• food,  timetable

    back-to-back lectures made possible with Tim Hortons

    June 26, 2012

    Hello,

    I’m going into CS at UTSG, but I’m also taking RSM and ECO (trying to get in to Rotman year 2). I’m really interested in doing a CS FLC, but seeing as how only 1 RSM lecture is offered, that would make me have an RSM lecture from 5-7, then a CS148 lecture from 7-9.

    Is having back to back courses bad? Is it even possible?

    Cheers!

    ———————————————

    yo yo,

    When you say possible, do you mean physically or mentally?
    Physically, yes! Lectures all start 10 minutes after the hour, giving you 10 minutes to get from one class to another. Depending on the prof and the class, they may even let you out a few minutes earlier than the scheduled end of class.

    Now mentally, 2 hour classes back to back could be worse. They could be two 3-hour lectures back to back. From what I’ve experiencd a prof will either give you a break between the two hours or go straight through and let you leave early. I highly, HIGHLY recommend snacks and coffee.Food will get you through lectures .. and life.

    Please meet my best friend, Tim Horton, may you both be forever acquainted.

    With a medium regular and apple fritter,

    aska

    Read More
  • admissions

    U of T, baby, i didn’t mean it, take me back

    June 26, 2012

    Hello, my name is Kevin and I am a student attending the University of Toronto next year, and I am asking this on behalf of a friend. She originally declined the offer of admission from U of T and chose another university, but now she is reconsidering and would like to know whether there’s anything she can do to get into U of T again, and the consequences of such.
    Thank you,Kevin

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

    Hey Kevin,

    So is this “friend” a result of a Jekyll and Hyde kind of experiment, with one accepting the offer to U of T and the other declining?

    Unfortunately there’s not much they can do at this point except reapply. U of T, like most people(/institutions), are hurt by rejection.

    They could call Admissions and Awards to beg and plead, but groveling might not actually help in this situation.

    Their best bet would be to reapply or transfer after a year at the school they accepted.

    peace and love,

    aska

    Read More
  • housing

    match maker, match maker, make me a roommate

    June 21, 2012

    Dear Asksa,
    I will be attending U of T St George in September as a first year student in social sciences and am facing a little bit of a problem..
    I got accepted into New College for residence and thought thats were I will be living until my dad said that he was actually thinking of making an investment by buying an apartment near the campus, so $12,000 for residence would be useless as I would have to move out second year regardless. I agreed, who wouldn’t be ecstatic to get there own place first year! Well at first I was on cloud nine but now…not so much. My dad told me that in order to get my place I need to find a roommate to pay rent, helping out with the financial situation….Still nothing seemed wrong until now that I have come to realize that I have NO IDEA how to find a roommate!? Im a first year student, who knows absolutely no-one and the few that I do now are all going to residence or staying at home like most first year students do! The deposit for residence was due a little while ago, so there goes that option. I don’t know what to do anymore :s Is there a website, a group, anything, where I can find people interested in living close to campus but not in residence?! Im really starting to stress out and would appreciate your help.
    Thanks so much!
    -Melika

    ———————————————

    Melika!!

    Have I got a solution for you!

    U of T Housing has a ‘Roomate Finder’ database! You post the information about the place, yourself and what you are looking for in a roommate and others searching for a place will email. It’s like Craigslist or Kijiji but specifically for U of T students.

    I personally have tried to rent a room through this resource and just got an overwhelming about of applications.

    Here you go! Look to the bottom right for the link, register and away you go!!

