• dean's list

    a sheet of paper is so important

    March 30, 2012

    Hey aska! I’m a 2nd year student at UTSG. I have a question about Deans List – the not-so-useless Sheet of Paper. I found this on the UTM site and assume its the same for UTSG: Dean’s List
    This designation is given to U of T Mississauga degree students having a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.50 or higher, at the end of the Fall-Winter or Summer Session in which the fifth, tenth, fifteenth and twentieth credit offered by the university has been passed.
    I finished with a 3.48 GPA after first year 5.0 credits, just missed getting the 3.50 GPA for Dean’s List – so rattling lol. I took a 0.5 credit in summer and completed two half credits last semester, so finally I now have a 3.50GPA with 6.5 credits, however, Deans list is only calculated again when I get my 10th credit. I have 3 full credits and 2 half credits to complete so at the end of the Winter term I will have 10.5 credits. When they calculate my GPA for Dean’s list will it be based off of all 10.5 credits or just 10credits (my current 6.5, the three full years and the better half year credit = 10, leaving the last half year credit as extra and have my standing not affect Dean’s List calculation but still count towards cumulative GPA).

    Cheers.A Sheet of Paper is so Important

    ———————————————

    Hey A Sheet of Paper is so Important

    Sweet name! It must have taken your parents ages to figure that one out … kidding … I’m sick, give me a break.

    That same information is also in the Arts & Science Course Calendar. So, the same information applies for St.George as well. The way that it’s worded suggests that all the credits that are completed during and prior to the term that you complete your10th credit in… so technically it can be more than 10 … will be included.

    Hope that’s more clear than Shrek’s shower water.

    foreva and eva and eva, eva

    aska

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  • subject POST

    my strange addiction: subject POSts.

    March 30, 2012

    Hey! I’m in Second year and currently enrolled in the Accounting Specialist in Rotman Commerce (15 credits) and also a Math minor (4 credits), which is a total of 18 credits (there is one overlapping credit).? I also took 2.0 elective credits in first year (1.0 history, 1.0 199seminar) = 20 credits. I also took 0.5 credits (towards Accounting specialist) last year in summer school, and am taking a full 5.0 course load again this year.? ?I recently found out that one gets a minor in economics automatically with an Accounting Specialist so basically I am currently in line for a specialist and 2 minors once I am allowed to add it on ROSI.? However, would I be able to add a third minor (crazy I know) in history? There are 4 credits required for that, but the history department allows for 2 transfer credits towards that(http://www.history.utoronto.ca/undergraduate/substitute_courses.html), so I was thinking of using my 100level history elective, a 300level math history (overlap between math minor and history minor), a 300level economics history (which would overlap between the Accounting Specialist, Economics Minor, and History minor), and then taking 1.0 history credits.? In order to do all this it would total 21 credits, plus I would need another 0.5 credits to finish my breadth requirement so a total of 21.5 credits.? 21.5 credits in 4 years isn’t too bad in my opinion (just a full 5.0 course load each year, plus 0.5 credits in summer 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year)

    My question is am I allowed to have a specialist and 3 minors? Is there a limit on how many majors/minors/specialists a person can have.? Is there too much overlapin my POSTs, in particular for the 300level Econ history course counting towards three separate subject POSTs (Accounting Specialist, Econ minor, History minor)? Thanks.Obsessed with Subject POSTs.

    ??????????????????????-

    Hey Obsessed with Subject POSTs,

    You should go on that show, My Strange Addiction. I bet they’ve?never had anyone who’s addicted to?Subject POSts. You are?limited to 3 subject POSts in total.

    The course calendar says that you?”must include at least 12 different courses”.??So some overlap is cool.

    beers and cheers,

    aska

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  • english,  individual studies,  seminars

    one is the loneliness class capacity

    March 30, 2012
    Hi there,By any chance do you know of any place students have written about their experiences with ENG390Y1/392H1/393H1? I’m interested in taking an Individual Studies course next year and am curious about what students who have taken it have to say.Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Hi,

    Strangely enough, there are no forums dedicated to English Individual Studies courses. I actually haven’t heard of any students who have taken those courses. I bet they’re awesome though.

    No, I’m not being sarcastic. A course where you propose the material is bound to be a pretty awarding experience. That close-knit experience with a professor will be super beneficial too; both for a reference and to develop your skills one-on-one.

    Sometimes silence is a good thing. Hearing nothing about these courses probably means there are no huge complaints about them,

    ta,

    aska

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  • residence

    ra-ra-residence

    March 30, 2012

    Hey!

