• math

    you will never escape the wrath of math

    October 31, 2012

    Hi there,

    I was thinking about switch my first year sociology major to international relations but I don’t think that I have the math prerequisite since I didn’t take math in highschool.

    Is there anything I can do, or will they just accept me highschool mathless?

    Or am I forever stuck in sociology?

    KS

    ?????????

    Hey KS!

    To get into the International Relations program, you?re required to take a first year ECO course (which is mildly mathematical), but there aren?t actually any requirements for either of the two options. ECO100Y1 recommends high school math, but then there?s ECO105Y1 which is made especially for ?non-specialists.?

    But if you mean ?math? as in an MAT course? well, according to the requirements, there is no MAT course needed for the major program, so I’m a little confused as to why you’re confused.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • midterms

    messing up on midterms

    October 29, 2012

    I am currently in my first year at U of T and my grades are slipping greatly, especially in chemistry. If I end up just passing the chem course but I do not need to take it any other years for my major(just first year) or acceptance into a subject post will grade schools look at that bad mark an reject me? I want to get a masters in ecology and evolutionary biology and environmental science. I am thinking of dropping it and taking it in summer school but I do not need to maintain a certain average to get into my major programs so is there any point? Should I just tough it out and end up with a passing grade or is it better to drop it now and get a better grade in summer school?

    ———————————————

    Hey hey!

    For the most part, grad schools look at your final two years, so no, I don’t think they’ll see your CHM 138, balk, and reject you over that. This course’s main meaningful influence would be how it affects your CGPA. So if you really think you’re going to do really poorly and the option is available, you can definitely drop it now and retake it next term or in the summer anew.

    It’s all up to you. Do you think you can salvage the course at this point?

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • commerce,  midterms

    can’t take this commerce

    October 29, 2012

    Hi aska,

    I’m a first year in commerce and I feel like I’m really screwing up my first year. I pretty much miserably failed all of my midterms except for one. I’m terrified that I’m going to be kicked out of my program. Math has never been my forte and no matter how hard I study I just don’t understand it. On the other hand, I’ve always been very good at English and Literature. I’ve become very confused and discouraged, I don’t feel as if I belong in commerce. I want a career in business but with calculus being a requirement for second year, I’m not sure I’ll make it.

    I’m not really sure what to do or what department I belong to, how does someone really know the program they’re in is right for them?

    Thanks for the help,
    Confused First Year

    ———————————————

    Hello Confused First Year,

    I take it you’re in Rotman then? I hate to break it to you, but getting into business without first dealing with Calculus doesn’t seem possible. Sorry!

    Anyhow, to make it to second year for Rotman, you need to get at least 67% in ECO100Y and RSM100Y, and at least 50% in your MAT course. You get twelve months to do that, so if you find your grades from this year aren’t high enough, you can even try boosting them in the summer.

    Now don’t feel discouraged! Doing poorly on your first few midterms is a pretty common occurrence. I mean, I dealt with two or so inquiries along the same lines of I failed my midterm, should I just drop out and ask McDonald’s to hire me? just in the past week. It’s normal and it’s often a case of needing to focus more and study harder. And, if need be, a few visits to the Academic Success Centre website wouldn’t hurt.

    Determining what department someone belongs to is entirely up to them. Personally, I think it’s a matter of a) what the person likes, and b) what the person excels at. Your program is entirely up to you to decide. Have you taken an ENG course at UofT? Try one! You may very well take it here and come to realize that math is actually your stronger point. For now, since you seem so unsure about things, experiment.

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • food,  meal plans

    food is everything

    October 29, 2012

    I’ve done a lot of research, and nowhere does it say whether Innis has a meal plan, or even a cafeteria…

    I need a place with food, and I really liked the look of Innis..

    Thanks!

    PC

    ———————————————

    Hey hey PC,

    Looks like you have done your research! You totally get a gold star. You don’t know how many people ask questions without consulting Google first.

    Anyhow, you’re right. There is no meal plan at Innis. Why? Because Innis functions as an apartment-style sort of residence, meaning you get a fully equipped kitchen that allows you to cook. Yes, that’s right, you can actually go to UofT to learn about biology and sociology and all of those other beautiful things, while also learning how to cook!

