• courses

    tl;dr

    October 15, 2012

    Hi aska,

    I’m an incoming freshman from the states and I had a few questions…In the U.S., you’re not required to take calculus in high school. I took precalc in 11th grade and then took AP Stats in 12th grade. Apparently, in Canada, you’re required to take calculus in high school in order to graduate. Is this a significant set-back? Will it be much much harder for me in my math class? (I’m taking MAT135 by the way, at UTM)

    Also, I have taken both AP bio and AP psych exam and gotten a 4 and a 5, respectively. I wanted to receive credit for PSY100 instead of bio due to the fact that I’m a med school hopeful (I know, I know…but I still want to try!) and I felt that I did not learn enough in my AP biology class. The thing is though, I want psychology to be one of my majors and due to the fact that I want to pursue a double major in Psychology and Economics, my schedule is going to be tight and I want to move on to the 2nd year courses in hopes that it will save some time (and yes, I have already talked to the department of psychology about this and they said it’s fine to register for 2nd year classes). However, I’m not entirely sure if it’s a good idea because I’m afraid it’d be too much for me to handle. So far, I signed up for PSY201H5F, PSY220, and PSY270. I would take just one each semester, but in order for me to declare psychology as a major, I need to take PSY201 and two psych classes.

    So…I guess my question all boils down to this: is going into 2nd year classes too much for a freshman to handle? Are they significantly harder than 1st year courses? Just as a reference in case you need it, my other classes are ECO100, MAT135, and PHY135/136 (so…yes, 4.5 credits in total). Oh and also…are there any tips you would give to an incoming freshman?

    Sorry for the really long question…and thank you so so much!

    Kate

    ?????????

    Hey there,

    I?m not sure who told you that little Calculus tidbit, but be sure to give them a piece of your mind ASAP. In Canada?or at least in Ontario?we don?t need to take Calculus to graduate either. Technically, you don?t need to take any Math classes at all in grade 12 to graduate. Believe me. I wouldn?t have made it if we did. But while MAT135 does recommend having taken Calculus in grade 12, it is still just a recommendation. How have you been doing thus far? You?re the judge, really. But if you do feel like you?re having trouble, the UTM Mathematics Department apparently offers workshops for first-year Calculus courses on Fridays from 3PM to 5PM at William Davis 3093.

    Now as for your Psychology problems: no, second year courses aren?t too much to handle for a first year. Of course, this all really depends on your work ethic and how well you handle your studies. If you do take them though, it might be wiser to put them into the second semester so that you can spend the first one getting a vibe for what university is like. Just make sure you take the introductory courses at least so you have some groundwork.

    And tips for an incoming freshmans?

    • Go to your all of lectures. Seriously. Seriously.
    • Stay on top of your readings and/or assignments. It’s never fun having to reread the same sentence over and over again because it won’t set in the first time around because you’re that tired.
    • Join clubs/student societies/etc. Meet lots of people! You’ll have a much better experience that way.
    • Go to office hours. No, it doesn’t make you a brown-noser. But it can definitely be beneficial when some time down the road you need an academic reference or something. Likewise, it won’t hurt your participation marks to have your Professor actually know your name.
    • Take a writing course at some point. There are many, many people that make it into university who cannot write and it is absolutely mind-boggling. University is about research and critical thinking and being able to express what you find in an understandable way is just as important.

    Good luck!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  subject POST

    a double dose of confusion

    October 10, 2012

    Hey,

    I’ll be a first year student in September 2012 at UTM and I’m really confused as to how credits work. How many credits is a course worth? I was accepted into the Communications, Culture, and Information Technology program at UTM and I want to double major with Commerce as my second major. I’m told I can only take 6.0 level 100 credits that would count towards my degree requirements. Does this mean that a course that will only take a semester (F/S courses) to complete is worth 0.5 credits and a course that takes both semesters (Y courses) to complete is worth 1 full credit?

    I’m also confused with how double majors actually work. Each degree requires 20.0 credits. Does this mean I take a total of 40.0 credits or just 20.0 credits and that all my courses I take within my four years at UTM apply to both my degrees?

    Also, how do I enrol for a double major? The degree requirements state that for my Bachelor of Arts I require to take either 1 Specialist, or 2 Majors, or 1 Major plus 2 Minors. I’ve decided that I’ll be doing 2 majors, but then for Commerce it requires me to do a Specialist in Commerce & Finance. For my Bachelor of Arts degree do I take Commerce and disregard the Specialist in Commerce & Finance or do I have to do both the double major and the specialist program for Commerce?