    May the crazies not apply.

    forever the cupid of future roommates,
    aska

    Read More
  • admissions

    condition your conditions of admissions

    June 21, 2012

    Hello,

    I am a student in highschool with an average of 82 percent in my grade 12 top six courses. The problem is that I have gotten accepted with conditions to life sciences ,they said that my average has to be above 75 percent OR MY PREREQUISITES HAVE TO BE ALTEAST ABOVE 70 PERCENT..My prerequisites are not above 70, they are around 68.My question is why did they accept me when I cant change my grade 11 marks ..or is thier admission decision also going to depend whether or not I? keep my average? of my grade 12 marks till june

    Do I stand A chance of getting in or AM I GOING TO BE DECLINED

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME

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

    Yo yo,

    When you are offered admissions with conditions (which is always) they are looking to see that you maintain the level of academic success you have obtained already. ?Meaning that these conditions are based on grade 12 marks that you can have a chance to change.

    The average they are looking at are your top six 4U courses, including the required ones they mention.

    Your required courses are all 4U courses, meaning you should have taken them in your grade 12 year. If by chance you took them in grade 11, then you are correct and you can’t do anything about those marks.

    These are the required courses for UTM’s life science course:

    "For entry into first year studies in Life Sciences, students need six Grade 12 U/M courses including:

English (ENG4U)*;
Advanced Functions (MHF4U)*;
Biology (SBI4U)*; and
Chemistry (SCH4U).* "

    So these are the ones you want to make sure are above 70%.

    The force is in your hands!

    love and ice caps,

    aska

    Read More
  • polisci

    Bill Nye the political guy

    June 21, 2012

    Hey,

    Is it possible to declare a political science major at the end of third year? The academic calendar only outlines the requirements for students applying at the end of second year. I was wondering if there really is a difference between enrolling after second year or third year.

    The reason why I haven’t enrolled in the political science major just yet is because I have yet to fulfill the requirements. I will have fulfilled them by the end of third year though. Can I still apply then?

    – UTM student 🙂

    ———————————————

    Yo Gee,
    You betcha! It seems that this is just a confusion of sneaky wording. Let’s break it down now:

    “Limited Enrolment” –Students enrolling at the end of first year (4.0 credits) must obtain a CGPA of at least 2.00 and a mark of at least 65% in 1.0 POL credit. Students applying to enrol after second year (8.0 credits) must obtain a CGPA of at least 2.30 and a mark of at least 70% in each of 2.0 POL credits. ”

    So you can apply at the end of first year or “after” 2nd year. If they had said at the end of 2nd year, then I don’t think you would be able to apply but because 3rd and 4th year are all after 2nd, then you can for sure apply!

    Happy political sciencing,

    forever watching Bill Nye … the science guy,

    aska

     

    Read More
  • probation

    Mr. Rogers and probation

    June 21, 2012

    I was just wondering can i be on academic probation if i only completed three credits this year?? my GPA was only 1.48 so I’m wondering what my status for the fall semester will be.\

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

    Hi de ho,

    It depends …. on … dun dun dun … what year you are in!

    If this is your first year, than no. U of T doesn’t assess your academic standing until you have completed 4.0 FCE.

    If you are in a higher year, than yes they will put you on probation. It doesn’t matter how many credits you take after the 4.0 FCE for the school to put you on probation. They check your academic standing after each term, after you have completed your initial 4.0 credits.

    <space filler to make it look like more was written>

    ta my love,

    aska

    Read More
  • probation

    oh don’t you look at me with those probation eyes

    June 14, 2012
    Awkward hello to you…I’m terrified. Absolutely, positively, incredibly terriffied. I thought I had made it, but now I’m not so sure…
    I have a cumulative GPA of 1.45 for my freshman year. Procrastination really hit me bad this time;? my best class turned out about 10% lower than I had anticipated probably because of one assignment…

    So now I find myself a first year, MAYBE future second year, student…because I am on probation. My only and most fearful question (if I could ask in person my voice would most likely quiver):

    Can I still enrol in courses this fall (2012) at U of T?
    What happens next?

    Hate to be whiney about this because I have only myself to blame, but right now what I really need is help of someone who knows UofT better than me!

    Many thanks in advance for your advice and help, seriously really appreciate it…

    Signed,
    Worried-freshman-with-bad-study-habits

    p.s. I’ve read the definition of probation on your forum(?)but am still confused… sorry, can that be enlightened/explained please??

