• criminology,  Transferring

    cross the country for criminology

    May 7, 2013

    Hi askastudent,

    I am currently enrolled in an university in Vancouver, and I want to transfer to U of T (St. George) Criminology. Is it easier to transfer to social science than to other departments? Do you know how many people apply for criminology and how many people does U of T accept each year? My first term GPA is 3.17, second term is 3.4 and CGPA is 3.3 (all on a 4.33 scale). I was wondering what are my chances of getting in?

    Thanks!

    ———————————————

    Hey hey!

    According to admissions, most things that you’d be transferring to all call for the whole “solid B average,” so you SHOULD be fine. If we do the conversion, your CGPA becomes the equivalent of a UofT B/3.0, so yeah!

    Now the hard part would probably be getting into the criminology major specifically. So on your application, as a transfer student from another university, criminology requires you to indicate them as your program of study. Then they ask for an overall average of 76%. You also need to have been granted at least four full transfer credits, half of which must be a combo of intro level courses on economics, history, philosophy, poli sci, psych, or sociology.

    Seeing as you meet the minimum requirements, you have a chance to get in, but you ARE still competing with a lot of students, so I’d try to bump up that GPA as much as possible.

    Good luck though!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • money

    if i had a dollar for every repeat question… i would not have a dollar for this one!

    May 6, 2013

    Hiya,

    So I (read: my father) paid the minimum amount for my summer course this year but I still have a current debt sitting in my ROSI of about $250 or so. When do I have to have this paid by? When does interest kick in? etc etc

    Thanks a million.

    Love,
    we’reinlotsofdebtand250isalot

    ———————————————

    We’reinlotsofdebt,

    Interest is going to start building on June 15, so try paying by then to avoid the monthly 1.5% screw over.

    swimming in student loans,

    aska

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  • and society

    gimme a piece of that peace… and conflict. and justice. studies.

    May 6, 2013

    Dear Askastudent,

    I ended my first-year with a failed SPA100 course, therefore only the minimum 4 credits, and a gpa of 1.79. What I wanted to do when I got to uoft and how it changed because of crappy course selection times, poor grades and bad luck is a long story, but to keep it short, I reallly reallly want to get into Peace, Conflict and Justice studies, or just anything to do with criminal justice, law etc.

    Sort of had the bad sense of picking too many subjects I knew nothing about, ended up getting some really grades, but ofc, my efforts were poor too and those that went into salvaging what was left of my grades in my second semester were not enough. My question is, when faced with a situation like this, when even your back-up plans for subject pOSts are also jeopardised because of poor academic performance, what would you do? What do I do about course selections, choosing majors? What are the consequences of being an undeclared major? how easy is it to change majors in junior and senior years? How do I push my GPA up?

    I have to finish in 4 years tops, and I’m determined to do it, I just really want to get my grades up at a respectable level again.

    Best,
    Dothebestyoucan

    ———————————————

    Do the best you can,

    For starters, there can be back up POSts to your back ups! There are plenty of programs that only want 4.0 FCE that you can just get into temporarily to get through course enrollment. Logically, however, I recommend picking one that has courses that can contribute to the program you actually want to be in.

    So you want Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies. Cool. It’s a Type 3, meaning there’s an interview and some extra requirements, but nothing seems to change for second year entry so I suppose all you need to do is work on your GPA!

    Now you can’t be in some sort of “undeclared major” — that doesn’t roll at UofT.

    However, you can definitely pass the time by enrolling in a Philosophy specialist (which is a Type 1) for example. This will give you priority to a bunch of upper year PHL courses, which can help you with the requirements for the second year eligibility to ELS. But aside from that, you can probably major in History, Political Science, or Sociology since you need at least one of those!

    This is a little hard to work with due to a lack of any specifics, but for next year, just try to get into courses that will contribute to your program or that are at least somewhat related to it. So load up on any POLs, SOCs, ECOs, or whatever.

    And it’s not that hard to change programs in upper years. People do it all the time! Sure, sometimes the requirements get steeper, but you should be fine as long as you work towards it.