    I’m super confused, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life, and I need your help!

    Please and thank you!! 🙂

    ?????????

    Hey there,

    One course is worth 0.5 credits if it lasts for only one semester and a full 1.0 if it?s year-long. So basically in one year, most people will take an average of 5.0 FCEs, which can be a combination of say two year-long courses and six half-credit courses.

    Now double majors are a great way to train students to be proficient in multiple fields. Majors usually require anywhere between 6.0 and 8.0 credits depending on the specific program. Assuming you plan your schedule out strategically, you should be able to finish the requirements for both majors within your four years at UTM.

    As for your programs of interest, to be completely honest, I?m a little confused about what you?re trying to say. You want to double major in Communications, Culture, and Information Technology, along with Commerce, right? But you think you can?t just do a major in Commerce, it has to be a specialist? If that?s the case, I don?t see why you can?t do the double major you?re aiming for since according to UTM?s Department of Management, a major in Commerce to go with your B.A. is available. Once you figure out what the Subject POSts you want to pursue are, you declare them on ROSI. You’re still in first year though, so you won’t have to deal with that until around April.

    But don?t stress! And if you?re still confused and lost and in need of help, give your registrar a call and make an appointment to get some guidance.

    also a little confused,

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  subject POST

    i want to take everything

    October 9, 2012

    Hello Aska,

    I am a second year student currently enrolled as a political science and urban studies major with a minor in human geography. I’ve been doing a lot of questioning over what to study and have decided to flip my urban studies to a minor and human geography to a major. no big deal.

    But I’m a) a bit confused on when I can change my posts, b) unsure of how I will be able to fit in all the necessary courses, and c) how this will change the courses I can take from the urban studies department in my upper years. But most importantly I have no idea which academic service to go to with all these questions?

    The registrar? or would they just direct me to the urban studies and geography department?

    Thank you,

    Ali

    ?????????

    Hello there Ambitious Ali,

    Subject POSts are chosen during two periods for Types 2, 2L, and 3 (Type 1s last from early April to late September in just one session). These three types have a first round where students may request entry to a program between early April and mid-May. Invitations then usually come around late June/early July and must be accepted by early August. The second period follows the same pattern but takes place a little later. Thus, you won?t be able to change your POSts until April 2013.

    Now after you change POSts, remember that to graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Arts you need to complete either a) one specialist, b) two majors, or c) one major and two minors. So if you can only fit in the courses necessary for your Political Science major and Human Geography major, you?ll be fine.

    But you may be able to complete all the requirements for the three programs if you choose courses strategically. For example, you can try taking Human Geography courses that also work for your Urban Studies minor. The courses you can take for that minor in your upper years, however, is completely up to you and what you decide to take. But for the most part, as long as you take INI235Y1 (which you should since it?s a requirement), most courses are available to you.

    If you have any further questions, head first to your registrar. 🙂

    Cheers!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  graduation,  prereqs,  ROSI

    je suis confus

    September 20, 2012

    Hey Aska,

    Two years ago I took FSL121Y1 and then last year I continued with french and took FSL221Y1. Now When I look at degree navigator, it for some reason does not count FSL221Y1 as part of my 20 courses because it says that it is an exclusion to FSL121. If the course does not count I won’t be able to graduate this year since I will be short one course. It however, makes no sense because you need to take FSL121 in order to be able to enrol in FSL221.

    Thanks for your help,

    Sooo confused.

    ———————————————

    Hey confused!

    That’s super wack! And rightfully unnerving. But don’t worry, it ain’t you, it ain’t me, it’s the degree navigator. FSL121Y1 is only an exclusion if you’ve taken FSL221Y1 first, but not the other way around (logically). Unfortunately, one of the degree navigator’s most prominent glitches is that it can’t always recognize chronology, and so it’s giving you a false alarm because it doesn’t know the order in which you took those courses.

    When time comes to request graduation, you should be fine. But if you’re worried, shoot an email to the French Department just to confirm.

    Bonne chance!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  first year,  humanities

    wtf is dts? omg!!