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

    Hey heeey Worried-freshman-with-bad-study-habits,

    Breathe … probation is not as scary as it seems. Quite a few students are put on probation after their first year. It’s a hard adjustment from highschool to university and it takes some time to get your study habits into order. Probation is then put into place to warn students that if they keep going?down the?same road as they are, that things are looking a little dark for graduation.

    But the bright side is that you have time to switch things around. Your academic standing will be reassessed at the end of Winter orSummer sessions. At this time if your CGPA?is?1.50?or higher you?will be taken off of probation and put into ‘Good Standing’. You are in a great position to be able to be able to turn this situation around. Your current CGPA is 1.45, which?is extremely close to what you need it to be.

    If you do not receive a cumulative?CGPA?of 1.50 (so this includes all of your marks from all years), but have an annual GPA (so?just the?school year) of 1.70, you will remain on academic?probation.

    If you do not get the CGPA of 1.5?OR a GPA of 1.70 then you will be suspended for a year. ??

    Oh geez! I almost forgot to address the most panicky part of your question. YES! you will be able to take courses. The only limitation is that you cannot take more then 5.0 FCE in the Fall/Winter session.

    You seem to have a good attitude going on. The first step was?to take responsibility and stop blaming the world (Check). Now just work on your study habits … check out the Career Center for seminars and the Writing Center. Procrastination happens. It’s YouTube’s fault.

    You’ve got his man! Go forth and have academic success and leave probation in the dust.

    supportively yours … but just yours,

    aska

     

    Read More
  • breadth requirements

    100-level courses 4 lyfe

    June 14, 2012

    Hey Aska,? ? Just a quick question about breadth requirements.? I just finished up my first year, but need to take another 1.0 FCE of 100-level courses next year because I changed my program, bringing my total to 6.0. I know that if I take any more 100-levels, they will not count towards degree credits.? However, I would like to fill my breadth requirements with 100-level courses.? Will they still count for breadth requirements even though they don’t count for degree credits? Thanks

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

    Hi de ho,

    Any course taken after you hit the ?6.0 FCE of 100-level courses will be counted as an ‘Extra Credit’.

    Here’s what the man behind the?Course Calendar says:

    “Extra” courses are ones that do not count for degree credit. Such courses appear on a student’s permanent academic record with the final course mark, and are noted as “XTR”, but do not count as accumulated degree credits and are not included in calculating a student’s Grade Point Average. However, Extra courses may count in other respects, such as to satisfy program requirements or breadth/distribution requirements.

    Quick question, quick answer, whoopa.

    forever in blue jeans,

    aska

     

    Read More
  • UTM

    if in doubt, follow Will Smith

    June 14, 2012

    Hi, I was just wondering how exactly has the utm residence been lately. Is it as bad as they say if you live on campus? And are people “cold” and unwilling to socialize? I’m considering going there this fall and I’m just nervous on what to expect and how hard it will be to make friends considering I won’t know anyone. Also do parties ever happen? I know university is about studying but I also want it to be a good experience. Thanks in advance for your reply!

    ———————————————

    Heyo,

    Everyone, well most outside of anti-social folk, will be in the same situation. We all came to our first year knowing few to no people and scared we were going to be lonely and sad for the next 4 years. If you are social and outgoing, you will find a likewise crowd. Parties happen (especially if you are in res).

    Sometimes if you live in a boring res you will just have to make your own fun, and I can gaurentee you will be able to find a partner or two in crime (ok, not real crime … but if real crime, just don’t get caught).

    If you don’t plan on living in res, just chat up some peeps in class … this both supports your academics (by having a buddy for notes) and gives you an insider to the fun shiz going on around campus.

    If you find yourself with boring people, just try this.