    But if you cross the street and head over to the Innis Caf located in Innis College, you can buy food there. They have freshly squeezed juices, breakfast specials with enough bacon to fill your monthly quota for it, and these absolutely amazing chicken kabobs. However, if you’re really set on purchasing a meal plan, there’s nothing stopping you from getting one that allows you to eat all over campus.

    suddenly starving,

    aska

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  • grad school

    requesting letters of recommendation: the askastudent edition

    October 29, 2012

    Hello Aska,

    I’m really having trouble trying to get reference letters from professors. I am a painfully shy person and I tend to do this stupid stutter when I get nervous especially to person with higher authority like professors. I need a good reference letter to get into grad school, but I’m not sure how to approach my prof about it. I should probably talk to him more so that he actually knows me before asking for a reference, but I’m not really entirely sure how to make a good impression especially when there’s 200 students in my class. And how exactly, should I approach him when I ask him to be my reference? Should I bring in a package of resumes, personal statements of experience, and transcript? Please help, deadline is in the beginning of December, and I should probably ask him soon.

    – Shy reference needing student

    ?????????

    Hey there Wallflower!

    For starters, I can?t seem to find any documented guide by UofT on requesting letters of recommendation, so I?m going to make one just for you! 🙂

    I?m going to tell you the key thing an old T.A. of mine taught me about grad school hopefuls. Word your request like so: ?Would you be able to write a positive letter of recommendation for me?? Okay, it doesn?t have to be exactly like that, but make sure you specify the ?positive? part of it!

    Now onto your matter: the best way to make an impression is to go to office hours. You don?t necessarily need to be that person who always has something to say in class (although there?s nothing wrong with that), but it would really help your cause if you were at least be someone he can identify. I don?t think you can get a particularly strong letter if he remembers you as ?the girl who got an A- in his seminar last term according to this excel spreadsheet? or something equally as generic.

    If you?re really, really shy about meeting in office hours though, consider his email policy. Is he okay with you spamming his inbox? If so, send some things from your lectures or readings that really stood out to you. Naturally, make sure you have something remotely monumental to mention, but if you linger in his inbox, he?s sure to at least recall your name. Then you can move onto a title of ?the girl who emailed me every other day with intelligent things to say.? But again, I stress the great opportunity that office hours provide. Not only do you forge a relationship with your professor, but it can really help to deepen your understanding of his course and your passion for it!

    As for the in-person approach, I really do not recommend bringing all that stuff in ? not at your first visit, at least. At your first visit, you request. Also ask his opinion: what schools do you recommend? How do you think I should go about this? What was your experience like? Oh, by the way, can you please be my reference?

    I don?t think showing him your resume or transcript will matter, but your personal statement should be something you mention and show off. I don?t know if he?s obligated to read it, but it wouldn?t hurt to ask him to do so. At least then, the two of you will be on the same page as to where your area(s) of interest lie.

    I know the deadlines are approaching, but don?t freak out! Also, double check the dates for the referees. For example, I know that while an application for an M.A. in English is due in early the December, the referees have until January to send their letters. Why? To give him or her the chance to get to know the student. This means you have time, so no need to stress!

    Best of luck!

    also looking for letters,

    aska

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  • commerce

    questions on commerce and many, many other things

    October 24, 2012

    Hi,

    Currently i am a student in Grade 12 and I am looking into the Commerce program offered at UTM.
    I was wondering about having to re-apply in the 2nd year to be specialist in a program or something? im not too sure. is that GPA needed to make it to second year very difficult to maintain and is the program itself very competitive to stay in? Or is it after 2nd year, once you keep your marks up your in the program, your still in? People are also saying that UTM is not as recognized as Rotman Commerce, is this true?

    Also what is this specialist degree vs. a major? The pros and cons? Does having a specalist set me aside from other graduates at different university’s or on the same level? is the specialist degree unique to UTM, the 3 UofT campuses, or offered in different universities as well? People were also saying that if you plan to do masters/graduate degree, it is hard to keep your marks up at UTM to get admitted vs another university?

    Another university i am looking at is Wilfred Laurier, and the honours economics&accounting (BA) program. What are your thought on the UTM commerce vs. laurier BA. From an academic standpoint which would be a better choice if i get accepted into the two and why? If i go to UTM i will be hoping to specialize in the accounting program (will this need alot of hard math in UTM?).