    September 19, 2012

    While flipping through the course calendar, freaking out as I choose my first year courses, I stumbled across Diaspora and Transnational Studies. It looks PERFECT for a very undecided social science student who wants to take a bunch of everything (anthro, his, geo, etc) and the into class fits perfectly in my schedule (something thats been plaguing me lately). However upon asking around to friends who are second/third years, no one can tell me anything about it….SO ASKA, school me! 🙂 have you heard good things? do you think taking DTS200 would be too much for a measly first year? oh and….is there any possible chance I’d get in through a wait list?

    many thanks
    ps. DTS sounds like a syndrome. Is it strange this makes me like it more?

     

    ———————————————

    Heyo!

     

    I’m a bit late with this answer, but I hope you did sign up for DTS200, and that you got in, waitlist or no! I always encourage first years to take a few second year courses for kicks.

    Although I initially assumed DTS stood for ‘Down to Salsa ,’ Diaspora and Transnational Studies is indeed one freakin’ cool program, and everyone I know who has taken it really digs it. It?s relevant, it?s political, and it?s challenging!

    It’s also important that students like you show sustained interest in interdisciplinary humanities/social science programs like this, which are constantly under threat by a university administration that prefers moneymaking departments like Commerce and Biotech. Recently, DTS was one of a few programs which faced radical amalgamation and downsizing , and only sustained student activism and the resulting public outcry stopped that from going down. Just so you knows!

    Let me know if you went for it!

    Huggles,

    aska

    p.s?the prereqs for some of the courses can be a little biotch when the courses are 200 and 300 series

    p.p.s DTS 200 and one of the 4th year Advanced Topics is taught by Prof Kevin O’Neill … who is super chill and not too shabby on the eyes (just sayin)

    Read More
  • courses,  enrollment,  important dates,  wait list

    honey, won’t you let me in?

    September 19, 2012

    Hi, I am a first year student at UofT and have been trying to enroll in a class that has been full for some time. I was on a wait-list for 2 weeks but now I know that wait-lists have been removed. Is there any last ditch efforts I can make before Sunday to try to get in? I already emailed the professor and he told me he does not have the authority to enroll me even if I am eager and that I will have to try to enroll all week if someone should drop out. Well I already knew this. Can I go to the department and ask them to enroll me in person? What other steps can I take to try to get in?
    Thanks for any help!

    ———————————-

    Hi there,

    I?m in the same boat as you for the fourth year in a row- perched over ROSI at all times like a hawk, hoping to edge out the competition for a seat that might not ever present itself. If you can find someone in the class who is planning to drop, sit with them when they do it on ROSI so that you can jump in and take the spot right as it appears.??Yup, my friend, that?s about as much as you can do after waitlists drop.

    Your prof is correct that neither he/she nor the department have the ability to enrol you, nor does your registrar. Those larger Faculties who do have that power are notorious for holding firm to their commitment to ROSI, no matter how much of a storm you kick up. And to be honest, first years are seen to have all of the time in the world to figure out their degree, so you won’t get much sympathy.

    But take heart! Next year you’ll get to sign up earlier and you’ll have a better shot of getting into classes. It’s easy to panic about not having the courses you feel like you need, but program and degree requirements at U of T leave enough room to make up for it when things like this happen. In the meantime, take something fun, fill a breadth requirement, explore the city a bit if you’re from out of town, and relax!

    Good luck and don’t sweat it!

    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  enrollment,  ROSI

    rosi round the clock

    September 13, 2012

    WHY WOULD ROSI NEED HOURS?? For god sakes.? If it’s available on the Internet why can you only access SWS during their “hours of operation” like it’s a brick and mortar business.? This information would be available anytime in any other university with a website similiar to this.? ?Argghh.

    I just need to find out if I got my first choice elective or if they went with my second/third/fourth choice.? Need to decide if I can register for this other course? that’s taking place at another school in their continuing education department.? ?It’s scheduled the same time/day as this first choice elective that I don’t even know I’m taking because ROSI is down.

    ?——————————-

    Hey!

    First off, deep breaths, you?ll work it out, I promise. Probably have by now, actually, since ROSI is open for students as we speak 🙂

    In answer to your question: Despite seeming like a magical, mysterious energy network which floats through the air, internet technologies do depend on real hardware to function. And while it might not actually be a ?series of tubes?, that hardware does have a limit to its capacity. ROSI doesn?t just go home to her family and kids between hours of operation. Rather, she spends all night slaving away to process the stuff that she had to take on during the day, as well as add new data and undergo maintenance. If the software were to attempt to simultaneously let students register and process all her data, she would glitch up and shut down way more often, and you?d probably be even more frustrated!