    I have also heard a wise monk … or probably my Nan, says that only boring people find themselves bored. Make your own fun and fun people will follow.

    whipping my hair back a forth,

    aska

    Read More
  • prereqs

    waiver my waiver … waiverly

    June 14, 2012

    Hi there!

    I am a first year student who took a few years off due to personal reasonsthat started when I was actually in Grade 11. I’m returning after a 3 year hiatus to continue my studies. However, when I was in school, I didn’t do too well. Average was in the 60’s and that was after I dropped a credit receiving an LWD (MAT135Y5), and failed another half credit (MAT102H5) due to these said personal reasons. I’m really excited to finally be back in school and I want to make the best of this opportunity. I’m actually a very
    good student, my strengths lying in math. I’ve decided to continue with an Economics & Math major as originally planned. I think I can do a MUCH better this time around since Math has always been my passion, and my personal reasons are out of the way now. There really isn’t much stopping me from being at my full potential. Oh, I should also mention I’m a student at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

    Unfortunately, while looking into what courses I should be taking for my majors, I noticed that there have been some significant changes. When I was a first year (3 years ago), the prerequisite for MAT102Y5 and MAT135Y5 was only Advanced Functions. Now there is also a grad requirement — 70% in Advanced Functions in high school. Now, I don’t quite remember how I did in Advanced Functions as it was quite some time ago, but I have a growing suspicion that I did not get that 70% — mainly because I took this course during my personal battle years.

    So let’s say I did only get somewhere in the 60’s for Advanced Functions; what are my options? I know I can get a waiver, but what is the likelihood they would reject this waiver since I have already taken both those credits and dropped the first and failed the second? Also, how strongly do they look at high school marks? Can I get away without a waiver, as long as I do well in these credits? Also, if they do withdraw me from the course due to a lack of a waiver or prerequisite, would they notify me before they
    actually do so, so I can get a waiver or petition my case? And lastly, do they really pay close attention to what you write in this waiver, or as long as you have gotten one, then they leave it at that without investigating your transcripts further? Basically, what are my options if I NEED these courses for both my majors and I have already messed up in both and don’t meet the grade requirements for the high school prerequisite? I really don’t want to change my program — this is really what I want to do.

    ———————————————
    Switch to UTSG? They don’t have the grade prerequisites.

    A more practical approach might just be to go to the Math department and explain your situation! From what I hear the Math department is very lenient with their prereqs.

    I’ve actually heard at UTSG that they don’t really check the prereqs anyways. Saying that though, the fact that they have highschool requirements as a new prereq might mean that UTM is diligent on checking that students actually have what they ask.

    I feel like I’m going in a circle with this answer … best option is to go to the math department and explain your situation (that you have been away for 3 years for personal reasons and how the prereqs have changed)

    The only saving grace that you might have is if you enrolled in your subject POSts before you went on your school break. If you are enrolled in the Math and Economy majors, you follow the requirements of the year that you enrolled in the POSts. Graduation requirements can be followed from the year you enrolled in school, not Subject POSts.

    May the luck be with you!

    forever old and young,

    aska

    Read More
  • dean's list

    dean’s list and sprinkles

    June 7, 2012

    Hey aska,

    So apparently I have a CGPA that is eligible for dean’s list status. Just wondering when those fancy sheets of paper are mailed out: do I have to wait for the summer session to be over or would it be coming relatively soon now that marks have been finalized?

    Peace and Sprinkles

    ———————————————

    Peace And Sprinkles!!

    <Highfive> … no <high six> for getting awesome grades and having a wicked pseudonym.

    This is the deal:

    “Dean’s List
    This designation is given to U of T 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.
    The dean sends a letter of commendation to each student having achieved this level of performance. Students who satisfy these criteria but do not receive the letter at the end of the appropriate session should contact the Office of the Registrar. (Dean’s List letters are not issued at the end of the Fall Session.) ”

    Depending on your credits you should receive it at the end of the Fall/Winter session … so … uh … now.

