• courses

    because seven ate nine

    June 24, 2013

    Hey askastudent!

    I’m entering my first year at UofT and I was wondering what the difference?was between 100, 101, 102 (etc) courses. Also – what timetable generator?would you recommend?

    Thanks a ton!

    ?????????

    Welcome to the Cool Kids Club, newbie! 🙂

    The difference between 100/101/102 is just that they’re different course codes.

    But depending on the program, I suppose you can say they move in some sort of order, be that by difficulty or simply by how you’re supposed to take them. For example, with your first-year math courses, they’re kind of in order, with MAT133Y being the “easiest” (which, to be clear, a math professor actually said to me) and then MAT157Y being the “hardest.” In this particular program, there is an order.

    However, if you look at say… English, there’s no difficulty difference between ENG110Y and ENG140Y, just a topic change if anything.

    The reaaal difference in course codes you should be observing is the 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses. Naturally, you can see there’s a progression in terms of difficulty with 100s being the start of the line and the 400s at the end.

    Granted, I like to think that things work out for you that 400-levels are actually incredibly easy! Because after four years of study, before you decide to take ENG445, your study of English should be pretty damn in depth and your ability to function in a seminar, well-honed. 🙂

    As for a timetable generator…. those exist?

    Tbh, I spent four years using Excel, and not even in some fancy way.

    The first column was devoted to writing down hours from 9AM to 9PM, while the next five had the days of the week. And then I just played around from there, colour-coding my courses.

    But post-Googling “uoft timetable generator,” I found this — just in case my method isn’t high tech enough. 😉

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • admissions,  courses,  FLC,  rotman

    askastudent — recruitment and admissions officer extraordinaire

    June 21, 2013

    Hello

    I am completley lost and dumbfounded by the information presented on the Uof T website in choosing the courses for the first year. I do not understand at all how the process of choosing courses works and hoped that you would take some time out and simplfy the process for me.

    So, my dilemma is such. At the end of the first year, i am hoping to move into Rotman Commerece and hence i need to complete the three required program entry courses (i.e., RSM100Y, ECO100Y, MAT133Y or equivalent) From what i understand this will only give me 3.0 credits but i need to apply to Rotamn Commerce with 4.0 Credits and i have to complete the year with 5.0 credits. What can i do?

    What are Prerequisties because the programs listed above have prerequistes and i have had to meet them to take the course. Since i have done IB program the codes listed for the prequstes are something new altogether which i do not understand and i believe they are written as canadian format of subjects.

    Furthermore, i wish to tale FLCs , how many creidts would these count towards and will i have to sit an exam for these FLCs? I have no idea how to use the calendar to choose the courses. Please help.

    My last question is that what on earth are subject Posts and are we supposed to take the subject posts in the first year or the second yhear. Also how do i select a major and minor.

    Through these question, i can surely see that you will lnow that i am confused. But please help me since i am panicking and Julu 30 is coming
    closer to choose the courses.

    Thanks

    +

    Hi

    I just wanted to know how many people who apply to Rotman Commerce at the end of their first year get in? I’m planning to apply to RC and hope to get good marks and apply. What percentage of chance do I have to get into RC at the end of the first year assuming I get really good grades. Furthermore, how many people do apply for RC at the end of the first year since on their website it says there is less than 20 spots available. Please answer these question with as much accurate detail as you can.

    Thanks

    ———————————————

    Okay for starters:

    Your course selection is July 30. That’s still in like five weeks. Do you know how much you can do in five weeks? How many schedules you can formulate for the lawlz?

    Reeelaaaax. Breathe in. Breathe out. Got it? Okay. You’re okay.

    PART I: COURSES ARE CONFUSING

    Now the process of choosing courses is quite simple. It’s like going to an all you can eat buffet and deciding you’d like to get chicken wings AND chicken balls. Like you’re literally going to pick the courses you like, look at when they take place in the timetable, and just make sure nothing overlaps. To follow my buffet metaphor, if my food ever touches on my plate, I get very unnecessarily frustrated because I am a five-year-old on the inside.

    But anyway — choosing courses:  Easy as pie. 🙂

    As for your dilemma… you don’t HAVE to finish the year with 5.0 credits. You can finish with no credits for all the university cares. To take 4.0 though is just as simple as taking 1.0 more than those 3.0. So you can take economics, math, and intro to whatever the heck RSM100Y is, and then top that off with English or history for example.

    PART II: ROTMAN BUSINESS.

    Prerequisites = courses you need to have before taking a course.