    Whoa, sorry about all the questions, but im just really curious and worried :3

    Thanks in advance,
    – Amanda 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hey Amanda,

    That’s a lot of questions, wow! I guess you didn’t do any research on your own beforehand? That’s okay. No one ever does.

    Now what happens at all three campuses of UofT is that at the end of first year, you apply for Programs of Study, those being specialists, majors, or minors in a particular field. So consult the requirement for the program you’d like to be part of. I assume you?re aiming for the Commerce and Finance specialist, meaning you just need to heed the necessary courses (ECO100, MGT120, MAT133 or MAT 135), the grades you need to get in them, and then the minimum CGPA.

    As for UTM’s Commerce program versus Rotman? well, Rotman is one of the world’s most distinguished Canadian business schools, so yeah, it’s definitely a lot more recognized?

    And the difference between a specialist and a major is the number of credits you take in a particular program. Specialists usually call for 10.0 or so credits, whereas majors require around 8.0 credits. Like the name implies, a specialist will give you a deeper understanding on the subject. This applies at all of the campuses, but as for other universities? Well, for Laurier and other universities, consult them, naturally.

    I mean, I go to UofT.

    proudly torontonian,

    aska

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  • engineering

    if at first you don’t succeed…

    October 24, 2012

    Hello,

    My cousin just graduated from an Ontario high school. He dreams of going into UT’s engineering program, but, sadly, he was not admitted. In fact, he didn’t receive a single acceptance from any of the universities he applied to. He’s very passionate about pursing Engineering as a career, but his school grades are well below the minimum requirements. He doesn’t like asking for help, so I’m trying to seek some guidance in his stead.

    Does Engineering have any kind of wait list that he could get in? Or could he be considered for other Engineering programs?

    He’s now considering taking an additional year of high school to repeat some of the prerequisite courses, hoping to get higher grades and apply again next year. But I read from UT’s website that repeated courses are not considered. Does this mean he has no way of entering the UT’s engineering program?

    I didn’t go to high school in Ontario, so I’m not familiar with what options he has given his current situation. So any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

    Thanks.

    ?????????

    Hey there,

    At this point, the best way your ?cousin? can into the U of T Engineering program is to attend any university, whether that be U of T or another, and attempt a transfer.

    According to the Engineering website, he would basically have to be admitted into the Physical and Mathematical Sciences stream and take a number of math and science courses and achieve at least a mid-B average (although it wouldn?t hurt to get something higher than that). Unfortunately, the spots are limited so entry is extremely competitive so there are no guarantees. Moreover, if your cousin is admitted, he?d be back in first-year again.

    He can also attend a College for a relevant program and undergo another transfer process, but again, there are no guarantees for admission.

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • colleges

    the commuter conundrum

    October 24, 2012

    Hi aska,

    I’m a grade 12 student getting ready for apps and looking towards which colleges i want to apply to and i can’t figure out which would be the best fit for a commuter that doesn’t wanna miss out on the college experience a little background:high 80s-low 90’s averages in classes, 85 overall for past 3 yearsinterested in history, languages and politics/law – looking into european studies programparticipant in sports and clubs social life would be nice for a commuting student like myself

    I’m looking at Trin, Vic, UC and St. Mikes What do you think would fit a student like me best? Or does it matter if you’re a commuter…I’ve read things about Trin like they have a host program for non-res kids during frosh week and a meal plan and that the TrinOne program has the International Relations courses which made me think that some kids might have similar courses or interestsI’v also read the Vic commuters package about their meal plan However i am worried that if i pick Trin or Vic that i won’t get in or that i won’t enjoy the Trin atmosphere (i.e too small) or that Vic is too big to get to know anyone when your not living on resSorry if this sounds all over the place!

    thanks

    ———————————————

    Hey hey!

    Okay so you’re a commuter who doesn’t want to miss out on the ‘college experience.’

    Now what exactly is this experience? I’m going to assume you mean partying and going to class in your PJs and then partying some more? Or there’s the cramming and the stressing out and the nervous breakdowns. Now the latter ones can take place anywhere, from your home in the suburbs to your seat on the subway.

