, because if you don’t you might run into some trouble. If you have the prerequisites for a program though, then you can switch into it in April. It’s that easy.

    keeping track of your deadlines for you,

    aska

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  • science,  subject POST

    let’s talk about brains, baby, let’s discuss it cranially

    October 7, 2013

    Hellooo Aska!

    I’m currently in second year and have recently decided I want to go into a neuroscience specialist. Problem is, I can’t find the requirements to get into the specialist after second year! I know the psych specialist has different requirements for 2nd years applying than for the 1st years, is it not like that for all of them?

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Heyyyyy there enthusiastic friend!

    Ok so you’re pretty lucky, because the neuroscience specialist doesn’t have any super specific requirements for applying after 2nd year, apart from marks. As long as your average in the 3.0 first-year credits listed as prerequisites on the course calendar are in the high 70s and none of those individual courses have a grade that’s below a mid-70, you should be fine. Obviously, you should aim higher than that. It’s important to push yourself, you know. That’s what school’s all about.

    You shouldn’t assume though that everything has different requirements after 1st year, like psych. Each program is different, and the best thing to do is always go to the course calendar or department website and take a look. If the program does have specific requirements for different years, it should specify that. And if you’re really uncertain about the information you’re finding there, just give the department a quick phone call.

    Enjoy your cranial studies!

    aska

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  • 12 distinct credits,  subject POST

    a surplus of subject posts

    September 5, 2013

    Hi,

    I was just wondering if you can claim a specialist, major and minor? Also, what is the rule about overlapping courses for the specialist and major, as in, what percentage of courses must be different?

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Hey hey

    You can certainly claim a specialist, a major, and a minor — that is, of course, assuming you have a taste for masochism.

    That being said, the rule is no different from when you have a double major going on or a major and two minors. For the entirety of your degree, you need to have 12.0 distinct credits.

    Or if we have to work in percentages, 40% may overlap.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • 12 distinct credits,  anthropology,  subject POST

    versatility at its finest

    July 24, 2013

    Hello!

    I’m on the precipice of my fourth year (of five) at U of T. And now, during course selections, I want to change my POST. Specifically, I want to trade my general anthropology major, my diaspora and transnational studies minor and my biology minor, for a double major in biological anthropology and socio-cultural anthropology. I believe I can do this and still respect the 12.0 distinct course rule.

    Can I hold two majors offered by the same department? And, will I be able to continue enrolling in classes normally if I delete my current POST in order to make these changes?

    Thanks for your time

    ———————————————

    Hey hey

    “Precipice” sounds like an awkward word choice right there. Why not “cusp”? Or “brink”? Something more “edge”-esque?

    Anyhow, yes, yes you can enrol in those two majors together.

    I’m going to be honest with you, my first reaction was “Lol no.” I asked another person who said “Lol no but maybe double check with anthro.” Then I emailed anthro — be tea dubs, the anthro undergraduate administrator is such a sweet woman! — and well… apparently you can certainly do a double major in anthro and anthro!

    Naturally, of course, heed the 12.0 distinct credits rule, and remember that you can’t have more than 15.0 credit with the same three letter code.

    But your ability to function on ROSI (e.g. enrolling in new courses if they suit your fancy) is based on you being in a proper subject POSt combo, so if you suddenly drop the three you have and linger in a state of “requested” for the other two majors, that’ll be a problem.

    So for now, stick with the POSts you have and request the two majors — there’s no limit to what you can request. And then when you get invited to the new majors in September, THEN you delete the old ones.

    Make sense?

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • ROSI,  subject POST

    rosi is just misunderstood

    July 18, 2013

    Hi there,

    I’m currently enrolled in a double major at UofT. I looked over my courses and see that some courses over lap the required courses for two other minors. If I just complete a few more courses, I could fulfill the two other minors. Yah! But apparently, ROSI will not allow you to add anything more than two majors or a specialist. It seems like ROSI is never in my favor. Is there a way to add one or two minors? Will my registrar add more?

    Thanks in advance!