    So among the three that you’re set on taking, RSM100Y and ECO100Y actually don’t have any prereqs (granted ECO does give some recommended prep). But for MAT133Y or its equivalent, you’re going to require grade 12 advanced functions and grade 12 calculus.

    HOWEVER, I think you’re in a different situation since you were in IB.

    I know that a lot of IB students tend to get some courses they took beforehand transferred over for some general math or whatever credits. If you take a look at this chart (just scroll down on the PDF), you’ll see that if you took the proper IB math courses, you may have already gotten the 100-level math equivalent!

    Granted, whether or not it can function as a corequisite to RSM100Y might be something you want to clarify with Rotman for yourself.

    PART III: FLICKS. I MEAN FLCS.

    FLCs are on your transcript, but they don’t count as credits. I mean they’ll appear there, but they’ll be listed as “extra” mostly so your transcript can look pretty and you can feel pretentious.

    But if you’ve done any research into what exactly a FLC is — which, considering your questions on em, you have not — you’ll know that they’re not so much academic courses so much as they are… support groups? Meh. I mean look at the name. First-year learning communities. Essentially, FLCs are groups of maybe 30 or so students enrolled in the same core courses that have each other’s backs.

    Yeah.

    Okay well that’s one way of putting it.

    To get into one is simple though. Like even simpler than choosing courses! If you go onto the FLC webpage, you’ll eventually get to a button saying “Join FLC” and then bam, an application.

    For you, I would recommend the Economics FLC. While the students in the Rotman FLC will be taking the same courses as you (assuming you get into the three that you’d like), it’s limited to students actually in Rotman. That being said, the Economics FLC is basically the next best thing for your situation.

    PART IV: THE PERSISTING POST PROBLEM.

    POSts. POSts. POSts.

    POSts are programs of study. They’re the program you choose to major/minor/specialize/whatever in. You pick when you’ve completed at least 4.0 FCE, so typically at the end of first year. You do this on ROSI.

    PART V: ROTMAN AGAIN.

    I don’t know how many people apply to Rotman internally. Sadly, I am not actually that all-knowing, omnipotent being you seem to think I am.

    What I DO know, however, is that pretty much basically nooooo one gets in if they’re applying to Rotman from Arts and Science after one year. For the most part I’d say they take maybe… ten people? It’s not based on a number so much as it’s based on your grades, so if you’re not scoring high-90s… well then boo for you.

    PART VI: ASKA GIVES UP.

    Holy incredibly long post, aska.

    And to be completely honest, I think you might benefit from an appointment with a first-year advisor. If you can’t meet with them in person, see if they offer phone or Skype appointments. Likewise, you might have to do some double checking with Rotman over how your IB transfer credits (assuming you bother to transfer them) hold up.

    Whoo. It’s finally over!

    xoxo,
    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  UTM

    picking posts is so last month

    June 19, 2013

    Hi,

    I am a student at UTM and I am a huge question. For first year, I drop 2 courses and is currently retaking them in summer. So by the end of summer, I will have 4 credits. However, during the first year, I didnt apply to any subject post. And right now, when I try to add any course, Rosi wont allow me due to no subject post! ! I try adding all kinds of courses, but can not! I look at the important dates, the only chance to apply subject post I get is from June 17~August 30 and able to accept invitation starting on Sept.9. Does that mean I am only able to add course until Sept.9??? I am really worried.

    I am interested in Chemistry and or Psychology programs, although I am interested in other programs but i wont fulfil the grade and course requiremnet. The courses I have in mind are BIO200H5F, BIO206H5F, BIO207H5S, BIO215H5S, BIO153H5S, CHM211H5F, CHM231H5F, CHM242H5F, CHM243H5S, PSY201H5F,PSY270H5S,PSY274H5F,PSY280H5S. I want to apply Biology related program at the end of second year.

    Thank you,
    Annie C.

    ———————————————

    AC,

    (Shhh, yes, I ammm clever.)

    Unfortunately, you are going to have to wait for the results of the second request period to come out to get into some of the courses that you want. Those ones give priority to students that got into their subject POSt beforehand until July 26.

    However, until then, if you want to get into courses, you’ll have to enrol in a random Type 1 POSt and then go for courses with NO holds on them that also relate to your program! 🙂

    Or, if you can’t get them to relate to your program, at least fulfill some random degree requirements.