    I’ll be applying next year to UofT and I’m already freaking out!!! I live in Toronto but I’m afraid that living at home would mean missing a lot of fun after-class stuff and opportunities to make new friends. Even though I live close enough to campus to make a 40min bus commute, would staying in residence, even if just for first year, be better?!?!?!?!

    Thanks!

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

    Hey hey,

    I’m scared for your health if you’re freaking out this early in the game! Maybe you do need to stray from the nest.?

    Residence is an awesome way to meet people. Sure, your college will have events to help integrate the commuters, but?its a lot easier to?just be living in the res. Even if its just for one year, living away from home ?is an opportunity that?I think all young folks should take.

    Side Bar Ted -?5?things learnt living away from home

    1) How to make an?indoor clothing line out of hemp because you?don’t have the $2 it takes?to dry your clothes.

    2)?When vegetables start to go limp you can?put?them in a bowl of water to revive them enough to eat.

    3)?Studenst shouldn’t have white walls in their houses.

    4)?When parents tell you?not to jump on the couch as a kid, it’s?because they really?can break. Couches/futons are not invincible to jumping/dancing

    5) Stealing … kidding … well not really … kidding again … or am?I …

    So yah, go for it! Why not? If it really sucks, move home 🙂

    forever unstresed,
    aska

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  • subject POST

    bonjour linguistics

    March 28, 2012

    Hey there,
    I am a first year student and I believe that I will be enrolling into my subject POST in early April. I was thinking of majoring in both French and Linguistic. Unfortunately, I was not able to enroll in LIN100 or FRE321 (that was the result I got when I’ve completed the french placement test) last year. So…I was thinking of signing up for those courses in summer, but I have no idea of how intense the courses will be or if I will be able to handle the work load. Therefore, I really need your help (opinion?) on whether or not I should take linguistic and french this summer, however I am pretty sure that I will need to take FRE321 and LIN100 first, in order to take other related courses. But then again… I need some clarifications from you guys.
    Merci bien!
    -CL

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

    Hey CL

    Both French and Linguistics are Type 1 subjest POSts meaning you just have to complete 4.0 FCE in order to apply for them. There are multiple French Majors, so maybe check to see which one you want to take.

    FRE321 isn’t offered in the summer … and it wasn’t offered in the fall/winter session either. Did you maybe invent a course? FSL221y1 and FRE240Y1 are frequently used as prereqs in the French department.

    I think Lin100 would be a great course to take. It is being offered this summer! You might want to take this intro course to see if you like the class enough to take an entire major in it, and then if you like it you have the prereq for all the classes.

    Now, the summer courses are the same amount of material in 4 months, jammed into 2 months. So it’s not that the courses are harder, but you just?have more work to do in a shorter period of time. If you plan on not working, or working very little in the summer, I’m sure you’ll be just fine.

    forever and?always,

    aska

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  • food,  trinity college

    trinity food < hogwarts

    March 28, 2012

    Dear Askastudent,

    How bad is the food at Trinity? I hear it’s one of the worst on campus. How can that be, given all the prestige?

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Hi-de-ho,

    I actually haven’t heard too much about the quality of Trin food. In the normal sphere of society that would probably be good, but as university students we thrive on food. If there isn’t a buzz about the food, it’s probably not all that great. Chestnut gernerally is considered to have the best food. Its far from campus but it’s all you can eat.

    Here is the Trin deal breaker for me. You can only eat during designated times. If you have class, you’re out of luck. Also you have to wear a cloak to dinner, possibly lunch too. I feel like this is only cool if you have a wand tucked up the sleeve and the food magically apears on the table.

    U of T is a Hogwarts wanna be.

    forever waiting for a wand,

    aska

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  • innis

    Innis … baby … please take me in

    March 27, 2012
    Hi, I was wondering whether or not you might know about the acceptance requirements for engineers. I have a 93 average in my final year so far, is that enough to receive an offer of acceptance from Innis?? Thanks 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hey Hey!!!

    Look at all the Innis love going around here. They generally say, as a rule, to expect a few percentages higher than the admissions to get into Innis.

    I do know, however, that Innis does set aside a good chunk of spaces for engineering students.

    Good luck homeslice.

    fatiguely yours,

    aska

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  • innis,  residence

    i … just … need … to … know

    March 27, 2012
    Hey Aska,
    I was accepted just last week for mechanical engineering at U of T!
    I chose Innis as my first choice of residency, but haven’t gotten any feedback so far.
    I was hoping you could tell me when to expect an offer from any residency, my top 6 marks averaged out to be around 96%.
    But from things I’ve heard, even that may not be enough to get into Innis 🙁
    I’d really appreciate the feedback and your personal opinion!
    Thanks!
    -Dan

    ———————————————

    Hey Dan!!