    Lastly, how do you push your GPA up? Well, I’d say that’s pretty obvious… work your butt off, silly!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • suspension

    if you fail once and you fail twice… TRY AGAIN!

    May 6, 2013

    Hi there,

    Is there ever any leniency in meeting probational gpa requirements? My cgpa is abysmal due to a previous failed year, so to at least stay on probation for another term, I need 1.70 sessional gpa (St. George Arts and Science). I’m still waiting on one mark, but I have a feeling I’m going to be at 1.67. Is there such thing as “close enough”? The difference between 1.67 and 1.70 is just a difference of 1% for any one of my graded classes. If a prof doesn’t want to bump me up 1%, am I screwed?

    ———————————————

    Hey hey,

    Yeaaaaaah the rules are pretty strict, so there’s no such thing as just being “close enough.”

    Sorry dude. 🙁

    I suppose you can beg a prof or two for the slightest bit of a bump, but there’s nothing wrong with taking a year off. I mean, if you’re on the brink of suspension, that means two bad years of university.

    Don’t you think this means something? I’m not saying that maybe university isn’t for you, but there’s nothing wrong with taking a little time off and straightening your priorities. I have a friend who got suspended, spent that year off working his butt off til he became some fancy supervisor, and is now back in school and rocking it.

    University may very well be for you, but maybe it’s time for a[n enforced] break. 🙂

    currently planning a trip to spain to ditch school,

    aska

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  • subject POST

    waiting for the second time around… after second year

    May 6, 2013

    how hard is it to enrol into a new major at the end of second year? and what if the major is a type 2l enrolment program?

    ?????????

    Hey,

    It all really depends on the program.

    For some, the requirements are the same, for others they rise substantially.

    So, for example, take the Ethics, Society, and Law major, which helpfully enough suits this situation and makes me wonder if it’s what you’re asking me about. Anyway, for first year applicants, you just need at least 73% in a certain set of 3.0 FCE. But for those applying after second year, you’ll need a 73% again, but from PHL271H and some other ones.

    Now the “hard” part here would be that now you’re building an average from 200-level courses, which, naturally, are harder than 100-levels.

    So how hard is it?

    Well, that all depends on how hard-working you are! And how badly you want to be in the program. 😉

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • subject POST

    the arts and science program buffet

    May 6, 2013

    Hey Aska,
    So I’m SURE you’ve had this question before, but I’ve been through your site and can’t find the answer…

    I will be applying to U of T in (around) November of this year in order to (hopefully!) Be enrolled for Sept. Of 2014. My question is: can you major in something from one Department and Minor in something from another? I’m pretty sure I know the answer 🙁 It’s just that there are a long of things that look awesome to me… I’m looking to apply to the LifeSciences Cat. For Psychology … So that being said, it would be impossible to minor in “Ethics, Society, and Law” from the Humanities dept, right?

    Sincerely,
    I-wanna-study-everything.

    ?????????

    I-Wanna-Study-Everything,

    Haha, to be honest, I’ve answered this question maaaany times, but I haven’t been asked it in ages, so it’s fine!

    Also, it’s quite refreshing after an inbox full of questions about probation/suspension/abysmal grades. 😉

    Anywho, you are more than welcome to specialize/major/minor in whatever programs you’d like from the Faculty of Arts and Science.

    So, for example, you can do a major in physical geography, do a minor in writing and rhetoric, and then another minor in visual arts. Or, if I’m being more you-oriented, yes, you can certainly double major in psychology and ethics, society and law — and I say double major because the latter program is a major program.

    But yeah, feel free to pick and choose!

    i wish i studied everything,
    aska

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  • summer

    a few simple steps for switching summer courses

    May 6, 2013

    Hello whomever answers this,

    I am currently enrolled in the summer session for an F course, and have paid my fee. However, a sudden change of plans has inclined me towards another summer course (still F section), instead of the one I’m currently enrolled in. Therefore, would it be possible to somehow “transfer” the fee that I paid for my initial course onto the new course (it’s the same cost, and meeting sections are still available), thereby dropping the first course and enrolling in the new one? Thank you for any advice or response to this dilemma.