    But luckily for you, you’re in a good place! So even if your POSt ends up being… English, just for the sake of having a POSt, the 200-level CHM courses you want don’t seem to have any restrictions on them. So enrol

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  first year

    intro to intros at uoft

    June 12, 2013

    hey aska,

    i’m going to be starting at uoft this september. i was wondering if you could tell me… everything? i don’t want to be annoying or needy, but i just don’t know who to ask.

    which courses should i take? i got in for humanities. i love reading and writing so i think i want to go into english, but i just have no idea… i don’t know what to do. 🙁

    please help me!

    sincerely,
    fumbling first year

    ?????????

    Fumbling First Year,

    Firstly, high five for giving yourself a name. I like names. I cannot emphasize my name-loving enough.

    Secondly, congrats on getting in! Four for you!

    Thirdly, alas, although askastudent is just sooooo easy to confuse with an all-knowing super amazing badass UofT god, I can’t tell you “everything” per se. I can, however, answer your little question.

    So what courses should you take…

    You like reading and writing? Cool beans! So do I. If you’re interested in going into an English major/specialist, you’ll have to take one of the full-year first-year English courses: Lit for Our Time or the Literary Tradition.

    Now what’s totally awesome about the English Department here is that they usually put up some semblance of the course syllabus by May or June. This means that not only can you know the possible marking scheme for your classes, but you can also get a head start on the readings!

    From the titles alone, you can see that these are two pretty different classes, meaning their readings will definitely come from different places/eras.

    Personally, I’d take Lit for Our Time. The one I took in first year doesn’t seem to be offered any more and was with the incredible Prof. Jeremy Lopez, but I’m sure either class will be great!

    And if you’re interested in writing, maybe take one of the first-year courses from?Writing and Rhetoric.

    Aside from those… well, just take whatever interests you!

    Take Intro to Anthropology, take World Religions, take Intro to Women and Gender Studies, take East Asian History, take Monuments of Art History, yada yada yada. But definitely take a look at the anti-calendar though for some in-depth looks into courses.

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    cramming into chemistry

    May 29, 2013

    Hey there, I applied for a transfer from UTM and got into St. Georges campus for Sciences (not Life Sci) for advanced standing.

    Now as my timing with luck would have it, the deadline for Type 2 (Chem and Physics major is one combination I am thinking of) is already passed (maybe I should have enrolled in advance: not sure). To apply to second year courses, I need to have the POSts applied for, so should I apply for type 1’s so I can enroll in courses when the time comes (and then drop them when I hopefully get accepted into the type 2 POSts)?

    Is my knowledge of the POSts correct in that the only benefit of being enrolled in the specific POSts, for things related to enrolling in courses, being given a higher priority in enrollment of related courses (so students that put down chemistry POSt would be given a higher priority in being able to take chemistry classes)?

    There’s no restrictions to courses based on the POSts are there? So if I put down something like an English POSt for now, would I still be able to take a chemistry course if I have the required credits for prerequisite courses?

    ?????????

    Hey hey

    Seeing as you came from UTM, I should hope you know your POSt stuff haha.

    But yeah, since you missed the deadline for the first round of POSts and you need to be in one to enrol courses since I’m sure you already have 4.0 FCE, you’re going to have to enrol in a random Type 1 for the time being. And then when July 2 comes around, you can definitely apply to whatever it is you’re interested in. Just make sure not to drop the Type 1 until you’re actually invited by the Type 2!

    Now the advantage of being in a POSt is that you get priority for the courses in that program.

    Also, it helps you like… you know, GRADUATE.

    Although to be clear, there is no “higher” priority. There’s either priority or none, and if you don’t have priority, then you have to wait until that’s lifted, which for 2013-2014 enrolment is August 6.

    But take a look at the specific enrolment controls for the courses you want. For example, CHM220H gives priority to students not just in chem, but those in zoology, immunology, planetary science, yada yada yada. So since you’re clearly interested in chem courses, see if any of the other random programs given priority (aside from chemistry) are Type 1s.

    And no no, don’t be silly. There can definitely be restrictions on courses based on Subject POSts. Those courses are usually the ones for Type 3 programs. For example, intro to criminology is restricted only to majors and specialists in criminology. Duuuuh.

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  UTSC

    whose requirement is it anyway?

    May 10, 2013

    Hi there, I had a question regarding course calendar changes at UTSC. I enrolled into a specialist programmed in 2011, and would just like to know if I would be able to take courses in future calendars that aren’t in my calendar’s course list. Thanks for reading 🙂

    Regards,
    James

    ———————————————

    Hey James,

    The rule of the thumb is that students are supposed to follow the calendar of the year they entered their program.

