the inside scoop on Woodie

Hi aska,
i just got accepted to U of T and can’t wait to start in the fall!! I have a few questions so ill be short and straight to the point
1. where can i find a list of extracurricular activites at U of T? do the activities include volunteering, clubs etc.
2. im taking the IB diploma and i read in the information booklet that you need a 5 in every course that you take to get into U of T. What if, after you do the exam you get a 4 in one of your higher level or standard level courses? i had a friend who got into U of T and got a 4 in math hl so he couldn’t get the transfer credit so im kind of confused about the whole thing
3. i applied to woodsworth college and i read the descriptions and all and it sounds pretty good. Can any of you give me an actual u of t student perspective on the college? also do u know by any chance whether the college puts you in the rooms that are kind of similar to you (same personality, nationality etc) or just with random people? my school is also a boarding school and they have this system where they make the students fill out a questionnaire then pair up the students with similar answers.
thanks and hope to hear soon from you guys!!
(smile)

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Hi there. I’m glad you’re so excited about coming to UofT and getting involved!

It’s impossible to find a full list of extra-curricular activities around campus. There?s probably like, 1000 clubs or something here. But the Ulife website displays a pretty thorough list, and is a good place to start. The UTSU website also has a list of clubs. Also, there is always a club fair that happens during Orientation week (the first week before school), and you may be interested in going to that. During the club fair, UofT organizations will put up stands around King’s College circle and try to bribe you into joining them with free stuff. It’s a worthwhile event; I got some free pens, a water bottle, and a cute little mini-football.

Also, you may be interested in applying for work-study/volunteer positions in the future; you can find applications for these on the careers website. I think most jobs will be available to you after starting second-year.

I just checked out the admissions requirements for IB programs, and the Arts and Science admissions booklet says: Although applicants with predicted scores of at least 28 can be considered for admission to some programs, more competitive programs require at least 30 and as much as 35 on predicted scores. Applicants entering arts, science and commerce programs may receive a first year credit for each Higher Level subject passed with a grade of 5 or higher.

Does that clear things up? You don’t necessarily need a grade of 5 in every course you take to be accepted to UofT, but you DO need a 5 in your Higher Level courses if you want to receive the transfer credits. Got it? Needless to say, the higher the grades, the better.

Oh, and here’s a chart that shows what the IB transfer equivalents are.

An honest opinion on Woodsworth? Their residence looks pretty and I sometimes pop inside Woodsworth to use their bathroom, which is quite clean. And there’s a second cup inside Woodsworth, as well as a nice lounge where you can do your homework. That’s about all I know about Woodsworth. Honestly, I’m sorry. I’m a little disconnected from the other colleges.

Oh wait. Lucky you. My Woodsworth friend happens to be on MSN at the moment. Here’s what she has to say:

Friend: the parties are insane…

if you love to party, the wcsa will take care of it

Aska: LOL

Friend: not that many people use the student services (registrar and writing centre), so it’s really easy to book an appointment or even drop in

but yeah, there isn’t much of a student feel..i don’t hang out with anyone from woodsworth

Aska: LOL

Friend: overall, it’s a regular college

if you want to party, get in touch with the wcsa. if you need any academic or financial help, the registrar & writing centre are definitely there to help you. i wouldn’t go so far as to say that they go out of their way to make it the best college, but it’s definitely sufficient.

And there you have it, a student perspective on Woodie. I left my excessive LOLing in the conversation just for you.

Cynthia’s college series also has some good stuff on Woodsworth.

On residences: I’m not sure about this either. Best to phone Woodsworth and ask. However, when I lived at Innis, I also filled out a questionnaire with questions like “What kind of music do you listen to?” and “How clean are you?” I was supposedly paired up with people who were similar to me. The Woodsworth residence miiiight operate similarly.

And what do you mean thanks you guys? This is a one-man business, dear. The only living thing I talk to is my Pikachu in the corner.