• internet

    the data dilemma

    May 2, 2013

    Hello,

    I’m planning to go to UC. Do you know if students can get their own wifi plans in a (dormitory style) residence? Do you know anyone who does? I am a computer engineering student and have a couple projects that require high bandwidth and data usage.

    Thanks,
    Adrian

    ———————————————

    Hi Adrian,

    So I don’t know about getting your own plan, nor do I know anyone who one, but omg, I’ve been trying to research your question for ages.

    Then I just gave up and asked someone from engineering for help.

    Basically, after chatting with that person and then two other engis, you’ll be happy to hear that there won’t be any need for your internet plan. No one’s ever had a problem with a lack of data or bandwith, so what the university supplies for you should suffice.

    Likewise, if you’re in engineering, you actually get access to a lot of buildings at all hours including the science hotspot Bahen Centre that has the engi lounge or whatever it is where you can find a bunch of computers and tired stressed students. So if you accidentally use up what the university allows you from too much streaming, you can always go there. 🙂

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grad school,  grades

    summer course confusion

    May 2, 2013

    Hey,

    Just a question regarding summer courses – which year does a summer school credit go towards? For example, if a student took a summer course immediately after second year, does that credit affect his/her second year GPA or third year? I am wondering because grad schools tend to focus on one’s last two years of undergrad and I was trying to calculate my GPA.

    Thanks 🙂

    ———————————————

    Hey!

    That’s a really good question actually. I’ve always wondered that… but then I killed the grad school dream and stopped wondering. Ahem.

    Essentially, your summer grade is its own session, meaning it’ll get its own GPA and won’t contribute to your second or third year’s average. So if you end up rocking that course and getting an 84, your sessional GPA would be amazing.

    Now there’s no concrete answer on if a summer course between second and third year is something grad schools might look, but here’s what I can tell you: The best way to see just what a potential grad school is looking at exactly is to go to your Academic History on ROSI and view the complete version, which lists absolutely everything and what specific session you took x class in.

    So since they look at your last two years, I would say that logically, they’re looking at the last half of your credits. Make sense? They’ll definitely see you took a summer course on its own which may explain why it’s incredibly good, but it won’t exactly “count towards year two/three.”

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grades

    but why must we science asdfghjkl

    May 2, 2013

    Hi, I’ve just finished my last exam of my first year at UofT St. George! I know you probably get this a lot, but I’m not happy with my grades at all. I know I could’ve studied more (which is what I’ll definitely do next year), but even in the classes I was fairly confident I’d do well in I don’t feel good about anymore. So far, I’ve got 1 F (in chemistry), 2 C’s and 2 B+’s (in my medieval history courses), and I’m waiting on 2 more course marks to come through (both of which I don’t think I’ll make higher than a C+). Some of these courses are 200-level ones too.

    I’m not a life-science major (I changed my mind after my failing first semester chem grade), I’m actually a medieval studies and art history major. But I feel like with these shitty grades, I won’t be able to get into a decent grad program after I finish my undergrad. Will terrible first year marks ruin everything? Or is there a good chance that with way more effort next year (and picking a better set of classes) I’ll be able to raise my grades and do better?

    ———————————————

    Hey,

    Haha yeah, this is honestly such a classic situation.

    Student takes course. Student doesn’t like course cuz it has nothing to do with where they want to go in university. Students bombs class. Student has a breakdown.

    Now, as stated many, many times, your first year marks aren’t the end of the world.

    For the most part, grad schools look at your third and fourth year grades, although your CGPA as a whole is important. Still, once you start taking courses you actually enjoy and thus tend to do better in, you’ll notice your CGPA slowly rising and your transcript looking a lot more appealing. So just rock these rest of your years here and I’m sure you’ll be fine come grad school apps.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • criminology,  sociology

    suffering through a 62

    May 2, 2013

    So basically I wanted to apply to Sociology or Criminology which requires a 63 in socio101, but I happened to get a 62…
    Realistically what are the chances that I get in?

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    What calendar were you reading?? For sociology, you need at least a 65. And for criminology, you need at least a 70 average between 2.0 FCE in SOC and some other categories like ECO, PSY, and PHL.

    To be honest, with a 62 I don’t think you’ll be able to get into criminology unless you have a pretty fabulous grade in, say, ECO100Y, to boost your average. As much as criminology calls for just a 70, it’s a competitive program and you should at least try to get higher than that. As for sociology… I’d like to say that requirements are usually pretty rigid — so if you don’t meet the 65 they ask for, then you have to wait until you get the 65 they ask for. BUT, there’s always that “oh, just appeal to the department” option sooo.

    HOWEVER, sociology clearly states in the calendar that just having the asked for grade might not be enough, so don’t get your hopes too high.