    So if I entered my English major in 2010, I follow those requirements, but if I play the fickle card and decide I want to do a Specialist and switch over in 2011, I now use the 2011 calendar’s requirements.

    But if your situation is something along the lines of “oh, they added some courses that sound totally rad” and said courses aren’t on your year’s calendar requirements but work for another, go have a chat with your program’s undergraduate adviser person thing! I’m sure they’ll be accommodating. 🙂

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    if it doesn’t count towards your degree, it doesn’t count toward anything really

    May 8, 2013

    Hey !

    On the site for subject posts it says, “No more than six courses may be 100-series.” Does the six courses include a failed course?

    Thanks,
    Janet

    ?????????

    Hey Janet,

    This is one of those questions that put me in a moment of doubt of my own basic knowledge because I’ve never been asked that before.

    But no, that doesn’t include failed courses. So you can have 8.0 FCEs worth of 100-level courses, but as long as 2.0 of them are failures, you’re good.

    Or to word that better: a failed 100-level course does not count towards that 6.0 FCE limit.

    xoxo,

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    determining levels of difficulty

    May 7, 2013

    Hey aska,

    I am going into my 2nd year, and am enrolled in an Environmental Major (Arts) program. However, all except about 2.5 credits (I have checked) of the required subjects for this program are in the 300-level courses. And when I try to fit those 200-levels into my schedule, I could only fit about 1.0 200-level credits into my schedule.

    Of course, I am now freaking out on whether or not I should take some 300-level courses in my second year. I was wondering, since I have taken some 200-level courses this year, are the 300-levels more difficult? How are they different from the 200-levels?

    And, do you have any information on any 300-level english courses since I need to take one of the 300-levels next year too in order to fulfill other requirements.

    Thank you,
    scared-for-my-gpa

    ?????????

    Like-Every-UofT-Student-;)

    If you’ve taken some 200-levels already and think you’re ready, then power to ya and get on the 300s! I mean if you’ve tested the 200-levels and you’re okay with them, then might as well move on, right? My recommendation would be to save the 300s for the second term if you really want to take them now, but it’s all up to your comfort level.

    I’d say that yes, naturally, they’re more difficult, but they’re also more specific and a lot more fun in that you’re in a class that you chose because you’re interested in it, so that tends to make you a little more enthusiastic about doing the work for it, right?

    Likewise, they’re usually a lot smaller than 100s and 200s, so you get to engage a lot more with other students and your prof if that’s your cup of tea.

    As for 300-level English courses, take a look at what’s offered next year and be wary of the requirements. You’re going to need 2.0 FCE in English to be able to take them. But a recommendation? Anything by Vikki Visvis! Basically greatest prof ever. Ever. 😀

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    the problem with priority

    April 12, 2013

    Hi!

    Looking a bit ahead to enrolling in courses this coming summer, I have a quick question about priority lists.

    To be able to get into a program I need, I need to take a summer course, but it is only offered in the spring session. summer school ends on August 12th and grades come even later then that. Time to enroll in courses starts on July 17 for me, but there will be a priority until August 8th! I still want to try to enroll in classes before I get my marks back, so Im wondering, if I try to enroll in July, get rejected because priority lists are still up, then am put on a waiting-list on August 8th because Im not technically in the program, what will happen when I do get accepted into the program in late August? will I automatically be taken off the wait-list because I am now a priority? For people who need to apply for their program of choice in the second round in summer, how to they go about enrolling in courses they really need when they are yet to be a priority because you can’t get accepted into a program until after you get your final marks? Also what are the chances of getting into classes if your not a priority?

    Thank you!

    ?????????

    Yo.

    Okay so to be clear, priority is priority. If you’re not part of it, you can’t touch the course — not even its waitlist — until August 8.

    Now there shouldn’t be any randomly being accepted into a program and thus being part of the priority group in the midst of your enrollment time because POSt results are available July 2 and naturally, you’ll accept that offer asap, soooooo. But if you get into the program in the second round of admissions and you’re on the waitlist for x course then you’re just still on the waitlist. All that priority really ensures you is earlier access to the course. But once it fills up, all you can really do is wait for people to drop it.

    The people who AREN’T in priority for the classes they want just have to wait and pray, but the more logical option would be to be practical and play with a number of possible schedules and consider other courses. The chances of getting into something after August 8 are fairly decent, but be prepared for not getting what you want.

    For the most part, the problem isn’t about spaces in the class so much as being able to login to ROSI at 6:00AM on August 8 and beating the other people in your situation.