    ———————————————

    Hey hey

    This is one of the times ROSI actually holds up the stop sign. Did you know you can go into an exclusion of a course or a course without having its prereq? ROSI is actually pretty damn lenient. It even lets you stay in overlapping courses all the way until the end of the course. ROSI likes to let you do things like that so it can laugh at you when half way through the course, you get kicked out of it or something by the program.

    Anyhow, you’re allowed to be active in three POSts, but only two of them can be a major and/or specialist.

    If you want an additional minor, you can ask the department to write you a fancy letter stating you’ve completed their requirements.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • psychology,  subject POST,  UTM

    psyched out over psych

    July 17, 2013

    Hey aska!!

    I asked a question not too long ago, titled “how to get through summer without going full douchebag”, and i agree, i was a douchebag 🙁 but i require your assistance once more!! I have the prerequisites to switch into the Psychology program of study, but i am on academic probation! Can i still switch into psych/ how would i do that if i could?? And if i could, when would it be done?? Bless your soul aska, i love you, thanks for answering!! 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hey hey

    Lol I’m sorry I indirectly called you a douchebag.

    To be clear, I was referring to your ACTIONS, but…Ahem.

    Anyhow, the second round of POSt requesting at UTM last June 17 to August 30, so get on that now!

    All you do is go on ROSI, request the psych major or specialist or whatever, and then await a response which probably won’t come until September 9. If you met the required grade or whatever and were invited, just accept the offer and become active. 🙂

    And yes, you can still go into psych even if you’re on probation.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • admissions,  colleges,  subject POST

    starting to keen for 2014

    July 12, 2013

     

    Hello,

    I’m currently doing my GCE A-levels and I have a few questions because I’m quite baffled at the moment ; I was hoping you could answer them all.

    1- My main choice for the colleges right now is Innis ; I’m intending to pursue a specialist in immunology which is sponsored by Trinity college. Can I still do the specialist even though I’m not a student at Trinity ?

    2- I’ve been looking up the residences and Innis again caught my eye ( its the cheapest lol ) ; so does being an Innis student increase my chances of getting into their residence or the whole process in unbiased giving no priority ?

    3- I’ve read on the UofT site that immunology specialist is a type 3 program with a limited student capacity . Since I intend to apply to medical school , if I do not get accepted into the immunology program , will a neuroscience specialist suffice the requirement for medical school ? And if so , do any of their requirements coincide ? The immunology program wants two bio , two chem and one calculus course ( I have their codes written down but I didn’t memorize them )

    4- Whats the difference between an 0.5 FCE course and a 1.0 FCE course ? Is it the length of a course or the content of it ? Simply put , summer school is not an option for me and my wallet so I need to get at least 5.0 FCE finished by first year .

    5- I’m applying for the 2014 fall term ; when exactly are the deadlines ? ( International student deadline if it makes a difference )

    Thank you so much for your time and sorry I asked a lot of questions !

    Cheers

    ———————————————

    Hey hey

    I love that you numbered these.

    Q1 – My main choice for the colleges right now is Innis ; I’m intending to pursue a specialist in immunology which is sponsored by Trinity college. Can I still do the specialist even though I’m not a student at Trinity?

    A – You can take any program within the Faculty of Arts and Science regardless of what college you’re from. Just make sure you check out the requirements!

    Q2 – I’ve been looking up the residences and Innis again caught my eye ( its the cheapest lol ) ; so does being an Innis student increase my chances of getting into their residence or the whole process in unbiased giving no priority?

    A – Naturally, you have to be an Innis student to get into the Innis residence.

    There are a few spots tucked away for engineering and architecture students, but if you’re in Arts and Science, you have to be an Innis student. But entry into the res is a biiiiit competitive since it’s so small, and that’s based on your grades, so make sure you keep those up.