    But yeah, I took SOC101Y myself many moons ago and bam, 67. Let me tell you what, I hated that class with the fire of a thousand burning suns. Power to you for getting through it and then deciding sociology is what you wanted to be in. 🙂

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • cinema studies

    sneaking into cinema studies

    May 1, 2013

    how hard would it be to enrol in the cinema studies major in your second year if you didn’t take the introductory course in your first year?

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    Seeing as the Cinema Studies major requires the intro course from first-year, I’m going to say it’d be pretty damn hard to enroll. As in not possible.

    Likewise, that first year course is a prerequisite for a looooot of upper year Cinema Studies courses soooo if you’re serious about the program, it’d be best to take it soon. You CAN, however, in the mean time / at the same time take some of the CIN courses that don’t require CIN105Y/INI115Y like CIN210H Horror Film or CIN211H Science Fiction Film.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • UTM

    save me some spots for the second round

    May 1, 2013

    Hi,

    I’m a first year student in the management program! After my grades for the required courses plunged to the bottom of the ocean, I’ve come to the conclusion to switch into the Digital enterprise management [DEM] program. My intentions are to take the requirements in the summer, in this case CCT110 [july-august] is the only requirement that I need to enter the program! How do I go about proceeding with this process in terms of notifying ROSI? Do I simply delete my previous subject post and add the DEM specialist program? Also, after completing CCT110 in the summer, I’m sure there will be a lag in the timing that i’ll be notified in whether i’ve been accepted into the program or not – within this situation [assuming that registration for 2nd year courses will start during this interval], do I still proceed in? enrolling in the required courses for 2nd year DEM?

    THANK YOU !

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    When it comes to playing with Subject POSts, everything is done on ROSI. So since you’re in first-year, I don’t think you have a Subject POSt, but just add the DEM one that you want once you get the requirement(s).

    Since CCT110 is in the second half of the summer session, you’re going to have to enroll in the program during the second round, lasting June 17 to August 30. Invites into the program will come September 9, and you’ll have until September 22 to accept.

    But because you’ll be in the program AFTER course enrollment for the 2013-2014 session, you might have trouble with restrictions since a lot of 200-level courses give priority to people already in x program, so keep some kind of contingency plan!

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • scholarships/bursaries

    i give you money, now you give meee money

    May 1, 2013

    Yo dawg,

    So I`ve recently been accepted to UTSG, which was all nice and well. However, I was looking forward to receiving an Admission Scholarship too. At the time I was accepted, my average was just 1% shy of the requirement, which was not nice and well at all. I`m wondering if I`ll maybe get a second chance with final grades in June, or am I done for good?

    P.S. I wasn’t sure if you answered questions about pre-enrollment, but I didn’t really know where else to go. so sux fer u lololol.

    Thanks dawg

    ———————————————

    Bro,

    I haven’t been called “dawg” in like eight years omg.

    Unfortunately, admission scholarship eligibility is decided with your admission average, so there won’t be any “second chance.”

    Sorry, homie! 🙁

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  • grades

    finally, a good grade situation

    May 1, 2013

    Hello! Yesterday a mark came out on rosi and I was really surprised that I got a 70. I calculated my mark and the possible mark I could have gotten on the exam and I don’t believe that it is possible that I could’ve gotten such a high mark. To me, I think they meant 60 instead of 70. Anyways, right now I am pretty paranoid that the mark can still change because the course average has not been out yet and my mark is not final. I’m not sure whether to tell my parents about it yet or wait first. And also, I’ve read on a forum that its happened to someone that their mark was 71 but was 61 after a couple days later. So I’m wondering is it still possible for marks to change on rosi? Thanks for anyone who could give me an answer !

    ———————————————

    Dude.

    That’s totally awesome! My first instinct is to tell you to not question it, just accept the university brief moment of kindness, and go forth in life.

    Fine, technically, the ROSI gods can still go in there and screw you over by ripping the rug out from under you and docking you 10%, but to be honest, it’s unlikely that they screwed up. It is, however, possible that your professor screwed up in his little but powerful excel spreadsheet. So if you’re really concerned, head over to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to request to see the exam. It’s a long process and you probably won’t be able to see the exam for like three weeks, but at least you’ll be able to know whether you rocked it or not.

    So yes, it IS possible to change marks on ROSI, but don’t be so glass half-empty! You did GOOOOOOD! 😀

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • fees

    the black hole in your wallet leads to uoft

    May 1, 2013

    Hey Aska,

    I’m just wondering if I register for only the second half of summer school (S term) and I pay my fees BUT drop all my classes before the start of classes for second semester of summer, do I get a full refund including the incidental fees and whatnot?

    ?????????

    Hey hey!

    So if you’re just taking that one S course but you’re on the fence about it, you have until July 1 to get ALL your money back.

    Just be super careful okay!