    Good luck!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    i just can’t get enough of uoft

    March 4, 2013

    Hi Aska,

    Quick question…is it possible to audit a course after I’ve graduated. I love languages and want to take a language course durning the summer and UofT just happens to offer it.

    Thanks,
    language lover.

    ?????????

    Language Lover,

    Yes, it is possible to audit a course after you’ve graduated. However, this means that all you really get to do is attend the lectures. You won’t get any graded coursework and whether or not you’re admitted to a tutorial, for example, is up to the professor.

    The whole rundown on the auditing process can be found here, so give that a once over.

    But if this is for the summer and if by chance the language you’re interested in is French, why not consider the Explore program? If it’s not, however, I strongly recommend going to the country where the language is spoken and just totally immersing yourself in it! I mean why come back to UofT when you’re done with it when you can do waaaaay funner things.

    likewise language loving,
    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  UTM

    chemathematics, a new set of corequisites

    February 27, 2013

    Hi

    I am a first year lifesci student at UTM. I’m failing MAT134 and I want to drop it? BUT CHM120 and MAT134 are co-requisites. I do not want to drop CHM120, it makes no sense to me why they’re even co-requisites. Got any tips for how to get around this problem?

    Thanks a lot.

    ———————————————

    Hey there,

    Basically, the only thing I can tell you to do is to… well, not “suck it up” per se, but always remember that this too shall pass and that you can totally power through it. I believe in you. Unfortunately, as weird as the pair sounds, if they’re corequisites, you’re stuck taking both. I agree that they do seem like an odd couple, but there isn’t really any getting around it. Withdrawing from one would mean withdrawing from the other so you’re kind of stuck.

    But on the bright side, at least you just have one month left?

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    courses, corequisites, and confusion!

    February 27, 2013

    If you a fail a prerequisite to a course that you took simultaneously in one semester, what happens to your gpa?

    I know that if you fail a course it doesn’t help your gpa but, what about the course you passed? The course that requires that failed prerequisite?

    ?????????

    Hey hey!

    If you fail a course — regardless of it being a prerequisite/corequisite/whatever — your GPA curls up in a corner and cries to itself. Then your CGPA crawls to it, just falls over, and they writhe together in utter agony. Sort of.

    Now I’m a little confused. How the heck are you in a course and taking its prerequisite at the same time? A prerequisite needs to be taken before the course. Are you, by any chance, in a merry pair of corequisites? Those are two courses that need to be taken together at the same time and that seem to suit your situation better.

    But assuming that’s the case, if you fail corequisite uno but pass corequisite dos, the department isn’t about to just say that dos no longer counts or something like that. You’ll still have it!

    Make sense? I hope so!

    soaked socks,
    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    in which technicalities can actually work in your favour at uoft!

    January 30, 2013

    Hello;

    I am currently in my first year at UofT St. George, and recently thought of perhaps minoring in economics. My current semester consists of ENG150Y, POL101Y, HIS109Y, ANT100Y, and PSY100H. However if I were to commit myself to such a task, I would have to enrol in ECO105Y and a full-year math credit, thereby taking me over the limit of 100-level course allowed by 0.5 (I would be at 6.5 credits). Just out of curiosity, what happens if I go over this limit, and, if it comes down to not counting the grades of one of my courses, how will this affect me? (example: if they told me that they would discard my mark in, say, psychology, then would I be eligible to take psych at the 200 level?)

    Thanks for the assistance
    -Josh

    ?????????

    Hi Josh,

    Okay so the basic rule is that after taking 6.0 100-levels, any other 100s are deemed extra credit and the grades don’t count towards your CGPA.

    But you’re clearly in a weird situation. Basically, the way to get what you want — that being taking all 6.5 credits and having PSY100H be the extra–is to make sure you take either MAT137Y or MAT157Y for your first year math requirement. As in you’ll need to take a Y-course. According to the calendar, if a student were to have 5.5 100-level courses and wanted to take an additional Y 100-level, the last H credit taken would be deemed the extra. And since PSY100H is going to be the only H credit you’ve finished, that’ll be the one deemed extra. This means that if you take the MAT135H+MAT136H route, the latter would be the one deemed extra.

    But even if your PSY100H became listed as extra, you can definitely still take 200-level courses in psych! 🙂

    However, I do feel obligated to ask: why the sudden urge to do an economics minor? You have neither of the prerequisites, so is this actually something you want?

    Just consider this before you put yourself in another 2.0 credits! I mean what a drag your summer would be if you tried to finish these then…

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More