    Absolutely nothing will happen until you have accepted your admissions offer.

    A 96% is a pretty awesome average. Even for engineering that is pretty good. They generally say a few percentages higher than what your admissions requirements were. It’s not based on the highest in general, but in relation to what program you are admitted to.
    My guess would be within the next month you should get your residence offer. Rounds of admissions are still going out, but as time goes on, the rounds are late offers and those people most likely don’t have the grades for residence.

    Innis puts a large chunk of spots aside for engineering students.

    I wouldn’t panicked just yet.

    forever yours – truly and forever,

    aska

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  • probation

    goooood morning, probation

    March 27, 2012
    So I’ve been trying to do my best with my MAT136 course and my CHM138 course but these two subjects are seriously hard! And even if I pass CHM138 I feel like MAT136 may be a bit of a stretch. My GPA last term was 1.48 and I’ve been trying hard to get my GPA up for this term so that I don’t go on probation.
    But what exactly does it mean to be on probation?
    And are summer courses calculated into this annual GPA that must be over 1.7?

    Hope you can help solve my confusion.

    Thanks!

    ??????????????????????-

    Gooooood morning … you,

    Probation isn’t all that scary, but I would try my darndest not to be on it.

    Your?academic standing it assessed twice a year.

    ” 1. At the end of the Fall/Winter Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the annual and the cumulative CGPAs

    2. At the end of the?Summer Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the sessional and the cumulative GPAs. ”

    They don’t start assessing you until you have?complete 4.0FCE.

    Hmmm what else is there… oh … this <unlocks?a door inside ear and pull out?a scroll>

    Probation; Suspension; Refused Further Registration

    The following regulations apply to students who have attempted at least four courses* in the Faculty.

    1. A student shall be on academic probation who
      a) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 or
      b) returns from suspension.
    2. A student who, at the end of the Winter or Summer Session during which he or she is on probation
      a) has a cumulative GPA of 1.50 or more shall be in good standing
      b) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 but an annual GPA of 1.70 or more (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of 1.70 or more (Summer Session) shall continue on probation.
      c) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 and an annual GPA of less than 1.70 (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of less than 1.70 (Summer Session) shall be suspended for one calendar year unless he or she has been so suspended previously, in which case he or she shall be suspended for three years.
    3. A student who, having been suspended for three years, is again liable for suspension shall be refused further registration in the Faculty.

    Pretty much, they give you a year to get your shit together and then you are suspended. If you are pretty damn close to failing and there looks like no chance of you improving you can talk to your registrar’s office about a LWD/a late withdrawel.

    ?So, no ankle bracelets are involved, but I would steer the other direction anyways.

    forever innocent,

    aska

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  • meal plans

    eff cooking, meal plan purty please

    March 27, 2012

    Hey guys!

    So I’ve been recently accepted into UTSG in Woodsworth, and I’ll most likely be living in res. And since i’m a useless human being I can’t really cook so I was hoping there would be meal plans, but seems like Woodsworth doesn’t have any meal plans, but i can purchase them from other colleges. Is it a pain in the ass for a woodsworth student to have to go to another college just to eat?

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Heyo,

    Who really needs to know how to cook at this age. If you wait long enough you can just marry someone for their cooking skills … or at the very least, make enough money to buy your own personal chef.

    mmmm I’m hungry now.

    mmmm

    Ok, focus … sorry.

    You can just get a campus meal plan, which in my opinion, sounds awesome. You can just eat at any of the residences and snack joints on campus. Check it! There are also various other meal plans that might strike you fancy.

    Now I’m going to stuff my face!

    forever hungry,

    aska

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  • summer

    no summer internship = become a YouTube sensation

    March 27, 2012
    Hello good sir/madam,As of recently my plans have been changed for the summer and I will be returning home to Toronto in early May. I am a biology undergrad at the
    University of Victoria and I am looking for a summer job that pertains to my degree. Since it is late in the semester, most of the internships and
    scholarship programs have been taken, so now I am looking for potential employers on my own. I was wondering if you knew of any professors or
    researchers at the University of Toronto that would be interested in hiring a third year biology undergrad? Any tips on pointing me in the right
    direction? Thanks for reading.