    I wouldn’t say there’s any college in particular that suits you most. They all have intramurals, social events by their student societies, and take care of their commuters. And while those meal plans from Trinity and Vic sound nice in theory, really consider whether or not you actually need them. Likewise, they all try their hardest to accommodate commuters during Frosh Week.

    Now TrinOne is a first-year program open to all incoming UofT students, so it isn’t limited to just Trinity students. This means that the people in TrinOne sure, will probably share the same interests, not that all Trinity students will share the same interests. But if your concern is getting to know people, keep in mind that you’re not limited to your college – not in terms of who you can make friends with, and certainly not in terms of where you can hang around on campus. You can be from Vic but have courses at Innis in the morning and at UC at night. While your college is a nice place to start making friends, you have people in your classes, and then clubs or teams you might want to join.

    I gather that your main question is what college you should rank first. The best thing for you in particular to do is look at the extra services they offer that you would like to take advantage of.

    all over campus,

    aska

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  • life science

    switching science for science

    October 24, 2012

    Hi Askastudent,

    I’ve realized that I need to switched to the Life Sciences program? at the end of this year so that during second year of university I will be taking Life Sciences instead of Chemical and Physical Sciences. The? reason I am doing this is because I need to take at least 2 years of Life Sciences to apply to dental school.The courses I have from Life Sciences are, Calculus ( not calculus for life sciences), and chemistry. This means that I am in fact missing Biology. The problem is that Biology is now full and it would be unlikely to get into Biology this year. In addition, UTM is not offering biology at summer school. What can I do at this point? I don’t want to be behind a year because of one course, so what are your suggestions? Furthermore, would i still be able to transfer to life sciences next year? I would love to here what you suggest

    ?????????

    Hey there!

    So essentially you need to take BIO152 as soon as possible, right?

    Unfortunately, if you can?t get in, then you can?t get in. All you can really do is wait until the course is offered again, which can potentially mean waiting a full year.

    But if that doesn?t sound particularly enjoyable to you, you can try talking to the undergraduate advisor of Biology (or whatever Life Science program you were aiming for). If they allow for it, perhaps you can take a 100-level BIO course at UTSC or the St. George campus instead as your entry credit to the Life Sci program you want to be in.

    Best of luck!

    aska

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  • grad school

    just a minor issue

    October 24, 2012

    Heya Aska,

    I’m in a bit of a spot choosing my POST combination. I’ve settled on a major in biotechnology, but have several other areas of interest as well. I intend to continue studying after undergrad, and would definitely like to keep the option of a grad program in biotechnology an option. I guess my question is, will the other half of my post affect my chances of getting into a grad school program? Would taking a complimentary major be a better option than two unrelated minors?

    Thanks!

    ?????????

    Hey hey!

    Naturally, if you want to get into the Masters program for Biotechnology, majoring in a related field does make sense. Technically, as long as your undergraduate degree is in a relevant area, you do fulfill their requirement, but I would recommend minors (or a second major) that really compliment your Biotechnology major.

    While a gradschool won?t have anything against, say, minors in Spanish and Linguistics, having majors in Chemistry and Biomedical Physics for example will probably make your application more appealing. Taking minors in areas that interest you will certainly help your GPA since people tend to work better in the classes they like and they won?t hinder your chances of getting in per se, but minors in more relevant fields will certainly look better to the committee reviewing your application, so keep that part in mind.

    Really though, it all depends on the school you want to get into. Check out their requirements and talk to their program directors or advisors to see how they feel about unrelated minors.

    As long as you have the major, technically, you should be fine though!

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • midterms

    when the going gets tough…

    October 24, 2012

    Hello,

    I’m in first year and I failed all my first midterms. I studied long and hard which is why I’m so mad that I failed all my midterms. I cant believe it! I just cant believe that I failed my midterms. I feel like I did my best and was confident enough before writing my tests and here, I though I would be getting at least a decent mark but no, I failed.. I’m starting to doubt whether I should really be in this university. This is really depressing. I feel as if I would’nt be able to pass all my other tests in the future.

    Does this happen to other people too? failing all their midterms? Does this mean I should give up university?

    ———————————————

    Hey hey!

    So you failed your first midterm, huh? To answer your questions, yes, this does happen to other people. Heck, this happened to me. Exact same thing actually – I went into my first exam thinking I knew just about everything and left the exam thinking I aced it. Then a week or two later I saw my grade and…well, let’s not get into that.