    And even if she weren?t at work 24/7, can?t a girl take a night off once in a while to kick back with some Golden Girls and Ben & Jerry?s? Sheesh!

    Good luck!

    aska

    Read More
  • arts & sciences,  courses,  international exchange,  study abroad

    aussies love aska, aska loves aussies

    September 13, 2012

    Hey,
    I am currently in my first year at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and I am looking at going on exchange at the University of Toronto next year (second semester here – first semester over there), and I am looking for what individual subjects that I can do. Is there a list somewhere? Also, where is the best place to stay? On campus in a dorm, or off campus?

    Thanks,

    Chris

    ————————————————

    Hi Chris, or should I say, G’day! (I know, that?s terrible, but you’re gonna get it a lot)

    Toronto is an awesome place to do an exchange and we have a good relationship with your Uni and many others. So welcome! You may have already found it, but there’s lots of information for potential exchange students available from the Centre for International Experience.

    U of T has literally hundreds of programs, so it can be a bit intimidating glance at a list of subjects. It?d be easier to point you to information relevant to you if I had a better idea of what you’re studying, but information about each program is buried deep under hyperlinks on the Programs of Study page. Most of that information is more germane to students looking to do their whole degree here.

    For an exchange student looking to pick courses for one semester, you’re probably better off taking a glance at this year’s Calendar? from the Faculty of Arts and Science. Unless you’re in a professional faculty like Engineering or Music, this is the pool from which you’ll pick your courses. It has descriptions of every course offered? by the Faculty of Arts and Science, though not all of the courses in the calendar run every year. It can be a fun read if you?re a nerd like me, so have at it!

    Hope that helps and hope to see you on this side of the Commonwealth!

    aska

    Read More
  • bored,  courses,  friends

    beer, nachos and boring profs

    September 5, 2012

    Hey Aska,

    My program requires I take certain classes, however the class I want to take isn’t even offered. It’s listed on the programs website and listed as a requirement, but not available for selection. Apparently it was available in summer school this year, but I opted out of that. I would have really loved taking this course, and the strange thing is this course is (more or less) continued in a 4th year course which is available. There are alternatives, but I really want to avoid those alternatives at all costs. Why would the university do this? Meaning, why would they list a course as a requirement and give it to us as an alternative to the other courses, but not have it available to select? Does this mean the course will no longer be taught?

    Secondly, how do you deal with a course you know you’re going to dread? Course selection is coming up very soon and it looks like the course I want isn’t going to be available. So I’ll be stuck in a class with course content I have no interest in. Not just that, the professor as well is suppose to be bad. I know you can’t judge a professor/course before you take it, but when sites like ratemyprofessor have over 50 reviews all claiming it to be the absolute worst, you get worried.

    ———————————————

    Heyo,

    U of T has courses that are offered every other year. My minor, for example, had first year requirements that weren’t offered in my first year but were in my second. In my situation not having this course didn’t stop me from taking the other courses so I just ended up taking it when I could. The real problem is if you decide to drop it or you fail it and you have to wait a year to take it again. There are some classes that are even offered on a rarer basis and those you just have to hope the course selection god will offer it in a year that you have a good start time for.

    While there was a course or two that I dreaded and ended up liking, most dreaded courses are rough to get through. In my experience you can dread one part of the course and still survive; so you can either dread the time of the class, the prof or the course material, but not more than one. Professors are key. In my last two years I started picking courses solely on professors that were either highly rated (ratemyprofessor, or the Anti-Calendar), ones that I had taken before and loved, or ones fellow students recommended (Prof. Danesi is always recommended as an elective).

    Life is too short, don’t waste it in classes with boring material, professors that you can’t understand and generally being somewhere you don’t want to be.

    Saying all this hubbub though, there are some courses that you will just have to man up and take.

    Side Bar Ted: 5 Ways to Get Through Dreaded Courses

    1) Coffee

    2) Snacks (lots of snacks)

    3) Force a friend to take the course with you

    4) Re-direct your essays into something you are interested in

    5) Reward yourself with beer and nachos after each class

    I combined all of the above to get through any dreaded courses of mine. You might have to change it up to suit your needs, but I have faith you can make it through.

    coffee and cupcakes,

    aska

    Read More
  • courses

    shortest post/class

    August 13, 2012

    Hello,

    I was wondering why some classes show a start time but no end time?? For example VIC112Y M-W 9

    Does this mean the class is Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-10? Or do the classes go longer?