    Godspeed,
    Josh

    ———————————————

    Josh,

    This is all totally possible, but I stress you follow these steps because I’m scared you’ll get royally screwed by ROSI somehow.

    Basically, enroll in the second course, MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN IT, and then drop the other course. It’s actually very simple, but if you’re ever in a state of NOT being enrolled in a course, I feel like ROSI will somehow deem you financially cancelled and then you’ll be confused and locked out essentially and you’ll have to go to your registrar’s and blah blah blah yada yada yada everything is more difficult than it needs to be.

    Theoretically, since you’ve already paid, ROSI should NOT do that, but because ROSI is ROSI… just try to be in a course at all times. Make sense?

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • summer

    what the frack is financially cancelled?!

    May 6, 2013

    Hello,

    I was registering my Subject POSts the other day and the “start session” showed up as 2013 Summer. Is that normal? I’m going into my second year now, and I have no idea how to function this… And why does my ROSI registration status indicate that I am financially cancelled… For Summer 2013? I don’t think I registered for summer tho :S

    Hope you can understand my bad grammar + question 🙁

    Thanks.

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    So nothing to fear, everything is fine!

    Well, as long as you don’t plan to take any summer classes — in which case just ignore that.

    Basically, all students are invited to take summer courses. But if you haven’t enrolled in anything / paid by the deadline (April 25), then you’re considered “Financially Cancelled.” And as long as summer courses have no meaning to you, you can be on your merry way. 🙂

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • GPA

    can there BE any more types of gpas?

    May 6, 2013

    Hi aska!

    I just read the calendar on probation and It’s a little unclear to me. It says,

    ”
    A student who, at the end of the Fall/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 (Fall/Winter Session)/sessional GPA of 1.70 or more (Summer Session) shall continue on probation. ”
    How exactly is annual gpa and cgpa different from each other? From what I’ve read they seem the same…Also, for courses not to be marked ‘extra’, you’ll need to not take more than 6 100 level FCE’S. Do similar rules apply to 200+ level courses as well? or is there only a limit for 100 level courses? When exactly are we informed on rosi if we’re on probation or not?

    Thank you!
    🙂

    ?????????

    Hey hey,

    I suppose all the different types of GPAs can be confusing, so I present you with some definitions, provided by my handy dandy now only offered online Calendar!

    • CGPA = Cumulative GPA. This one incorporates every single course you’ve taken in your undergraduate career, hence the “cumulative.” Although it excludes any extra courses, to be clear.
    • Annual GPA = the GPA based on the whole of the Fall-Winter session. So basically everything you took in your second year, for example.
    • Sessional GPA = the GPA of a single session. So there’s a Fall Session. A Winter Session. A Summer session.

    Now the only time a course will be marked extra is when you end up doing some sort of surplus. So yeah, you’ve got the no more than 6.0 FCE 100-levels taken care of. Another time something is deemed extra is when you retake a course you’ve already passed. In this situation, your first grade is the one that counts toward your CGPA, but the second one is only really taken so that you can meet a program requirement. And another time something might be considered extra is when you take an exclusion of something you’ve already gotten the credit for.

    But there’s no limit for 200/300/400 level courses the way there is for 100s, but keep in mind you need a certain number of 300 and 400 ones to graduate.

    And lastly, you’ll learn whether or not you’re in probation in a few weeks when GPAs are released. They’re being calculated at the moment, but a little birdie told me that they’ll be around for the May two-four weekend to make it or break it for you.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • Transferring,  UTM

    if you can hold a fork…

    May 6, 2013

    Hi there! I just finished my first year at UTM. I failed a full year course and as a result I finished with only 3.0 credits. Im very confused because I know that I cannot apply for a subject Post now since I do not have 4.0 credits and I wonder how that will affect me. Can I apply in December after first semester second year? Also summer school is not an option for me as I have to work to save for second year so I can’t get a credit in summer school and catch up. Another thing I would really like to transfer to YorkU but again I dont have the 4.0 credits. Does this mean I will have to wait until after second year? I really want to get a bachelor of education but since Ive messed up so much in first year I can’t do that at UTM which is why I would like to transfer. If I have to wait until after second year to transfer, what subject posts should I apply for until then so that I can still be working towards the degree in education even though that is not my program? Im sorry if some of these are silly questions but I feel like Ive gone into university blind and I’m making my own path as I go along.