    Because if you’re just a day late and you attend the class, see that it sucks, and THEN decide to drop it, you’ll get 100% back BUT there will be a $242 charge, which in my humble opinion is utter crap, but that’s UofT for you. Ahem. Like it’s worded on the fees schedule as “100% less minimum charge,” which cruelly gets your hopes up. So rude. Soooo rude.

    But that’s in a long time and I’m sure you’ll make up your mind before July 1, so don’t fret too much over fees. 🙂

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • geography

    rosi, where are my results?

    May 1, 2013

    Hey, I was wondering if someone can help me find out how to petition to request an approval into a program (Geography Specialist), with out using just Rosi and Subject post request.

    ———————————————

    Yo.

    I’m not sure which Geography Specialist you’re interested in (which, by the way, was a grand experience for me because I had no idea that there were so many types of Geography!), but for the most part, they’re all Type 2 Subject POSts, meaning you just need a specific GPA and x grades in y courses for entry.

    So I don’t see why you would be petitioning… did you miss a requirement or something? Because if this is a matter of them just taking a while, rest assured that Subject POSt invites aren’t released until July 2 this year, so you’re just pending.

    Meaning don’t freak out until then.

    There’s no need for a petition, unless you’re not telling me some important little tidbits.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grades

    the bad end of the bell curve

    May 1, 2013

    Is there any hope that UofT will allow grade replacement in the near future? Ever? I got a C- for a subject which I thought I would actually get a B! I have no idea how I ended up that way! and the prof refused to upload the answer key on portal! :/ I am like WTF!

    I heard that the new student council people were going to ask for a grade replacement policy, and SO I voted for them! But I have no idea if they have any plans of doing it!

    Does anyone know anything about it?? Anything at all? 🙁

    Thank You!
    Clearly-Dearly- Frustrated Student 🙁

    ———————————————

    Clearly-Dearly-Frustrated Student,

    Grade replacement at UofT… yeah. No. Sounds like wishful thinking, dude!

    But that is a pretty steep difference between grades. It’s quite possible and very likely that y0u were just the unfortunate victim of some bell-curving (quotas! quotas! quotas!) or maybe you just didn’t do as well on the exam as you thought you did? For now, request to see the exam to make sure you did things correctly and know exactly what your grade was.

    And omg voting… it’s awful, but never in my four years did I vote. I really just walked by those people hounding you at the doors of Sid Smith with some excuse of “Sorry, I have class!”/”Sorry, I’m in a rush!”/“Sorry, I don’t go here!”

    But yeah, there’s no one to really contact with this “grade replacement” thing since it’s not, well, real. If you really want to talk to someone though, have a chat with your college registrar and see what you can do from there.

    Cheers!

    aska

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  • grades

    trouble on the transcript

    May 1, 2013

    Hello, I’m a first year student at utsc and I’m pretty sure I just failed a course this semester. It’s english and I don’t need it for my program, just thought I could finish off most of the breadth requirement courses this first year. However, the thought of it bringing down my GPA is really making me paranoid, especially since I’m aiming for med school. I suck at writing essays and I know I’m gone sound dumb but, the course was not really what I expected it to be based on how it read from the course calendar. I really lost focus and interest on it and yet I kept on holding on to it.

    How will this affect my prospects of getting into med school or grad school? Can I just walk away and happily think that at least I pursued it till the end or am I doomed?

    Sincerely yours,
    Ian

    ?????????

    Ian,

    This is honestly one little blip in your transcript. Chill.

    And you’re still in first-year! You have plenty of time (and other courses) to overshadow the random blot humanities among your sciences, so just make sure you do well in the rest of your courses not just to make your transcript pretty, but also to fix any damage that English course might’ve done to your CGPA.

    But you’re not doomed. Most gradschools et al really just look at your last two years of university. THOSE are the ones I’d avoid taking any random hit or miss types of courses in.

    xoxo,

    aska

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  • trinity college

    how helpful will history be

    May 1, 2013

    Hi,

    You run a great website, it’s amazing and I really love the candid truth that you always show towards your trusting followers.

    So, I want to go to Trinity One and it says I need to take a co-requisiteof either history, political science or other courses, and I also want to major in History which requires that same co-requisite course. Can I use one course, the co-requisite course towards both majors?

    Thanks.

    ———————————————

    Hey!

    Glad to hear you love the site. One of my friends likes to remind me on a daily basis that he finds it… not aesthetically-pleasing, but I just say whatever, the content is what matters. 😀

    But yes, you can certainly use the first-year history course to kill two birds with one stone.

    So say you get into the International Relations stream of Trin One. You’ll have to take the two courses for it and then 1.0 FCE like you said. For example, you can take HIS102Y Empires, Encounters and Exchanges: From the Silk Road to the Present to satisfy that co-requisite and also fulfill the history major’s requirement for 1.0 HIS FCE at the 100-level. And bam! Efficiency. Well done.

    savouring the sun,
    aska

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