    Please advise, thanks!

    Marisa

    ———————————————

    Hey Marisa,

    You’re correct!

    Cheers,
    aska

    p.s That was my attempt to not ramble for once … it worked (because a post script doesn’t count as part of the post). No end time = 1 hour lecture

     

    Read More
  • anti-calendar,  courses

    Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy

    October 4, 2011

    Wassap Aska?

    I’m going to UTSG next year and I dunno if you get asked this a lot but what are the “bird courses”? I’m going for some kind of an arts major (history maybe?) but for first year I just want the easiest possible courses at the university because I’m scared shitless.

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    The best kept, big little secret at UT St. George is ASSU’s Anti-Calendar?(AC). It’s your academic neon bible. Read it. Worship it. Just because I love you (yes, you!), here’s a handy guide to reading it:

    The AC is a Grammy Award-winning band from Montreal… oh wait, the AC is an annual course evaluation conducted by the Arts & Science Student Union. It’s also the most-used tool for students when selecting their courses. Generally, students look at the retake rate: the percentage of enrolled respondents who “would still have taken this course, disregarding their need to meet program or degree requirements.”

    While this sounds like a logical way to choo- choo- choose your courses, it totally ain’t that straightforward. These train tracks are bendy, baby.

    You say: “But whyz?? I is confused.”
    I say: The survey is voluntary. It’s in-class. And it’s at the end-of-year. Students who are doing badly tend to (1) drop out and (2) stop attending. Students who are doing well tend to (1) stay in and (2) attend. This is especially true for elective courses. And those are the only ones you get to choo- choo- choose.

    This creates selection bias in the AC methodology that favours respondents who perform above average. Basically, the retake rate is a big little half-truth. It’s useful only in broad strokes; so, I follow the rule of thumb to avoid electives with lower than an 80% retake rate.

    Now, about these bird courses: one student’s GPA-saving phoenix is another student’s albatross. Like, I have this one friend who I met in band camp, Winnie, the British Bulldog. He studies peace & conflict studies. Mostly the peace part. I also have this other friend, Sterna, the Arctic Tern, who studies geography.

    Both of these friends study the Arts. Both think that each other’s field is a total borefest. When choosing a course, bird or not-bird, think about whether the course material seems interesting to you. If the class is too boring, you may lose your motivation and that albatross will fall right out of the sky.

    You should also cross-reference the Anti-Calendar with the helpful Rate My Professor website. And if you still want me to suggest a course: take DTS201.

    You say: “Aska – you are wise and warm. Like alphabet soup.”

    I say: “Thanks for noticing,”

    Aska

    Read More
  • courses

    The Chemistry Between Rosi and I Just Isn’t Right

    September 30, 2011
    Hi there,
    I’m a second year student. I’ve recently made up my mind that I would like to proceed with a biology major. The prerequisites at my campus (UTM) ask that I have a first year Chemistry and Calculus in order to be subject to qualification in the program. I added the chemistry course to my ROSI, but was later prompted with an e-mail from the department saying that I did not have the requirement (i.e. Grade 12 Chemistry) and that this could not be wavered. Is there anything I can do in order to continue what I want to do? I don’t want a single course to impeded what I want to do.
    What can I do?
    -Thank you.

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

    You might want to sit down for this one. I’m going to try to band-aid approach for. Quick and painful. You have to go back to highschool.

    I would make a pit stop with an Academic Adivisor. They will be able to tell you your options. This is not uncommon to change your mind about your major and need to get a prerequsite. So they will be able to tell you your options, whiiich I’m sure?will not ?include you having to drop out of university and going back to highschool.

    may the force be with you,
    aska

    Read More
  • courses,  first year

    first year twice

    May 24, 2011

    Hey!

    I only have 3 credits after my first year in History. Do I have to take
    summer school and get 4 credits before I can enrol for second year?

    Chris

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

    Hey Chris,

    Year of study is determined by number of credits obtained, not how many years you’ve been in school. You will be considered a “second year” student after you’ve obtained five full year credits. That means that you will be able to view yourstart time on ROSI starting JULY 5 and register on JULY 25th, which is the same time as all the other first years.

    You dig?

    xoxo, Askastudent

    Read More