    ———————————————

    Hello back sir/madam,

    I’ve actually been asking students about this very issue lately … you know … continually upgrading my surplus of knowledge.

    Anywho. Generally speaking, according to my informants, I wouldn’t expect to find a paid research position, internship, etc at the university.

    You can look on the U of T Career Centre … this is where they post all the jobs offered.

    Other than that, there are no super secret jobs that just askas know.

    Have you ever considered becoming a YouTuber … because I frequently do.

    good luck future smarty pants,

    aska

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  • breadth requirements

    breadth me

    March 21, 2012
    Hi Aska!

    I am a first year life science student. I tried to fulfill my breadth requirement this year but instead I ended up with a bunch of courses in BR 3,4,5 and none in BR 1 or 2. I still need at least 2 more courses in either BR 1, 2 or both. I’m having a really difficult time finding any 200 level courses in BR 1 or 2 that won’t add to my already crazy work load. I’ve been mindlessly flipping through last years course calendar and the anti calendar all week- Please help me!

    L

    ??????????????????????-

    Hey L,

    You are well on your way to completing your Breadth Requirements. You have three more years to get 1.0 FCE, so I wouldn’t be panicking just?yet. If there aren’t any courses you want to take this year, then don’t take any. Different courses will be offered in different years.

    If you just MUST take one this year, for a feelings of self comfort, then just take an full year ENG course. You can read right?

    I can’t really make an informed decision for you because i don’t know which prereqs you have.

    OR take NEW431: Cultivating Consciousness: Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness in Practice. It looks like you do yoga and meditation and document your progress. I’m assuming this is something you could use as a lifesci student and its a BR=2.

    downward doggity,

    aska

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  • failing

    dumpster diving for grades

    March 16, 2012
    Dear aska,

    I have finished 3.0 credits with a 1.45 GPA from the year 2010-2011, failed a 0.5 credit course from 2011 summer, failed 2/3 0.5 credits in 2011 fall, and currently I am taking four half credits, doing alright in 3 of them (80+). As I applied for OSAP for this current year, I had my status as a second year instead of first year so they put me on probation for not having a GPA of 1.50 or more. I am now recieving OSAP after writing the petition, but am wondering about my status – out of 7 half courses, I have failed 2 already, and I am possibly going to drop another one, which would lead me to a 2.0 credit. Would you happen to know what could possibly happen to me, in terms of registar at U of T & OSAP?

    Thanks,

    Sad Story

    ??????????????????????-

    Hey little mr. sad story,

    Well, I’m sure a few things are going to happen. The first thing that jumps out to me is, if you?can be getting 80+ in a course and you’re failing courses, then there must be something else going on. So …. so many options went through my head. Unfortunately not many?of them were very serious, but many jobs?can keep you occupied in the night.

    Side Bar Ted: Things that occupy you in the night, causing you not to do well in school

    1) lady/man of the night

    2) superhero

    3) butler to a superhero

    4) dumpster diver

    5) YouTube addict

    Academically, you will most likely be put on probation. This is what the course calendar says on that shiz-naz:

    Probation; Suspension; Refused Further Registration

    The following regulations apply to students who have attempted at least four courses* in the Faculty.

    1. A student shall be on academic probation who
      a) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 or
      b) returns from suspension.
    2. A student who, at the end of the Winter or Summer Session during which he or she is on probation
      a) has a cumulative GPA of 1.50 or more shall be in good standing
      b) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 but an annual GPA of 1.70 or more (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of 1.70 or more (Summer Session) shall continue on probation.
      c) has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 and an annual GPA of less than 1.70 (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of less than 1.70 (Summer Session) shall be suspended for one calendar year unless he or she has been so suspended previously, in which case he or she shall be suspended for three years.
    3. A student who, having been suspended for three years, is again liable for suspension shall be refused further registration in the Faculty.

    * Completed attempts are those in which a student remains formally enrolled on the last date for cancellation, unless the academic penalty normally attached to a later cancellation is removed by petition. This includes CR/NCR, but does not include courses with LWD.

    NOTE: Students ?On Academic Probation? may take no more than five courses in each of the Fall and Winter Sessions.

    Now on the OSAP front, it really depends on the deal you struck with the devil, i mean OSAP, ?in your petition. If you are suppose to be a full-time student and you only end up woth 2.0 credits then they will most likely be a little peeved. My guess would be suspension, and/or you having to pay some money back.

    Recently I’ve been telling students to go to their academic/financial advisors … no they are paying for promotion, but it passes the blame off of me if things go terribly bad.

    forever your robyn,

    aska

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