    Q3 – I’ve read on the UofT site that immunology specialist is a type 3 program with a limited student capacity . Since I intend to apply to medical school , if I do not get accepted into the immunology program , will a neuroscience specialist suffice the requirement for medical school ? And if so , do any of their requirements coincide ? The immunology program wants two bio , two chem and one calculus course ( I have their codes written down but I didn’t memorize them )

    A – I don’t know. You’d have to ask the med schools. 😉

    But yes, immunology and neuroscience would have a number of similar requirements. Most life science programs do! There’s the bio and the chem and the… other usual courses. Yeah. Pretty damn close.

    Q4 – Whats the difference between an 0.5 FCE course and a 1.0 FCE course ? Is it the length of a course or the content of it ? Simply put , summer school is not an option for me and my wallet so I need to get at least 5.0 FCE finished by first year .

    A – It’s the length, really.

    So 0.5 FCE is a half credit that you can finish in one semester. 1.0 FCE usually takes two semesters (a.k.a. inaccurately enough, a so-called “year”). But sometimes, if you’re unlikely, your Y-course (y = year!) worth 1.0 FCE can be shoved into just one semester.

    But 5.0 FCE is the usual load for students, so if you just stick to that, you can graduate in four years without having to fork over some extra money for summer school.

    Q5 – I’m applying for the 2014 fall term ; when exactly are the deadlines ? ( International student deadline if it makes a difference )

    A – Sadly, the 2014-2015 dates have yet to be released, but check out the super informative Admissions website in a few months and hopefully they’ll be out then.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • subject POST

    aska assurances

    July 9, 2013

    Hi aska,

    Thank you for your last reply. It was very informative, and entertaining to say the least. However, I have another question in relation to subject posts.

    I?m interested in enrolling in a major. It?s a Type 2L. One of the requirements for it is a minimum score of 75% in a particular course. I have completed this course with 80%, and I have fulfilled the rest of the requirements.

    I know that you can?t give a definite answer or put an exact number on it, but based on your years of experience, what do you think are my chances? Hypothetically speaking of course. Thank you very much for your help.

    – K.K.

    ?????????

    Kay kay,

    I feel like you just come to me so that I can validate your already correct ideas. 😉

    Anyhow, I’d say you’re quite likely to get into whatever 2L program you’re talking about — but, of course, I can’t guarantee anything.

    But from my years of experience, as long as you’re not applying to some super competitive Rotman or Type 3 sort of program, you’re pretty likely to get into what you want — especially when your average is well above the asked one.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • subject POST

    is there a difference between “12.0” and “12”?

    July 8, 2013

    for your degree, if you’re doing 1 major and 2 minors, it says that they?have to consist of 12.0 courses. is this only in regards to the minors? and?does it mean 12.0FCE or 12 actual different courses and therefore a 0.5?credit course would count as 1 out of the 12?

    ?????????

    Hey hey

    The 12 distinct course rule that you’re looking at has more to do with the possibility of taking two majors that the major+two minors combo.

    But this just means among the 20.0 FCE you’re going to accumulate for your degree, you need to have at least 12.0 FCE’s worth of courses that are… well, distinct.

    It’s actually exactly what it sounds like.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • rotman,  subject POST

    i want to be a special minor

    July 8, 2013

    Hey!

    I am currently a rotman student and im getting into my third year (I chose eco specialist). Since there are so many rsm electives for 3rd yr & 4th yr… I am considering to get a minor in accounting. Am I allow to do this? If so, what courses should I take to meet accounting minor requirements? Also, how could I let ut know that I will graduate with eco specialist AS WELL AS accounting minor?

    Thanks for your help
    Enjoy the rest of the summer!

    -B

    ———————————————

    Hey B~

    Sadly, there is no Accounting minor at UofT.

    Rotman only really offers specialist programs. There’s one hidden major in there, but it’s not exactly advertised, nor is it encouraged since it’s just something of a “drop down” program that students go for just to graduate and they don’t even end up with a B.Comm. if they take that route.

    Anyway, since you can’t minor in accounting, you can go for something somewhat close to your Rotman studies like Economics or Math I suppose.

    Take a gander at the calender though and see if anything interests you enough to make a minor out of it.

    xoxo,
    aska

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