    If you haven’t received it by now a mild panic should start and you should give your registrar a little shout.

    mmm sprinkles

    sprinkles and chocolate cupcakes,

    aska

    Read More
  • commerce

    ahhh – perfect commerce application exclamation

    June 7, 2012

    Hey there, I am Natasha, hopefully a future Rotman student. I was doing some research on Rotman when I stumbled upon your wonderful blog :DI hope you can answer this one very important question of mine : Do you think I have a good chance of making it into Rotman? My top 6 are :English : 83 (mediocre)Accounting: 90Management: 91Writers Craft : 84 (midterm)Economics : 91 (midterm)Calculus: 72 (AHHH!!!!) (midterm) This brings in an average of about 85 which I know is hardly impressive.Im pretty confident about my personal statement in which I wrote about my involvement in my school’s leadership/volunteer group. I was wondering if, with my horrid calculus mark along with my barely-making-the-cutoff overall average, I have a good chance of getting in I know my calc mark is really bringing my profile down. I had an 80 in advanced functions but I don’t know if they will bother looking at that. Please do let me know what you think. Have you ever heard of anyone getting into rotman with such a calc mark? Thanks very much and I am hoping to here from you soon Have a great day,Natasha 🙂

    ———————————————

    Well hello Natasha,

    Unfortunately my crystal ball that predicts the future was replaced with a magic 8 ball. The answer is coming up ‘maybe’ … it’s one of those things that no matter how many times I shake it the same answer comes up (despite the probablitiy involved).

    The reason for maybe is that commerce says “mid to high 80’s”. They say this on average, but it comes down to the competition. Some years the grades on average are much higher, making it harder to get in and sometimes it’s the reverse. Unfortunately you are going to just have to get the best marks you can and wait eagerly by the mail for your admissions package.

    cheese and crackers … and wine,

    aska

    Read More
  • math,  subject POST

    secret door of subject POSts

    June 7, 2012

    Dear Aska!
    Omagahhh, I just finished my first year and its not looking great :(!
    3.0 credits finished with a cGPA of 2.7ish.. I LWD’d a physics course in the first term, and finished my first year with a whooping 3.0 credits. I’m scared about course enrollments next year, wanted to take some mathy courses but I’m afraid if its bounded by the subject POSts and all.. Whats the deal with subject POSts? I’m only ‘active’ on one major (math), wanted to do double major with CS but it fell under 1S which requires me to finish atleast 4.0 credits. Aska what should I do???! :'( Summer school = financially heavy, or should I just continue uni next year and apply for the next wave of POSts?

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

    You sneaky little devil you,

    You actually need 4.0 FCE to apply for any subject POSts. Math is a subject 1 so you are just automatically put into it if you apply. Although you are currently active in the POSt they will most likely do a “cleaning sweep” and realize you don’t have enough credits to be in the major. A 2.7 is actually pretty darn good for first year and bundles of students LWD. You are now experiencing the downfall, which is not being able to get into your Subject POSts.

    You could take a credit in summer school, and OSAP can help with the finances, and then apply for the POSts in the 2nd round of applications. The other option is to just not have POSts in your second year. This won’t affect you for Math Major because they don’t seem to have priority listings for the courses (if they even kick you out of the major). CS does, however,?give priority to those enrolled in the POSts. This just means you won’t really be able to start on that major until your 3rd year or you may get lucky and get into the courses after the priority time is over.

    In the long run, the worse that might happen is you having to stay a little longer than your 4 years to finish up your degree, but what’s an extra semester anyways.

    hmmm … actually an afterthought here… you could in your 2nd year focus on the Math Major if the CS courses remain full after the priority list is lifted, and then in your 3rd year focus on just CS courses and hopefully things will be balanced for 4th year. At some point though you will have to take an extra couple courses in the summer or in a 5th year.

    I’m getting rambley like the guy in the question below … oooh how contagious it is.

    forever with cold hands and a warm heart,

    aska

    Read More