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    Okay so Subject POSts work so that you enroll after a full academic session. Meaning there won’t be any applying until next summer soooo sorry about that. At least you don’t have to worry about what program to pick, right?

    Annnnnd well I don’t really know anything about York (UofT ftw!), but I mean they DO word the requirement as “completion of at least 4 full-credits” — “completion” being the key word here. Technically, you did complete four courses. Maybe not fantastically, but you certainly completed four! But you’re going to have to clear things up with them on whether or not you have to do a second year at UTM to satisfy their requirements.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grad school

    it’s all in the timing

    May 3, 2013

    Hi Aska,

    I’m wondering when is the best time to ask for reference letters, and the best way to approach my professors. My programs were psychology and criminology, but I want to apply for a sociology degree. I want to apply for fall 2014, and the deadline is January 1 or around then. However, I’m about to graduate so I’m wondering when I should ask for the reference letters!

    thanks,
    Teneisha

    ?????????

    Hey Teneisha,

    That’s a great question.

    Honestly, there’s no one true answer for this, but I suppose letting your prof know of your grad school intention while you’re in their class isn’t a bad idea — especially if they seem to take a liking to you. It’d help, for example, in letting them know how to comment on your papers and tell you what to improve on.

    Now I suppose it would be best to ask the professor not too long after their class. So for example, if you’re going into third year right now and want a letter from your F-term prof to use in the next year, maybe ask him after your course is over just so he/she still remembers you and your work, but let him know that he/she can take his time.

    But the LATEST to ask would be probably September 2014. Profs are used to writing reference letters — most have a template, actually! — but it’s always nice to give them ample time and let them know about your research intentions/take a look at your CV/yada yada yada. 🙂

    Bottom line though, the best time to ask would be when they’re familiar with you.

    Also, GO IN PERSON! No one wants to give a letter to an email.

    Good luck!

    aska

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  • CR/NCR,  probation

    does ncr count because there’s no credit

    May 3, 2013

    Hi there,

    So I am in first year, and my cumulative GPA is 1.35 – I received 3 credits, and I did Cr/Ncr for one of my other courses which I received no credit as I failed it.. my question is will I be put on probation? I am freaking out right now.. I know for a fact I will be put on probation but Im just hoping that maybe just maybe because I only 3 credits, I won’t be put on probation.. and if I am put on it, what steps do I need to take in order to get myself out of it? Thank you so much for your help!

    ?????????

    Hey hey,

    Sooooooo I hate to be the bearer of bad news buuuuut you’re kind of sort of on probation. Your ROSI account probably doesn’t say so yet, but when the GPAs get added up and become ~*~official~*~ your standing will say “Probation.”

    Sorry bro!

    See, while you didn’t receive a credit for that one course you failed, you DID still see it through and got some sort of “grade” in it. Meaning you are designated some kind of standing. Mean probation. 🙁

    BUT, that’s okay! It’s not the end of the world, so keep your chin up. All this means is that you need to step up your game. Now students on probation are cautioned against summer classes (or, at least, taking too many of them), so if you’re one of those crazies that dislike the beach and Thirsty Thursday and you’re in 2.0 FCE for the summer session, best… like not.

    Now to get OFF of probation, you need to get a CGPA of at least 1.50 or higher in your next session (so like next year). If your CGPA is less than 1.50 and your annual GPA is 1.70 or higher, then you stay on probation. BUT, if your CGPA is less than 1.50 and your annual GPA is less than 1.70, then you’ll be put on suspension.There’s this totally awesome flowchart that explains all of this stuff and that I will probably be referencing like 2374595867 times in the next month, so take a look at that. Visuals are always super fun for explaining things! 😀

    xoxo,

    aska

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