    My point is that doing poorly on your first test of university isn’t uncommon. A lot of people suffer from the overconfidence of their high-80s high school average. So don’t feel depressed! What happened is pretty normal, but now it’s time to make some changes. Figure out what went wrong. Were you overlooking parts of the questions? Did you overlook certain readings? Was it that you didn’t understand a particular concept as well as you thought?

    Talk to your professor or your T.A. (whoever graded your test) and get their opinion on how to do better on the next exam. Likewise, maybe attend one of the workshops run by the Academic Success Centre for further advice.

    Failing one test doesn’t mean you should give up on university. If you quit every time something went wrong, you wouldn’t get very far would you?

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • switching

    a predicament of programs

    October 24, 2012

    Hi there,

    I’m in my third year at uoft and had a double major in sociology and religion. I’ve decided that I don’t want to pursue religion anymore and instead want to take employment relations. The problem is that you need first year economics for it which I don’t have. The wait list for both Eco courses was in the couple hundreds. I have all the requirements of employment relations except for eco100 and the five other program requirements which I thought I could take next year. So my question is, do you think I should just go back to my original plan and take religion and complete my degree?? Or if I take eco100 in the summer do you think I would still be eligible to get into the subject post?? (Type two subject post are from mid may to end of my).

    Thanks very much hope you can offer some sound advice.

    ———————————————

    Hey there,

    According to the program requirements, Employment Relations only takes new students during the first subject POSt request period. That means you won’t be able to take ECO100Y in the summer and get in during the second period which normally is an option. And I take it that you didn’t get in to either of the first year ECO courses for 2012-2013, right?

    Basically, you’ll either have to wait until you complete the ECO credit and request the POSt after that, or you can try very hard appealing to the program director. But Employment Relations is a Type 3 POSt, meaning it’s super competitive, so to be completely honest, I don’t think the latter option will do very much?

    So your question: what do I think of this situation? Well, how strongly do feel about Employment Relations? If you want to be part of this program as badly as I want to go to Hogwarts and have the money and time, then take the extra year or two necessary! But, if you’re basically done with your Religion requirements, it might be more practical to just stick with what you have.

    It’s entirely up to you though! Think about what you want and the practicality of it.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • dropping courses,  grad school,  jobs,  law school

    loving law

    October 22, 2012

    Hi aska,

    I have a couple questions if you don’t mind:

    1. I really screwed up my first year finishing with a horrible gpa of 2.4. I was looking into going to law school or grad school after my undergrad, but now I’m terrified that I’ve ruined my chances of getting in. Have I completely screwed up my gpa? Even if I get a 4.0 for the rest of my undergrad years (which is highly unlikely), my cgpa still won’t be very high. I heard the minimum for most law schools is 3.7 :\

    2. If I drop an F course before Nov 4th, there will be no record that I even took the course in the first place right? If so, is it possible for me to drop the course and start fresh by taking it next semester? Or will they know that I enrolled and dropped out of it first semester?

    3. Do you have any info or know where I can find more info about internships? Or volunteering? And do you have any tips on applying? If law/grad school is still an option, I’m worried that my resume is not up to par.

    Thanks so much and please reply asap if possible!

    ———————————————

    Hey there,

    So I’m just going to number off my answers if you don’t mind:

    1. You didn’t screw up your first year, so you better take back those pity party invitations hun. While most post-grad programs want at least a 3.5 GPA, you have three whole years to raise your CGPA. How? By working hard. You sound like you realize you slacked off a little last year. Are you ready to change that? If you don’t know how or if you need some tips, try consulting the Academic Success Centre. They’re always really helpful. 🙂
    2. You are correct. November 4, 2012 is the last day to drop an F course without any academic penalty. Likewise, you can definitely drop the course right now (before November 4) and take it again next semester without any problems.
    3. As for info on internships and volunteering, head over to the Career Centre website. They always have listings for part-time work or volunteer opportunities. Moreover, they have loads of pages on writing proper cover letters, prepping for interviews, and general application tidbits. They also hold a number of workshops and info sessions over the year about applications or the ins and outs of resume writing.

    Enjoy!

    aska

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